How to get out of the Malaysia's education system...

nalgene87 · #1 12-01-2006 **How to get out of the Malaysia's education system...**

I don't know but suddenly this thought just strikes me: How many Malaysians who end up in elite universities abroad are actually 100% Buatan Malaysia? The Harvard SCEA girl has spent considerably amount of her time abroad. This is the same for our Dartmouth ED boy.

Last year, there were two Harvard admits and one was from the United Kingdom; the other was from Malaysia (although I have no idea whether he's educated in Malaysia's public schools). It just seems to me that our Malaysian education system is now at a level that can be described as deplorable. Apparently, it seems that even our government can't help much to salvage the situation.

I know of a young friend who is in Primary one now and is attending a Chinese school. Now that the government has made teaching Sciences and Mathematics in English compulsory, many Chinese schools have reluctantly done so. However, at the same time, they "reteach" the curriculum in Mandarin and shorten the English periods to just two periods a week. One hour of learning English a week. How far can these students go? Language is something that we need to use, familiarize ourselves with. Without sufficient practise, how do you expect someone to be proficient at it?

Secondly, there is this really disturbing trend of Malaysian politicians competing to see who is more Islamic. It seems that many think that the more Islamic they are, the more devoted they are to their religion. The BBC has reported that our infastructures in Malaysia is becoming more Arabic, replacing traditional woodwork and handicrafts of indigeneous Malays. In Parliament, politicians hurl insults at each other over comments whether Malaysia is an Islamic state. This is also evident in our education system as many of you know. And despite many complaints, nothing has been done. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

I believe that if you can't change it despite so much efforts trying to do so, you should escape from it. For your own good. For your better future. I applaud Johnleemk for being so daring and standing up for the things that he believes in. And I believe that we should help other Malaysians who are trapped in the system to get out of it. As many as possible. I know this sounds ridiculous. But I believe many have lost faith with our education system. It is indeed sad that Malaysians cannot look beyond our skin colours and many are too myopic.

So to people out there who is fortunate enough to be able to venture abroad at such a young age, it will be great if you can shed some light on the possible places one can go to. Yeah, by just providing information (Yes, it's simple as that!) I believe that many fellow Malaysians out there will be able to benefit from it. (I regret not knowing about United World College when I finished my O levels.) For a start, can people who have been to United World College, any other International Schools or Prep Schools like Exeter and Andover tell us more about these schools... the application process, any scholarships and such. Yep, sorry for beating about the bush to get to this.

bestcreation · #2 12-01-2006

I can empthathize with your feelings. In a way, I escape the Malaysian system too but only after finishing secondary school, which is public, smjk and not located in kl.

The Malaysian education system isn't that bad. You should go look at public schools in the US. I haven't studied in one myself but the general consensus is that they don't even successfully teach you to read and write properly and they are only doing it one language.

I am raising my hand and saying that I am 100% Buatan Malaysia.

Shamelessly plagiarized from el_empty

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*Thirdshifter* · #3 12-01-2006

Malaysian education is alright in my opinion. Not the best in the world but good enough to produce students that are ready for University.

Recom is a good example. I think 99% of us here are educated in the Malaysian system.

nalgene87 · #4 12-01-2006

Bestcreation: Would you mind sharing where did you go after Secondary School?

Thirdshifter: "But good enough to produce students that are ready for University". Perhaps you are an anomaly. Look at graduates from our Public Universities and you can judge for yourself whether our Malaysian education system is "alright". And also, it seems to me that our government establish a university as though it is opening a coffee shop at the corner of the street. Establishing a university is used as a political agenda during elections!!! Where on Earth are you going to find all the great lecturers and students???

Argh... sometimes I cant help to think what are they thinking when our government makes decisions like this..

digimushu · #5 12-01-2006

Quote:

Look at graduates from our Public Universities and you can judge for yourself whether our Malaysian education system is "alright".

Our universities are taking in race horses and putting out mules. The primary and secondary curricula is adequate but not top notch. In short, we are all about making workers, not thinkers.

nalgene87 · #6 12-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimushu

The primary and secondary curricula is adequate but not top notch. In short, we are all about making workers, not thinkers.

Perhaps my comments have been too harsh. But the thought of having just two english periods a week drives me mad!

digimushu · #7 12-01-2006

Everything depends on the school. My secondary school, our teachers teach us the stuff in BM for SPM but also explain some of the terms in English for us. Learning is a self-motivated process. If you don't have the appetite for it, no one can make u do it.

*Thirdshifter* · #8 12-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by nalgene87

Bestcreation: Would you mind sharing where did you go after Secondary School?

Thirdshifter: "But good enough to produce students that are ready for University". Perhaps you are an anomaly. Look at graduates from our Public Universities and you can judge for yourself whether our Malaysian education system is "alright". And also, it seems to me that our government establish a university as though it is opening a coffee shop at the corner of the street. Establishing a university is used as a political agenda during elections!!! Where on Earth are you going to find all the great lecturers and students???

Argh... sometimes I cant help to think what are they thinking when our government makes decisions like this..

Just curious, have you ever went and attended a Public university in Malaysia? Ofcourse Malaysian University is no Harvard, but it still possess a good quality education for its students. However, the student that get into these schools are questionable. Some are based on Merit and some other based on race.

Beside that little "glitch" in the public university system, the education you get is not bad at all, i think its comparable to any university in the world.

digimushu · #9 12-01-2006

Even with all the spoonfeeding?

*Thirdshifter* · #10 12-01-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by digimushu

Even with all the spoonfeeding?

explain.

Thirdshifter Super Moderator Forum Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,610	#3 12-01-2006 Malaysian education is alright in my opinion. Not the best in the world but good enough to produce students that are ready for University. Recom is a good example. I think 99% of us here are educated in the Malaysian system.

digimushu Prototyper Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,191	#9 12-01-2006 Even with all the spoonfeeding? __________________ No trees were killed in the creation of this message. However, a great many electrons were terribly inconvenienced. Join the Engineering SIG!