LDP...Latihan Dalam Perkhidmatan

LDP is not the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP just lost their power in Japan, btw) ... it stands for Latihan Dalam Perkhidmatan in the Malaysian Civil Service.

Recently I had to fill in this survey from JPN (Education Department) on Kajian Keperluan Latihan Guru secara School Based dan Ukuran Kecekapan Guru ICT (see how rojak we've become in the use of language. Want to use English but cannot use 100%). I've been filling surveys like this a few times now and I'm beginning to abhor filling them... cos they seem to serve no purpose except to make up some more paper work or further advance someone. Worse still to give the impression that a lot is being done when it's only very little.

Okay.. survey and forms I've been filling. But the school has never held any of those courses that I think would help me. Sometimes they may hold a course which might be useful but those they call in to conduct these courses were either not knowledgeable or interesting enough. So it becomes a 'waste-time' affair. How would you feel if you know that a particular course facilitator is merely crapping to pass our time or fulfill a requirement? That's the quality of moderators and facilitators we are getting. Once in a blue moon, maybe one of real calibre shows up... but like I said, that is a once in a blue moon occurence.

And now they throw in this veiled 'threat' of if you do not have your 7-day attendance for such courses, you will not be entitled to your APC, promotion, etc, etc... So, I get it, it's not important whether you teach well or do the things that teachers are supposed to do well. What is important is you attend those courses..... even though if they are a waste of time and practically useless. Now you see how those people who are 'incompetent' can move up?

All you need to do is know which tree to bark at.... and you'll get your promotion. A friend of mine wrote this apt post... Power Versus the Milk of Human Kindness. The same thing happens in every school. And to think we wonder where our mediocrity comes from.

We were also told that the KP (Panitia Heads) will have to (from next year onwards) conduct 3 days of LDP... I kesian them.. KPs teach the same number of classes. Now another extra burden is thrown onto their shoulders... how can you expect KPs to conduct LDPs? This is another case of grandiose planning and failure to execute. Plan and make it look good on paper... when problems arise, pass the buck down. Every school has a unit set up to conduct the LDP.. problem is the Senior Teacher who heads this also has to teach classes and be involved in other administrative stuff. Moreover, he or she also may not have the necessary expertise or exposure him/herself. Ever wonder why many Heads or Senior Assistants are rather free? Well, these are the smart ones... at delegating the jobs. The teachers get burned out... they don't.

You want to train and expose... you have things such as as computerized data... use them, sort them then identify and conduct real courses. It's more work for the planners but it will serve to improve and motivate teachers. And get the right people... not just who can kelentong nonsense that sounds like the real thing to facilitate. Right now... there is this lack of organization cos the people up there either are too lazy or lack the imagination. Or probably they're just products of mediocrity too!

So at the end of it, what they have is this... lotsa paper work to show off and nothing much else. It's mostly show... open up and you'll find lots worms. It could have been something that would have helped us become better teachers but its implementation has all but render it another typical tunjuk dan lagak (show and tell) to make someone look real good!