Witticism by reticent

“是不是具有讽刺意味的… …我们忽略那些谁崇拜我们和崇拜那些谁忽视我们…谁伤害了那些爱我们和那些爱谁伤害了我们… … 。
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Robert Kuok still tops Malaysia’s rich list with US$10b

Dear readers, recently, I was contacted by teacher from India through my social networking, Think.com and she was asking me regarding our education system. Here’s what I’m writing.
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Thank you for your wonderful greetings! Sure, it is my pleasure to introduce you our education system in Malaysia. Basically, in Malaysia two ministries are responsible for providing full and comprehensive education to all Malaysian ranging from Pre-education and primary education to Secondary and Tertiary education. There are Minister of Education (MOE) which leading education for pre, primary and secondary schools including Matriculation College while other ministry called Ministry of Higher Education conducting tertiary education for SPM (O-Level), STPM (A-Level) and Foundation Leavers.

Pre Education – Under MOE and Welfare Ministry

Although Pre-Education is not compulsory for Malaysian, mostly parents sending their children to Pre-E to give early exposure for education world. Currently, Malaysian Government has setup Pre-E school at rural area while in urban, private sector dominating the space. Registered pre-schools are subjected to zoning regulations and must comply with other regulations such as health screening and fire hazard assessment. Many of the preschools are located in high density residential areas where normal residences which comply with the regulations of the Welfare Ministry are converted for this purpose. Some private schools have pre-school sections. Other pre-school programmes are run by religious groups. Maximum age for Pre-E is 6 years old while no minimum age regulated.

Primary School – Under MOE

All kids age 7 are subjected to attend primary school till age 12. It is illegal for parents not sending them to any national schools or private schools. Primary education consists 6 years learning referred as year 1 till year 6. In order to examine the students’ abilities, year 6 will undergo standardized test call UPSR. Subjects that tested are Malay Comprehension, English, Mathematics, Science, Chinese Language and Tamil Language. English and Mathematics are tested in English. Students who achieve excellent result will gain admission into Fully-Residential schools or known as SM SAINS.

Lower Secondary – Under MOE

Those who are age 13 to 15 will pursue their study in lower secondary. They frequently referred as Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3 student. At the end of the year, Form 3 students will sitting Lower Secondary Evaluation (PMR) which set by Malaysia Examination Syndicate. Based on choice, they will be streamed into either the Science stream or Arts stream. The Science stream is generally more desirable. Students are allowed to shift to the Arts stream from the Science stream, but rarely vice-versa. Those who are chosen to enroll their study at Fully Residential School or SM Sains (Stand for Science Boarding School) will be streamed to science stream.

Upper secondary – Under MOE

After obtaining PMR results, students who did well in examination, will be streamed to Science Boarding School or SM Sains. They will take up 10 compulsory subjects which are Malay Language, English, History, Islamic Studies/Moral Studies, Chemistry, Physics, Additional Mathematics (Further Maths), Biology, Mathematics (regular) and English for Science and Technology. However, in some other boarding school, students have to taking up 12 subjects with additional to Accounting and English literature. Some students are very keen to take up 20 subjects in O-Level and this has been allowed by Ministry of Education. For your information, students of Science Boarding School are required to take up at least one foreign language. Foreign languages that offered are French, Japanese, Chinese, German and Arabic. In my former school, I was taking up French.

For those who choose not to study at Boarding school, they could pursue their study at daily school known as Sekolah Menengah (High School or Secondary School). However, in daily school, no foreign language is offered.

Exta-Curicular activity

All Students in Malaysia must join at least 3 extra curricular activities such as Uniform Body (such as Scout, Police Cadet, Military Cadet, and Girl Guide), Society, Sports and Games, and Clubs. Marks will be credited to students who are active in all activities and the marks are required to pursue study at University.

I hope with this explanation would help you to understand our education system in Malaysia.

I’m back and my notebook is now ready for action once again! My notebook is repaired and now I could rox my life by surfing the net. More post to come so do stay read my blog yaa!

Dearest readers,

I’m unable to update my blog for time being. Although, I love writing and posting but my laptop seems disallow me to continue writing cuz I’ve crash my laptop unintentionally. I’ll be back blogging soon my laptop repaired.

