Ah exams! They are a coming…

Right now I’m in my final study week before end of semester examinations commence at university. Yet somehow I’m not inclined to study. Its been this way since two semesters ago.

To say that maybe its just because I am not cut out for law (which is my course) would be misleading. I love law. What fascinates me about law is that it concerns the origin and exercise of (especially cocercive) power. My attachment to law stems alot from my long time interest of politics.

I would say it is the way the faculty of my university teaches law. Yes, this is another higher-educational-institutions-are-not-what-they’re-supposed-to-be rant so you can stop reading now if you’re put off by reading so many of them out there already

No, fine. Well, thing is, public education in Malaysia is just not up to scratch. Today a letter to English language daily, The Star, a reader roundly condemned those Malaysians going overseas to get an education but do not come back. But really, why would they? Don’t misunderstand moi, I have my share of patriotism, though Youth and Sports Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob might beg to differ. But then, all we get going to a university here is to attend lectures, where one gets talked down to instead of being engaged with. Yes, there is a difference between preaching, which is commonplace in almost all educational institutions, from primary to tertiary in Malaysia, and an ernest desire to connect with and even learn from, and not just impart to, students. I still remember that song, Getting to know you, from that classic film, the King and I, where the English teacher employed by the Siamese king sang to her students, members of the royal household mostly, to highlight that respect and even learning is a two way street, not one. Ai, when will we Malaysians ever learn. Before I tended to blame Malaysians in general, but now considering the recent change in political climate following the March 8 elections, the performance of the BN Government in this regard comes closer under my scrutiny in this regard, and sad to say such a culture derives from, and is merely an extension of, them. They keep themselves in power by teaching the people not to be critical, KBSR, KBSM and other “critical curriculars” notwithstanding. So, going by the many positive changes happening in my home state since the newly created “Pakatan Rakyat” took power, I daresay such a situation can only seriously be changed when Government changes at the Federal level too, education being their prerogative, after all.

(To be continued…)