Saturday, December 6, 2008

WHY FIX IT WHEN IT IS STILL GOOD

I don't agreed with Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir statement which was published in all major newspapers on 2nd. December 2008, that the vernacular schools in the current format to be closed. I believed that there is nothing wrong with the present education system as this system had been around for more than 50 years. Eventually, the students will go on to study in the national schools at the secondary level.
I would like to share my experience as a student from the english medium school in the 1970's which had given me an all rounded and liberal education. I could mixed around with all races during my school days. There was no polarisation in those days. I still remembered some of my best friends are malays who used to cycle together to school from our kampung which was about 5 kilometres away. We conversed in English and Bahasa Melayu and we had many nostalgic experiences together. These successful malay classmates of my are still my buddies after so many years. Whenever we meet, we lamented the state of today's education system which had brought in racial polarisation and disharmony faned by politicians like Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who aspire to be the UMNO Youth Chairman. Datuk Mukhriz, please leave politics outside the gates of all the schools in Malaysia and try to improve the education system which we inherited from the british. Mind you, you were one of them who had the same experience to benefit from this liberal education when you were young. Please try to improve the present education system, that is, the national school system, in order to attract more non-malay parents to send their children to these national schools. I promised you that I would encouraged my grandchildren to attend the national schools when I perceived that these schools are at par with the vernacular schools in term of discipline, high standard of teachings and dedication from the teachers. Multi- languages such as BM, BI and mother tongue languages are taught in schools. If possible, one foreign language for every child.We must have the will to improve the education system so that every students will have a global perspective and marketable when they leave the school system.