Good
day to anyone whom it may concerned
I
have seen so many proudly speaks on the significance of access to proper
education in Malaysia be it politician or ministers or individuals. My thumbs
up to them for spending decades to raise the quality of education and higher
education in Malaysia whether they are from Pakatan Harapan or Barisan
Nasional. KUDOS!
Whilst
I understand, academic (and competency-based education) may not warrant a good employment nowadays,
I'm not going to touch on unemployment issues among graduates in this post (I'm sure you "intellects" can
figure it out by now - Suffice it to say "If our business school is so good, why...why...why...is our
Malaysian business are still doing so bad?)
The
problem with these education/higher education improvement efforts are that they
are merely directed towards the younger generation (especially those studying in the institution of higher learnings in
Malaysia). Thanks to both Government of the past and current, there are
various forms of fundings such as MARA, Bursary, Scholarship, Zakat,
Foundations, MyBrain, KPT and Loans such as the "famous PTPTN";
although may not be enough; but it has been proven to reduce the burden of
parents who are paying more and more "expensively" just to ensure
quality education for their children - That being said, I hope that education
is NOT about business, it is still about educating.
Here
comes the riddle :
Whilst
the focus is right, and whilst we boast that "it is everyone's rights to gain access to education”, we are
forgetting "the unemployed matured students" circa the age of 45 and
above who still wish to study in the institution of higher learning as part of
the "so-called continual learning process".
There
is no problem for government
officials and private sectors, as this practice of the CLP is extremely
important. The Government and Private
Sectors are willing to finance their staff despite the age, to ensure further
postgraduate success.
I'm
really talking about those who have been LONG FORGOTTEN. "Matured
students" who are unemployed". So far NOTHING at all! No fundings, No
Financial Assistance. Prove me wrong!
As
a Muslim, I'm also frustrated witnessing
some recent events where Zakat officials saying that the financial assistance
is NOT for (matured) postgraduates. Wow..Zakat is only limited to certain category of students? What an
edict/fatwa! I sure hope the HRM
KDYMM the YDP Agong can look into this issue.
Not
to mention, the inavailability of
any types assistance for those who are unemployed or freelancers -
having to pay on their own exorbitant price to gain access to proper higher
education in Malaysia. Many have quitted on the basis of "couldn't afford
it any longer" There are so many
unemployed and freelancers especially WOMEN that yearn for further
education. (ah, you don't do your maths,
no wonder you have forgotten them)
For
decades, I still don't see ANY
efforts being done to ensure "access for all" to proper education
"motto" a reality to these category of matured students. We are still
FAR lagging behind when it comes to
continual higher education for those who are unemployed and have no access
to any fundings. Folks from rural to urban can only be contented witnessing
their children being aided by the Government but no one bother to ask if they themselves wants the same
accreditation.
So while we are busy talking
and indulging ourselves in press conferences or some "intelectual
discourse" or about "the quality of education post improvement",
"the impressive statistics", "the high and mighty TIVET and
MQA", "the continual learning process", "bridging the
gap", "scorecard" etc. which all sum up to the famous "lip
service" - "EDUCATION FOR ALL", take a look of what I have said
herein. It's simple and straightforward.
I
thank you for your attention. Believe me, you'll be doing the rakyat a very big favour.
Akhir
kata : Kesihanilah kami, lihatlah kami, pandanglah kami, kami pun nak belajar
juga, tetapi biayanya tidak ada - untuk "orang tua yang tidak
bekerja" seperti kami. Pencen pun tak ada. Ada Faham?
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