Students not ‘schooled’ over package system

PETALING JAYA: Students affected by the new subject package system say they don’t know much about it, although it will be implemented in January.

Muhammad Ammar Aminuddin, 15, said: “I was hoping the school would brief us about the system before the school holidays but the holiday has started and still there is no news.”

He added that he would like to take up Economy, Accounts and Additional Mathematics as his elective subjects.

“I’ll decide which stream I’ll choose after the results come out.”

He hoped that Malaysia can adopt a system similar to the United States where students move between classrooms for their subjects.

Ikha Fatima Abdul Hakim Mordani, 15, said her school has not provided a proper explanation on the new system either.

The closest thing they had was a talk with Form Three students last month on subject options but that was not in relation to the new subject package system for Form Four beginning next year.

“We were told that students will be counselled after PT3 results come out to help them choose their respective subjects,” she added.

A student who wanted to be known as Pei Shyan, 15, was lucky as her school had informed them about the new system during a special talk for Form Three students.

“They discussed the packages the school had to offer while elective subject teachers gave a more detailed talk about the subjects,” she said.

She also said she does not think this new system has changed much compared to the old streaming into Science and Arts.

“It seems like it is just to mask the science and arts stream by replacing it with the word ‘package’ instead.

Samantha Hernadez George, 15, said she is also waiting for more information.

“There has been no news about the offered subjects next year and we are still confused about how the system will be implemented.” she said.

Yin Jamie, 15, said that she received more information about the system from her friend instead of her school.

Although she enjoys the arts, she said she wants to do Pure Science, including Additional Mathematics, but would like to drop Biology.

She thinks the new system will allow students to pursue their preferred careers earlier as “students are now able to choose subjects related to their dream career.”

Too Tze Jiat, 15, said he failed to see the difference between the new system and the previous one.

“The school is still deciding and managing the classes and each class has a different subject which is not really different from the previous system,” he added.

Naim Irfan Azeham, 15, believed that the new system has more options compared to the previous one.

However, he wished that certain courses like History was made into an elective subject instead as he had no interest in taking it next year.

“I wasn’t able to freely choose or exclude any subjects the way I want,” he said.

Muhammad Syazli Ezuan Muhammad Syahrul Din Azman, 15, believed that despite the wide variety of subjects, the pure science package remains the top pick among students.

“Despite our interests, we are still often urged to take STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

“Our teachers and parents claimed that it will better ensure our future since science-oriented careers often provide better incomes,” he said.

In George Town, student Darren Tan, 15, said: “My teachers have briefed us about the new system and told us that we get to choose subjects that we are interested in when we are in Form Four.

“I aspire to be an accountant and with the new packages, I can focus on subjects that will benefit me in the long run.”

Tan said he would like to take up Physics, Chemistry, Additional Mathematics and Accounting as his electives next year.

Tan’s classmate, who only wished to be known as Saalim, 15, said his ambition is to be an engineer.

“With the new packages, I can study subjects that I like such as Physics, Accounting, Additional Mathematics and Computer Science. These subjects will also be useful in my future career.

“I’m happy that I do not need to study subjects that I am not interested in. Instead, I can now spend more time on my favourite subjects,” he said.

As for V. Deepashini, 15, the new packages are a relief.

“I was anxious as I had just finished my PT3 and was not briefed about the new system in school. Now that I know I can choose my preferred subjects, I am very happy and excited,” she said.

Deepashini said she is interested in both science and arts subjects and with the new packages, she would be able to get the best of both worlds.

“I can take up Biology and Chemistry for the sciences and also Accounting as I love calculations. From there, I will decide which industry to go into after completing my secondary school studies,” she said.

The Star Online readers Shariffudin Mahfuz commented the move is a good effort to dispel the notion of science students being smarter than those in the arts.

Facebook user Alex Hoh Desu joked that if students were allowed to choose based on their “interest and capability”, “TikTok video making” and “Mat Lejak-ing” will be by far the most popular subjects in Malaysia.

Marianne Yap asked what happens if the “popular packages” are fully taken up and if other students are left with packages that they have no interest in.

“What is the basis for the distribution of the packages – based on interest, (examination) results, first-come first-served basis or based on quota?” she wrote on Facebook.

Source: TheStar