FSSH Adjunct Professor Lecture Series: YBhg. Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim

Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025:….. Examining the journey thus far

Key points:

  • Challenges due to unforeseen event i.e. COVID-19 pandemic prompt teachers, parents and students to adjust to the new norms.  It is not easy to ensure the practice of physical distance yet learning has to happen no matter what.  It prompts all respective parties to use digital learning to the max.
  • The priorities of education would always have to be translated into action regardless of whatever event that could derail the progress of learning at institutions level (schools and higher education institutions).
  • Malaysia Education Blueprint set the stage of where our education is heading forward but we have to understand the current performance and challenges of education system, establish a vision and aspirations for the system and students and outline the transformation program for the system.
  • Outlining the current blueprint is not about just preparing the document but how we would deliver the vision and aspirations (policies) at various levels through dedicated teams.
  • There are 11 key shifts to achieve aspiration (refer to the first 4 chapters in the blueprint): access, quality, equity, unity, efficiency, empower, ICT, transform (accountability), partnership, budget, transparency
  • Rigorous monitoring process: with KPIs, charters and budgeting to ensure continuous supports are delivered and accountability to be assured.
  • 2-12% of students are not in schools for various reasons and yet, there are various attempts, efforts and programmes have been and are being delivered.
  • Access to technical and vocational education is one of the main agenda = to enhance technical skills among students
  • Address the issue of transitioning and dropping out especially among the most disadvantaged i.e. students from Orang Asli community (the rate of completion is still low)
  • New assessment i.e. UPSR and such somehow poses another challenge to improve and bridge the gap of dropping out and school completion among students especially the disadvantaged.
  • Participation in STEM subjects especially in pure sciences subjects has been steadily declined over the years especially as students pursue their education at higher level i.e. post secondary education.  1/5 of students who originally from pure science stream would going to further their study in pure sciences field at post secondary education.
  • The quality of education system would not exceed the quality of teachers.  The quality of education depends on the quality of teachers.  Thus, it is important to ensure we provide the best training teacher education to pre-service teachers.  450k teachers (young teachers) are currently work as teachers in Malaysia and to enhance proficiency in English based on the alignment of CEFR.  For the time being, it is only meant for English teachers.
  • Digital competency among students (primary and secondary) is skewed in which those who go to schools equip with good ICT facilities would have better digital competency.
  • The ecosystem within the school is related to students’ competency on digital skills.

  • Zero Reject Policy is in motion with various programmes such as programmes for special needs students, programmes for children of migrants or asylum seekers, ziarah cakna and such.
  • The emphasis on the results is still prevalent in Malaysia.  We often ask “How many As do you get?” rather on the question “What have you learned over the 11 years of schooling?”
  • The societal value (in Malaysia) makes it a challenge to change the current practice in which teachers still practice “teaching to the test” i.e. teachers teach what would be “appeared” in the examination.
  • School completion requires students to have minimum expected skills and knowledge as set by the Ministry of Education (education system) to ensure our future generations would be future proof to face 4IR challenges.
  • Selection of those undergoing teaching training programmes has been improved and also, there are continuous programmes given to current teachers to enhance their teaching practice.
  • School leadership is the 2nd biggest factor influencing students’ learning after teachers’ instructional delivery.  Thus, it is important to emphasise on the preparation of instructional planning and delivery than administrative aspects.
  • COVID-19 has given impacts on society at various levels especially the most affected are the vulnerable (the disadvantaged).
  • DELIMa (Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia) is a culmination of efforts from the ministry along with Google, Microsoft and Apple.  Yet, it is all go back to the issues of teachers and students’ preparedness in online learning, digital divide and connectivity as well as providing support to the most vulnerable including students with disability.
  • The accuracy of information and speed of information delivers from various parties to different levels of parties.

Hasan Langgulung

Someone asked me if I was Pak Hasan’s student.  Pak Hasan is a nickname that we (his students) fondly use to call him.  His real name is Hasan Langgulung.  He passed away in 2008.  Al-fatihah.

When I was his student in 2003, he was already nearly 70.  He used to go swimming before Zuhr with a colleague.  I used to see him waiting with his sport bag nearby the car park of IIUM Kulliyyah of Education (now it is known as Institute of Education or INSTED).

