As a Student at an International School in Malaysia I experience many problems within the school system. Schools are expensive and homogeneous which I don't believe is appropriate. I don't feel its best use of time for a lot of people like me. Doing 8 hours of school and only getting 1 hour of learning out of it. Doing 3 hours of something you like will teach you much more.
Time vs. Money
Eight hours for five days in a week - that's 50 hours a week, and let's say at least 3-10 hours of homework every week. I feel I am only learning approximately for 5 hours, and all those other hours are wasted time.
Now you know what I mean!
Another problem is the money. It costs my dad USD $18,305 every year for the tuition fees. And the real cost is probably double that, adding the uniform, transportation, food, and sundries. This probably equates to USD $36,000 a year. I don't feel it's worth the cost.
What Is Being Taught?
As a 14-year-old student who is currently going through the school system, I have several problems - and here they are:
My history teacher teaching my class about earthquakes and volcanoes instead of teaching us about real history. Having problems with homework is a common thing, but going up to a teacher and telling her: ”I don't understand” is unusual. When I ask for help my teachers come up with terrible excuses and send me to detention.
I honestly don't think detention makes any sense because it isn't helping me beside it's just bringing me down.
What I Would Change
The first thing would be changing the uniform code to no uniform. Parents already have to pay taxes, rent, school fees, food, and sundries. I estimate that the cost for a school uniform including (t-shirt, pants, shoes, and backpacks) will be four times as expensive as buying clothes on the open market.
Another solution of mine would be free food because my average school food costs USD $16.22 a day, and all I get is:
- Two chocolate rolls
- Two wraps
- Four drinks
How cool does it sound that Finland assigns only little homework. The Finnish system believes that homework isn't necessary and that home time should be about self and family time. I agree with the Finnish Philosophy that every hours worth of learning should include 15 minutes of break time.
A New Approach For The Future
I don't think the school system is working. It's expensive and takes a lot of time. It's not appropriate wasting a young person's time like that. I guess what I have been taught isn't very good and it could be improved in a lot of areas. I have suggested changes, and I agree with Finland's philosophy and why aren't schools adopting.
Let's hope we see a better school system in the near future before I have to leave it!
Life can be full of trips as long as they are only liltrips!