I will start this article with a story…

During the age where Kings and Monarchy existed, educated people were all concentrated in the palace. Not much of knowledge was passed to the rest of the population. The King decided that his people should either stay dumb, or serve the king with their knowledge. This was to protect the king from being overrun by his own people. That was the olden days.

So, in order to keep the citizens “in line”, our rulers figured that tackling our education system would be the easiest way to cripple our knowledge and teamwork. This leads to the foundation of the General Education Board (or The Ministry of Education), where all government schools are to use the same education system outlined by the Education Board.

The phrase below sums up everything about the General Education Board.

“The General Education Board is created to influence the direction of our education. The objective was to use the classroom to teach attitudes that encourage people to be submissive and passive to their rulers.”

Quote from The Creature from Jekyll Island

Now, do I have proof to back the statements I have said earlier? Yes I do.

1. Our Schools Do Not Encourage Teamwork
Our education system does not encourage teamwork. A classic example would be examinations and tests, if you work together in an exam you will fail. They call it cheating in the name of testing our knowledge.

Our rulers realized that unimaginable things can be created when a group of people put their minds together for something. That is why they want us to be separated and alone, by brainwashing us into believing that to succeed in life we have to be competitive, be alone and abandoned by family.

The fact is, when you succeed in life, more people would gather around you and your family’s status does not change.

2. We Are Told Not To Make Mistakes
At school, we get scolded and punished for making mistakes. Our intelligence is also judged based on whatever mistakes we made at school. Then we are told not to make mistakes again in the future. But how is that possible? We are humans, we are bound to make mistakes as we learn new things!

This only brings out the inaction within us that paralyzes our natural desire to take action when opportunities arise. I think what our educators should tell us is, “learn from your mistakes as you grow”.

3. The Knowledge of Money is Not Taught at Schools
Rulers know deep in their hearts that money can be used to buy power (that is what they are doing around the world). So to keep us from becoming “money literate” and attaining power, courses like money engineering do not exist. Instead, they instill in us ambitions like doctor, engineer and lawyer.

This makes us “modern slaves” of our rulers until the day we die! Look at how much we are taxed, both through tax and inflation.

4. Nothing is too Complicated
Talk baby language to a baby, the baby would speak baby language forever. Talk mathematics to a baby, the baby would be a math whiz.

Nothing is too complicated for our brain to solve. It is made complicated through our education system. Have you ever heard of your teachers saying “it is supposed to confuse you” before?

“Never make things simple when you can make them complicated”

Quoted from one of the members of the Morgan Family – Grunch of Giants

5. The Obvious Truth
Here is the solid proof of the intervention of our rulers with our education for the worse. The never ending change of language used to teach Mathematics and Science in Malaysia, article.

I cannot see how this is not an act of corruption on our education system.

In a Nutshell

Unfortunately, I must admit that this is one of the ugliest facts that we have to swallow regardless of the places we live in, be it the Japan, Arab, Australia, UK or USA, we are all still “slaves” of our “king”.

Is there a way to counter this problem?
Probably, and the first step to curb the problem would be the realization of this corrupted education system of ours.

Next? We must join power and be the “troublesome” citizens. But we would not rebel, we will play according to the rules of the government and win the game they play!

This is all for this article. Please give this matter a thought.

Any articles categorized in “Indifferent Thoughts” are the author’s perspective on the world. Statements are neither wrong nor right. It is up to us individuals to decide whether to believe or to turn a blind eye on the matter. However, discussions are always welcomed.

A lot of Malaysian government actions(bribery) can be ignored by closing an eye pretending that they never happened before. However, on the 8th of July, the Malaysian Government announced that Mathematics and Science subjects will be revert back to Bahasa Malaysia, the national language starting 2012.

This in fact is an extremely serious matter that cannot be overlooked because it concerns the future of the present youth!

Reason of this Yet-Another-Political-Farce

“Only 19.2% of secondary teachers and 9.96% of primary teachers were sufficiently proficient in English,” he said, explaining the Government’s decision to revert to the old system.

These absurdly low percentages are the result of emphasis on Bahasa on Math and Science before 2003. I am extremely sure that these results have been constantly improving until yesterday when the Government decided to revert back to Bahasa again.

It’s an English Speaking World Out There

Look, the economy leader(the USA) educates their young in English. Educating our future leaders in Bahasa for Math and Science is suicidal. All of their secondary Math and Science educations are down the drain as they reach to tertiary level of education. I know this from personal experience, many Math and Science terms do not make sense in Bahasa Malaysia.

