Saturday, January 06, 2007

Ministry of Education Blog?

Wah... As the Minister of Education, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein cranks up the publicity machine to promote his 5-year National Education Blueprint, I must say that it's getting a little more interesting. He said that the ministry would “set up an email address and a website or blog for the public to provide feedback” on the blueprint.

In addition, the blueprint which was meant for commencement a year ago in 2006, is not cast in stone and is expected to change based on the feedback received.
"It won’t just stop after it is launched. It is an ongoing plan and can be adjusted and fine-tuned according to the needs. I welcome input from all stakeholders," he said.
Although normally, I would actually expect consultation with the relevant stakeholders first, prior to developing an entire blueprint, but in this case, I'm happy to give the Minister the benefit of the doubt. I will certainly provide the necessary input and feedback both at this website and at the Ministry’s official channels.

What is curious however, is if the expected on-going feedback process is taken seriously, wouldn't the implementation of the blueprint be further hampered and delayed without even taking into consideration the lethargic delivery system? Will it be a 2-year (or even 3-year) delay before the delivery of the blueprint which is meant to take Malaysia to the year 2010?

Let's see, let's see.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Wah" indeed. I wonder if the esteemed minister is rushing into something other entities of power fear treading.
I bet (and hope) that the blog would be moderated, i.e., comments submitted won't be published before preview by someone from the ministry. While that'll be good in filtering out the irrelevant (sabre-rattling, "some other sharp weapon starting with the letter k"-waving, racial-baiting, etc) rants, I wonder if comments which are constructive but critical of the blueprint would also be censored? In which case the blog would serve more as a propaganda tool than a useful feedback mechanism.

Anonymous said...

just another 'crap' proposal

Anonymous said...

why should we trust someone who sent his kids to private schools,
to be our education head!

Anonymous said...

Aiya Tony, just a coming GE stunt. Nothing more, nothing less. Especially his name has taken a beating after the Keris show. Just a stunt, just a show, he wants people to know he has repented and are ready to become a good prime minster. Crap.

Anonymous said...

No, not at all. I believe that he really wants to deliver to the public. We must give him chance, after all he is Tun Hussein Onn's son.

He has gained popularity among the Malays. Now he needs support from non-Malays to make him the future Prime Minister.

Let us attend his vote-fishing ceremony, which i expect to be a grand one.

Anonymous said...

PER : Kesalahan Fakta Dalam Buku Teks Pendidikan Moral Tingkatan 3,
2007.

Dengan segala hormatnya, perkara di atas adalah dirujuk.

2. Usaha kerajaan / Kementerian Pendidikan yang telah memperkenalkan
matapelajaran Pendidikan Moral dan Kewarganegaraan di kalangan murid
sekolah adalah suatu tindakan yang bijak dan penting dalam negara
yang mempunyai berbilang bangsa. Melalui matapelajaran ini, semangat
patriotisme dan
perpaduan diterapkan kepada pelajar negara kita. Ia adalah usaha
yang mulia untuk melahirkan bangsa Malaysia yang bersatu dan
menghormati agama serta adat resam berbilang kaum.

3. Walau bagaimanapun, usaha kerajaan ini telah tercalar atau
dicemarkan oleh beberapa fakta yang salah di dalam buku Pendidikan
Moral dan Kewarganegaraan, Tingkatan 3, Edisi tahun 2007. Secara
tidak langsung ia telah menyakitkan perasaan orang India seperti
saya. Beberapa fakta yang tidak tepat dan menimbulkan prasangka
mengenai Adat Resam Orang India di dalam buku itu ialah :

a) "Ibu dan bayi ditempatkan di bilik khas dan orang ramai tidak
dibenarkan masuk ke bilik itu selama dua minggu. Ibu tidak
dibenarkan mandi selama dua minggu" - Pendidikan Moral dan
Kewarganegaraan, Tingkatan 3 - Unit 6 - m/s.94

Fakta ini adalah nyata tidak benar di mana Ibu yang melahirkan anak
dianggap suci di kalangan masyarakat India . Ibu dan bayi tersebut
akan dijaga / diawasi setiap masa bagi menghindarkan jangkitan kuman
atau penyakit. Tambah lagi, kenyataan ibu tidak dibenarkan mandi
selama 2 minggu adalah tidak berasas dan ia memalukan sesuatu
bangsa.

b) "Setelah mayat dimandikan, makanan dimasukkan ke dalam mulut
mayat" - Pendidikan Moral dan Kewarganegaraan, Tingkatan 3 - Unit 6 -
m/s94.

