Little people... the elves. Pittance for their effort they received; a change of clothes and a pair of shoes each. The little people are usually on the other side of the divide. We are little people one way or the other, some of us more than others, some less. Little people take a lot of crap. Little people are overlooked more. Big people like the politicians may say they work for the little people but the fact is, it's actually the other way round.
Recently the PLKN (National Service) came out with this; those who are doing Form Six will not be allowed to defer their PLKN. Last year it was allowed. But those who have gained acceptance in private colleges and Matriculation can. Dah pun, majority of those who stay back for Form 6 are mainly from the 'little people' group. Those who go to private colleges can afford to pay the fees, those who get Matriculation get free money (plus, plus some more) for their education. And the little people.... sudah jatuh, ditimpa tangga lagi. They've to miss a month of school. They're told, "Never mind-lah! Anyway, not much teaching since it's just the first weeks!" Must be small brains the big people have....
Then the DG of MOE came out with this statement that those who were going for Lower Six can come out from NS one week earlier... on June 5th instead of June 12th! Lower Six starts on 10th May-lah! Some people's brains do not seem to be working. They'd be a month late compared to the non-NS people! As though they are trying to show their keprihatinan. Pseudo caring by non-caring big people. Then have the same ruling for all... double standards yet again. Have they forgotten that a good start is important too?
And in the PLKN website, under their FAQ, they say this about the PLKNers and their studies...
Adakah program ini akan mengganggu atau menjejaskan perancangan pelajaran para pelajar yang terlibat?Goes to show the inconsistencies... somebody probably calculated wrongly the number of days and now the PLKNers cannot complete the minimum 60 days in order to complete the course..... Try asking these big people to have their kids stay when their studies have commenced... kepimpinan melalui teladan!
Kerajaan akan meminimakan kesan gangguan ke atas sistem pendidikan negara. Dalam kes PLKN ini Kementerian Pendidikan telah menyelaraskan kemasukan pelajar ke kelas matrikulasi, tingkatan enam dan IPTA. Namun begitu, jika terdapat kes-kes yang melayakkan penangguhan ianya akan dipertimbangkan mengikut paraturan Akta Latihan Khidmat Negara yang membenarkan penangguhan atas alasan melanjutkan pelajaran. Dengan yang demikian PLKN akan cuba meminimakan penjejasan kepada peluang peserta untuk melanjutkan pelajaran.
And one more thing, it's not like the MOE does not have the data of those students who are more likely to continue their studies as opposed to those who are not. The State Trial Exam marks are keyed into the national database every year. That would provide an inkling to the likelihood of each student's probability of furthering their studies. So, with a little careful homework, it's actually quite possible to make arrangements. Even Son's trainers said that those of them with better results should have been called up in the first batch.
PLKN is actually quite a good experience for the kids... at least there is some effort to create opportunities for integration. It's good for nation building. It allows kids of different races to actually have the opportunity to get to know each other. That is if the politicians and gahmen institutions don't 'sabo' their own good efforts. If only the planners would get their act together and make sure 1Malaysia means 1Malaysia in its planning, implementation and also the welfare of every kid involved.
Big people... little people. Doesn't need rocket science to see who gets everything and who gets the crumbs!
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