And more importantly Bahasa Melayu, unlike German, Japanese or Chinese, does not have enough vocabulary keep it updated with the technological terms introduced in Math and Science.

Malaysia is different! Even though Bahasa is the national language, most private corporate companies operate in English language. How do you (the Government) suppose not enhancing the English language education in our youth would do any good to the country’s economy in the future?

Of course, here is a quote from The Star that answers my question above

He (the Deputy Prime Minister) however added that there will be greater emphasis on learning the English language.

This is a joke I can expect from the Malaysian Government. Here’s how,

On efforts to emphasize the learning of English, the number of English teachers would be increased by 13,933 — retirees would be hired, as well as foreigners if need be.

Let’s assume 2 thousand salary per month for English teachers. That is about 28 million per month of tax payers’ money spent unnecessarily on teachers! We are better off without the revert and spending that 28 million properly.

What is worse is they now even started to spend on the foreigners! What happened to the Buy Malaysian Products Campaign?

and …

Primary schools will also increase English classes by 90 minutes a week.

That is 18 hours of English studies everyday! Give the children back their childhood days! The children need more childhood experiences, not some badly designed education system!

The bags are literally bigger than the size of their body. Picture From The Star.

On top of that, more tax money have to be spent on English illiterate teachers. We all know what happens when there are not enough “sufficiently proficient in English” teachers to be hired.

Discussion: What do you think about the Government’s decision? How will this reflect the future of our children and the future of Malaysia?

My Point Of View

I think the reason our teachers are so English illiterate (proved by the percentages) is because of these ever changing education system decided only by a handful of clowns. Answer me this question, 3 times since 1957, how do you expect the citizens to keep up?

This announcement also depicts the incompetence of the Malaysian Government that is unable to analyze Malaysia as a whole and make sustainable decisions. I completely understand that mistakes can be made even by the Prime Minister of Malaysia. What I do not understand is why is the government not improving from the mistakes they had made?

Perhaps there is a conspiracy behind these decisions considering the 28 million per month. Maybe it is another act of corruption that has been ongoing for ages in Malaysia. Or is there an invincible being that is more powerful and currently influencing the Malaysian Government? All we know is, this is another farce from our Malaysian Government … again.

On 30th May 2009, the Ministry of Education in Malaysia proved the naysayers of Malaysian education wrong by announcing to reduce the amount of core subjects from six to four by means of reducing the “My son/daughter scored 20As in SPM” frenzy. In addition to that, they also limited the maximum subjects allowed to take in SPM. From a general perspective, I must say the ministry is doing a good job, but until you look deeper into the roots only you will realize that it is not what it seems to be.

These decisions are decided based on the fact that parents have been pressuring their children to take more subjects, to eliminate the exam oriented education system and so on.

As news, I must say it is quite a welcoming one. First, students get to study for less subjects, second if History and Moral studies is not one of the core subjects (I hope so), then it would be a joy for almost all the students in Malaysia! Apparently, that is how you look at it from outside the box, now let’s tear open the box and see whats in it.

For more than 50 years Malaysia has not been capping subjects in SPM and we have been fine all along. This not only allows the student to enhance their broad knowledge, it also helps tuition centers to earn a living, both party win.

The pressure only starts to build when the examination results were scaled carelessly. That is when every parent thinks SPM is easy and starts to pressure their child to take more subjects (since they think it is easy). The fact is it is never easy to take more than 10 subjects, let alone 15 or 20. Then, the ministry decided to scale the results again to show the world how clever we Malaysians are, thus SPM becomes easier as the years go by.

The fact that a limitation of 10 subjects was introduced in SPM also allows me to think it as an act to limit the intelligence of Malaysian citizens. If a student has the capacity to take 15 subjects and score A in every single one of them (scaled or not), let it be. Why limit their potential to excel academically?

Exam oriented studying environment or not is a matter of how a student study for the exam. It has nothing to do with the amount of subjects taken.

Perhaps the ministry would like to consider abolishing or reduce the scaling of examination results and spend more time on making subjects more interesting at school. This would allow students to critically analyze their ability to even handle 10 subjects, or not.

Not only that, scholarship providers can also easily distinguish the best out of the best if scaling is abolished. Unlike the current scaled results where a straight 11A scorer can be an underdog in the university and be stripped out of their scholarship.

Also, imagine if SPM were to be capped and scaling were still to be done, everybody will be scoring 10 straight As. Now tell me, how is that good for anybody?