What I vividly remember until now is, there were six of us taking his Personality Psychology class.  Each of us had to present three times.  Yup.  With only six students in a class, what do you expect?  Our presentation would be based on either article review or our thoughts on Western and Islamic views of Personality.  For the Islamic views, we have to pour over the Holy Qur’an and such.  Of course, there is no direct comparison between theories by the western scholars with Islamic scholars like Al-Ghazali. But, it prompted us to think critically.  Talk about HOTs and whatsnot.  Well, it has been practiced long time ago before OBE and whatsnot.

Another thing that I remember well is there would be one of us who would go to his room before class and this person would walk with Pak Hassan to class.  While walking, this person would have the privilege to have a chat with Pak Hassan.  Normally, the male students would do it.  Or if we wanted to do it, there would be two of us female students who would “on a pretext of having something-to-discuss-with-you” go to his room and walk with him to class after our discussion.  Such a precious moment!  Of course, we could not do that with other lecturers but with him, he is like a father who we could discuss about intellectual stuff.

Calling him Pak Hasan rather than Professor (even though his official salutary title is Professor) shows the kind of relationship that we had as student-teacher.  Oh how I miss those moments!  Do I wish that I could have such relationship with my own students?   That is a question that I do not have any answer yet.

 

COVID-19: Face mask connector

The school where I did my Latihan Ikhtisas asked for my opinion for this week co-curricular activity.  They were going to do an activity involving sewing.  So, I suggested to make a simple face mask connector using left-over fabrics.  To cut cost.  But, due to time constraint, they opt to buy the materials instead.

So, here are some examples of the output.

well, they need to sew the corners to make it more proper. As a start, not bad, huh?

 

My personal collection. One might ask me why do I need to have more than one face mask connector. Well, I need to have extra, just in case I accidentally lose one. So, I have a “back-up” face mask connector.

Program Kerohanian FSSH bagi Siri 22: Kemuliaan memberi dengan Ikhlas – Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 265-269

Tarikh / Hari     :      10 September 2020 (Khamis)
Masa                     :      8.15 pagi
Pembimbing    :      PM. Dr. Ahmad bin Che Yaacob
Tajuk                     :      Kemuliaan memberi dengan Ikhlas  – Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 265-269
Intipati ayat Surah Al-Baqarah
Ayat 265-269
  • Allah SWT menggunakan analogi orang yang ikhlas memberi seperti ladang atau kebun di tempat yang tinggi (selalunya tiada sungai atau sumber air), yang ditimpa hujan lebat, lalu mengeluarkan hasilnya dua kali ganda.  Dengan hujan itu, ladang itu dapat menghasilkan buah yang banyak.
  • Syaitan sentiasa memujuk untuk kita tidak memberi sumbangan.  Akan tetapi kita perlu melatih diri untuk mempunyai pendirian yang teguh untuk tetap memberi
Ayat 266
  • Allah SWT menggunakan analogi orang yang tidak ikhlas atau tidak mahu memberi seperti ladang yang mempunyai pokok yang pelbagai dan terdapat sungai yang mengalir, tetapi akan datang ribut taufan yang memusnahkan ladang itu dan akhirnya ladang itu tidak berhasil.

Ayat 267

  • Sekiranya ingin memberi sesuatu, tidak boleh dari sumber yang haram seperti barang haram, dari riba’ dan sebagainya.
  • Sumbangan perlu dari sumber yang halal dan dalam keadaan terbaik.  Contoh: Jangan beri baju-baju yang terkoyak untuk disumbang atau makanan yang hampir basi atau tidak elok untuk dimakan.

Ayat 268

  • Syaitan akan sentiasa menakut-nakutkan dengan kemiskinan dan kepapaan dan akan sentiasa menggalakkan pekerjaan keji.

Ayat 269

  • Allah berikan kebijaksanaan/hikmah (wisdom) kepada sesiapa yang dikehendakinya.  Sesiapa yang diberikan hikmah akan dimendapat kebaikan (ganjaran) yang banyak.

