This week’s tags:

#SPM and #PPSMI

Too many subjects. Too exam oriented. No practical application. Poor syllabus. Poor delivery. Doesn’t encourage critical/creative thinking.

These are just some of the problems with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam system highlighted by the young people of Malaysia during our last #RAGEchat session.

Our #RAGEchat had achieved a milestone earlier in the day when the R.AGE Twitter account (@thestar_rage) passed the 20,000 followers mark, but more importantly, the quality of discussion is as good as ever.

The young people tweeted passionately about the topic, venting their frustrations with the exam/education system, suggesting solutions and crying out for change.

The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) also joined in on the conversation, answering some questions on #PPSMI.

#ProblemsWithSPM

We started by asking what they felt were some of the problems with SPM, and many complained about the system being too exam oriented, without encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

@XueJen tweeted: “Real education starts AFTER SPM. SPM doesn’t require you to think. Only requires you to memorise and regurgitate.

“(The education system) Should not focus purely on logical thinking. Let students unleash their creative side. We have right brains too you know.”

@EvangelineHan added that it wasn’t just a problem with SPM, but the entire education system.

“I think that the problem with the exam system, not just SPM, is that it focuses too much on memorization. There’s no practical,” she tweeted.

Another common problem they brought up was the amount of subjects that students were required to take. Students felt that the average nine subjects was too much for students to learn effectively in two years.

@Stephyy_1oh1 tweeted: “(SPM is) definitely too exam orientated. And 2 years to study 4 new subjects is too short! Seriously dying!”

@cuddyjah posted an almost identical tweet, saying: “it’s too exam-orientated. And honestly, two years is not enough to digest all three science subjects into one #RAGEchat.”

The solution to that, suggested @narrthine is to reduce the amount of subjects, and provide more focused education.

“it should be about 4 or 5 subjects. Not 9 or 10. Quality over quantity. #RAGEchat #SPM,” she said.

#SPMSolutions

When asked if they could suggest any solutions to the problems with SPM and the education system in general, there was a common theme in the students’ answers: Listening.

Many lamented the fact that their voices have not been heard throughout the various public debates on education policies, even though they would be able to provide valuable insight in helping to improve the system.

@Fahmy93 put it plain and simple when he tweeted: “Actually listen to the students’ opinions for a start.”

@JulianQJ gave a rather more interesting analogy, saying: “somehow I get the feeling that our youth’s voices aren’t heard. Caesar from Planet Apes said, ‘Alone weak; together strong.’”

@JayAnilSS further suggested: “Get reponses from students, teachers and parents, then make a decision based on input from the public. A vote wouldn’t hurt.”

On the other hand, @asashraf encouraged his fellow youth to do more than just speak up, but to back up their opinions properly.

“I think it’s because we’re loud enough, but we ain’t strong enough. We should be more convincing. #JustOpinion,” he said.

But there were plenty of tweets with practical solutions as well.

Many felt that the format of the final exams is the root of the problem, as it encourages students to focus more on theory than practical application.

@serena_cheong suggested that SPM exams should have more questions that require written answers, rather than multiple-choice questions: “Students are to give their opinions & solutions. ABCD too easy”

@chienteng believes the problem is not with the syllabus, but the way the exams are structured: “Revise the way questions are asked! The syllabus is adequate, but the students need to know how to apply it more effectively.”

#PPSMI

The discussion inevitably moved on to the cancelled Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI), a topic which divided opinion.

The Parent Action Group for Education (@PAGEMalaysia) joined in the on the discussion, a day after they submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister @NajibRazak requesting that PPSMI be an option for schools that want to continue the programme.

@PAGEMalaysia said Malaysia should “persevere” with PPSMI, as the problem was not with the policy, but rather the implementation of it.

“There’s always a solution when there’s a will. #PPSMI,” they tweeted, adding that organisations like @TeachForMsia could help “provide competent teachers 4 rural schools”.

Many, like @alvinkok_2, agreed. He said: “BM is part of our national identity, so we do History in BM. But English is the language of science and technology. #RAGEChat”

However, there were also others like R.AGE Just Sayin’ columnist @ZainHD who questioned the feasibility of the policy at this moment in time.

“I’m all for betterment of English. But w/ fundamental probs in Edu system, #PPSMI will hv little impact w/ more cost.

“Pls perhaps focus on whether edu system produces students tht can articulate & hv analytical skills. Not harp on #PPSMI only,” he tweeted.

@syamirsahak also raised his concerns about the policy: “#PPSMI creates a larger language gap because of the different exposures between rural & urban education. Can this be fixed?”

@aimansjaafar added: saw someone wrote that English is language of science. Silly. Einstein, Curie, Ibn Sina, don’t think they used English!

Responding to a question by @Kyp_Lim on how we can improve the quality of teachers in the country, @PAGEMalaysia tweeted: “@Kyp_Lim That’s why #PPSMI is important, need 2 train d teacher of tmrw today. Must encourage best grads to become teachers & keep training the teachers to improve & sharpen teaching skills.”