An Umno Baru view of geography

There is a link between falling education standards and meddling ministers.

COMMENT

When Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan compared the different attitudes of Chinese and Malay schoolchildren, he decided that lessons in “entrepreneurship” could create more bumiputera entrepreneurs. According to him, this means the number of geography lessons in schools would have to be reduced.

Parents are aware of dropping standards of education in Malaysian schools. Earlier this year, Nurul Izzah Anwar demanded answers from the government regarding the quality of the SPM examination results.

She was curious to learn if the candidate who scored an “A” had obtained a result which was worthy of an “A” grade. She said, “How can we be confident that the results are good when the marking of the examinations is considered to be secret and under the Official Secrets Act?”

The proposal to reduce geography lessons, so that Ahmad Maslan can be satisfied that Malay entrepreneurs will be created, is not the first time a minister has dabbled in the school curriculum.

Ministers are numb to the concerns of parents and teachers, who fear further falling standards of education. There is a link between falling standards and meddling ministers.

Ahmad Maslan said that after school, Chinese children would help their parents in their various businesses, whereas Malay children were more inclined to go out and play. He said that Malay children “shoot birds with a slingshot under the oil palm trees, bathe in waterfalls and drains. When can Malays be entrepreneurs?”

He hopes that “entrepreneurship” classes, to be taught from Form One to Form Five as he suggested, would create more bumiputera businessmen and help make Malaysia a high-income nation.

He claims to have the support of Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to reduce the teaching time for geography lessons in favour of “entrepreneurship”.

In a press conference, he showed his ignorance when he said, “Open the world map, show the 200 countries (in the world). Done! What else is there to learn in geography?”

Should parents have to put up with more changes to the school curriculum? What consensus was obtained from parents and teachers? Is Ahmad Maslan’s announcement a precursor to change?

There has been much meddling in our education system. The history syllabus concentrates on the Malacca sultanate, the birth and role of Umno Baru, and Islam in Malaya and Malaysia. According to Umno Baru standards, world history is insignificant.

Sports in schools is more focussed on the dress code for girls than on the importance of physical education. Parents have alleged that during the examination season, sporting activities are cancelled as students are made to cram when they should be playing. Some parents also allege that there are fewer playing fields in schools. Other allegations include the reduced funding for mission schools.

English is taught in Malay by teachers who lack confidence in spoken English. Latin may soon be compulsory in all schools, but don’t fear, it will be taught in Malay. The teaching of science and mathematics flip-flops between English and Malay. The Education Ministry realises this is a highly politicised subject and will disregard parents’ groups because it is more important to secure votes from the rural heartland.

Muslim children receive agama lessons whilst non-Muslims receive moral lessons. We are still waiting for sex education to be taught in schools so that our children can learn to respect one another and say “No!”

Last week’s announcement by Ahmad Maslan probably created a stir amongst parents. His proposal to reduce the teaching time for geography was obviously not preceded by thorough thinking. How many hours are currently devoted to geography? What is the new time allocation?

To claim that there is nothing to learn after opening a world map is stupid. Perhaps the deputy minister needs a quick revision guide to geography.

Learning geography enables the understanding of the world in which we live. It is a study of the land and the seas around us, of the weather, and of the people who inhabit the earth. Geography tells us how the world is constantly changing shape. It teaches us how mountains, rivers, waterfalls and seas are formed.

Ahmad Maslan may wish to speak to an Umno Baru colleague, the former MB for Terengganu, Ahmad Said, who went to Antarctica. Ahmad Said could educate Ahmad Maslan on the formation of icebergs or he could tell him about the importance of the poles in our climate and weather patterns. Nearer to home, parts of the country are severely affected by flooding. It is to geography that Ahmad Maslan should turn to gain a firm understanding about flooding and soil mechanics.

Malaysian parents worry about the type and quality of their children’s teachers, of school facilities and of extra-curricular activities. Actually, they should worry about politicians. They are a greater threat to the children. Politicians make the most impact on their children’s education. Remember this, and in GE14, do not elect ministers who will meddle in your children’s future.

Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.