Exams: one form of assessment

The death of E. Premkumar after failing his SPM examination is indeed a dreadful episode.  Why such a tragic happening? This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred. Failure in examination should not be a cause for a student to end his life.

Unwarranted pressure and high expectations on the part of parents, school administration and teachers can be cited as causes for such incidents.

Such happenings is because society at large are looking at examinations as a source of pride and honour for the family, household, school, education department and the Ministry of Education.

There seems to be an academic rat race among students. After all, examination is just one part of education, that is a form of evaluation of the student’s academic achievement. Academic advancement can be gauged by many ways and one of it through examinations and tests.

Parents need to understand that examination is not the sole issue and concern in education. Students should be taught to see education as wholesome, not studying just to pass examinations. If a student has not passed his examination, does it mean he or she is not clever?  Why despise and ridicule the student for not passing an examination? 

Parents should learn to accept children as they are. Not everyone can score all As. It is demoralizing students when you compare one with another. Each and every one is unique, just the fingers of a hand.

Scoring all As doesn’t mean that the student is successful in his life. There are many factors that enable a student to be successful in life.

All the time, A achievers are appreciated and glorified, where else the non A achievers are not given any recognition or even acknowledgement by parents, schools and society at large. Celebrations and jubiliations are for the A achievers.  The so-called low and moderate achievers also need celebrations and appreciation for passing examinations. They also need motivation and assurance from all quarters. But, sad to say such events are not happening.

Actually, we are the one that categorize students as high, moderate and low achievers. In education, we should not put them in such categories.

Perhaps, parents and teachers need to change their perception of education. We need to see education as wholesome. A student in his journey through schools and colleges should enjoy education, not mugging and struggling to compete in a rat race with his counterparts.  At the end of the day, education should mould a person to become a good citizen, a better equipped person to face the onslaught of life and succeed in his life.

Let us all, lend a hand and work together to take away the phobia of examinations from the minds of our children. Let them learn to see examinations as one facet of the education system.

Parents, teachers, education department and concerned parties should not unduly put pressure on children until they are psychologically and emotionally disturbed. Show more love and compassion to children and prepare them to face education in a positive approach.

Ageing and longevity

The First World Congress on Healthy Ageing was held recently in Kuala Lumpur recently. As a senior citizen, I read the proceedings with much enthusiasm. Ageing is a physical phenomenon and is something that inevitable for human beings. Greying, wrinkles and loosening of body muscles are part and parcel of old age. 

As stressed in the Congress, it is important that ageing is a healthy one. I think healthy doesn’t mean physically fit and able to do workouts in gyms and the sort. It means free for any serious ailments and possessing a healthy mind. Besides, one should have a positive attitude towards life.

I believe one formula for healthy ageing is keeping oneself active, both physically and mentally.  Retirement doesn’t mean that we are at the end of our journey. It is just a mind set.  We have many senior citizens in our midst living happily enjoying the life as it is. I think this is healthy ageing.  Our former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Royal Professor Ungku Aziz are classic examples. Although in their 80’s and 90’s, both are still ageing healthily.

As long as senior citizens are engaging in some of activity, I strongly believe he or she can live healthily although ageing. Studies show that an active mind keeps diseases and aliments at bay. There are many ways keeping one active mentally. Involving in NGO’s, social, spiritual activities and also perhaps doing some yoga and brisk walking should suffice for a healthy ageing among senior citizens. Healthy diet, being a teetotaller and adopting a healthy lifestyle are other ways to ensure healthy ageing. 

In this context, we truly appreciate the government’s decision to extend the retirement age to 60 years. It is indeed a good move to keep the ageing population active, at least physically and mentally until 60.  Let us all, including me a retiree, look forward ageing as a phenomenon and not an alarming factor, but rather a part of life. We should learn to take life as it, as many are doing it nowadays. Ageing should not be feared but faced with optimism and hopefulness.