Education experience

Assalamualaikum

In today’s entry, I want to share my personal experience regarding education in schools. I went to Malaysia public schools for 13 years.

When I was five years old, I attended Tadika Kemas in Indera Mahkota, Kuantan. I remember I learnt how to read and count. It was also the first time I know about year. It was the year 1997. I was there until 1998. However I did not finish my kindergarten due to some issues.

I had primary education in three different schools. Standard 1 and Standard 2 in SK Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan. Sweet memories here was I got number 1 in the class at the end of the year. During year end award ceremony, I was the first person to get on the stage. Because I was in the first class in Standard 1, and I got number 1. Those days, academic award were given to top 3 students in each class. Not sure how it is right now.

In Standard 3, I moved to Johor Bahru. I attended SK (P) Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Bahru also known as Sultan Ibrahim Girls School (SIGS). It was really a new experience to me. Mix races, school located near the city centre, and it is an all girls school! The school is one of the top schools in Johor Bahru. My father always told me that the school is very good and many bright students coming from that school. The school has high expectations from the parents. Alhamdulillah I did maintain my academic performance regardless being in new school.

In Standard 4, I moved back to Kuantan. I went to SK Indera Mahkota, Kuantan for three years. I like this school. Even though it is not one of the top schools in Kuantan, but I remember the teachers putting so much effort for the students. There were mentor-mantee program, detention class, smart reading activities, and so on. Regarding smart reading activities, we need to spend around 10-15 minutes to read a short essay in English. There will be teachers in charge in each group. And I think all the efforts from the teachers were paid off because during Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in 2004, all of us in 6 Wira got 5As! That was such an achievement. And it was the best academic achievement record of the school at that time.

Actually after UPSR, I was thinking to go to boarding school. But I think that time my parents won’t let me and I also did not receive any offer to the boarding school. In Form 1, me and my family again moved back to Johor Bahru. This one for real because my mom quit her job and they have decided to stay in Johor Bahru until God knows when. When I moved to JB, I was placed in SMK Aminuddin Baki, Johor Bahru. However my father put his best effort to change my school. Three days in a row he went to Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah (PPD) to apply to change my school. He wanted me to go to SMK (P) Sultan Ibrahim which was top school in JB. Even though I got 5As in UPSR, it is still not easy to go to SIGS. My father need to convince PPD by saying that I am a hockey player. I was active in hockey in primary school. I represent my school in hockey. And SIGS is one of the best hockey team in JB. Hence, I managed to get into SIGS on the fourth day, right after I finished my orientation at SMK Aminuddin Baki. Fo this, I am so thankful. In fact, until now, when I remember this, I will forever grateful for what my father did back then for me. My father really prioritised his kids’ education. I remember he was trying so hard to enroll my brother in skills training after his SPM. My brother’s SPM result is not that good, hence my father enroll him in skills training. Even though it was far away from home, which is Bintulu. 

Okay back to my story. I was happy to be in SIGS. I got 8As in PMR. This was unexpected because I did not do well in PMR trial, so did not expect that. Actually I want to go to boarding school in Form 4. MRSM to be exact. But I did not get any offer. Neither from MRSM, nor SBP. Not even from Sekolah Teknik. I remember I was so sad when I check the result. I remember I called my father, crying, couldn’t barely speak. I took the bus from school to go to my father’s office. Continue crying. My father was so worried. He thought that I was getting bullied. Haha. When I told him I did not receive offer from MRSM, he said it’s okay, and he will see what he can do. But, for same reasons, I did not manage to go to any boarding school. Still in SIGS. But I am still thankful for what Allah has planned for me. In Form 4, I took science stream plus accounting subject. I got 8As and 4Bs in SPM. This was also unexpected because I only got 2As in SPM trial. In secondary school, I was active with hockey (only during lower form), and other co-curriculum activities. I am not so good in sports to the extend to represent the school, but I manage to participate in other co-curriculum activities such as marching competition and J-robik competition. Being in the top school, there were many opportunities. One of it, I managed to learn Japanese Language. I even took Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 4 which is the lowest level. This was an advantage when I went to Uni. I took Japanese Language as a foreign language and manage to get A for two semesters, because it was just like a revision to me. Hehe.

