Merdeka!!!

Independence Day or Merdeka is being celebrated through the country today on a moderate scale owing to the fact that we are actually in the holy month of Ramadhan. As I go through the day with an independence day mass at the SHS Cathedreal, I started to ponder the word independence. Are we really independent?

The answer is a definite "No". There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, the birth of this country is as a result of a series of negiotiations with our colonial masters. Until today, we can still say that we may be independent as a country but our way of life, our thinking is very much colonised by the west. We always have this impression that anything that is produced by the west is definitely better than local production.

When the first Proton Saga made it to the streets in Malaysia, we are all so proud that we never imagine a country like Malaysia can produced her own car. But as usual, skeptism arise and we start questioning about the production. A question like "how may percent of the car is produced locally?' started to play in the minds of Malaysians.

Secondly, there is no doubt that Malaysia has prosper all through the years. Our lives are made easier with the electric rice cooker, the washing machine, the mobile phone and the computer. Again we can see that these products are all branded in foreign countries like Japan, Sweden or even Taiwan. We use to buy perfumes that have brands like Christion Dior, Versace etc but when are we going to have a perfume that smells equally nice but taking up a Malaysian brand? So once again, we can see that our lives are being colonised by the things we use.

Thirdly, as we move through the era of a borderless world, we have to take heed of our leader's advice that even we may enjoy the fruits of colonism, we must never let go of the values that we hold true for ourselves...

Bing-Bing Bang-bang goes the fire crackers...

In another 7 minutes time, we will be celebrating the nation's 52nd birthday...but now Sibu is welcoming the independence day with sounds of fireworks in the sky...

So, Happy Birthday Malaysia...

National Day celebration in 3 days time...

As the National Day celebration draws near, I would miss one person very much this year. She is none other than Yasmin Ahmad. All through the years, I enjoy her National Day Advertisments. All her films also transcend the cross culture borders that we have. Sepet, Gubra, Mukhsin...are not merely entertainment but they taught us the values of a multi cultural society. If there is an award for an 1 Malaysia icon, I feel that she deserved it more than anybody...

Can we have another Yasmin Ahmad, who can produced "thought-provoking" masterpieces? The answer is definitely "NO". She is a legend in her own right...

Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Today is really freedom for those teachers who sat for the PTK. We can hear all kinds of comments, some said that they wish they did not waste time to study... bla...bla...bla...

As for me, I have to mark another 22 more scripts before I can call it a day. I have just completed my lesson plans for next week. Enough of routine school work...

Let us talk about our Merdeka Day celebration. It seems a little cold this year, probably due to the Holy month of Ramadhan. Or could it be due to the fact of the economic slowdown? Ten years ago when we urshered into the month of August, we can proudly see Malaysians adorning the National Flag on their cars. This can no longer be seen as free flags are no longer provided. Perhaps this is a test of our patriotism to our country. Are we willing to spend a few ringgit to fly our Jalur Gemilang on our cars?

The recent economic slowdown has also caused a lot of hardships to the people. Beginning of 2009, Sibu was constantly flooded due to the King Tide. It is true, we cannot control Nature, but at least the authorities can help to alleviate the sufferings of the people by taking certain actions like dredging the Rejang River. Raising the level of the roads is not enough as houses in the low lying areas are subjected to deeper flooding...

Towards the middle of 2009, we are haunted by the H1N1 virus. Again, the authorities should have taken more precautions to contain the spread of the virus. I was in KL recently and sad to say that not all the entry points are equipped with thermal scanners. Some Malaysians are also very stubborn whn they refused to use the face mask when they are coughing or sneezing. I bet they never hear of the phrase, "Prevention is better than cure".

Likewise coming back to my jottings today; in black and white we are independent for 52 years but are we really independent of our bad habits and sufferings? Think and ponder...Merdeka!!!

Bye-bye PTK August 2009

Finally, it's over.... Can't wait to be free. Now the next thing to do is to mark my exam scripts... Apparently, u can't do what you really want to do these days during the holidays...Where is the so call leisure time? After I complete the marking, the next thing you know is that you need to prepare for the lessons for the coming week and we are back to square one. The only consolation is that I don't have to wake up at 5.00am ...

Hafizah's having her vetting today and I wish her "Best of Luck". She will also be sitting for her PTK on Thursday. So does Halezza...Good luck to both of you.

So long. I m off to the Ramadhan stalls...as if I puasa...hehehe...
Adeline

2 days to study for PTK...

