An Education System Worthy of Malaysia #9
Chapter 2: It’s More Than Just Education
Education is more than just schools and colleges. Investment in education benefits the individual, society, and the global community. For the individual, education is a great leveler. The American patriot John Adams observed that education makes a greater difference between men than nature has made between man and brute. Through education America is able to acculturate and bring into the mainstream its diverse immigrants. A century earlier those immigrants were Jews from Eastern Europe and Catholics from Ireland and Italy. More recently they were Buddhists from Vietnam and Cambodia, and Muslims from Afghanistan and Somalia. Through education they all became Americans and aspired for the American dream. As they better themselves, America too benefits.
In Malay culture, an uneducated or unlearned person is likened to a frog underneath a coconut shell (katak di bawah tempurong). His or her world is very limited and dark. The idiomatic Sanskrit equivalent is kupamanduka (frog in a well). Once outside, the horizon opens up; no telling where the frog would end up. Education and learning are the equivalents of flipping the shell over or lowering a ladder into the well – a way out of the darkness and confining wall.
An indication of the significance of education is that illiteracy is the strongest predictor of poverty. Poverty is a complex issue with many intertwining causes and links, but empirically, providing basic education is the necessary prerequisite in the battle against poverty. Education by itself will not solve Third World poverty, but it is an enabling condition. As the World Bank president James D Wolfensohn observed, “…[T]he single most important key to development and poverty alleviation is education.”
At the other end of the spectrum, in a modern economy education is, in the words of Louis Gertsner, chief executive of IBM and head of the foundation that funds the New Century School reform, “the engine of growth and prosperity.” This is especially so in this K-economy.
The key to Malaysia successfully navigating globalization is through providing high quality education for its citizens.
Another well-documented benefit of education at the individual level is its spillover effect on personal health. The more educated the society is, the more healthy is its members, as indicated by such indices as life expectancy, childhood mortality rates, and general nutritional status.
These effects are more profoundly seen with girls where improved education reduces child mortality and enhances reproductive health, and the subsequent better immunization rates and nutritional status of their babies. Women with formal education also tend to have lower fertility rates, delay marriage and childbearing, and use reliable contraceptives.
They have fewer but healthier babies. The World Bank estimates that one year of formal schooling reduces fertility by 10 percent, with the effect most pronounced with secondary schooling.
Malaysia’s obscenely high rate of child marriages could be effectively reduced if girls have longer formal education. As most of these child marriages end up in divorce, the fewer such marriages there are, the better it would be for society. “Children having children” is one sure way to entrap the next generation into perpetual poverty. This is true in America as well as in the Third World.
Globally, reduced fertility could only have a positive impact on an already overcrowded planet.
Education is also an essential component of public health. Education is the single most effective preventive weapon in combating diseases like HIV/AIDS, as well as reducing such potentially lethal enteric diseases like cholera and gastroenteritis. HIV/AIDS may be incurable but experiences both in the First World as well as the Third show that effective public health education goes a long way in reducing and preventing the spread of the disease. In San Francisco, the wide dissemination of information on safe sex proved effective; in Uganda the reinforcing through education of traditional Islamic values of abstinence and fidelity had a stunning effect on reducing the incidence of the disease.
The reverse, the impact of health on education, is equally significant. Health, in particular the state of nutrition, has a dramatic influence on learning. America’s school lunch programs successfully ameliorate this factor, something that is worthy of Malaysia to emulate.
In Africa where AIDS is devastating the bulk of young adults, schools are also terribly impacted through the deaths of teachers as well as their frequent absence through illnesses or having to attend funerals and the sick members of their family.
March 1st, 2006 at 10:07 pm
M Bakri, I see that you are a patriotic American….. well good on you… but I cannot buy that the American dream idea any more…
Americans … I mean the US of A… is nowadays very suspicuous of Muslim immigrants… maybe in your time… things are different… but nowadays if Muslim wants to immigrate to the US of A he or she will face so much hurdkes…. much more than non-Muslims..
