Covid-19 a wake-up call for education

The Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed a crisis of global proportions. It cuts across all facets of humanity.

Our universities and academics, the education as well as higher education ministries, have a huge role to play. Unfortunately, they have been rather quiet on this front.

Now, more than ever, we are desperate for a reboot of our society. New articulations are needed, from how we manage our daily lives to how we should view the future.

What is the future of our education system, our university curricula, research agendas and the social sciences and humanities?

Should we continue to pay less attention to the humanities and liberal arts education? The time has come to articulate our priorities. We need social science and humanities thinkers.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic descended upon us, nothing substantial has emerged from either of our education ministers, on re-aligning these perspectives. It is mind boggling. The public must be engaged on what will be prioritised, and how it will be done.

Academics need to step in. They need to select the relevant problems. They must provide different scenarios on how we, as a society, can or cannot cope.

Covid-19 has brought politics to its knees. Education in Malaysia can no longer be politicised. While TikTok is seen as a solution by some, it is a frivolous attempt at instant gratification.

Such trivial entertainment is unbecoming, while humanity is in medical and existential crisis. Our universities must set the example for our leadership, but it cannot be done without an ethical will. Our academics must commit to their foresight and credibility.

Education for society must start here. While we are told to practise social distancing during this pandemic, we are really engaging in physical distancing. Such a distinction may seem petty to some, but there is a long-term purpose. It will have a positive psychological effect on the values we espouse, as a multi-racial society.

It is more than mere solidarity, because it suggests that we are one socially, despite the necessity to be physically separated.

In mid-March, the World Health Organization recommended using the physical distancing concept, yet many governments, including ours, have not publicised the term.

Two people who are physically close, such as two strangers crossing the road, are not socially close. On the other hand, two people who are physically separated by thousands of kilometres, such as a husband and wife, are socially close.

This was an example that recently appeared on social media, written by a sociology scholar. Such scholarly insight prioritises solidarity over isolation, despite the need for physical distance. This notion plants a priceless value in Malaysian society, helping us to psychologically adapt to a post-Covid-19 era.

Virologists will be the new stars in a post-Covid-19 world. However, social scientists and scholars of the humanities are needed to uphold integrity. They project ideas of readjustments for society. Our universities must articulate how the “new normal” should be reconfigured.

For example, globalisation suggests that nations are inter-connected by necessity. One nation produces what another one needs. They are both facilitated and constrained by trade agreements and exchange rates. They are governed by global standards set by production monopolies.

Relations among nations have been hierarchical, often resulting in bullying tactics. Yet, as Bill Gates recently said, the virus does needs neither a passport nor transportation logistics.

Our education sector and university academics should seriously repackage this global configuration. Set the research agenda so our government can prioritise allocation of funds. Establish the “new research normal”.

Our universities should no longer be held ransom to imperial businesses premised on a misinformed understanding of globalisation.

When our health crisis subsides, our society will most likely be faced with more racial and religious tensions. Many Malaysians have blamed certain ethnic and religious groups for Covid-19.

The new normal should be to reconcile subjects of the humanities with scientific objectivity. Our academics need to reset how we perceive race and religion in society. It is imperative that we de-politicise it.

Our education leadership should devote more attention to history, philosophy and literature, not just religion. Otherwise, we will be ignorant of the fundamental reason for dishonesty and exploitation.

The intellectual approach would be to reconcile ethics with religion. Malaysians must realise that the only way we can physically and spiritually recover from this pandemic is to compromise, be kind and accepting of diversity. It is impossible if we persist in our stubbornness.

History as an academic subject must be prioritised. It should no longer be considered a “soft subject”.

The current global panic is proof that selfish human ego supersedes memory. For too long we have allowed history to repeat itself; we continue to make the same mistakes. Universities must prioritise funding for historical research, and allocate expertise into its teaching.

Our global health crisis requires us to view history without race-tinted lenses. The ability to interpret history objectively is a skill that our academics must impart to their students.

The entire concept of history as an educational subject must be revamped. History is not a dry narration of past events. Narration must be followed by interpretation. Our universities have failed to educate students in the art of interpretation.

Education must project “truth” as the new pandemic. We should despise fear and conspiracy theories. Resurrect the humanities to resist such theories.

Academics should not use humanities and social science education for political and economic ends. Academics must contribute to factual and intelligent dialogue. They should resist ideological pressure from politicians, who prefer a re-interpretation of facts for their own agendas.

An objective interpretation of events should be the modus operandi in our post-pandemic era. Bring back the role and recognition of the intellectual.

For example, studies on how and why Covid-19 infections in Malaysia spread among the different communities will emerge.

Academics who undertake such research must be objective and refrain from scapegoating communities. If the majority of deaths in Malaysia comprise followers of the Tablighi movement, present the facts without any prejudicial analysis. The goal of the analysis should be to reduce the mortality rate, should there be another pandemic in the future.

These goals can only be achieved if there is a combination of scientific, sociological and psychological research, together with a religious interpretation.

We need to review the business of university research and publications. Covid-19 has shown us that humans are capable of cooperating with compassion, amidst catastrophe. It has also exposed selfish and egotistical leadership worldwide.

Malaysians now know that billions of ringgit can be approved within days to stabilise our economy. There should be an equivalent political will in the post-Covid-19 era.

Our universities have to uphold the values for the greater good, rather than serving narrow political and economic interests. Our academics need to nag society about the benefits of slowing down, while optimising returns. They need to highlight the positive impact on our psychology and the benefits of moderation. More academic discourse, research and publications should focus on the finite, rather than bloated excessiveness.

Covid-19 is a wake up call. Humans should realise that we are finite. Individually, we have always known that we are mortal.

However, Covid-19 is like electro-convulsive therapy for the soul. Our desires for infinite wealth should be put in perspective.

We need more articulate sociologists, philosophers and psychologists in our education system. They must be able to translate the existential fallout of Covid-19.

Our teachers and academics will not earn society’s respect unless they conceptualise the bigger picture. Provide fresh insight into how humanity’s outlook should be re-set.

Politics and politicians cannot succeed without thinkers. - FMT