Dr Maszlee to pupils: Read, work hard and be trustworthy

PUTRAJAYA: As the new school year begins, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik is advising SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1) pupils to be hardworking.

“Read more books; a successful and advanced society is one that reads.

“Also, be trustworthy people, and in whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly,” he said after visiting the school on the first day of classes on Wednesday (Jan 2).

Dr Maszlee advised parents to inculcate the habit of reading in their children by asking them what they had read when they returned from school.

Mohd Izlan Mohd Ilias’s seven-year-old daughter, Nur Izzah, was so excited about the first day of school that she woke up at 6am on her own and got dressed on her own.

“I’m excited, too, because she’s my eldest, so it’s a new experience.

“She is really looking forward to starting school,” said Mohd Izlan, 36, who has three children.

Commenting on the ministry’s decision to abolish exams for Years One, Two and Three from this year, Mohd Izlan said it was a good idea, as it would further improve the education system. 

Afendy Jasmi, 39, whose son Muhammad Dhiyaulhaq is in Year Two this year, said abolishing the exams would reduce the pressure to excel among children.

“It will uncover their potential in other areas,” he said.

Eugene Sylvester, 40, said by doing away with exams, children would be more geared up and would enjoy going to school.

“That’s more important, because they will be sitting for exams for rest of their schooling years anyway.”

Eugene’s Year One daughter, Daniella Samantha Anne, was holding onto her mother, Sharon Kumari Sandanasamy, while getting ready to enter her class with her pink backpack.

Guided by the examples set by her older two sisters, Eugene said, his youngest daughter should do fine in school.