UPSR results are out and parents’ expectations
Now that the UPSR results are out, schools in Sibu and parents are heaving a heavy sigh of relief. There is this tremendous pressure to perform. Students are busy from morning till night almost seven days a week in the rush to be ahead in examinations.
It is this mentality among the non-Bumiputeras. The prevailing thought is the government gives priority to Bumi children so my children will have to make double, triple efforts for the same measure of success as a Bumiputera child. So the non-Bumiputera parents spend more time and spend a huge chunk of their income on their children’s education. The children are under tremendous pressure from the age of four or five.
I must admit I am not doing too well in this aspect. I don’t read Mandarin and thus not able to help Benghui at all in subjects which use Chinese as the medium of instruction. He performs well in Science and Maths in English but doesn’t do well in these same subjects in Chinese. Moral studies is also a problem as it is conducted in Chinese.
Malay and English is not a problem at all. I was asked why I sent him to a Chinese school when he will do much better in a Malay medium school. I was told he would excel in that type of school given his strong command of both verbal and written Malay language and English.
For me, he doesn’t have to excel in Chinese. If one day he will be able to read Chinese newspapers, sing Chinese songs at karaoke functions, converse in Chinese when the occasion demands it : that will be enough. In secondary school, Mandarin will be just another subject in the school time-table. But his early grasp of the language will pay huge dividends for his future.
On the same topic, I worry for his future and the future of the future generations. After 50 years of independence , we are back to square one. Instead of forging a future for the future generations the politicians of the day are still concentrating on their own spheres of influence and formulating policies to propagate the present existing system. 50 years of little progress in nation building. 
I am almost afraid to go home today. Today is the day when Bneghui will wait for me with his report book in his hand. He thinks he can get a class position of below 10. His low mark of 69% in his Mandarin essay writing will ensure a position of thirty or more. It will break his heart but he has to toughen up and learn to strive harder.
One day he has to leave the nest and fend for himself.
i dun read chinese too.. but i dun have any worries.. coz i dun need to
good to hear that
While the system kind of screwed us up, it in turns create a generation of strong-willed (though resentful), hardworking and intellectual non-bumi Malaysians.
Yes, ability to read Mandarin is very important.
On another note, while it’s bad to pressure our children too much, it is not good to encourage complecency either.
lief is tough as a kid!
this is where I screwed up. i never expose him to negative views. he is very trusting and naive. I have to make him tough to survive against all the obstacles that lie ahead. I cant always b with him. I am trying to ensure he knows Mandarin that’s why I sent him to Chinese medium school.
Chinese language is much important now as China is getting stronger and bigger…
I can’t read Chinese but can converse in Chinese/Mandarin.
I am thinking of Home Schooling for my baby Angel. Not planning to send her to government schools or private schools. When she reached 7yrs old, hopefully can continue her Homes Schooling at church. (our church provide Home Schooling facility)
Beng, u see ah now children go to school carry their bag like going for holiday, there should be a proper system. Like last time our school, we can keep books in our desk then lock it..now apa pun tarak!
oh btw, i add your link into mine ya..can?
sure
Hi Beng, could you explain what is Bumi and Bumiputeras pls.
Jeff, that would b a massive exercise in futility and a sensitive post
Agreed with you that children nowadays are really pressure on the studies.. especially those kids in Chinese school.. They are really very keng and hardworking.. They have to cater for so many languages.. Their parents also quite kiasu and always compare them with others.. Study is important BUT cannot push the kids too hard too..
Indeed, Bahasa Cina really a hard subject.
B China is a very tough one
My parents sent me to BM medium school because they say it is important. They can’t find a job with the government because they can only speak and understand Chinese.
But now, it seems that those from Chinese school can converse better than me in English and BM and furthermore, they can write and speak better Chinese. They are the one that making more money than me.
Anyway, to study better, I think we need to be a little bit kiasu. If not, a person will never learn to be better in anything they do. They will be satisfied with what ever they have now.
But Malaysia education system really sucks. I know better than anyone because I am a teacher. I can’t talk much about it here, but I know many of you out there know about it better than me too.
Bengbeng, you just have to be patient and yeah.. one of this day Benghui is going to lead his life his own way.
