Ensure quality is maintained

I AM a teacher at a local (Malaysian established) international school in Penang. To date, I have served two local international schools.

I am a graduate with a Master of Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland, Australia and my passion for education was inspired by the La Salle Brothers of Penang.

I am writing, because I feel it is timely for all of us, myself included, to remember the need for a proper education for our young.

To teachers at these international schools, we need to remember of the sanctity and value of our line of work as teachers.

To the directors of the many locally established schools we need to remember to treat our young students, not as money making tools, but as students whose lives we need to shape.

Locally established international schools claim to offer Cambridge Syllabus (IGCSE), or the American International Baccalaureate (IB).

I am very comfortable with these new forms of learning and believe these methods are in line with the current situation of the world.

As a teacher, I enjoy the flexibility and broadness these methods offer to the young.

I have always consistently expected my students to be independent thinkers, responsible individuals and value oriented members of society.

As a teacher, I am a brother, a mother, a father, a friend. I am everything to all my students – a faithful companion on life’s journey.

To date, all my students enjoy my teaching and my companionship.

The downside of the many locally founded international schools is that very often the need to sell a specific method of teaching (IGCSE or IB) interferes with the teacher’s teaching capabilities.

The schools administrators forget that the adopted method of teaching (IGCSE or IB) is not a teaching method, but more of a framework or method of examination.

The teaching force of these schools is made up of unqualified teachers or teachers who do not possess a concern for the education line of work.

Very often, when we look at advertisements by these international schools the highlight is about the programme that the school is selling. Sadly, these schools fail to advertise the importance of an education.

The reason being the marketing department of the schools are more eager to attract new students, while maintaining the current batch of students.

It is visible that every semester we have students leaving the school, while a few new students may enter. Very often, with evidence, the student’s performance is neglected causing the students to be the losing individuals at the end of the story.

As a passionate and concerned teacher, I have a sincere concern for these students.

Students must not be made victim of the marketing demands to the school they are in; this responsibility lies in the hand of the teachers, in particular the principal.

I am also concerned for the parents.

Parents your child’s life at this age is of upmost importance, make sure you check out the schools properly and look at the teachers and performance of the school.

Parents do not allow your child’s growing years to be shrouded with a constant change in the school environment.

To the Malaysian Government, I am very happy that the education system in Malaysia is slowly improving. Good job!

The presence of local international schools, are a good reminder to the public schools to be consistently on par with these schools.

Adding to this, the Government must also scrutinize and inspect these schools, to ensure that the well-being of the students are well looked after. REV BRO KENNETH M GAN Tanjung Bungah, Penang