And other countries, in particular Australia is following suit…. recently the PM John Howard and his de-facto deputy Peter Costello have told Muslim immigrants to practice Australian values or get the bloody out of Oz…..
I suppose your idea of reforming education is good… but then something has to be done to make cross-border human movements more acessible…only then the value of education will be maximized…..
March 2nd, 2006 at 9:13 am
Dear Amit:
You are certainly correct about the difficulties experienced by Muslims coming to America, especially male Muslims. To be more correct, people coming from presumed Muslim countries, meaning, even non-Muslim Malaysians are subjected to additional scrutiny.
I do not condone America’s action but on the other hand I understand it. We are all humans and some of us react more to emotions than reasons. I wish America would have learned from its experiences with the Japanese Americans in WWII, and German-Americans in WWI. But we all have our learning curves, some flatter than others.
However there is a Malaysian (Malay lady), a doctoral student at Stanford, who was subjected to extra scrutiny at the airport and then denied entry to continue her studies. Guess what? She sued the US Government! The trial is now on the way. Only in America!
Before you start pointing fingers, remember that Australia only very recently discarded its racist White Australia Policy. Also in the 1950s and 60s whenyou travel in Asia, any Chinese looking individuals were subjected to extra search even, in fact especially, in Hong Kong and Singapore! They were prime suspect for drug smuggling and for being communists!
Same human circumstances, emotions and dynamics, and but different times, actors and scenes. I am sure our readers can cite many local (meaning Malaysian ) examples. Just ask the Bangladesh or Indonesians in our country.
Back to America. Yes, I am disappointed with the reactions of America as they deviate from the ideals of America as I (and most others) know and understand them. However, I blame that idiot Osama more for making life difficult for bright young Muslims worldwide to continue their studies in America.
M. Bakri Musa.
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:27 am
On one of my trips to Vancouver, Canada in late 2003, as my JAL plane was preparing disembarkation procedures, passengers were told to get ready their passport and Canadian customs declaration card. When I heard that I said to myself, oh boy this is something new, they are definitely going to stop me with my Malaysian passport ! So I thought to myself, why not I deliberately use the customs declaration card to cover the “Malaysia” on my passport and see what happens. True enough, as we were walking out along the bridge there was a row of Canadian security personnel in all types of attire, from plain clothes to uniforms observing passengers body-language and all. My hand-held passport caught the eyes of one of the security personnel. Obviously she couldn’t read my country’s name so she politely asked me to step aside to check my passport. I obliged. As she was going thru my personal particulars, I asked her if it was because I’m from Malaysia, a muslim country? She was visibly shocked and embarrassed, forced on a smile, didn’t answer me and quickly returned my passport with a friendly, “Have a good day and welcome to Canada” !
I guess if one speaks their language, it helps.
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:34 am
M. Bakri
Well said!
March 2nd, 2006 at 11:48 am
Bro Amit
Every country has a legal right to protect and secure their borders. Malaysia does the same, extra scrutiny for Indonesian and Chinese passport holders. Now Malaysia requires citizens from certain African countries to have visas to enter Malaysia. These are countries that have visa abolition treaties with Malaysia. Why you may ask/ It’s because these african nationals have been conducting criminal activities in Malaysia.
The US is in a paranoia and can’t distinguish the visitor with good intention and visitors with bad intention. It’s not only Muslims who are targeted. Even their own citizens are subject to such scrutiny. Recently some US citizens returning from Canada were subject to detention and asked questions about their visit to Canada.
Like Dr Bakri said, blame it on that megalomaniac Osama. Now all muslims are under close scrutiny. Even a United Arab Emirates company is having difficulty in taking over a business in the US.
March 2nd, 2006 at 9:29 pm
He..he..he.
Only living Muslims have problem entering Amerika! But not for a “ghost” like me!
Dr Bakri, that idiot Osama is really an idiot! But hang on.. who can really say that his idea of fighting for Islam is wrong in the eyes of God? Who can really say that your way of fighting for Islam is the correct one? Soory, I’m just posing stupid questions as I died stupid. As in the Quran, God asks something like this : “You think it’s easy for you to enter paradise?”. Only a handful, my friend!
