Make learning fun (The Star 9 Dec 2009)

I WELCOME the move by the Education Ministry to improve the teaching standard and quality in primary schools as announced by its minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ("Quality education to begin at primary level" – The Star, Dec 7).

While it is right to push for quality education starting from primary schools, it must be stressed that quality in this case does not mean just obtaining straight As in the examinations, particularly in the UPSR.

Quality education at primary level should be one that caters for the overall balanced and comprehensive development of a child during his or her formative years.

A friend related an alarming incident during the release of the UPSR results recently. A parent who came with his son to collect the results was so upset that he obtained only 4As and 1B that he left the son in the school without saying a word.

The poor boy was so upset that he broke down and wept and had to be consoled by a concerned teacher. We can imagine the anguish of the little boy who was reprimanded despite having done extremely well.

Such incidents are not uncommon these days where parents expect nothing less than the maximum As in every examination.

It is unfortunate that our education has become so examination-oriented that from the time the child goes to school he/she is pushed very hard to achieve maximum As in school exams and the UPSR.

Parents want nothing less than straight As. They spend large sums of money to send their children to the best tuition centres in town, sometimes for multiple tuition sessions.

The child is involved in studies and homework the whole day. There is hardly any time for play, which is what a child in primary school should basically be doing.

Children in primary schools should spend time at play and interacting with one another. This is particularly important in our country which has a diverse ethnic population.

It is in playing, eating, living or even praying together that they cultivate close and unbreakable bonds between one another.

Learning should be made more fun by mixing it with games and informality. It should stimulate young curious minds to ask questions and not be reprimanded for doing so.

Emphasis on character building and moral values should begin in primary school and continue into secondary level.

The right value system should be taught to all children in primary schools so that such values become deeply embedded at a very young age.

The future of our nation depends very much on what and how we teach our children today. Are our students, including the top achievers, really prepared to face the challenges of the global world where competition is based purely on merit?

Are they instilled with the values of moderation and tolerance in inter-ethnic relationships that are so vital for the peace, harmony and prosperity of the nation? Are they instilled with the right passion for whatever career they may take up?

These are some pertinent questions for our policy makers, educationists and, most important, parents.

A good and quality education should be able to answer these three questions in the affirmative, whereas a system that emphasises only on As will deny the future generations of all these attributes that are so essential for nation building.

DR CHRIS ANTHONY,

Butterworth.