‘Education In Our Country Needs Urgent Reform’
The government spends a lot on education yet we are left behind, says a former minister.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
Former Youth and Sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman raised his concern regarding the state of the country’s education system in Parliament yesterday.
“As the son of a teacher, I am very worried with the current education system. I would like to share about the education crisis which is very alarming. It has reached too many ‘red lines’,” the Muar MP said.
Syed Saddiq pointed out that Malaysia spends 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita on education, yet, according to him, the output of the country’s education is still behind.
He highlighted the situation in Sabah where students lack adequate facilities. In his speech yesterday, Syed Saddiq said that according to the research done by the Ministry of Education, more than 50% of the students in Sabah and Sarawak do not possess smartphones, tablets and laptops for their online classes.
These children must also go through many obstacles just to reach to their schools.
“We see in Pitas, Sabah, where young children have to cross the river with strong water currents using boats,” he said, adding that children in Nabawan meanwhile had to cross the river using ‘flying fox’ to get to school.
Krisis pendidikan kita hadapi hari ini:
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) February 14, 2023
1. Prestasi murid-murid ketinggalan 3 tahun walaupun peruntukkannya yang tinggi.
2. Infrastruktur dan akses ke sekolah yang sangat daif.
3. Jurang antara kaya dan miskin ketara.
WE NEED POLITICAL & MORAL COURAGE TO OVERHAUL THE SYSTEM! pic.twitter.com/SBjKCU5hET
The problem does not stop there as the parents from middle class families these days prefer to send their kids to international schools rather than government schools, he said.
This is not the first time Syed Saddiq has pointed out the flaws in our education system.
In an interview on a Youtube channel known as Mr Money Tv, he pointed out what he regarded as flaws at national universities.
Among them are the mandatory and patriotic subjects such as Titas and Kawad Kaki (Marching) at some public universities.
These subjects, although not without advantages, can push a student’s graduation behind and by the time that particular student goes into working life, they would have been left behind.
He also said in the video that these subjects should be given as electives.
What do you think about our education system? Does it need a reform?
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