Choonie I am so tired. parenting is such a difficult job
I was in Malay medium school from Primary 1 till Form 6 and now in university also use Malay as medium of language. No worries! I can read a little bit of Mandarin, sing all Jay Chou’s songs and understand the lyrics, converse with my friends in Mandarin, write a little in Mandarin. Oh, I picked those up myself, self-tutored. Hahaha!!!
My mum said all my aunts scolded her for sending my brother and I to Malay medium school when we were young because they say we will lose our root. Now, I laughed at their face because I fair better than their kids. Muahahahah!!! My cousins are all Chinese-educated but suck big time in English and Bahasa Malaysia, both in written and spoken.
I think my parents did the right thing. My dad was English-educated anyway (really being taught by ang moh from Britain).
Sorry Bengbeng! I don’t know where I am going in this comment. But don’t be too hard on Benghui. As long as he’s tried his best, he should be proud of himself. Have a nice day!
Bravo, Clare! Well said! Now, perhaps some ppl shud ponder awhile on this. My bro-in-law and his wife speak Mandarin & they send their sons to Chinese school. When they come back and we gather at my outlaws…I mean, in-laws, the sons can’t understand what we say…be it in Hokkein or Foochow. Mandarin is just a language; the Chinese culture lies within the dialects, be it the Foochow culture, the Hokkein culture etc…related to things such as food, weddings, funerals and so on. When the dialects die, the culture will die too. That was why Spore scrapped the Speak Mandarin Campaign of the 80s (and the standard of English dropped to, so they change the syllabus from PETS to the much-easier PEP). Don’t listen to the politicians!!! All they want is YOUR vote!!!
I studied in Malay schools all my life and I regret that I never took my Chinese tuitions seriously. I believe I would have turn out okay too had I gone to a Chinese school because I would come home to my English-speaking family (and Cantonese). We speak primarily English at home now and I am teaching myself Mandarin. Like Clare, Chinese song are not a problem to me now as I’m pretty exposed to the Chinese entertainment industry (as opposed to the English one when I was in school. In where I grew up, all my friends spoke English). I think sending Benghui to a Chinese school is a good choice, and given the fact that you’re more of an English-speaking parent, I am sure Benghui will benefit tremendously, as he will get the best of both worlds.
Speaking of the UPSR results, I heard that the number of straight A-scorers have increased. It is the election year. It is now only the UPSR. We still have PMR and SPM, and so on. I am sure the record-breaking number of As in the UPSR is only the tip of the iceberg. You will hear even more, when the PMR and SPM results are released.
the elections will b before the SPM results so yr theory may not b applicable
BengBeng, I never expected my god-daughter, Sherlyn to have more than 3As in her UPSR exams but surprisingly, her results showed 5As. The most she has ever got in her school exams were 3As but I noticed that she really struggled up during the last few weeks before her exams. Does this really mean that last minute preparation is helpful? Of course I am happy for her achievements. Now it is my turn to sit for my PTK exams on Nov 21-22. haha…. wonder how the god-daddy would fair?
wish you all the best in yr ptk….congratulations to Sherlyn. wuah maybe it is time to put the pressure on Benghui. he only likes TV
Never pressure a child, especially these days…
Exposure is more important than anything else really.
You sound like my parents, knowing so many different things about people’s life. This can be essential for your children. It’s good for them to know what’s going on, and what’s not right what’s not wrong. And how things could be better. Or whatever that’s unsure. It’s actually a form of life learning.
But problem with these days is, there are so many things going on, and so many lines are blurred, it gets very difficult to clearly draw the line on what’s right and wrong, etc. This is where the Bible comes in handy; not as in having the answers to everything, but more on the big picture of God is the absolute being, everything below Him is relative and should not be a bother/worry for us. But continual trust in Him is pinnacle to any form of living and so-called “success”.
Benghui goes to Sunday school but he thinks it is a place to learn new songs, hear stories and have fun. he doesnt get the bigger picture
Actually, that’s good enough. At such an age, it’s not that important to get the big picture. Life is a learning process; there’s always a time for everything.
Take a step at a time. Don’t/Never rush.
There are report cards the parents have to sign 4 times a year