Who are these few people? Osama type of Muslims or the so-called modern, liberal Muslims, who form the majority (not a few).
I told you, ghost also can be confused one! Dont curse and scream at me, otherwise I change my name to something else and will still be able haunt this forum.
March 3rd, 2006 at 12:03 am
Hantu Gigi Jarang
Muslims should emulate the Prophet pbuh in dealing with people opposed to Islam. Remember the story of the Jew that threw dirt and dirty water on the Prophet every day. One day there was no dirt thrown and the Prophet wondered what happened. He went to the home of the Jew and found him ill in bed. The Prophet still wished him speedy recovery. That moment the Jew recited the Shahadah and became a Muslim.
That is the way to promote Islam not the Osama way by killing innocent people both Muslims as well as non Muslims. Hantu Gigi Jarang, maybe you should go and haunt Osama in his cave. Oh oh bad idea, Osma will then claim that he received a divine message and he will declare himself a Prophet.
March 3rd, 2006 at 12:09 am
Okay, sambungan on that idiot Osama….
Okay, sambungan on that idiot Osama….
Someone might say that he killed innocent people and therefore, he’s against humanity and did something very wrong, morally and religiously. The Quran says; do not kill innocent people, women, elders, and children.
But, ever wonder why that idiot did not targeting China, for example? There are innocent people, women, and children in China too. Therefore, my question is: Is “innocent” in the Quran is the same as innocent as per Thesaurus? Is the enemy only limited to the boys and girls in those camouflage uniforms carrying M16, receiving orders to kill? What about the persons who give the orders, the supporters, the administrators, the voters, the leaders etc?
Someone might also say that not all New Yorkers are supporters of Bush or at least, supporters of his foreign policy. Well, ever heard of the term “collateral damages” accepted by the Americans as something morally right in times of war? Or there is a different definition applied to the non-Americans?
Hantu is hantula…cannot agree with human one!
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:28 am
Bakri said:”
…The key to Malaysia successfully navigating globalization is through providing high quality education for its citizens….”
This is not just the way to go for Malayisa, but for any country in the world that aspires to compete successfully in today’s world.
Your advice will fall on deaf ears Bakri, for the government in Bolehland is not interested in thinking individuals, but only those who are obedient.
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:55 am
Orge,
My initial is HGJ. I know “Hantu Gigi Jarang” is not user friendly (a bit too long to type). But dont mention HGJ too quickly, you’ll get your tongue twisted.
I’m not a sympatizer of Osama. I hate him for his stupid strategy (I judge him based on my own standards alone). But I admire his courage and his resolve to his cause (which is the same cause as mine!)
What this hantu is trying but probably failed to do is to explain that our ways of achieving the objective are different from him ( if we have the same objective as his!). And this doesnt mean that his ways are wrong and ours are correct. We feel ours are correct because we measure them based on standards set by man.
Now, what do we do? Well, we can’t do much because both parties are stupid. Osama and Bush don’t believe in diplomacy, dont believe in human rights as defined by God. For them might is right. So, let’s see who is right. At the mean time, you people will suffer from their stupidity!
What lies ahead? Welcome to the Al Qamra! As soon as you get there, you know who is right.
That strory of a Jew. Well, nowadays they dont throw dirt, they throw mothers of all bombs!
March 3rd, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Amit,
I read your comment with a great deal of laughter. How can you even start to talk about unfairness in immigration in the West. Look inwards within Malaysia mate, and you will find so much unfairness against the non-Malays & by default non-muslims. The country has turned to rat-shit in my opinion. Malaysia had so much potential but it has been wasted by the inapt, incompetent, mindless people running it.
Bring back equal opportunity in Malaysia. Malaysia is for the Malaysians, not just the Malays.
March 3rd, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Hey Ex-Malaysian,
That’s where you are so wrong - your expectations, I mean. Who ever told you Malaysia is for all Malaysians?
