Capping SPM subjects...

.. at 10 so they say and it's official; with a caveat. Those who take Pendidikan Islam will be allowed 11, at least for another year before they too will see it being capped at 10. The 6 core subjects remain. That means a pure Science students will have the option of only one extra subject after taking into considerations Bio, Physics, Chem and Add Maths. So probably we'll be seeing the demise of many of the Elective subjects in time to come!

Would this create a level playing ground for all the students? I doubt it. First the quality of the 'A' in our SPM is still in doubt. In fact we'd be getting more students with straight A(s). Only difference is now they will be capped at 10. And it becomes more difficult to tell the really good ones apart cos they'll fade into the sea of straight A(s). In the end, this might promote mediocrity.

Hearsays have it that the MOE is considering introducing A+, A- and A2... something like that. So instead of having a two-tiered A, there'll be 3. Why don't they simplify things and just have a simple grading system? In the mean time, have more stringent criteria. But some quarters are saying this will not happen cos a particular group of students will be affected... crutch mentality still persist here.

Capping the number of subjects is actually a good thing cos it might mean less stress on a student. Parents won't pressure their kids to take more subjects. Students might actually not be so stressed out. Some time may actually be freed for them to pursue interests outside the curriculum, if they don't use it up on the computer. Their insane existence might actually become quite sane. 8) All quite attractive prospects.

Incidentally, in this ever changing education landscape of our country... History looks set on being reintroduced as a subject to the primary kids again. Once upon a time, long, long time ago, I learned it in Primary School. Then by the time I was done with my Primary schooling, it morphed a couple of times. Alam dan Manusia... a few morphs later, it went off the radar. Now, it's coming back.

And I thought the general consensus is the kids have too many papers to handle as it is... yet we are still adding on. What is important at Primary level would the the reading, speaking and writing skills. Those flers up in the MOE should start thinking of working from those 3 skills and incorporating Science, Maths, History, etc.. into the learning of the 3 skills. Teach them to fish instead of giving the kids the fish. Anyway, I have digressed.