Responding to recent statement by Sabah Education State Director, Puan Normah Gagoh concerning the pilot 7 am – 3 pm session for selected schools, which quoted, “as a matter of principle, teachers and parents should not question this exercise as education is a collective responsibility..” might probably inappropriate. As far as everyone concerned, collective responsibility meant a group of people who work together to run something involving a group, or shared and made by every member of a group.

In this education context, teachers, students, parents, principals and education officers are members in the group who are directly and collectively responsible in reengineering and restructuring our education systems. I’m quite disappointed with such remarks that try to dissuade people particularly students and parents from voice out their concerns and suggestions which I think it might be useful for in depth research. However, it was also so wrong when parents blaming and put all the burdens to the director solely. When it comes to outlandish or mislay policy, then someone should have initiatives to relay the policy in accordingly right direction.

I’m posting this not to blame anyone but try to voice out what I was felt during my recent years as a fully residential school student which study schedule is similar to those kind 7 am -3 pm session. However, ours was much listless. We have to wake up 4.30 in the morning just to book iron earlier. But, only at 5.15 am we managed to take a shower because one pool is not sufficient and some restrooms utterly can’t be used because there was no water. While, those who are Muslims have to perform solat at 5.30 am. Considering this, we were only dressed up at 5.50 am. At 6.00 am, siren was switched. All students have to leave hostel and having a short breakfast for about 15 minutes. Unfortunately, dining hall often opened late.

Try to imagine this, our daily assembly started at 6.30 am and personally I didn’t take breakfast just to ensure I have a chance to put my bag at class and dashing to assembly. For form 5 and form 3 students, their classes have started as early as 6.30 am. Our classes only finish at 2 pm and given only 50 minutes to perform solat zuhur, lunch, and short nap. At 3 pm we have to back at school for prep and international language class and this happen until one hour. After 4 pm, we were only given 30 minutes chance to perform solat asar, tea break and wearing sports attire.

By 4.30 pm, all students have to go their games and co-curriculum activities. On night, our prep will be started at 8.00 pm till 10.00 pm and silent hour at 11 pm. I am quite sure you’re now starting counting on how many hours that we used to sleep. After all, we sleepless in class everyday so was our teacher.

So, when it comes to be implemented in daily school, I feel very sorry for them. They just have to wake up like us so the teachers have to work 8 hours per day. If Ministry keeps obstinate and insisting want to implement this kind session to all schools in Malaysia, they should consider providing enough facilities for students to have rest at least. And more nutritious and delicious foods provided for our student in the future.

I am urging Ministry of Education to work closely in this major education conflagration with our students, parents and teachers. In the mean time, they should not remain stuck in their morass of outdated conservative thinking.

After an hour looking for something to write up finally I stop crinkle my nose and start typing Space Exploration- A long journey for Malaysia as my title for today’s article. First, let me begin by asking have you ever dream to become an astronaut or maybe space visitor?…well you may have your say at the end of this article. In the earth we are surrounded by the air which are occupied by many gases mainly nitrogen. However, when we are travel far away from land, the air will be limited. There is some extent between the sun, moon, planets and stars. The space exploration which has begun since 1957 has sees many achievements brought by mankind although failure and tragedies may sometimes disturb us. Indeed, exploring the space is a never an easy job to do. So far we were only have success landed astronauts in the moon. They would like to visit our nearest neighbour Mars but the journey will take six months to complete. Spacecraft equipped with robots may be able to explore planets which are thousand miles away from the earth but to arrive at the nearest star is time-consuming.

A trip to Space

In order to travel to space we have to overcome a gravitational force from the centre of the earth. We may overcome it by accelerating at 40 000 km/h, which approximate to 20 times speed of Concorde. This speed is known as a velocity after earth. A satellite which circulating the earth requires a velocity of 12 times speed of Concorde. Only capable rocket could launch astronaut and satellite to the space. The rocket engine though must capable functioning in space not like an aeroplane’s engine.

