As parents, it is only natural for them to want what’s best for their children. And this is especially true when it comes to their education, whether it be from their formative years to their tertiary ambitions. But in the past number of years, glaring issues have been raised by parents and teachers alike as to whether the local school system is indeed well tailored to meet the needs of students here.
A number of these concerns were highlighted most recently by education advocate and local mathematics teacher Cikgu Fadli, such as the increasingly challenging syllabus used to teach Standard One students, as well as the matter of heavy schoolbags that may hamper a child’s physical development.
M’sian parent based in US shows differences between school systems
And they are only further compounded by comparisons that Malaysian netizen and father Saif Suhairi has illustrated in a recent Facebook post that has since gone viral. Based out in the United States, he shows the differences in approach between the American and Malaysian school systems respectively by breaking things down in a few key areas, firstly being the school syllabus used to teach students who are between the ages of 6 to 7.
In America, children of that age typically enroll in First Grade, which is the equivalent of Standard One in Malaysia. With workbooks from both countries placed side-by-side, Saif said that students in America were still being taught how to trace numbers as though they were still in kindergarten, while Malaysian students are already learning to multiply by six.
Admitting that he is on the fence where that is concerned, he goes on to share that American students will only begin learning about multiplication in Grade 3, before the syllabus becomes more challenging in middle school and high school.
With that said, he surmises that the American syllabus’ approach is to enjoy the learning process. For students that are more capable or advanced, special mechanisms are in place to help cater to them specifically.
No heavy schoolbags, small classroom numbers
On the subject of schoolbags, Saif explains that students in America did not have to bring home any school materials or books, as they were stored in their desks. Instead, they simply had to bring home a single Dell laptop, which is issued by the school, a work file, and whatever homework they may need to complete. In most cases, school materials are only ever brought home to show parents their children’s progress.
And finally, classroom sizes are typically no larger than 20 to 25 students at most. Every class teacher would also be assisted by a teacher’s aide, so that the teacher could focus on teaching. The aide would be responsible to enforce class discipline, as well as other tasks such as assisting students in understanding the lesson and distributing school materials.
In spite of living abroad, Saif hopes that the Malaysian government would consider choosing and sticking to its most effective syllabus. This is in light of how the changing of policies based upon the whims of ministers and governments would prove detrimental for students and teachers alike in the years to come.
Tap here to give us a ‘Like’ on Facebook and stay up-to-date on the latest news!
Also read: Cikgu Fadli who raised concerns in school system cleared of all wrongdoing by MoE disciplinary panel