I will stop here. For now. This is my last entry for PGDE 7043 subject. I’m thinking to continue writing about my journey to be an educator. But let’s see how it goes. Until then, signing off from PGDE 7043.

Amalina.

P/s : The other day, I stalked my SIGS teachers on Facebook. It was good to see all of them looking good and healthy. I pray all my teachers are in the pink of health.

Kualiti pendidikan

 Assalamualaikum.

Sejak akhir-akhir ni, saya selalu terbaca tentang hantaran di media sosial Facebook tentang kualiti sistem pendidikan di negara kita. Kebanyakannya adalah luahan ketidakpuasan hati dari pihak ibu bapa dan juga di kalangan pendidik. Ada juga yang membuat hantaran berdasarkan fakta dan penyelidikan.

Jadi saya pun terpanggil untuk membuat carian di internet, sebenarnya di mana Malaysia berada dalam kategori pendidikan. Pada mulanya saya membuat carian dan bandingkan Malaysia dengan dunia. Malaysia is nowhere to be seen in the top 10. Jadi saya pun kecil kan lagi carian. Saya bandingkan Malaysia dengan negara-negara Asia yang lain. Baru lah nampak kelibat Malaysia di situ. Tetapi kebanyakannya adalah dari segi pendidikan tinggi iaitu di peringkat universiti. Rupa-rupanya Malaysia ni antara negara yang menjadi pilihan pelajar antarabangsa untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di Asia. Antara faktor-faktor nya adalah banyak pilihan universiti, (Malaysia mempunyai lebih 30 universiti) kos sara hidup yang agak rendah, dan fasiliti kesihatan.

Tapi kita nak tengok tahap sistem pendidikan negara di peringkat sekolah. Sekolah rendah dan sekolah menengah. Jadi saya kecilkan lagi carian. Malangnya saya tak jumpa apa yang saya nak cari. Mungkin saya perlukan masa yang lebih untuk membuat carian ini kerana kajian agak terhad. Lepastu saya terfikir, macam mana untuk menilai sesuatu sistem pendidikan itu berkualiti? Apa kriteria nya? Kebanyakannya saya tengok adalah untuk pengajian tinggi, tapi tak jumpa untuk peringkat sekolah.

Saya teringat akan Sustainable Development Global (SDG). SDG 4 adalah Quality Education. Prinsip utama SDG 4 adalah ensure inclusive and uquitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Yang membawa maksud, memastikan kualiti pendidikan yang inklusif dan kesamarataan dan menggalakkan pembelajaran sepanjang hayat untuk semua. Di bawah SDG 4 ini ada dinyatakan 10 target uatama iaitu :

1. Pendidikan sekolah rendah dan sekolah menengah secara percuma
2. Akses yang samarata untuk kualiti pendidikan di peringkat tadika atau pra-sekolah.
3. Akses yang samarata untuk pendidikan tinggi, teknikal dan vokasional yang mampu milik.
4. Meningkatkan kuantiti pelajar yang mempunyai skill yang berkaitan untuk meningkatkan kebolehpasaran di peringkat pekerjaan.
5. Menghapuskan diskriminasi dalam pendidikan.
6. Mencapai tahap numerasi dan literasi universal.
7. Pendidikan untuk pembangunan lestari dan kewarganegaraan global.
8. Membina dan membaikpulih fasiliti pendidikan di sekolah yang inklusif dan selamat.
9. Mengembangkan biasiswa di peringkat pendidikan tinggi untuk negara-negara membangun.
10. Meningkatkan bilangan guru yang berkelayakan di negara-negara membangun.

Konklusinya, saya masih belum jumpa di mana negara Malaysia ditempatkan untuk kategori kualiti pendidikan di peringkat sekolah. Dan saya masih belum jumpa kriteria dalam menentukan kualiti sistem pendidikan di peringkat sekolah untuk sesebuah negara.