Saya pasti puan sendiri tidak akan setuju dengan kenyataan ini. Ia
adalah suatu pembohongan yang besar. Orang India bukannya kurang
arif / celik untuk menyuap makanan kepada mayat. Sebaliknya, ia
hanyalah suatu adat di mana beras akan ditaburkan ke atas badan
mayat. Ucapara ini disebut "Vaikkarusi" . Ia tidak bermaksud
menyuapkan makanan kepada mayat. Kenyataan ini adalah suatu
penghinaan kepada orang India .

c) "Dawri ialah Hadiah Pengantin Perempuan kepada pengantin lelaki.
Ia selalunya diberikan dalam bentuk wang tunai dan rumah" -
Pendidikan Moral dan Kewarganegaraan, Tingkatan 3 - Unit 6 - m/s94.

Fakta ini amat terpesong dengan adat orang India di Malaysia. Dawri
bukannya adat orang India atau orang Tamil. Tambah lagi,
perkataan "varathachanai" bukanlah perkataan tamil. Ini jelas
menunjukkan dawri tidak wujud dikalangan masyarakat Tamil di
Malaysia. Walaubagaimanapun, Dawri mungkin wujud di kalangan
segelintir masyarakat yang bersikap materialistik dan tidak tahu
mengenai adat resam bangsanya sendiri.

4. Kerajaan atau secara khusunya Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia
selalu mewarwarkan mereka berusaha untuk memupuk perpaduan di negara
kita dan menyeru rakyat hidup bersatu. Tetapi, hakikatnya ialah
kerajaan tidak serius dengan apa yang dikatakannya itu. Mengapakah
pihak puan tidak menghiraukan perkara ini walaupun perkara ini telah
dilaporkan oleh beberapa akbar utama Malaysia . Adakah pihak puan
tidak sedar akan kesannya jika ia diajarkan di sekolah? Bagaimanakah
penulis buku ini, iaitu dua orang Melayu ( Abd Ghalib B. Yunus dan
Ghazali B. Lateh) mendapat
maklumat atau fakta-fakta tersebut?

5. Jelas berlaku kekeliruan fakta dalam buku teks ini. Diharap pihak
tuan/puan mengambil tindakan yang wajar sebelum terlambat. Jangan tunggu
sehingga Ibu bapa memulangkan buku tersebut atau pihak pembangkang
menjadikannya isu untuk pertikai kemampuan kerajaan Barisan
Nasional.

Sekian, terima kasih.

I had to post this on the comments sector, for I am still on the search for the specific email add to reach to proper authority. I hope this post here will be taken into serious consideration.

Anonymous said...

Well, try put it on TheStar blog?

Anonymous said...

What has the education minister has to say about ministry-sponsored graduate teachers being added to the number of unemployed in the country?
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/Letters/20070108085359/Article/index_html

Anonymous said...

it's great that the ministry may consider blogging. but seriously, from my experience reading 'govt-linked' blogs, many refuse to talk about 'serious' issues or to engage in reflection of policy-effectiveness. which way will the ministry blog go?

Anonymous said...

blah..

Anonymous said...

wah!!! cool indeed!!!

Anonymous said...

I feel that the Education Ministry shouldn't change our Science and Maths back to BM. Since the change the parents have put more emphasis on English language like giving their children English tuition, speak more English at home and outside, and the like. 5 years is not enough for the nation to improve or innovate themselves in English language. But by turning back is like going back to square one and nothing gain to improve our nation in the future marketing of employment and higher learning achievement. One can sit in Old Coffee town or any coffee shops and notice that our young generation rather speak in Chinese, Malay and Indian, in their mother tongue rather than English to improve themselves. What I mean is it is up to the Ministry to be firm and strong in his decision for the future of our nation. It is shameful and embarrassing when a foreigner ask a Malaysian for direction. Believe or not, my daughters' class mate ask her to answer the foreigner instead of herself. Just imagine how difficult to excel in abroad or their future up taking.

I was shocked to learn a few days ago that Malaysian businessmen are actually moving their head office to Philippine because not only Philippinos English are better but their wages are much cheaper than Malaysians. I was shock that this software Marketing partner said that Philipinos English are much better than Malaysians' to write up software. The said businessman was very disappointed in our Malaysian graduates as he kept on terminating applicants and employing new ones to get the ones that are proficiency in English to write up computers softwares. I am so sad to hear him said that because I know that's how USA unemployment rate became 12%. How could our people open their office in Philippine just because our graduate English are poor. Do parents know whats really going on in Malaysia in the world of employment? The parents that gave the Ministry feedback, are they naive or ignorant about the world?