stuck in the rut

As a young student, I used to think that getting a scholarship from the government to study overseas was one big deal. That was when scholarships were still rare. Well, scholarships now I not as rare, especially for a non-bumiputera student of Malaysia, and it became a trophy to be coveted by post-high school students and parents alike. Every A1s and A2s are calculated to bringing the student a step closer to the trophy. Many students are taking a lot of subjects just so that they could improve their chances of getting more A1s (who cares whether one learns anything). I was once told by a friend that it is stupid to jeopardize your chance of getting an A for the sake of trying to learn something the proper way. More important to learn how to pass exams with flying colours. Well, I guess that is why I never got my As. Idealism never help in this respect.

Also on the question of scholarships. This government scholarships, dished out to supposedly 'sterling' students (who managed to get all the questions answered the right way), to allow them a chance to study overseas. Many of these students aren't exactly from poor homes. In fact, a number belong to the top 5% income earners of Malaysia, if not top 1%. Scholarships are no longer a financial relieve given to poor students to allow them to pay their fees and further their education. It has become an investment in itself. If I have money to live well but not enough to live lavishly, getting a scholarship will allow me a chance to buy a car or another house (and all these while still a student). I have heard of these happening before. While I think that students who do well should be rewarded, perhaps it is high time to examine this system of reward. Aren't we rewarding people who are already advantaged by the very fact of their birth and socio-economic background? perhaps a few of these people are deserving people who would not go far without financial aid, despite being promising. But nowadays, that doesn't count. Getting a scholarship is all that matters. Whether you are a Datuk's child or if you belong to the squatter's community.

ALso the idea of using scholarship money to send people overseas. WHile I am not totally against it, I do wonder about sending so many students overseas with the tax payers money. Wouldn't it be better, in the long run, to actually improve the system of education IN the country, instead of having all the money flow out? Or perhaps we have not over the colonial mindset that overseas is always better. Perhaps it is, since they have had more centuries to develop. I think student excahnge programmes are good. Europe, America and Japan spend money sending their students abroad for a semester or two's exchange programmes. Wouldn't this be better than sending a few kids abroad to study? It would save money and more students would benefit. More students would be grateful. How does one ensure that those kids you send overseas would be grateful anyway? If there is anything we learn in life, being grateful is for fools...aint it? However, if corporations want to send the kids overseas with their money, by all means. Actually, I think it would be better to send a slightly more mature person (regardless of age) abroad as they actually would benefit more.

Maybe this obssession with A1s and A2s might be something that give you short term honour within your small community. But it does not ensure a brilliant mind, critical abilities or ability to create. It allows mediocre people like you and I, to go around saying "Hey, I got 11A1s, 12A1s etc etc" . We know that we would not write a book worth writing, exhibit our artistic work, innovate a better way of making cars, make technological improvements nor compose a good piece of music by 21.

P.S. To my international readers, this is a mere reflection of the Malaysian community. However, I would welcome feedback from you on your individual communities. Cheers!