Back in our schooling days, many of us may recall what it felt like to be woken up by our parents to get ready for school even before the sun had crested past the horizon. And while many of us have come to accept it as simply a part and parcel of growing up, one Malaysian education expert has suggested that the system be changed to better accommodate the needs of teachers, parents, as well as students in the future.
Education expert suggests M’sian schools start at 8.00am
As reported by local news agency Sinar Harian, senior Lecturer at the Center for the Study of Diversity in Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Dr Anuar Ahmad suggests that schools in Malaysia should consider starting at 8.00am, as part of the government’s efforts to introduce the new Malaysia Madani national policy, alongside a new slogan: ‘Happy Students, Happy Teachers, Better Schools, and a More Prosperous Nation’.
According to Ahmad, the government should be more sympathetic and empathetic to the circumstances faced by teachers, parents, and students who have to wake up as early as 4.30am in order to arrive to school on time.
“If they live in the city, they will have to endure traffic jams from as early as 6.00am to get to school,” he adds.
Presently, schools across the country typically begin their classes from 7.30am onwards.
A bid to be more sympathetic and empathetic
What’s more, Ahmad points out that students living in rural areas have no choice but to travel to school on rickshaws or on foot through muddy roads and trails. Some may even need to commute by small boats to school in the dark.
Given that fact, he is of the opinion that in delaying classes by 30 minutes, this would grant everybody more time to prepare for the school day.
“If the government is concerned about the well-being and health of the people, is it really wrong for us to do something right for the people by starting the school session at 8 am,” he asked.
His suggestion has since sparked a debate among Malaysians on the matter over social media.
Many say that they do not see a reason to change a practice that has been ingrained for so many decades in the local education system.
“From the time of Sarjan Hassan (movie from 1958), schooling times have been this way. In 2023 they start complaining about waking up at 4.30am to go to school, and for what?”
Others point out that the change in timing will only make the traffic situation worse, as it will clash with office workers commuting to work.
“It’s not going to change anything. It will make traffic jams even worse for those who are heading to work. Parents wake up early and send their kids early because they need to go to work. They don’t want to be stuck in jams. Identify the root cause. Make public transportation more accessible.”
“If it starts at 8.00am, then they will be caught up with office workers entering their workplaces at 8.00am. The congestion on the roads will be worse. For the longest time, schools have started at 7.30am. Why do they want to make all sorts of suggestions now?”
With that said, some netizens say that starting school slightly later may bring benefits to students, with one citing an example from the United Kingdom.
“In the UK, primary schools start between 8.30am to 8.45am. Workplace hours start between 9.30am and end at 5.30pm. You can see positive changes in terms of parenting between Malaysia and the UK: 1) More quality family time 2) Improved mental and emotional health 3) Increased productivity. These are just my personal experiences.”
What are your thoughts?
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