‘Set realistic academic goals for children’

KUALA LUMPUR: Field experts call for parents, teachers and the Education Ministry to review the learning orientation and strike a balance in academic excellence and character development.

Although schooling should be an enjoyable experience for students, there are many instances of children caving in to the pressure of meeting the high expectations of their parents and teachers.

In August, a 13-year-old student in George Town, Penang, allegedly hung himself in the bathroom of his parents’ flat after complaining that he could not cope with his homework. Police investigations revealed that the teenager did not have an interest in studying and often complained to his parents of having too much homework to do.

In reference to this, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik underlined that schools should be a happy place for students to acquire knowledge and be nurtured.

Universiti Malaya senior lecturer at the Department of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Dr Norsafatul Aznin A. Razak, said that children feel stressed when their parents put unrealistic expectations of them.

“There are parents out there who want their children to outperform others. Some of them even think their children’s academic excellence is a reflection of the teachers and their (parents’) great teaching skills. But all these will only add to the pressure faced by their children,” she said.

Norsafatul pointed out that excellence is not evaluated only in terms of an individual’s intellectual achievements, but his or her character and psychological health as well.

In order for children to remain motivated and challenge themselves in various fields, she asked that parents refrain from pushing the boundaries of their children’s academic performance and instead take cognisance of the different learning capacities of their children as human beings and set realistic goals for them.

“Setting a timetable for children to indicate their study, leisure and resting time is a good thing ... it will encourage them to strive for excellence without feeling stressed,” she said.

She also suggested devising smart strategies to keep children excited about the learning process in school.

Psychotherapy and counselling expert Dr Meriam Omar Din, meanwhile, called for changes to be made to the learning orientation at schools which leans towards academic achievement.

“It should be more balanced and also focus on helping students to develop human values, critical and creative thinking skills, and interpersonal skills,” she said.

Prof Dr Saedah Siraj, a lecturer at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris’ Faculty of Human Development, said close collaboration between parents and teachers is essential in ensuring a balance between academic excellence and character development for students.

“Not forcing a child (to do something) in any situation, particularly when it involves education, does not mean that they have full freedom (to do what they want). The education process has to be such that students will learn to be more open and willing to follow the instructions of their parents and teachers,” she said.

Students, she added, should also be given the space and opportunity to study at their own pace, with the guidance of their teachers, who would have to monitor their progress.

– Bernama

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