Since it is exam season, let us talk about education system. Of course, in order to make a good comparison I will use some other countries’ education system as example. As we all know, our country education system started 1816 when the Penang Free School, the oldest school in Malaysia had been established. However, a more proper education system established after independence. In fact Singapore shared the same root of education system as Malaysia. However, it diverged when Singapore requested from sole independence from Malaya. Till today, we can see there’s already a big gap between the education system of Malaysia and Singapore.

There is a saying, “The American educational system is what made America the richest nation in the world.” I would say that indeed it is! Its educational system had always been less elite than that of most European nations. By 1900 the U.S. had begun to educate its masses at the secondary level, not just in the primary schools that had remarkable success in the nineteenth century. As a university student, I would like to take an easy example where American universities would always look at the subjective factors in their admission policies such as the students’ co-curricular activities, essay writings, thesis writing, and of course interview. When we come back to Malaysia, the first thing which comes into our mind about universities enrolment would be “quota”. Yupe, and secondly would be “money”. (Obviously depicted especially in private universities and colleges)

I could only say that “quota” as well as “materiality” is the restriction for good education system. Though it’s one of our country specialties and uniqueness of having multi-racial and cultural environment, but it doesn’t make sense when it comes to performance assessment. This is even ridiculous when comes to education where there shouldn’t be any restriction and limitation.

And when we move on to talk about the assessment system in Malaysia, we realized that Malaysia is encouraging their students to “eat the book”. Yes, I’m serious about this as memorizing the whole book and throwing it out during examination is similar to keeping all in the stomach and vomits it out. It doesn’t undergo any process of “digesting”. Come on, digestion needs time. Any how, our education system is rushing the syllabuses faster than the bullet train and squeezing so many subjects in one semester expecting their students to become well-rounded person, well-versed in all kinds of knowledge. BULLSHIT! In fact the students just learn the skill of putting things exactly the same as they seen on the notes on examination paper. That’s the so called “Exam-oriented” system in Malaysia. So pathetic.

Just a simple quote from what I found on the foreign education practice:

Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education
1. Encourages contact between students and faculty
2. Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
3. Encourages active learning
4. Gives prompt feedback on performance
5. Emphasizes time on task
6. Communicates high expectations
7. Respects diverse talents and ways of learning

----A.W. Chickering & Z.F. Gamson, 1987. AAHE.

Well, from the above practice, we can clearly see the differences. Another quote I found on the net is that “Classroom Assessment is one method of inquiry within the framework of Classroom Research, a broader approach to improving teaching and learning.” It sounds simple, but if you understand the meaning of this statement deeply, you would notice the fallacy of Malaysia education system. It says “improving teaching and learning”. They put “teaching” at the first place where I can understand the intentions very well as educators are the most important catalyst in seeking knowledge. Now, come back to our “exam-oriented” system in Malaysia, would it help our educationist? If I’m not mistaken they are marking question paper of university students (remember! It’s “university students”! If it’s for primary or secondary, I can understandable tolerate) with answer scheme? Well, it’s ok for me if it serves as a guideline, but I don’t think we can score if anyone of us tries to give a wild daring answer. Until when only we can practice an examination system where lecturer expecting special and unique answer sourced from a mind-thinker rather than a book-eater. When we study, we relate, we expand, we diverse…. But it seems impossible here.

The mould shape itself has a big problem. How can we expect a good product from it? Probably I’m looking too far away. Even if we come back to the nearest neighbor, Singapore, we are left behind far away. National University of Singapore still ranked in top 150 of world universities. Quality of education has been maintained all this time and improvement had been made progressively through research and development.

Just to open your eyes wider, I quoted some of the universities motto as comparison to MMU:

“Amicus Plato，Amicus Aristotle，sed Magis Amicus VERITAS”
- Let Plato be your friend，and Aristotle，but more let your friend be Truth (Harvard)

“Dominus Illuminatio Mea”
-The Lord is my Light (Oxford)

“The University for the Knowledge Era” (MMU)

Imagine asking students to seek their own truth. Encourage them to learn from history great philosopher but can anytime counter their theory if you seek the real truth! Their mottos have something which is great and significant as the goal of seeking knowledge. But “The University for the Knowledge Era”, hmm……don’t know what to say

Out of the world top 20 universities list, 17 belong to American universities. It proves the saying that “the strong education beneath this giant nation serves as the nerve of the wealth of this country”. Still a lot to improve Malaysia!!!! Wake up!!!

Continue study~~~~ tired