Give em' Education! (Especially for 'academically weak' students)

“Selected Few”

“The rule in every school is clear; every child needs to be educated.”
(Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, president of Parents Action Group for Education*)

“Troublesome”; “Stupid kids”; “Head strong”; “Impossible to change”; “Know nothing”; “Like teaching a wall”; “Monkeys!”; – those statements once in a while came out from some teachers that I knew personally and through stories that I heard from friends to friends. Schools used to label classes started from the most accomplish, brilliant, and good-grade students as class “A” and so forth. I even heard that the ‘selected few’ will be selected by some teachers who will give them more attention, energy and effort because these special bright students will be their hope to raises up the school academic reputation (and their own personal reputation)! And what left for the lowest class students? “Free time”, “Do whatever you want” and “No class for today” are taught in class instead.
What a cruel jokes and open discrimination that is!

“Academically Weak”

(From left) Idie Ganyol, Edward Ujoh Augustine and
Richmend Mangi were not allowed to sit for the recent UPSR.

Three Year Six students from SK Bandar Bintangor, Kuching, Sarawak was locked in a room to prevent them from sitting the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) exam. Idie Ganyol, Edward Ujoh Augustine and Richmend Mangi; the “academically weak” trio were locked in a remedial classroom from 8am until noon while their classmates sat the exam on September 13 and 14. The reason is rather simple but critical: the school is emphasis on good academic result. They stop the boys from taking exam so that it won’t “pull down” the school overall performance.

Meradong assemblyman Ting Tze Fui comments, “On receiving the reports on Wednesday, policemen who went to the school found the boys locked in a room. They were eating and playing there.”*

“Power-Image-crazed Society”

“The children have every right to sit the exam, not withstanding their poor academic record. It is not the school’s business to handle the matter in such a ways this would ruin pupil’s future… our capability as teachers to ensure they become good citizens who will contribute to the country”, comments Hashim Adnan, president of National Union of the Teaching Profession.*

This issue is far more than about student’s right to take their exam in school; it is about the abusive of power. It is more than about how the school that we place our hope on generally and teachers in whom we trust especially in handling the farewell of our children; it is about the integrity in the midst of this power-image-crazed society. In Malaysia alone, numerous reports about some political leaders who give more energy to ‘fishing’ for position than to serving the people; business executives care more about achieving the top ladder in big companies than to produce a useful product for their customers; university professors seek sophistication more than truth; and religious leaders care more for their image than for the worshipers spiritual growth!

“Wrath thicker than smooth lava”

Reading the news about this issue makes my heart boil with anger. Angry about how can such thing happen in our school today. Angry about how dare they discriminate the poor academic record students by denying their very right to take the exam. Angry about some teachers (I believe positively that majority of teachers are really sincere in their vocation) who overemphasis on good academic results than the pupils’ future.

I’m angry of this injustice!

Where are these irresponsible people? Come out! Who are they? Show yourselves! Why there’s no apologize? Speak up! I’m angry of this injustice!

........................................

“It’s time for action”

In my hot boiling anger and wrath that thicker than smooth lava – I see the urgency; a giant red alert, a big clock of universal alarm that we as a citizen of this wonderful country should make a difference in our society. Since not all teachers are shameful, not all politicians are corrupt and not all religious leaders are power-crazed; so it is with every one of us. If we could only take that small steps of faith, virtue of integrity, and hope for the better future – we can make a difference in our society, in our neighborhood. 

Enough of pointing hands, it’s time for action. Slow down the volume and heavy noises that had polluted our ears in the four-walls of our lavish Worship buildings. It’s time to listen to the cry of others who are chained by the injustice and constantly screaming for our mercy and helping hands. It’s time for action.

We shall be the agent of positive change in this broken generation,

We shall go against the current of this injustice ways,

We shall be the voice that bring healing to the nation,

We shall translate our holy anger into actions,

We shall makes our faith known by willingly to dirt our hands for the cause of others,

We shall sacrifice some of our dreams and wishes in order for others who are less fortunate to reach theirs.

We shall get out from our comfort zone and start to take the first step beyond our familiar territory,

People, it’s time for action… We shall make a difference!

*Quotes from News Strait Times,  21st October 2011, Pg 1,12