Sitting in a meeting.... listening to a dragging report presentation of an MQA exit meeting conducted in one of the IPGMs (Not the exit conference I mentioned previously!)
A couple of things attracted my attention, and I am dying to share them..
1. The MQA panel remarked that 'kamu tidak layak jadi pensyarah....!' (I am assuming 'Kamu' being those of us teaching in IPGMs)
2. The students interviewed by the MQA panel remarked that they were bored with the lectures which were a little 'thrifty in its innovativeness' and 'too many presentation' sessions. And a lot of the lecturers failed to show up for lectures without acceptable explanation.
These were disturbing comments!! (Of course I only have a secondary information. if the person making the report lied, then I am a liar too!)
Would like to elaborate a little bit more on this...
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
RESPONSIBILITIES
At last… we got our connection to the internet back. Everyone responsible for the day to day running of the college must be patting each others’ backs for solving the problem. A problem which is not supposed to be our problem in the first place! Of course we can blame the service provider, or the telecommunication company, or for that matter we ourselves for not buying our own broadband equipment just like a lot of our students do!
Anyway, we are back in the net and that is what matter. Or is it?
We pride ourselves with our ability, despite the objections from a lot of quarters, to convince the government to allow us to upgrade ourselves into first degree graduate producing institution. We convinced ourselves that we are good, capable and at par with universities, if not more! We trumpeted our success and we expect everybody, especially those at the universities to give us the recognition that we so richly deserved.
This is all wonderful and should be given whole hearted support by everyone connected to the 27 institutions and the parent body. And of course, it is!
A word of caution however is needed here. In the midst of our excitement, let us not forget the reality. All those upgrading and rebranding and whatever else we have been doing so far will come to no avail if it is just superficial, skin deep and haphazardly planned and implemented. Let us ask ourselves, are we really ready for this responsibility? Don’t forget that the government through the ministries of education and higher education, is trying its utmost best to make us the centre of excellence for education not only in this region but also worldwide.
Let us look closely at our abilities, both in terms of infrastructural and human resource aspects. Are we ready?
During the MQA session a couple of weeks ago, it was pointed out that the physical facilities available were adequate but are not really fully sufficient for a degree level institute. Guess what… someone took offence and quietly mumbled at the back that that was not important, as a lot of universities do not even have proper buildings! Some only rented shop lots to be utilized as classrooms!
Valid point, but then it’s a question of responsibility, accountability and integrity isn’t it? If those so called universities are doing irresponsible things like that, should we also be doing the same thing? We are producing teachers after all. Our products will go into society to shape the minds of our future generation, and if we imply to them that it is perfectly acceptable to do things in a not very proper manner, are they not going to pass the same thing to our future generation?
Another thing which I picked up from the numerous mini forums outside the meeting room during the MQA session was that failure to get accreditation was not an option because of two things. One, the government had poured millions of tax payers money into the programme (well we did but as everything else in Malaysia we pass the responsibility and accountability to someone else) and all those millions will become money down the drain if we failed to get accreditation. The government will get a lot of questions in parliament if that was to happen (notice it’s the government and not us- my sincerest apology for the minister who has to answer for us). Second, the programme is in its last semester. If the programme was not given accreditation now, it would never get one, at least for the current students who would have nothing but their SPM certificates to show for after five and a half years of study. What kind of a cruel person would let such a thing happen? It would never happen; not in Malaysia!
There was an air of confidence that everything would turn out alright!
Maybe I am missing a point here. A very important one by the look of it!
I am not a chess man, and I would never gamble with my students’ future! Imagine if the MQA panel decided that the programme did not deserve accreditation?
I share the optimism that everything would turn out alright for our students, but I am now 0.01% less confident that we will get the acknowledgement from the education fraternity that we so richly deserved. It is Hard for me to steadfastly defend my assertion that we are at par with our colleagues from the universities when we still don’t seem to understand the meaning of responsibility and accountability.
Our stated mission is to produce world class teachers, but it seems that some of us still do not understand the meaning of that mission statement.
At last… we got our connection to the internet back. Everyone responsible for the day to day running of the college must be patting each others’ backs for solving the problem. A problem which is not supposed to be our problem in the first place! Of course we can blame the service provider, or the telecommunication company, or for that matter we ourselves for not buying our own broadband equipment just like a lot of our students do!
Anyway, we are back in the net and that is what matter. Or is it?
We pride ourselves with our ability, despite the objections from a lot of quarters, to convince the government to allow us to upgrade ourselves into first degree graduate producing institution. We convinced ourselves that we are good, capable and at par with universities, if not more! We trumpeted our success and we expect everybody, especially those at the universities to give us the recognition that we so richly deserved.
This is all wonderful and should be given whole hearted support by everyone connected to the 27 institutions and the parent body. And of course, it is!