Reminiscing the good old days? Aye

Someone asked me about my SPM results.  Well, it was more than 20 years ago when I had the SPM exam.  I still remember what my results were.  I got C4 for Malay language and A2 for English and A1 for Arabic.  Yup.  Don’t ask my how I got such results.  I tried my best.  Indeed.

Thinking back, even though I like reading yet I was more inclined to listen to English songs.  That might explain why I got a better grade for English as compared to Malay.  But if you ask me if I can still converse in Arabic, the answer is No.  But I can roughly understand if someone converse in Arabic.  Especially when it comes to numbers.  I still remember numbers in Arabic.  So, it does help to use it when I performed hajj.  There was this incident when I wanted to buy a jubah which the sales person tried to sell it for “150 riyal”, but when he was asked by a Tunisian couple how much the jubah cost, he replied “80 riyal”.  To his surprise, I replied in my broken Arabic that he was trying to cheat in which he told two different prices to different customers.  Of course I got the jubah for 80 riyal in the end.

Learning language is not easy.  Yet, using it for different context such as for academic writing, magazine and such requires one to be proficient in selecting the wording and whatsnot.  Clearly, I don’t think I am that proficient.  Well, apparently, writing in this webometrics in English makes some people think that I am proficient.  I feel like a fake.  Indeed.

 

COVID-19: More workload?

Off lately, I notice that there are so many task forces that I involve in.  There are times when I feel suffocated.  Not in a physical sense.  Emotionally, I feel suffocated.  I try to change my routine.  I come to work as early as I could.  I find that I am able to get more things done when I come early.  But I find it difficult to stay focused after Zuhr, as if my “battery” needs to be recharged.  I try to sleep a bit before Zuhr but often than not, without noticing the time, it is already Zuhr and I miss the chance to have a quick nap.

Since the leaking pipe incident, I admit that it takes me quite a long time to settle down.  Being a nomad for a while certainly gives me a different perspective on certain things but I realise that to get myself adjusted to new routines are not as fluid as before.  Am I getting older?

Sometimes, when I feel too overwhelmed with things, what I would do is to have a priority list of what I should do urgently.  Most of the times even though it is not easy to put certain things under “not urgent” category, I know that I have to be firm in this.  There are times when I say “NO” and can’t hardly remain patient due to indecisiveness of certain people.  Yup.  My patience is running thin.

Yet, I would ask myself “If others are indecisive, what I should do?”  There are times when I ask some seniors what they want from me or what is the direction of a certain task because I just cannot tolerate with indecisiveness any more.

I might be appeared as rude but in this case, I hate the culture of lots-of-talking-yet-doing-less or what I called as “Pung pang, pung pang”.  How I wish I have one solid uninterrupted week!

COVID-19 cases are increasing today (Tuesday, 8 September 2020).  100 cases.   Do I have to work from home again?  Why do I secretly wish that ………. (fill in the blank).

Thank you, Prof. Datuk Ir. Dr. Wahid bin Omar

How time flies!  He was elected as the VC of UTM in 2013 – a year after I finished my PhD.  He was the third VC that I had since I started working at UTM.  Even though I never get the chance to know him personally, when the leaking pipe incident happened, he made a point to make sure that all units/department including my faculty would do something about the safety measure and management of the buildings at UTM.  Of course, there is certain lost that was incurred due to the incident and I have to bear with it but having a VC who cares really matters.

Thank you, Prof.  When I received the email from your officer, it really made my day.

COVID-19: Another spring clean project

I find it hard to find face mask connector at shops or malls.  Perhaps I don’t go out that much and find any that I fancy.  One of my seniors gave me the face mask connector that she made using an elastic and buttons.  But it is too big for me.  I cannot use it for myself.  I keep it in my bag with extra unused face mask just in case somebody might need it.

It has been a while since my last upcycling project.  As I look at left-over fabrics that I have from my last projects, I find some that I can use to make as a  face mask connector.

Here are some of the face mask connectors.

I don’t have enough button. So, I use brooch instead. The buttons that I used here were taken from my old PJs. I cannot use the old PJs fabric, so I just take the buttons.
UTM Open Day