Declining Maths and Science Standards: The Ugly Truth

Formula to Failure: Our Plunging Maths and Science Standards

NUTP: Avoid Blame Game over TIMSS Results

Prior to the TIMSS 2011 revelation, I had no idea that the standards of Maths and Science in Malaysia has shockingly plunged to such a pathetic level. Looking at the shiny results of our students in public examinations, who would have thought of the ugly truth concealed behind it. Obviously, the Ministry of Education has lowered the passing grades to give the impression of  a so-called "improvement", for whatever reasons that is. Just look at the 2012 PMR results for an instance. 24% of all candidates got an A in Science. Despite of how glorious this might make us feel, what use is this "glory" if these students cannot compete globally?

Now let's take a look at the real scenario, and judge for yourself.

Percentage of students who answered “What does xy+1 mean” correctly"

Percentage of students who answered “What is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide” correctly.

It's natural that when something bad happens, people will start pointing fingers. Instead of thinking of a solution, we are more interested in finding out who should take the blame. This time, instead of talking about the blame list, let's see what we can do now that our kids in school are no longer inclined to Maths and Science. Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong said, "we will do something", but declined further comment. The government would study the report, identify Malaysia's weaknesses and take the necessary action.

I have some questions:

1. Before the TIMSS report, does the government really have no idea of this declining trend? I doubt so.
2. Why only now, when the dark secret has been revealed to the public, then only "the necessary action" is to be taken?

Perhaps this declining rankings has something to do with our overemphasis on what language should be used to teach Maths and Science. The PPSMI policy? Ring a bell? PAGE Malaysia chairman said:

"The government talks so much about science and innovation leading the country forward but this is not reflected in our education system. The focus has been too much on what language we will teach in. It is knowledge that will help us excel."

We should promote inquiry-based science education with an emphasis on getting students involved in laboratory experiments instead of merely learning from textbooks. Also, Malaysia should do a detailed analysis which will lead to an education reform if we are serious about reversing these plunging standards. We should perhaps start simply by telling the truth. Stop hiding facts and put more efforts on working together as a team, with the true 1Malaysia spirit. Stop pointing fingers, we all should take the blame. So let's contribute what we can to reverse the trends and show the world that Malaysia boleh!

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The Actual Mayan Predictions

Tortuguero Monument Six, supposedly predicting the "end of the world" in December, actually tells the life and battles of a ruler.

The Mayans calendar ends today - December 21, 2012 - but will the world ends too? It is unlikely so, but perhaps we'll never know until it's December 21 in  the present-day southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatán, where the Maya civilization used to be. So at the time this post is written, we have a few more hours in the waiting.

Let me talk about this so-called world apocalypse that some of us fear as the end of the world. If you read the history, the Mayans never predicted that the world will end today. In fact, ancient Maya actually said we’ll be around another 7,000 years or so. It is merely a coincidence that their 5000-year calendar ends today. It is the different interpretations of this that leads to the 'prediction' of the end of the world.

First in the list of blame is Nostradamus. But neither did he nor the Mayans predicted exactly so. The Mayans’ long count calendar ends in December of 2012, but that does not necessarily mean doom, and  contrary to what most of us believes, Nostradamus has no exact prediction that conclusively dates to 2012. You must know that frankly Nostradamus predicted a whole bunch of stuff. Also, nothing of any significance ever happens without someone claiming that Nostradamus predicted it. I just want to make that part very clear here in the beginning. However, there is a very interesting prediction of Nostradamus that does seem to give credence to the many people who combine his predictions with the 2012 date.

“After a great misery of mankind, an even greater approaches. The great cycle of the centuries renewed, it will rain blood, milk, famine, war, disease. In the sky will be seen a great fire dragging a trail of sparks.”

Before we go any farther, know this: this is the exact same prediction that was used before Y2K to show that Nostradamus predicted the end of the world in 2000. It seemed to make sense for them then too, but it did not happen. So now this prediction has been attributed to the 2012 Mayan date. The reason is because what could be a greater meaning for “great cycle of the centuries renewed” than the ending of a 5,000 year old calendar? So, it seems to make some sense at least.

So, who first predicted so? It was an archaeologist by the name Michael Coe who in 1966 first brought forth the idea of Armageddon occurring on this date, the completion of the Mayan 2012 calendar. Now, Coe is not just any archaeologist  he is one of the greatest living experts on ancient Mayan culture. Furthermore, he has a doctorate in anthropology from Harvard and he worked for the CIA. I am only giving you this brief biography so that you would not merely dismiss him as a crackpot. So, the Mayans never predicted that December 21, 2012 will be the end of the world, but it was Dr. Michael Coe who studied the ancient Mayan texts and it is his interpretation that there is a possibility that Armageddon would occur at the completion of the Mayan long count calendar in 2012, which is today.

Today simply marks the end of the long-count Mayan calendar. Just because an archaeologist interpreted this as the end of the world, it is unnecessary to believe so. Please do not blame the Mayans as according to the National Geographic, there's only one Maya monument that even has the 2012 date on it, and apocalypse anticipators are ignoring that according to the Maya, when one great cycle ends, another begins.  This could mean that instead of symbolizing death, December 21 is about rebirth. Let's just be optimistic and take this as a symbol of a new and better beginning. As Muslims, this 'rebirth' could mean a hijrah to become a better person. InsyaAllah.

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