A word of caution however is needed here. In the midst of our excitement, let us not forget the reality. All those upgrading and rebranding and whatever else we have been doing so far will come to no avail if it is just superficial, skin deep and haphazardly planned and implemented. Let us ask ourselves, are we really ready for this responsibility? Don’t forget that the government through the ministries of education and higher education, is trying its utmost best to make us the centre of excellence for education not only in this region but also worldwide.
Let us look closely at our abilities, both in terms of infrastructural and human resource aspects. Are we ready?
During the MQA session a couple of weeks ago, it was pointed out that the physical facilities available were adequate but are not really fully sufficient for a degree level institute. Guess what… someone took offence and quietly mumbled at the back that that was not important, as a lot of universities do not even have proper buildings! Some only rented shop lots to be utilized as classrooms!
Valid point, but then it’s a question of responsibility, accountability and integrity isn’t it? If those so called universities are doing irresponsible things like that, should we also be doing the same thing? We are producing teachers after all. Our products will go into society to shape the minds of our future generation, and if we imply to them that it is perfectly acceptable to do things in a not very proper manner, are they not going to pass the same thing to our future generation?
Another thing which I picked up from the numerous mini forums outside the meeting room during the MQA session was that failure to get accreditation was not an option because of two things. One, the government had poured millions of tax payers money into the programme (well we did but as everything else in Malaysia we pass the responsibility and accountability to someone else) and all those millions will become money down the drain if we failed to get accreditation. The government will get a lot of questions in parliament if that was to happen (notice it’s the government and not us- my sincerest apology for the minister who has to answer for us). Second, the programme is in its last semester. If the programme was not given accreditation now, it would never get one, at least for the current students who would have nothing but their SPM certificates to show for after five and a half years of study. What kind of a cruel person would let such a thing happen? It would never happen; not in Malaysia!
There was an air of confidence that everything would turn out alright!
Maybe I am missing a point here. A very important one by the look of it!
I am not a chess man, and I would never gamble with my students’ future! Imagine if the MQA panel decided that the programme did not deserve accreditation?
I share the optimism that everything would turn out alright for our students, but I am now 0.01% less confident that we will get the acknowledgement from the education fraternity that we so richly deserved. It is Hard for me to steadfastly defend my assertion that we are at par with our colleagues from the universities when we still don’t seem to understand the meaning of responsibility and accountability.
Our stated mission is to produce world class teachers, but it seems that some of us still do not understand the meaning of that mission statement.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The concept of responsibility and accountability
My first period class this morning was taken over by one of my colleagues, giving me the opportunity to continue with rumbling from yesterday.
Trying to remember what it was I was talking about yesterday... Professionalism?
Perhaps the first 2 things we should take into account in discussing the concept of professionalism are the concepts of rsponsibility and accontability.
I was talking to a few colleagues the other day and someone, jokingly or otherwise, mentioned that those in the teaching profession nowadays are less responsible compared to those in yesteryears. I didnt really pay attention to it at first, as I thought it was just a rumbling from an old timer reminiscing about her past. But then after I had the chance to sit down and really think about it, it struck me that maybe she was right. Maybe the new generation of teachers, or lecturers as we who are attached to teacher training institutes so proudly called ourselves, are less responsible than our colleagues from the past years.
I am attached to a teacher training institute, so naturally Im looking at this from the view point of a 'lecturer'.
The way I see it, nowadays, everything is to do with image and perception, which is fine if done for the right reasons. But are we doing it for the right reasons?
Lets consider this scenario. Most if not all teacher training institutes, and schools for that matter, probably have some kind of 'corporate uniform' or "baju korporat". Teachers, lecturers and non teaching staff are expected to wear this uniform once a week, the day differs from one instute to another.
I am not against this as we do look nice in them, except maybe mine makes me look slightly chubbier and more vertically challenged. However have we really given it enough thought?
Lets try to understand the concept of 'corporate' a little bit more. What exactly does it mean? I havent really got time to check the dictionary, but connotatively, it sounds as if it is very much connected to the concept of 'business', a concept which is primarily 'profit' driven.
Now here's a thought; As a corporate player, how do I make as much profit as possible for myself in this profession? Where do my responsibility really lie? To my students or to the enhancement of the image of the institute? Or to myself probably? I am a little naive of course when it comes to this kind of thinking skill.. I usually go with what I was taught when I was struggling to become a teacher, which is your students always come first!
The point here really is not whether the corporate uniform is good or bad, after all, it does create team spirit and a sense of belonging. The point is in this profession, despite our arrogance in critising our students for not being able to show creative and critical thinking skills, especially during practicum, we ourselves hardly ever think critically and creatively. A lot of the time we do things without really knowing the reasons.
We want to have corporate uniforms because other people have one. But then we sometimes forgot that we are not corporate bodies; our social responsibiliy is the only reason for our existence! We sometimes forgot that our main responsibility is to our students, as opposed to personal coffer enhancement.
