‘Go back to basics’

The education system in Malaysia during the 1960s was of high standing, on a par with many other nations.

Many distinguished scholars and respected physicians, surgeons, lawyers and entrepreneurs had passed through this “conveyor belt”.

Then, we sent our officials from their ivory towers to go on overseas trips to explore and study the education systems of some countries, in the name of bringing back fresh ideas.

They subsequently came up with an impressive blueprint, which is neither suitable nor practical for us, and impose it on our teachers.

This has been going on for decades, leading to the decline in the quality of our education system.

Just like shuttlers Viktor Axelsen and Lee Zii Jia, who have been in a rut of late and have to go back to basics, it would do a world of good if we did the same for our education system. There is no harm in eating humble pie.

From what I can gather, the men in the street, academics and intellects believe that examinations are a necessity to maintain a degree of quality in the standard of our education system.

We should go back to the days of having the UPSR and the PMR examinations, besides the SPM and the STPM, at the school level.

Stress is everywhere. Students have to learn to cope and live with it. Mental strength is vital to survive in this challenging world.

Coursework and assignments don’t work, more so with classrooms bursting at the seams with students.

And what about the problematic students who attend school as they like, and absent themselves as they wish?

When these students are present, they are “caged up” for the day only to do or, in some cases, copy the coursework and assignments needed for assessments.

Policymakers should go down to the ground and listen to the the teachers, who know what is best for the students, instead of coming up with plans that do not address real scenarios.

THIAGAN MATHIAPARANAM

Klang, Selangor