The writing has been on the wall, between the lines and now right across the darned foreheads of all non-Malays, in bold indelible ink; you are not on the radar screen of the masterplan for Malaysia! Get it?
Non-Malays are a nuisance/accident, of history or fate or colonialism, whichever lens you want to look at then through. Your role is to be cash generators, by your hard work and investments.
Remember that, ok? Get your basics right and you will stop agonizing about it so much! And have a good life, wherever you are!
Cheers
March 3rd, 2006 at 8:59 pm
I was told to remove my shoes and belt when passing through security at the Brisbane domestic airport on my way to Melbourne. And who was on my mind when I was frisked? Osama, of course. He has caused much hardships for bona fide travellers like you and me.
So, stop blaming the Americans or the Aussies, their reaction is expected.
March 3rd, 2006 at 11:47 pm
Ha ha ha…
Thank you M Bakri for your response… and thank you evry body for your responses….
Ex Malaysian… I take it that your response is funny… but typical… of many of, if not some of the Non-Malay and Non Muslims in the web who seem to have this new found zeal of berating and belittling whatever is Muslim or Malay (person, thing or object) in Malaysia…
It is also quite funny for M Bakri and Fathol to blame entirely on Osama….. perhaps this is expected given their world-view or life philosophies… I would say to you… would you dare to put forward your views in let say Harakah or Malaysia Today
Perhaps MrDespair is right… I agree with him that many of M Bakri’s advice will fall on deaf ears especially when M Bakri and many commentators here are not in agreement of the predominantly conservative world view of ordinary Muslims of Malaysia… in fact the govt and establishement moving more and more to Islam, as they know that the majority is moving in that direction….
But unlike MrDespair and many other commentators, I am not too worried about the future of Malaysia…..
Nevertheless I am concerned that the govt is not moving fast enough to promote democracy and more transparency especially in the public sector…
I believe that ultimately democracy and transparency that will be the key to sustainable progress of people in Malaysia….
March 5th, 2006 at 2:10 am
Hi Amit,
Our faith should be personal and we should respect the faiths of others, so long as any faith is not paraded under the guise of politics. It is then that it becomes exposed to comments and criticism, as it should rightly. That is the reason many countries have ensured that state and religion are kept seperate, that is, a secular state. In Malaysia, it is not the non-muslims who pose the greatest threat to Islam - as usual it is UMNO and PAS at each others throat, one trying to outdo the other, all in the name of religion. How on earth are you going to convince the sanctity of that religion when these two are doing the very thing you are accusing the non-muslims of doing? Such words as the “kafirs”, etc are coming from Muslims, not non-muslims. I appreciate your concern and you would do a world of good if you can call these two and convince them to stop the mud-sling at each others face. Can you do that?
March 5th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
Ogre,
good story on the prophet and the jew.Unfortunately this has not been how some very vocal muslims react when in a situation similar to that.They cry jihad all the time and seek revenge.
anyway back to the topic, Hishamuddin has said he is going to revamp the education system especially the exams, less exam it seems is his way.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/…icle/index_html
March 6th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Rocky
The Quran and Hadith have lots of stories of Prophets showing such examples which the followers were to emulate. But alas.
It’s about time that the Minister of Education review and revamp the education system in Malaysia. But the sad thing is this will take another 5 years by his own wdmission. By then Malaysia will have a new Minister and probably the policies will change.
One thing I’d like to see is that all policies are discussed openly and public opinion is invited. Traditionally it is done secretively by a select number of administrators and educators. Hence the mismatch of what the public wants versus what the politicians want.
March 13th, 2006 at 12:46 am
Fair Malaysian,
I agree with you.
On the mud-slinging. I will try my best by using reason and logic instead of dogma.
April 4th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Hello, I’m Autumn, cool and interesting blog, Thanks
November 10th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Dave
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November 11th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Dave
Interesting topic… I’m working in this industry myself and I don’t agree about this in 100%, but I added your page to my bookmarks and hope to see more interesting articles in the future