Pada pendapat saya, kualiti sistem pendidikan di peringkat sekolah di negara Malaysia adalah okay. Dia tidaklah terlalu hebat, tidaklah terlalu tidak hebat. Masih ada ruang yang boleh diperbaiki. Tapi sebagai seorang rakyat Malaysia yang menerima pendidikan 100% dari sistem pendidikan Malaysia, dari tadika sehingga di peringkat pengajian tinggi, saya boleh katakan, saya berpuas hati dengan sisem pendidikan di Malaysia. Walaubagaimanapun, setiap kali saya melihat video bagaimana susahnya kanak-kanak dan pelajar yang belajar di sekolah pedalaman, saya rasa sedih. Macam mana Malaysia, sebuah negara yang membangun, kita ada KLCC, Merdeka 118, TRX, tapi masih ada rakyat Malaysia yang harus melalui jalan sukar hanya untuk ke sekolah. 

Amalina.

Issues/ concerns in Malaysia education system

Dearest reader,

Finally our classes for semester one is done and dusted! But, still got few assignments need to be submitted and final assessments is next week.

Anyway, for last class of PGDE 7013 - Philosophy of Education, we were asked about any issues/ topics that we would like to discuss in regards with education in Malaysia. Below are some issues raised by classmates and I.

1. Outsource teachers from Singapore to teach English in Malaysia
2. Demolition of examinations - UPSR and PT3
3. Language changes in learning Mathematics and Science
4. Technology and internet access in public school in rural areas
5. Food poisoning after eating meals provided by school during school programmes
6. Involvement of parents in school activities/ programmes

We were given around 1 hour to do a SWOT analysis poster regarding these issues and present to the class afterwards. Below is what I managed to do during the class.

Newspaper article regarding the announcement. Click image above to read full article.

 

Arguments that I have gathered after doing an online research:

1. Are Malaysian teachers not good enough to teach English? Are Malaysian teachers are not enough in quantity to teach English subject?
2. English language is a foreign language in Malaysia. It is not a mother tongue to most Malaysians. If teachers to teach English in rural areas which English language fluency is low, teachers cannot speak 100% in English during lessons. Students cannot relate to the lessons if it is 100% delivered in English. The question is, can teachers or as what they mentioned, volunteer teachers speak local language if the students cannot understand the lesson? We are referring to Sabah rural areas. By saying local language, it is not just Malay Language but Sabah Malay dialect. Can they?
3. The factors of low fluency of English language among Malaysian students, are not just teachers. There are many other factors. If the gov really wants to help our students, they need to look at the big picture. There are many other factors such as, English subject curriculum, English language syllabus, technology applied in education, and many more. So, by having volunteer teachers from the neighbour country to teach locals is just a quick move but will it serve the purpose? Need to think again.

On the hand, I totally understand that the idea of having the volunteer teachers from Singapore to teach English in Malaysia is to tighten the diplomatic bond between these two countries.

My take :

1. Try to really look into the root problems of low English literacy among Malaysian students.
2. There are many other ways to tighten diplomatic bond between Malaysia and Singapore that both countries can benefit.

Below I list out some reference articles if you want to have further reading. Click on the link to read.

1. 'Last resort': Educators, parents in Malaysia frown on Anwar's call for Singapore volunteers to teach English
   
2. Plan to import volunteer teachers from Singapore shameful, says PAGE
   
3. MoE welcomes scheme to bring in English teachers from Singapore

I think that’s all for now. I still have two pending entries that is due next week. Write again soon. Bye!

Amalina.

About PGDE course - Sem 1

In today’s post, I will be sharing with readers about PGDE course, as the title says.

PGDE is a shortform for Post Graduate Diploma in Education or in Malay we call it Diploma Perguruan Lepasan Ijazah (DPLI). For those who have a non-education bachelor degree but wanting to be a teacher in public school, it is a requirement to have PGDE cert. But if you do not have PGDE cert, you can still become a teacher but in private school. Some private school do not require you to have PGDE cert.

For PGDE semester 1 in City University of Malaysia, the duration is six weeks of classes. I am currently at the end of semester 1. Final class will be this weekend. Still have a few assignments need to submitted. One of it is this blog post.

