We have heard of many complaints with regards to Malaysian non-bumiputeras who have excellent grades but missed the cut for their preferred choices of courses and universities. A recent case was highlighted here, before the appeals process.
Well, if you are one such "unfortunate" student, particularly if you couldn't afford to pursue alternative private education in the course of your choice, then you are wanted. A friend of mine in the media is looking for you to do a feature study on the impact of Malaysia's affirmative action policy for bumiputeras.
Conversely, if you are a bumiputera graduate and have benefited from Malaysia's affirmative action policy, without which you would not have "made it", then you are wanted too to give your point of view too.
The interviews are likely to be conducted in the Klang Valley next week. Please email me if you are interested in having your say. Your identities will be protected should you prefer it as such. Here's a little chance to have your say, and do our small part in helping shape our future education policy for Malaysians. :)
13 comments:
How much were the fees at Imperial then?
".....if you are a bumiputera graduate and have benefited from Malaysia's affirmative action policy, without which you would not have "made it"....."
I don't think any bumiputera would be bold enough to share their view. If they do, that will just further strengthen the public's perspective that they are losers and need the government to help them.
Maybe you want to consider rephrase the sentence in you entry, Tony? That really scare them away :P
To anon on Aug 08, 3:17 pm:
It is unfair to criticise bumis in that fashion. I for one am a bumi, and tho I may have benefited from the system I do not agree with it. I find the injustice disgusting the way we choose our scholarship holders.
But then again, our whole system is flawed. Some of my friends who I know are excellent are slighted by the rigid education system. I'm happy they have gotten into top unis despite their dismal SPM results (think Harvard, and then weigh the fact that they got 2As in SPM. What does that say?)
Something has to be done to the education system. It does not accurately reflect one's abilities at all. All it tests are memorisation skills, which is really not a very valuably skill compared to, say, creativity.
Dear Mr Tony P,
I've read your posting several times. Personally i think your 3rd paragraph is 'not so nice'. And it will also attracted 'uncalled comments' from other bloggers.
Mr Tony,
Your readers not only confine to one race but others as well. Others also want to contribute to the betterment of our education system but some of the comments made will distract them.
Mr Tony,
I notice yourself and Kian Meng did not answer ah piau question regarding
"the importance of culture, value and local environments such as (economy,political stability and social stability) in determining way forward of a public uni in Malaysia?"
just my 2 cents. regards.
Hi to all who has a problem with Para 3,
I've re-read the line and I'll stick to it.
The idea of an affirmative action policy is to assist those who, without such a policy, are not able to "make it". Hence, to defend such a policy, there must be those who have benefited and who would otherwise not "make it".
I mean, if the affirmative action policy doesn't benefit people who would otherwise not "make it", then why have the policy in the first place? Isn't it redundant?
So, I'm just seeking those who believe that the policy benefits those who would otherwise, not have the opportunity to "make it" due to whatever reasons like poverty etc., and present their views to give a balanced account of the policy.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Well, I think it would fairly cheap 10+ years ago, the exchange rate was low plus the figures weren't as high as now. Tuition fees for a typical engineering degree for this coming year is at least GBP16k per year. I suppose it would be GBP10k or less then.
Cut the 'racism' towards the bumiputeras....have some respect..
On the case that anon Aug 8, 3:50:37PM made mentioned (about his/her friend with 2A in SPM getting into Harvard), I'm a little confused about something.
I know that the affirmative action policies of Malaysia can and are applied to our local tertiary educational institutions and in the scholarship awarding process, but I thought that was the extent of its implementation. So how is it that Harvard are admitting less than stellar students like anon Aug 08, 3:50:37's friend there?
I'm venturing it has something to do with his/her post-SPM (pre-uni) examination results. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.
To Anon Aug 12, 12:30 a.m.,
Of course there's racism in our country, a million thanks to the discrimination we citizens of other races have got to bear.
My son score 12 1A and 1A in 2005 SPM exam.(All 1A) Apply for JPA and matrikulasi and was not call for interview. Appeal rejected.
He very active in curiculum activities hold many post in school society and represnt the state. National silver prize in Physic quiz competition in 2005.
Any event like kuiz, he will be call up by the school to represent the school.
30,000 students apply for ASEAN scholarship in 2005. 1,000 student call for test and only 200 student pass the test and my son was offer a ASEAN scholarship to do A level in singapore but at the same time he was ask for go for National service but instead he went to national service as a loyal citizen.
Do u believe getting an ASEAN scholarship is easier then getting JPA scholarship?
Do u believe the JPA scholarship are fairly choosen?.
1. How many JPA scholarship holder represent the sate or the country in curiculum activities? perhaps less than 10%. So..why talk so big about curiculum activities.
2. How many JPA scholarship holder in 2005 have 12 A1 or more... 111 only but 1,500 JPA scholarships are offered. Why my son is not even call for interview?
3. How many of the 1500 scholarship can speak fluent in English with 1A in GCE O level. (1119). as they are sent overseas...
4. Who is there to check on the selection?
Why??
1,300 student are bumi...
350 are non bumi..
To Vortex:
Yes, my friends did get stellar results post-SPM (in A-levels, IB, etc)
But my point was that SPM results do not accurately reflect their abilities. The fact that they can do superbly post-SPM is evidence. Perhaps my friends are not typically Malaysian. But if they are, there would be many others out there robbed of opportunities to do great things; to realise their potential and be excellent.
It is tragic.
Fortunately my friends can afford post-SPM education on their own. What about those who need aid?
anon Aug 13, 01:45:54 PM
Thanks for replying to my query. I agree with you that SPM is overrated. I mean, it isn't even a Pre-Uni exam! People should stop placing so much emphasis and giving so much prominence to SPM exams. I've always found that practice odd. It is akin to stating one's UPSR/PMR results when discussing about tertiary admissions. They don't influence one's admission chances at all. People should just stick to quoting one's pre-uni results when talking about university admissions and such, since those results are the only ones that ultimately counts.
Cheers.
The beauty of the Democracy GAME is: majority set the rule. In other words, winner take all, loser get out of here!!
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