To Tuit Or Not To Tuit

Sending children to tuition classes is readily becoming a norm in our society so much so that if a child is not sent to tuition it is bordering on being abnormal.

When parents are TOO busy working, tuition classes more often than not are very convenient and usually cheaper.

NST today reported "more parents are sending their children, aged between 7 and 10, for private tuition" [read more]

Reasons cited :

1- competitive school environment
2- crowded classrooms
3- changing standards of language

Also reported is school authorities and parent groups generally agree that sending children under 10 years old for tuition is unnecessary.

Associate Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ali Hasan, the President of National Collaborative Parent-Teacher Associations of Malaysia, believes that sending pupils for tuition too early could even be detrimental to their social development [from here]

Being a teacher for 30 years now, I see many students who are so tired and stressed out. Despite all the extra classes, I have had students sleeping during exams with unanswered questions.

They've been denied their natural development. Their social skills is so lacking. Their self drive is zero. They need to be directed and supervised EACH time.

I salute mothers who opted to stay home and look after their children themselves.

Perspective

BBC estimated 2000 people [here]

CBSNEWS estimated 3000 people [here]

MalaysianInsider estimated 8000 people [here]

Malaysiakini reported 15000 people [here]

Utusan reported 5000 people [here]

Berita Harian reported 10000 people [here]

Here is a picture from Facebook uploaded by Malaysiakini



Here is a picture from Facebook uploaded by PDRM

One event.

Perhaps different time.

But then ... it is not that difficult to doctor a digital picture.

We have seen how pictures were played up.

Even comments on both FB differs ... some commentors said ramai some said tak ramai.

I wasn't there!



Passing Away

My elder brother passed away on Monday 13th February 2012 at the age of fifty-three.

Apart from occasional headaches, he had no known heart condition, high blood pressure or diabetes.

He just arrived at his workplace and complained of tiredness to his colleagues who advised him to take a rest. He sat down and passed out. His colleagues rushed him to a clinic nearby and the doctor pronounced him to be dead.

He was far away from home.

My mother called in confusion. Took me few minutes to sort it out, thanks to the technology. That was about 11 am.

I took leave from work bracing myself for the task ahead.

This was my first experience handling the death of an immediate family member. 


First, locate the wife and her children. Next, deciding the burial site. Had to consider the wife's and the children' wish and the parents'. Apparently both parties had different places in mind.


Villagers started paying visits to my parents.

The time seemed to drag slowly. There was no news about the arrival of the body [about six hours journey away] and the grave site was not decided yet.


Somehow, my youngest brother managed to convince the wife and children to agree with the parents' wish.

The villagers started digging the grave.

The body arrived home about 9.30 pm. All taken care of.


Family members were allowed to take a last look at his face and say goodbye.


I was able to hold the tears until I stooped to kiss his cold cheek.


I was overcame by grief which I thought I didn't have.

About 10.00 pm he was laid to rest in a grave near the parents' home.

As I left the grave after the 'talkin' I was once again overcame by emotion.

Lay in peace my brother. Your tired bones and all your worries and concerns will trouble you no more. 

Rest in peace.


Innalillahiwainnailaihiraji'uun.