A sudden emergence of brilliance

A’s galore – Is this for real? 

(Aliran) So many students these days obtain a string of A's in public examinations. And yet, most people who were in school, say 50 years ago, can recall how difficult it was in those days to obtain an ‘A’ for any subject in the study syllabus, observes Inhindsight.


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written by anon, April 03, 2010 11:51:05

Why is everyone so shocked that students are getting straight As? This is 2010 not the 1950s, 60s or even 70s. In the 50s and 60s there were exams in Standard 6 and if you fail you're out - which has its disadvantages too, then LCE and MCE (before this SC). Finally, HSC - to toughest exam before you get into (if you do) a University.

Remember our names appeared in the newspaper for all to see?

Degrees were world recognized. Then came the 80s and 90s. By this time of course degrees were not recognized outside this country except for perhaps some Univs where millions were 'donated' ( I was told) to hand the degree on a silver platter. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indon Univs, some Russian ones, Ukraine for example.  

Veteran Malays who had post-Form Five (TTC?) qualification were sent to Leeds and York to do their Masters programme! From Form 5 - to Masters! They lived in their own little 'kampong' in Leeds and York (as related to me by them) and returned as Lecturers in Universities! They come back and spoke like they never stepped outside their local kampongs. And that is the language they teach - and it's not B. Melayu of course. I mean, why go all the way to England to study BM? The Brits speak English.

These kampong Malays kept to themselves - they never wanted to mix with the locals (the Brits)...you know, come Hari Raya, it's 'All in the Family' - ketupat and rendang, syrup and karaoke. 


The wiser Malays mingled with the locals and these Malays came back, served their 7 year mandatory stint (some paid it off) then migrated ...to England and the U.S. 

People like me on the other hand had to struggle to get good results in the HSC exam then obtain a degree, followed by a Diploma in Education and only then go on to do Masters.

In other words, my good Bumi friends, skipped all and did their Masters Programme (which by the way was a 9 month programme) - skipping 'A' levels or HSC AND a basic degree - conveniently get their Masters degree. 

These 'Masters' churn-outs did not learn much as their knowledge of the language was about the same prior to leaving for England.

So what is their Masters degree equivalent to?

My point now is simply this: Why is everyone shocked at students getting 10As or 15As?

This is the 21st century and it is also 1Malaysia - where everything is possible

19/06: There is THEM and there is US ... title by RPK

Dear RPK Sir,

I felt compelled to write to you about this. The same story. The same teacher. Similar 'advice' and same end product.....confusion, stifling, apoplectic and perhaps just plain fed up.

My daughter and I as usual talked in the car on the way home from school, about her day at school.

Her group, the same friends, VERY close friends, one Muslim girl, one Chinese Buddhist guy, one Indian Hindu girl, one Chinese Buddhist girl.

It was not even a month ago that I told you about all this in my article to you which you gave an apt title: The Untouchables.

Just to let you know that the same teacher who teaches the Muslims agama, walked into the class when there was another teacher in there and pulled the two Muslims out of the class in the ( in my opinion ) pretext of giving them some info.Then of course came the REAL reason why she pulled them out .... she was passing by and saw that these CLOSE friends were all sitting next to each other. So now, they can't even sit next to each other!

From left: Chinese guy, the Malay Muslim guy, then my daughter, next to her, the Muslim girl, (her best friend), then the Indian girl and on the far right the Chinese girl.

This is what the teacher - the very same teacher who teaches them agama, told these two Muslim students outside the class today: DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO NON-MALAYS.

What the heck is wrong with this miscreant teacher? This group has a very close bond. I would say, they could teach us all a few things about racial integration. I asked and I still do not know whether she is an Ustazah. All I know is that she teaches agama classes.

The same teacher that I wrote to you about ... in The Untouchables.

I advised my daughter and told her that the teacher was very wrong to say that and that Islam did not say that ( I hope I am right ). The two Muslim students came back and told them all and were furious with the agama teacher and asked what was wrong with her.

