Mistakes can be made but be accountable too

I would like to refer to an article wrote by a worried Malay­sian on November 9, 2017 pertaining to those students who possibly answered incorrectly a writing question in the English SPM 2017.

The writer shared his view that students should not be penalised severely for incorrectly answering the given question and instead proposed deducting a maximum of three points for not keeping within the boundary of the question.

The writer further argued the students have captured the same intended themes, and hoped that the Malaysia Examination Syndicate would take this into consideration so as not to deprive the students.

When a student fails to read the examination question properly and does not carry out the task as per instruction, the student should be accountable and responsible for his/her own action. No excuses must be given and accepted.

A disastrous value will be encouraged if the Examination Syndicate agrees with the writer’s arguments. We are simply telling our children that it is fine if we do not take instructions properly and execute them wrongly.

What is going to happen if our future generation carries such values into their workplace?

Not taking proper instructions could potentially cost any entity huge financial losses, have disastrous consequences, and worst still cost precious human lives. Just because it is simply fine to make mistakes.

Children go to school not only to acquire the necessary knowledge. School is also the place where they learn to differentiate between right and wrong before they enter society. And ultimately school is the place where they learn about accountability, credibility and responsibility.

While I agree with the writer that it is important to do well in SPM, it is equally important to teach our children the right values.

A CONCERNED PARENT

Penang