Cases to Ponder
I would like to share my experience when I was working as a Curriculum Supervisor in a District Education office. I'll relate to you these experiences briefly.
Case 1:
Reaching a rural school at about 10.40 am. That is 10 mins after recess. I saw teachers walking leaving the Staff room in a hurry towards their respective classes upon seeing my arrival. I guess they were shocked to see a district supervisor visiting their school. Well, what does that shows? Teachers are not going to classes promptly. They must have been doing this often. Anyway I am positive about it. Maybe its a coincident for that particular day. After seeing the Senior Assistant, the Headmaster was not in, I went to the school library. My god! what a horrible condition the library was. I was shocked to see the dusty room, empty book shelves, the untidy and disorganized library counter. The reason given by the library teacher was, "I'm sorry, I 'm busy teaching, so I don't have time to take care of the library". Again I was positive about it. Maybe so, she was really busy teaching the Year 6 children. Then I went to the Media Room. Again I was shocked. The condition is a lot worst. Everything is dusty. There are packages still not opened. Mind you some of the packages are from the Ministry of Education delivered a year ago. Just imagine, hundreds of Ringgit worth of teaching aids not being utilized for the benefit of the pupils. No wonder the school's academic performance was very bad for the past 3 years. My conclusion was that:-
Case 2:
A FELDA school was visited. Everything was not in order. The teachers were wasting their time at the canteen or in the Staff room. I met a teacher in the Staff room. Asked her for her test papers that she had given her pupils for the last 3 test. Well, "I'm sorry I did not keep any copy with me." was the answer given. "How do you track the topics that the pupils did not acquire yet?" Silence. No answer was given. "Do you have a list of pupil who are still weak in your subjects?". Aha! this time there is an answer. "Yes I do. These are the same pupils who are weak in all subjects." Wow! just imagine. Weak in all subjects. They must be morons. Are they? I don't think so. "Did you give these pupils an opportunity to learn the skills at their own pace?" Pulling a long sour face she replied, "Do you think I have the time look at these few? I have other pupils who are very much better to take care of." What do you think? Was she right about the issue? Was that the only way to tackle the problem? If the answer is YES to these Q's, then I really pity those kids. The Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan clearly states that giving enough and equal opportunity in learning according to the abilities of each individual. So teachers should take more pain in tackling these weakness amongst pupils so that they are given the opportunity that they deserved.
Conclusion:- Teachers do not have the highest level of commitment to teaching. Teaching is just a job to get done with. Caring and understanding is out of the question. The most common phrase used is "I don't have the time." What would you say to these teachers? I find that there are many teachers now teaching in schools in our country are not fit to be teachers. Sorry for being too harsh with my words. As a parent I feel that dedication is lacking amongst the teachers. I do see and meet dedicated teachers who spend most of their time and money for the sake of their pupils. I salute these teachers. I know a few who are working right to the very end of their service, even till the very last day of service. Gone are the days. The teachers I mentioned earlier are also dedicated, but not to teaching. Dedication is being channeled to other activities other then teaching. Many dedicated teachers in this category should re looked at their priorities before hundreds and thousands of pupils are being left out in education.
Case 1:
Reaching a rural school at about 10.40 am. That is 10 mins after recess. I saw teachers walking leaving the Staff room in a hurry towards their respective classes upon seeing my arrival. I guess they were shocked to see a district supervisor visiting their school. Well, what does that shows? Teachers are not going to classes promptly. They must have been doing this often. Anyway I am positive about it. Maybe its a coincident for that particular day. After seeing the Senior Assistant, the Headmaster was not in, I went to the school library. My god! what a horrible condition the library was. I was shocked to see the dusty room, empty book shelves, the untidy and disorganized library counter. The reason given by the library teacher was, "I'm sorry, I 'm busy teaching, so I don't have time to take care of the library". Again I was positive about it. Maybe so, she was really busy teaching the Year 6 children. Then I went to the Media Room. Again I was shocked. The condition is a lot worst. Everything is dusty. There are packages still not opened. Mind you some of the packages are from the Ministry of Education delivered a year ago. Just imagine, hundreds of Ringgit worth of teaching aids not being utilized for the benefit of the pupils. No wonder the school's academic performance was very bad for the past 3 years. My conclusion was that:-
- There was no effective supervision done by the Headmaster and Senior Assistant.
- The Library teacher was over burden with various task. Uneven distribution of task among the staff.
- Teaching was done through "chalk and talk". Teacher teaches, Pupils listen.
- Mathematics and English Language was taught by untrained teachers in Phase One, Thus leading to accumulated deficiencies in the subjects resulting to poor performance in Year 6.
- The Headmaster should be transfered out since he has been there for more then 5 years.
- Teachers should be reallocated according to their best skill in teaching subjects. Long serving teachers should be replaced by younger new breeds.
- More frequent supervision by the District Education office should be carried out.
- Parent teachers relationship should be encourage so as to get parents involved in their children's education effectively.
Case 2:
A FELDA school was visited. Everything was not in order. The teachers were wasting their time at the canteen or in the Staff room. I met a teacher in the Staff room. Asked her for her test papers that she had given her pupils for the last 3 test. Well, "I'm sorry I did not keep any copy with me." was the answer given. "How do you track the topics that the pupils did not acquire yet?" Silence. No answer was given. "Do you have a list of pupil who are still weak in your subjects?". Aha! this time there is an answer. "Yes I do. These are the same pupils who are weak in all subjects." Wow! just imagine. Weak in all subjects. They must be morons. Are they? I don't think so. "Did you give these pupils an opportunity to learn the skills at their own pace?" Pulling a long sour face she replied, "Do you think I have the time look at these few? I have other pupils who are very much better to take care of." What do you think? Was she right about the issue? Was that the only way to tackle the problem? If the answer is YES to these Q's, then I really pity those kids. The Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan clearly states that giving enough and equal opportunity in learning according to the abilities of each individual. So teachers should take more pain in tackling these weakness amongst pupils so that they are given the opportunity that they deserved.
Conclusion:- Teachers do not have the highest level of commitment to teaching. Teaching is just a job to get done with. Caring and understanding is out of the question. The most common phrase used is "I don't have the time." What would you say to these teachers? I find that there are many teachers now teaching in schools in our country are not fit to be teachers. Sorry for being too harsh with my words. As a parent I feel that dedication is lacking amongst the teachers. I do see and meet dedicated teachers who spend most of their time and money for the sake of their pupils. I salute these teachers. I know a few who are working right to the very end of their service, even till the very last day of service. Gone are the days. The teachers I mentioned earlier are also dedicated, but not to teaching. Dedication is being channeled to other activities other then teaching. Many dedicated teachers in this category should re looked at their priorities before hundreds and thousands of pupils are being left out in education.
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