For this course, there is no exam. So, assignments is a big deal as it took 100% marks for each subjects. In semester 1, there are four subjects that we need to take which are:

1. Psychology in Education

2. Curriculum & Co-curriculum Management

3. Assessment & Evaluation

4. Philosophy of Education

The classes are all during weekend (Saturday & Sunday) every morning (0900-1200) and afternoon (1300-1600). And all the classes are 100% online, as of now. Last time I heard maybe we need to attend the class physically at least once, but I don’t think it’s happening this semester. Maybe it will happen next semester. Or maybe it won’t happen. Honestly I don’t mind attending physical class once for the semester. At least I can meet my lecturers and classmates in person. It will be a different experience to attend classes physically.

For online classes, we use LMS (Learning management system) by the university. If only the LMS got hiccups, then we will be using other platforms like Google Meet.

At first I find psychology class is not in my interest. But as the topic goes on, until I can relate to the teaching method, I find it is interesting actually. As someone who is not confident enough to teach students especially male students (I came from all girls school), I think it is very important to understand and apply the psychology in education so P&P can be done smoothly during lessons. P&P is ‘pengajaran & pembelajaran’.

Curriculum & Co-curriculum Management subject is also interesting and I understand why we need to learn this. Even though the curriculum in Malaysia education has already been developed by Ministry of Education (MOE), but we can be creative on the teaching technique and lesson plan. We cannot change the syllabus, obviously. But the teaching technique when delivering the curriculum in classroom is crucial.

Assessment and evaluation subject - we learned about what is assessment, and why do we need to assess students, as a teacher. What caught my eyes is the types of assesments available and have been implemented in school. Now I understand why there is certain exams, tests, and assignments need to be done. Each tasks assesed different things.

For philosphy class, I just want to say it is important to learn as you will have a bigger picture about education philosophy in Malaysia and you know the direction of MOE.

Postgraduate programme is not like during bachelor degree. We do not need to attend other extra classes like co-curriculum activity, and minor subjects.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I really enjoy taking this course. And it is my hope to be a teacher, to educate the younger generations as they are the future of Malaysia.

Till the next post. Bye.

Amalina

A Little Background

Dearest Gentle Reader,

My name is Amalina. Currently studying Postgraduate Diploma Education in City University. This whole blog is part of the assignments for subject PGDE 7043 - Assessment and Evaluation.

Just a little background story about me. I did my Bachelor Degree and Masters Degree in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). I have a Bachelor Degree in Construction Management and Masters Degree in Building Technology. After graduated, I worked in corporate. Working on projects related to public realm, placemaking, conservation and restoration, and etc. We worked closely with local authority and community in the area to implement those projects. After four years plus working with corporate, I just want to quit. Without any backup plan.

I ventured in new things - sales, marketing, and business. It lasted for about three years, and I quit again. Took a career break for almost a year. Trying to find myself again. And look into opportunities. Also, I am very super grateful. The career break does wonder to me. Not just I learnt a lot, I also explore new hobbies and interests. That I do not think I could have done it back in the days where I worked in corporate.

Frankly speaking, being a teacher is not really my choice. Well, back then during primary school I did put “ustazah” as my ambition in the report card just because I always got an A for Pendidikan Islam. But growing up during my teenage years, even adolescents years, I never thought of being a teacher. It was my father who push me through. Me being a teacher is actually his dreams. So I am working on his dreams :D

Nevertheless, not even once I feel regret joining this course. In fact, I really do enjoy the course and even picturing myself becoming a teacher in the next few months in shaa Allah. As I think further, maybe this is the path that Allah has put me in. My career path may not go smooth like any of my friends, but I really enjoy the journey. The best part when I am really living my life after quitting my job.

Honestly it is a mixed feeling of excited and scared at the same time, thinking of going back in the workforce. Plus, I’ve heard that being a teacher in public school, you are not just going to teach, but you need to do other stuffs like planning school events and etc. But it’s okay. I will take it as a challenge. There are no perfect jobs anyway. There’s always pros and cons.

I think I already write quite a bit. Will write again next week. Bye!

Amalina.