What education policy to help children?

We ought to remember and understand that every individual in this world, be they big or small, is unique in his or her own way. All of us are different in certain ways, just as all of us are similar in some other ways but no two individuals are totally the same.

Therefore, if we wish to find science students, we should look for those who have an inclination towards science. Similarly, when we want to have linguist, we search for students who have a talent for languages. And if we need to get artists, we go for those who are able to draw or paint or sculpt. To discover singers and musicians, we ought to have a talent hunt for people with melodious voices and a sense of notes and tones.

As such it is crazy for anybody to think of sending for further studies people who have the best all round development, meaning that the chosen ones must be good if not excellent physically, academically, emotionally and spiritually. An excellent scientist may have no interest whatsoever in sports activities or religious matter. So, if we were to deduct marks from him/her for his disastrous performance in sports or religious matters, it could be possible to have him out of the list of successful candidates for further studies. We could then have lost the great potential development of a fantastic scientist. His capability and talents in achieving award-winning technology would be lost to the world, holding back its progress possibly by a few hundred years. Of course, our only consolation and comfort is that we would never realise our loss.

In fact, what the Malaysian government did some years ago was similar. The Education policy then was to create as many science students as possible. To improve science and technology, they send all the best standard six pupils to the science stream. They forgot that even historians, linguists and pupils in the arts stream can be just as clever as science pupils at that level. With that kind of sorting out the students, even excellent economist and linguists were sent to the science stream where they gradually find themselves slowly getting disinterested in the subjects offered them. It was a pity to find such good students become mediocre not because they do not have intelligence but their potential was in a sometimes totally different field.

I remember clearly one sad parent, who was also a teacher, told me that his son had ran off from the university where he was given computer science when he got an offer from a college to do an arts subject. So, I told him it could be a blessing in disguise as his son had the subject where his interest is greatest and therefore although he might be starting at a college instead of the university, his interest could possibly take him even further than where he was in time to come. Interest is important as it is a kind of natural inclination which stays with us and will consistently urge us forward to further our knowledge.

A person interested in the type of work in his job does that job for not just the money but the fun of doing it. That makes him a happier, better worker.

I am not saying that we should not strive to be a well-rounded person. It is ideal to have that but it is not essential or necessary. Not being a well-rounded person does not make a scientist any less healthier and educated in the true sense of the word. A scientist can still go for the pleasures of a fast walk or a jog with family and friends or alone. That would be sufficient to have him healthy. For relaxation and recreation or a social life, mingling with all kind of people from various races, culture and religions could give him the opportunity to mix well with others and learn about the various types of people, their cultures, their way of life, their religions and appreciate them. That is true education, not just memorised knowledge and formulas from books. How can we consider ourselves to be truly educated if we do not understand people; giving here a very simple example; when we cannot understand why or how some people can enjoy certain types of food we ourselves find tasteless or lousy? Take durians for example. Some people from the West do not like their smell or taste, linking the taste and smell to excreta. Yet, many of these people try them and after that some discover that the durians are just as nice to eat as other fruits. They found out that the durians just happen to have a not so familiar taste and smell. The willingness to try and experience for their own selves what others would condemn gave them the opportunity to know truly what the durian is. Though i have taken a fruit as an example, this is actually true of all things. Many condemn other religions or way of life without understanding the true nature of things. Only when there is an open mind that allows one to approach everything positively that we know and understand better the truth.

That is what being a well-rounded person ought to be. Not just getting lots of marks in sports and other matters.

Therefore, when we wish to implement any education policy, we ought to get some really educated people to think whether it is appropriate to force every student to excel in every sphere of life at school level. Schools ought to places where children are helped to find their potential so that they can excel in the field of their interest and end up with work where they can best contribute to society and the world.