Hai everyone,
You all must be thinking I must be nuts, sitting in front of my desktop at 1257am on 23 August...

Well, to tell you the truth, I m stressed out coz of the PTK exams, an exam which I think is so wrongly timed for teachers as they have to struggle with marking the test papers...When I am in front of my book, I dazed away, feeling bored. In fact, when I was asked to register for this sitting, I was quite reluctant as I knew this is not a good time. However, I was forced to do so as the current system gives everyone 2 chances to get a 4-4. If I did not register, I will forgo this chance. So what can I do ? Make the best of what I can do and let the Good Lord help me...

Today, I am especially happy that my niece, Sophie Chong turned three. She is a mischievious girl and I hope she can talk very soon...Happy Birthday "Wow-wow"...

Cheerio for now...

It is the holidays...

Hurray, huray, it's the holidays...This is part of the lyrics that I used to remember the Boney M's song...Well, personally this holiday is not something to shout about...It is not a time to enjoy and party and to shout about but a time to mark test papers, sit for the PTK and if you are teaching examination classes, it is also a time to conduct extra classes...As for me, it also mean that I must plan my teaching for the remaining semester, preparing the LDP, the PIBG food fair as well as my follow-up in UH, KL in Nov.

The only consolation is that I don't have to get up at 5am and drive to school by 6 am.

I was also shocked by the weekly briefing that teachers like me, coming from the ExPPLD can get their time-based promotion to only DG44. Hence, I must make an effort to move out of school and go to IPG, IAB or Mat. College or else I will retire at DG 44.

I wish all my acquaintances from the teaching fraternity "Happy Holidays" and all those PTK candidates, "Good Luck".

Bye...

School exams...

Holidays are coming and students have to endure the school exams before they can enjoy the holidays...For teachers, it is a time to mark the test papers and to sit for their PTK. In my opinion, I think primary school teachers really get to enjoy their holidays as compared to secondary school teachers as their marking are less tedious as compared to the secondary school counterparts.

Hence, when is the chance for teachers to take a breather? End of the year? I don't think so. Some teachers are also marking for the exam syndicate. There are teachers who are willing to sacrifice their holidays for the sake of knowing the marking scheme and there would be others who are forced to do it as they are considered as experienced markers...

No wonder many teachers in school are now so sick and depressed for they are consistantly overburdened with unnecessary paperwork. Reflecting on yester years, I still remember that we can still achieved excellence despite not having to do so much paper work. Now the following questions arise:
(a) by having all the paper work, does it spell achievement or improvement?
(b) is paper work all that important or is the teaching and learning process that transpired in the classroom more important?
(c) sometimes we plan our lessons very well, but does it mean we are able to achieve satisfaction in our teaching?
(d) do we need to modify our plans to suit the changing situation in the classroom?

Think and ponder...

The next major project - PTK on 25 August 2009

After convo, my next major project will be sitting for my PTK exam on 25 August 2009. This time I believe the PTK will be tougher as I heard a lot of application question were being asked in the previous sittings. Candidates were given 2 chances to get a 4-4. Before we can try as many times as we can...

I hope that I can get through in one sitting but fat chance!!!I need divine intervention!!!So God Almighty, please help me...

Convo 2009

Hai everyone,
I' m back from KL after convocating in UM on Tuesday 11.8.2009. For me it is a sigh of relief for me because after two years of hard work and overcoming all obstacles, I manage to graduate with a Master degree.

Thank you very much to all my friends who render their support to me in my journey of intellectualism. To my ex-boss, Mr. Yong who supported my application for a scholarship and allowing me to further my studies...Friends who support me morally like Ivy, Patricia, Agnes, Catherine and all my ex-colleagues of SMK Methodist. Words cannot express how much I am indebted to all of you. A special token of appreciation to all the MUET teachers Chui Jie, Endia, William and Keng Chew who helped me in my data collection... To Lily for helping me to see things in a different perspective, Annette and Deborah, who help to do proof reading, thank you all so much. I couldn't not have done it without you all...

For my coursemate, Halezza who encourages me in my difficult moments. I think we complement each other...Dr. Sharir Jamaluddin, my supervisor and I think he makes my learning not stressful at all...Profesor Zulkipli Abdul Manan,Professor Akhbar Husein,Dr. Loh Sau Cheong, Dr. Naimah Ishak, En. Jamaluddin Tubah, En. Norjuhanuddin,Kak Sujinah , Puan Fiza and all those who have helped in one way or another... Thank you so much...