On the 1st of April 2012, I wrote this https://pagalavan.com/2012/04/01/world-class-education/. The situation seems to be getting more interesting day by day!! In my earlier post then, I had mentioned how messed up is our education system in this country. So many different type of schools, different curriculums and race based systems. A total mess, so much so, even out politicians do not send their children to our national schools.

Every now and then, our Education Minister makes a fool out of himself. I first called him a clown here, https://pagalavan.com/2011/10/21/clown-of-the-year-award/ and it looks like he is becoming one after all!! Just few weeks ago, he said that our education system is at par with developed countries but today, he claim that we WILL be at par in 10-15 years time, based on The Star report today http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/13/nation/11283649&sec=nation, attached below.

Then I saw this interesting headline in NST today http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/international-schools-quota-lifted-1.83311. Now, international schools can enroll 100% local students. Not enough of vernacular schools, national schools, agama schools, boarding schools, science schools, MARA colleges, private schools and now rich parents can enroll their children into international schools which conducts a totally foreign curriculum/subjects!! What a mess !!

At the end of the day, our politicians are only thinking of how to make money! period! So, now, the rich will go to UK or US-based education, the privileged and elites will go to MARA and boarding schools and the poor souls will end up in the national schools!!

My goodness………………………..

International schools’ quota lifted

By ELVINA FERNANDEZ AND LAVANYA  LINGAN | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: MORE Malaysians can now be enrolled in international schools  locally as the country moves to further liberalise its education With immediate  effect, the Education Ministry has decided to do away with the previous 40 per  cent quota for local students in the nearly 100 such schools now operating.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who confirmed the move,  told the New Sunday Times yesterday that “we decided on this as it is in line  with the government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to make the  country a regional education hub”.

He stressed that the lifting of the quota was necessary because “we have to  compete with neighbouring countries in the educational field”.

He said Singapore and Thailand had already lifted their quotas and Malaysia  needed to follow suit.

“The ministry has endorsed the change and we are implementing the  move  with immediate effect.”

He  said the decision also followed the many requests from Malaysian  parents for more places for their children in international schools.

Sri Kuala Lumpur International School chief executive officer Hanif Othman  Merican, when contacted, said they had yet to receive the directive from the  ministry, but he welcomed the move.

“There is a demand for more places from local students and the decision will  open the doors for greater enrolment,” he said.

Asked about plans to increase the number of students in the school, he said  there was none at the moment.

Hanif also said there may not be an increase in  fees although there  would be more local students seeking admission.

Meanwhile, Parent Action Group for Education (Page) president Datin Noor  Azimah Abdul Rahim disagreed with the move as she said  this  would  create “a new social divide between communities of different socio-economic  levels”.

She added that  parents who could afford the fees would send their  children to international schools, while the rest of the children would be  enrolled in national schools.

Noor Azimah pointed out that  this could result in reduced  competitiveness among  students in national schools   because   the more brighter ones would be studying in international  schools.

SHAH ALAM: It will take another 10 to 15 years for the country’s education system to be on par or better than that of developed nations.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the realistic target was set so that the existing education system could be reviewed and benchmarked against the developed countries.

“The people have high expectations of the standard of the education system in the country. Our benchmark is not just to be excellent but par excellence in comparison with the developed countries,” Muhyiddin said in his speech when launching the 10th anniversary celebration of SK Bukit Jelutong yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, added that although the present benchmark was good, it was still not up to international standards.

“We want to benchmark ourselves against the developed nations and not with the countries which are lagging behind in their development,” he added.

“The quality of teachers is the first issue that will be addressed in our effort to boost the education system. We will look into teacher training and the roles played by teachers inside and outside of the classroom in the review,” he added.

The Government had formed a panel last year comprising educationists and corporate leaders to review the education system in nine priority areas.

The priorities include teachers, school leaders, school quality, curriculum and evaluation and multi-lingual proficiency.

The blueprint for education reforms would be ready by August after taking into account all findings and feedback from the ongoing series of dialogues with the public and interested parties from now till July.

Muhyiddin also said the low poverty rate of 2% was the result of the education system in the country.

“No one can deny that our education system has contributed to the success that we enjoy today,” he said.

He also announced an allocation of RM2mil for the school’s new hall. SK Bukit Jelutong has over 2,500 pupils.