I am all in for the reduction of core subjects for SPM, since History and Moral Studies should not be taken into account to determine a student’s future. However the limitation of maximum subject is really a no-no for me since it spoils the education industry, spoil the students and confuse the scholarship providers.

Sometimes, the more you study in the same university or college, the more fed up you get. Seeing the same faces and experiencing the same environment every day. Eventually, it just gets into you. Otherwise, you might already have an aim since high school to enter whichever university you want. Then you work towards your goal. Nevertheless, transferring from one university to another is nothing like restarting the game of life.

Apart from all the fuss of getting your visa done, applying for a new passport, purchasing your air ticket, and all those foreseen problems, there are still ample of unseen hassles lies ahead of your university transfer. One thing I’d like to focus is *advanced standing (or credit transfer).

If you are granted for a credit transfer, you are basically everywhere. In your first year at university, you are second year student and sometimes you are third year student. When you’re asked which year you’re in, you will get confused. However, this matter just does not end here.

There is no guarantee that you will be fitting into the rest of the pack in your new university, academically or socially. Like my case, I am supposed to be in second year, but I am forced to take third year subjects, otherwise I might as well fly back to Malaysia. Anyways, taking third subjects as a second year student is a suicide. Understanding the course becomes much tougher because you have not acquired the foundations needed for the subject.

Blending into your classmates seems to become tougher as well. In this semester you will be mingling with your seniors, then the next semester you’ll join those of your level, then it rolls back again a semester later. This might be a good opportunity to know more people, but in a university, what you want is a decent group of people whom you really know that are able to team up with you in group projects.

Having said all these, it is still up to you to determine whether transferring university can be hard or not. You judge your life. However, let’s look at the bright side, earning an overseas experience while studying is undoubtedly the best thing that can happen in anybody’s life. Isn’t this worth going through all the university transfer hassles?

*Advanced Standing/Credit Transfer – When you transfer to another university from your current university, the credits of your course is considered in a case by case basis. If it fits into their standard/system of studies. You will be granted advance standing.

I am sure most of us have ponder about this question before. Especially when your parents are pressuring you with questions like “Where do you want to study after your diploma/high school?” or “Choose anywhere you want to go, I will pay for all the expenses” (that was what my dad told me). But the problem is not with them nor the money, it is with yourself. How to choose a university of your choice?

Choosing a university is no rocket science. It is easy but takes a little tiny weeny bit of your time.
First, ask yourself what you want to be in the future and choose an academic field closest related to your ambition.

If you have already know what you want to study, take note of these few things that enables you to apply for universities

1. Results – in other words, your transcripts
2. A compilation of course outlines – A book that explains everything about the subjects you had learnt (for transfer students)
3. Economic background – Your buying power
4. Requirements of university – Eligibility
5. University’s focus on any particular field – Every university has its own area of expertise. For example my university, University of New South Wales (UNSW), they are they top engineering school in Australia, that is why I’m studying engineering in UNSW.

So, your second step will be to make a research about all the universities that are competent in your field of interest. By competent I meant popularity, research, recommendations and references. All these can be found effortlessly if you spend the time watching movies into research. If you have ticked all the 4 I had mentioned above for a particular university, that university might be for you. The last thing you want to find out when you are enrolled is your university is not competent at all in the area you are studying.

Next, now you have chosen your university, it is time to check the requirements. Are you (your result) qualified for the course? What else do they need besides your results? References from your principal maybe, English proficiency maybe. Can you afford to study at the university?

Almost everything can be obtained in a short period of time except for money. If you can’t afford a university, the most you can do is study hard and get scholarship, that is why early preparations always works. For the richer group out there, some best universities in the world cares about your result as well, so never take your result for granted.

Don’t feel shy when applying for university. Know your rights, and believe that universities out there want more students. They are happy to lick your butt just to get you into their university. Why? Because they want to survive as well. Send tonnes of emails to the university of your choice, if things get urgent, phone them. Make sure you have everything ready and confirmed before sending any documents to them. Keep bugging them until you are successfully confirmed that you are fully enrolled. Remember, they are there to serve you.

Lastly, I know many people (including myself) tend to turn all their responsibilities to agents to settle for them. Do you know what is the other word for agents? IDIOTS, that is what they are. I had been there, done that, and I had concluded that agents are only there to cheat your money. So stay away from them.

Do add some comments if you have anything to add. Thanks

Disclaimer: I am not giving legal advice here. I am not responsible if any misfortune happens when you follow my advice.