I believe if this indoctrination continues, these students might get confused with what Islam actually teaches.

It would be nice if the parents of these students knew about this and we shall see their reaction. But I don't think it will reach their ears and we will never know their reaction.

I really believe they do not know about this because sometimes all these students get together in a mall with a chaperone and go window shopping and see a movie.They are so close that I am always happy to hear news as to what happened and all. The sms ( text message ) each other and always keep in touch.

Believe me RPK, they are so close and I am truly proud that my daughter has a group of decent friends of all races and religion. I have always encouraged that and still continue to do so.

What the heck is wrong with boys and girls of all races and religion being such close friends? Why is this damn racist teacher trying so hard to break them up? What is her intention?

I am so tempted to see the HM about this but my daughter told me this in confidence and told me that it's a small matter although I told her this is no small matter I respect her wishes as we talk about things like this quite openly.

My daughter is afraid that her Muslim friends might get into trouble if I bring this matter up to the HM or at the next PTA/PIBG AGM. I am trying so hard to teach my daughter to mix with DECENT students, no matter what race or religion they belong to.

But that teacher is making it very difficult for me and the students. I sincerely hope that the students continue to ignore this 'teacher's tautological admonition.

Does the Government know what is going on in schools? I believe they should look into this kind of totally unacceptable, intolerable indoctrination.

This is what you call Racism at it's highest, or should I say, lowest form.

It's truly sad and very unfortunate that we have such a egotistical racists as Teachers.

anon

Of Doctors and Dilemmas - as I see it

Walk through any corridor of higher learning and you will see the damage done to the inhabitants of these places. Students today, at a higher education site are quite content with the educational system. It's somewhat sad that places of higher learning do not have a slot to teach a subject that would widen their academic horizon.

I always thought that we are churning out thousands of ill-informed graduates every year, most of whom do not know what is happening beyond the periphery of their books or the campus. Any attempt to educate them will only prove to be futile. Attempts at exposing them to look at local and global politics in a panoramic view, using periphrases, innuendos, allusions and even candidly were in vain.

The higher education students of today do not or should I say, are not capable of comprehending what was trying to be conveyed. One can try, with a flicker of hope, to ignite their intellect, to grasp even a grain of awareness of what is going on around them. This they will not perceive. Those who have tried should adopt a couldn't-care-less attitude. After all, why should one take it upon himself to educate them on a comprehensive interpretation of humanity and politics?

There are no additional monetary returns for educating them on such topics. How could one ignite a disinterested candle that is being blown by periodic gusts of wind? There was no attempt or even a thought of trying to indoctrinate them or incite racial sentiments. Neither was there an effort at trying to instigate a revolution. On the contrary, it was only an innocent endeavor, trying to make them aware of what's going on outside the borders of their cozy campus grounds.

Are these are our future leaders? Undergraduates who are either a bunch of deviant radicals or another group who are complacent 'scholars', content with what is being fed to them. They are totally oblivious as to what is happening around them.

Colleges and Universities are supposed to, in my opinion, educate them on other subjects as well and not confine them to becoming graduates who are ill-informed and ignorant to matters of the world which is an integral in the process of learning. These sages need to be aware that there is something out there, not just bars and discos. Alas, these city slickers did not in the least show any form of zeal, desire and passion in wanting to be cognizant about topics that did not relate to their subjects. They are just a bunch of 'academics' living in an ivory tower.

Their command of the English Language is, unfortunately, mediocre and in some cases, appalling.These are the 'intellectuals' who will be Malaysia's future scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers and academics.

P/S Strangely, it's the students from a state North East of Malaysia who have any semblance of politics. Contorted version of politics, nevetheless some misty form of politics. The others, with special reference to those who hail from KL, have a vast knowledge of the various discos in the capital. All are students who live in Residential Colleges.

So what then are the Higher Institutes of Learning disseminating?

Could the answer be the same material prepared over the years in a spoon? Same material in the same spoon into fresh bowls.