50 years ago teachers were given the utmost respect in society. If you became a lecturer in a teacher tarining institute, you were a big guy! 50 years ago teachers shaped the mind of society; how people think and behave. 50 years ago the profession provided leaders for this country; and they were great leaders!
But things have since changed. We are no longer the leaders. More scarily, we are in danger of becoming merely 'zombical' followers. Why? The answer is simple. We have forgotten our true responsibilities. We have misinterprated the real definition of the word TEACHER.
Well. time is money they say, so must go. Theres BIG going on. and PRACTICUM.
Trying to remember what it was I was talking about yesterday... Professionalism?
Perhaps the first 2 things we should take into account in discussing the concept of professionalism are the concepts of rsponsibility and accontability.
I was talking to a few colleagues the other day and someone, jokingly or otherwise, mentioned that those in the teaching profession nowadays are less responsible compared to those in yesteryears. I didnt really pay attention to it at first, as I thought it was just a rumbling from an old timer reminiscing about her past. But then after I had the chance to sit down and really think about it, it struck me that maybe she was right. Maybe the new generation of teachers, or lecturers as we who are attached to teacher training institutes so proudly called ourselves, are less responsible than our colleagues from the past years.
I am attached to a teacher training institute, so naturally Im looking at this from the view point of a 'lecturer'.
The way I see it, nowadays, everything is to do with image and perception, which is fine if done for the right reasons. But are we doing it for the right reasons?
Lets consider this scenario. Most if not all teacher training institutes, and schools for that matter, probably have some kind of 'corporate uniform' or "baju korporat". Teachers, lecturers and non teaching staff are expected to wear this uniform once a week, the day differs from one instute to another.
I am not against this as we do look nice in them, except maybe mine makes me look slightly chubbier and more vertically challenged. However have we really given it enough thought?
Lets try to understand the concept of 'corporate' a little bit more. What exactly does it mean? I havent really got time to check the dictionary, but connotatively, it sounds as if it is very much connected to the concept of 'business', a concept which is primarily 'profit' driven.
Now here's a thought; As a corporate player, how do I make as much profit as possible for myself in this profession? Where do my responsibility really lie? To my students or to the enhancement of the image of the institute? Or to myself probably? I am a little naive of course when it comes to this kind of thinking skill.. I usually go with what I was taught when I was struggling to become a teacher, which is your students always come first!
The point here really is not whether the corporate uniform is good or bad, after all, it does create team spirit and a sense of belonging. The point is in this profession, despite our arrogance in critising our students for not being able to show creative and critical thinking skills, especially during practicum, we ourselves hardly ever think critically and creatively. A lot of the time we do things without really knowing the reasons.
We want to have corporate uniforms because other people have one. But then we sometimes forgot that we are not corporate bodies; our social responsibiliy is the only reason for our existence! We sometimes forgot that our main responsibility is to our students, as opposed to personal coffer enhancement.
50 years ago teachers were given the utmost respect in society. If you became a lecturer in a teacher tarining institute, you were a big guy! 50 years ago teachers shaped the mind of society; how people think and behave. 50 years ago the profession provided leaders for this country; and they were great leaders!
But things have since changed. We are no longer the leaders. More scarily, we are in danger of becoming merely 'zombical' followers. Why? The answer is simple. We have forgotten our true responsibilities. We have misinterprated the real definition of the word TEACHER.
Well. time is money they say, so must go. Theres BIG going on. and PRACTICUM.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Professionalism
The perfect example of an answer to the question I asked myself the last time I wrote something on this particular page... Am I really a professional?
I started this blog way back in February to create a platform to share and exchange ideas and opinions... and took me so many months just to visit my own sight for only the second time... typical of those in the teaching profession calling themselves professionals.
Anyway we had this accreditaion visit from the MQA for one of our courses yesterday (and today for that matter) and the whole question of professionalism suddenly came to the fore again..
A few issues wwere raised during the discussion... the most important was probably our output as lecturers in teacher training colleges. I hope to find some free time to talk about this in the next couple of days, as I am now being called into the meeting room to attend another not so fruitful session.
I started this blog way back in February to create a platform to share and exchange ideas and opinions... and took me so many months just to visit my own sight for only the second time... typical of those in the teaching profession calling themselves professionals.
Anyway we had this accreditaion visit from the MQA for one of our courses yesterday (and today for that matter) and the whole question of professionalism suddenly came to the fore again..
A few issues wwere raised during the discussion... the most important was probably our output as lecturers in teacher training colleges. I hope to find some free time to talk about this in the next couple of days, as I am now being called into the meeting room to attend another not so fruitful session.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
THE CONCEPT OF PROFESSIONALISM IN TEACHING
One of my students asked me this question yesterday "Is teaching considered a professional job?". Of course my answer was a confident "Yes". However after thinking about it further, I find myself in a little bit of difficulties. I find myself unable to really justify my claim that I am a professional. "Am i really a professional?". I will be asking myself this question for the next few days.
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