Spacecraft

Rocket construction requires huge expenditures and lots of energy worker. Space Shuttle is the first ever spacecraft built to lift off for a many times. A new part that should be reinstalled after a first mission is only a fuel tank. The space shuttle blast off from the earth in a vertical as like as a rocket but landing as a giant glider on the runaway. For the next generation space shuttle, it is hope that the space shuttle could be lift off and landing on the aeroplane that carries the space shuttle. However, the spacecraft that carried our first astronaut is not come from space shuttle but it is a Russian-made spacecraft known as Soyuz. Unlike the space shuttle, Soyuz can only accommodate 3 cosmonauts. Since the Soyuz is designed like a dorm, landing on the earth should be no problem to Soyuz as it is more stable when landing compare to the space shuttle.

Space Station

Space station is the place where astronauts stays and works. The space station is circulating the earth and it is equipped with every basic need from foods to the air, from water to the medicine. This station has to fast so it could accommodate air for respiration and protecting astronauts from rays and space ashes. To date there is only one space station remains active namely International Space Station. I’m glad to hear that Malaysian government is interested to become an active community member of International Space Station.

Living in the space

The main problem living in the space is every object including astronaut is always floating. This is because gravitational force in the space is almost zero. This is known as micro-gravity. In order to stay in one place, astronaut has to be tie in a special compartment. Food would be sticky so it could be stick on spoon; water is stored in a vacuum container to avoid it from floating like a fluid ball.

Well, I was just recently back from Sukau, Kinabatangan District where massive flora and fauna conservation is underway by government and some ngo’s…personally, after I spent couple of weeks washing my eyes at there,my mind start thinking how’s the earth without the plants and animals..every moment I was spent plenty of time joining guides group to explore Malaysia’s tropical rainforest..I’ve been understood that the efforts have begun since late 1999…but honestly I was not aware this efforts have started since that time..maybe because I’m too comfortable staying at urban area..where every environment aspects are less taking care by urbaners. Fortunately, we have iron lady and man at the ministry of natural environment who are always making sure our environment is protected and beautiful. By the way, what I want to stress here is the importance of biodiversity and the effects of pollution to our ecosystem.

We are certainly have heard about global warming. But its rarely to hear how’s individual can contribute to lessen the impacts of global warming. Global warming can be defined as excessive heat released and trapped in the earth caused the earth to be warmed. As individual, we could minimise the impact by practising car pooling or use public transportation such LRT and commuter. By practising car pooling, we could reduced the released of carbon monoxide to the air. In fact, we can save our budget to buy car petrol! Indeed, protecting environment is a noble practice and what you do to the environment of course would affects you too!! So lets taking care our environment!! WORLD PEACE BUDDY!

Its time for more writing rather than talking…I’d promise to myself to find a new hobby this year; well this is it, publishing a web blog. Gosh this time I’ve to start practice writing articles; as 2008 will be my tough year especially in matter of money and education according to Chinese Astrology. My SPM result which I’m eagerly waiting is still unknown for its date. Certainly, I’m looking forward to have excellent result so I can have a room to pursue my study at overseas. The only thing is am I ready to study at overseas? I demand the answer.

Making a decision is a very tough. I have to choose whether I’m ready or not publishing my writing. Sometimes, I’d think it’s against my privacy ‘cause revealing my world to outsiders. Furthermore, I’m totally not fit to become an internet bully victim. Finally I decided to immortalize my thoughts in this blog as I think I may learn something new here. But it comes with very clear condition; No back stabbing. Aha, my clear message to everyone I won’t make a personal attack here but personal view is yes.

However, there is something playing in my mind now, is gender plays a big role in set up a blog. As far as everybody concerned, in Malaysia setting up a blog is always being dominated by woman since ages, while man is nowhere to see (yeah only few of them actively writing); its makes me wonder why man doesn’t feel writing as same way as woman did. C’mon man show up on how to be a gentleman. Put your ideas, thoughts or anything in writing. Love music and scripting lyrics then use the blog to idealized and inspired people. It would be easy for everyone to accept your ideas and it would much be appreciated should your ideas helping people worldwide! It’s never become so wrong when man started to write about comics, stories and your experience as long as your writing does not offended someone.
So, gentlemen from now on start writing your own blog; make the world scripted equally by man and woman. World Peace!! “”