SPM subject limit won't make us a sporting nation
Farouk Gulsara | Jun 2, 09 5:35pm
Being the pessimist that he is and when the number of A scorers started increasing since the mid- 80s, my father used to say that the day would come when if one does not score all As in the public examinations, he would be considered a failure. [Photo]
And sure enough, the day has come when there are not enough scholarships and remuneration to go around to whet the appetites of all the A scorers. So to get around this hurdle, students started taking more and more subjects to place themselves a niche above the rest.
Students who decide to take multiple subjects (a phenomenal number of fifteen and above) do so on their own accord; they are not coerced or forced to by family members or peer pressure.
Some of them may do it out of an undying zest to escape the shackles of poverty as we have always been told that education is the only way to improve your life if do not have money.
By denying these students a chance to achieve their dream, it will only demoralise them and they will be ever willing to fall prey to the ever expanding ‘brain drain' from our country. These students will be willing to take up foreign scholarships like the Asean scholarship and the like.
It would be interesting if the Education Ministry were to analyse the results of students who took multiple (more than 15) subjects to ascertain their performance. These students would actually be students who are above average students and who excel in the academic field plus have extracurricular activities to their credit.
The Education Ministry should remember that students who take multiple subjects are not depending solely on the Public Service Department (JPA) for scholarships. Many foreign universities and trusts, eg, the Asean Scholarship, Yale, Oxbridge, Harvard etcetera are ever willing to place them under their wings for further studies.
Some of these universities go on to finance up to 75 percent of their tuition fees to entice them to study in their varsities. It would be such an honour and credit to the Malaysian education system if such a thing happens.
It will go on to show that the Malaysian education system is of international standard. Perhaps, the Malaysian government can hand out loans to tie them to serve our country. Recovering the loan after their studies is another story altogether.
Students of mediocre standard will not bother to register for multiple subjects anyway, therefore the question of an inability to cope will not arise. Limiting the number of subjects that students take for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia is not going turn our nation into a sporting nation.
Students should be allowed to take more than 10 subjects for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia but limiting it to perhaps 14 with approval from the school authorities.
Scholarships should be given to truly deserving students taking into consideration their academic and extracurricular achievements and their socioeconomic background.
There must also be a special category of scholarships akin to the President's Scholarship in Singapore where the creme de la crème will be appropriately honoured.
We should improve our student loan service and servicing system so that all the needy will have the opportunity to study as well and not be let down by the nation. This will eventually help to keep the ‘brain drain' in check and increase loyalty to the country.
Farouk Gulsara | Jun 2, 09 5:35pm
Being the pessimist that he is and when the number of A scorers started increasing since the mid- 80s, my father used to say that the day would come when if one does not score all As in the public examinations, he would be considered a failure. [Photo]
And sure enough, the day has come when there are not enough scholarships and remuneration to go around to whet the appetites of all the A scorers. So to get around this hurdle, students started taking more and more subjects to place themselves a niche above the rest.
Students who decide to take multiple subjects (a phenomenal number of fifteen and above) do so on their own accord; they are not coerced or forced to by family members or peer pressure.
Some of them may do it out of an undying zest to escape the shackles of poverty as we have always been told that education is the only way to improve your life if do not have money.
By denying these students a chance to achieve their dream, it will only demoralise them and they will be ever willing to fall prey to the ever expanding ‘brain drain' from our country. These students will be willing to take up foreign scholarships like the Asean scholarship and the like.
It would be interesting if the Education Ministry were to analyse the results of students who took multiple (more than 15) subjects to ascertain their performance. These students would actually be students who are above average students and who excel in the academic field plus have extracurricular activities to their credit.
The Education Ministry should remember that students who take multiple subjects are not depending solely on the Public Service Department (JPA) for scholarships. Many foreign universities and trusts, eg, the Asean Scholarship, Yale, Oxbridge, Harvard etcetera are ever willing to place them under their wings for further studies.
Some of these universities go on to finance up to 75 percent of their tuition fees to entice them to study in their varsities. It would be such an honour and credit to the Malaysian education system if such a thing happens.
It will go on to show that the Malaysian education system is of international standard. Perhaps, the Malaysian government can hand out loans to tie them to serve our country. Recovering the loan after their studies is another story altogether.
Students of mediocre standard will not bother to register for multiple subjects anyway, therefore the question of an inability to cope will not arise. Limiting the number of subjects that students take for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia is not going turn our nation into a sporting nation.
Students should be allowed to take more than 10 subjects for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia but limiting it to perhaps 14 with approval from the school authorities.
Scholarships should be given to truly deserving students taking into consideration their academic and extracurricular achievements and their socioeconomic background.
There must also be a special category of scholarships akin to the President's Scholarship in Singapore where the creme de la crème will be appropriately honoured.
We should improve our student loan service and servicing system so that all the needy will have the opportunity to study as well and not be let down by the nation. This will eventually help to keep the ‘brain drain' in check and increase loyalty to the country.
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