To be honest, I don't like to get myself involved with political issues.. It's not that I don't care about what's happening to the country or the nation. It's because I don't know which one is true... I kept myself updated.. Kadang-kadang sakit hati sendiri bila dengar itu dan ini.. Kept myself quiet and stand with my independent thoughts without taking sides...
Recently, the 'Listen listen listen' issue was very much talked about in FB. I watched the video and by the end of it I just rolled my eyes and thought "What's da big deal???" I've seen things like that in quite a number of dialogue sessions. It's quite normal for a question and answer to become so heat up like that especially when it's between parties from different school of thoughts. But this one became viral and people start to rant and mock.. And start to critic and urge one side to apologize to the other and bla bla bla.. I don't see why this should become a highlight. To me this goes back to the art of argument.. To me, the student was too emotional when she presented her arguments.. And the emcee was too emotional when answering that she gave out an analogy that is just absurd... (-_-") It could've been an informative discussion..
And about the issue that was presented by the student.. Free education..
I was a scholarship holder since my matriculation; was awarded to me from scoring my SPM with flying colours. The scholarship was enough to cover up my tuition fees, my books that worth almost a thousand ringgit per semester, other study materials and also my expanses. I got free tickets every semester too. Honestly, the scholarship alone is not enough. My dad still gave me monthly allowances to add up for other expanses like for my curricular activities and necessities.. So.. For the whole 6 years, I guess, my education was actually free because everything was paid by my scholarship...
I don't know what the situation is like for PTPTN holders. But what I do know is that students are rewarded exemption of payment if they manage to get first honour degree and that means it's free for excellent performers.
Free education is somewhat ideal, isn't it? And it just seems unfair not to have it here while other countries who are not as developed as us are implementing it instead. I took some time to read up on that. I don't like to listen and used the points of what have been said by others as an argument. I found that, tuition fees are free in those countries. However, there is no scholarship nor loan systems, thus the students have to cover all the other expanses such as for books, transports and hostels by themselves. Students from poor family have to juggle between their study and odd jobs to make ends meet.. Some who couldn't cope decided to dropout... In some countries, they have to pay high tax..
I just can't understand why the youngsters are so obsessed fighting for this free education thingy.. It's already free, as long as you perform.. Is it possible for free tuition fees and scholarship for all students regardless of their performance? Will that be a drive to the economy or will that compromise it? I don't know the answer. But I think those are among the questions that are worth for us to think about.
To me knowledge is sacred.. Our forefathers used to walk thousands of miles, crossed the sea and spent sleepless nights to quench their thirst for knowledge.. And again, ideally, with more knowledgeable people in a society will make it stronger. Free education can contribute to more knowledgeable people but from my point of view, on top of that, the thirst and love for knowledge should comes first or else the free education will be a waste. We may produce more degree holders but that doesn't make them all of high quality. Get what I mean?
Sometimes I think more and more trivial issues are being highlighted in this country. The real issues; the poor, the sick, the abandoned, the elderly, the oppressed, the socially problematic has lesser room in the news. Every media, regardless of which side they are from, are cramped with propaganda, with people pointing fingers at each other accusing this and that and almost every discussion are concerning money... Bosan~
Penatla.. Penat risau.. Hurm.. Teringat this short story that I posted years ago...
As the old man walked the beach at dawn, he noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun.
"But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish," countered the other. "How can your effort make any difference?"
The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to safety in the waves. "It makes a difference to this one," he said.
"But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish," countered the other. "How can your effort make any difference?"
The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to safety in the waves. "It makes a difference to this one," he said.
Let the rest think about the problems of the world.. Let them talk and mock.. While you sit on a chair.. Making a difference to that person sitting across you.. In daily basis... InshaAllah...
