theSun | FRIDAY JUNE 19 2009 TELLING IT AS IT IS 13

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Chance to mould Komuter delays more the norm

“KOMUTER service much im- later but I still need to connect to in keeping passengers in the dark

young minds proved” (June 17) paints too rosy

THE United Kingdom has always
prided itself as “British education is
the best” based on what most of its
universities describe as “student-cen-
tred learning”. There are about 1.8 mil-
lion students enrolled in universities
of which about half start at the age of
18 and there has been an increasing
number of “mature” students who are
studying either full-time or part-time
for university degrees. British schools
have a mixed reputation – while the
quality of government-supported
schools vary, universities and other
tertiary educational institutions have
an excellent reputation internationally
and attract tens of thousands of for-
eign students annually from Australia
to Zimbabwe.
University education and grading
does not just stop at examinations. In
the British system, there has always
been a tendency in giving credit for
the development of arguments, rather
than for giving a list of concise points
that reproduce what was taught in
the course. It is less important for an
answer to cover every possible aspect
and to be perfectly accurate than for
the answer to show that you have
understood what you are learning,
are able to apply it and develop your
own line of thinking. Besides, students
should expect to do a project, a case
study, a specific assignment in addi-
tion to a written exam. This facilitates
the learning process, since students
have to “work with the theories” and
apply them in practice.
In many modules, the coursework
is done in groups of students. This de-
velops one’s ability to work in teams
and, since the British student popula-
tion is international, it also develops
one’s ability to work in multicultural
teams. In many modules, students
will have to do presentations. Such
activities allow the student to address
issues to an audience and then face
them and answer questions related
to the presentation. All these point to
a well-rounded education.
In view of such a system, the deci-
sion to put a cap for students on the
number of subjects they can offer for
the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) is
most welcome. It reduces the stress
on not only the student, but also his or
her parents and the teachers. These
restrictions will allow the student and
those around him or her to concen-
trate on selected subjects.
Besides, it will give educationists a
chance to experiment with the British
system of course work, group work
and presentations. Besides, it will
help develop mind-development and
critical thinking. Although these may
not count towards the grading in their
exams, these methodologies of teach-
ing will enhance the students’ skills
and knowledge. Teachers must accept
the restrictions with open hands and
see it as an excellent opportunity
to develop the minds of the young
charges under them.
a picture. As a regular user of the
Komuter service, I know that train
delays are a daily occurrence. It
is when they are on time that it is
something strange.
As a matter of fact, for the past
few days, I have had to trouble my
husband to give me a ride to work
because KTM has been cancelling
its 6.05am train from Rawang.
Every morning commuters re-
ligiously trudge to the station only
to hear the announcement that the
train has been cancelled. I might
choose to wait for the next train
scheduled to arrive 20 minutes
Don’t make a fast buck on Larut Hills
I REFER to “The Rape of Larut
Hills” (June 9) and concur with Fo-
mca’s findings on the Larut Hills.
It’s not that the state government
was not warned about the danger-
ous state of the hills. The Perak
Tourist Association tried to give its
input but was ignored.
I understand the state govern-
ment was in discussion with some
businessmen over a cable car serv-
ice. It is a hare brained idea and is
financially unsustainable.
There just isn’t enough traffic to
sustain such an investment. Even
the four-wheel drive service is
underused.
I understand that the Larut Hills
is a financial drain on the state and
as such it is reluctant to commit
the LRT and then take a company
bus because there is no public bus
service where I work. Assuming
that the train arrives on time and
there is no disruption of the LRT
service, I might arrive just in time
to catch the company bus (without
time to buy breakfast). But, what are
the chances of this happening? So,
I have no choice but to reluctantly
forgo taking the train. So much
for the government’s call for us to
reduce the use of private vehicles.
The authorities seem blind to the
fact that we are left with no choice.
In addition to disruptions and
delays, KTM also seems to delight
the required resources to keep the
hills in a pristine condition. Unfor-
tunately, proper maintenance is
not something the state can scrimp
on because that would only lead to
higher costs later on to put it right.
Instead of trying to palm it off
to the Taiping Municipal Council,
the state government should think
of ways to make it viable. The hills
can be a money earner if managed
properly. All it needs is the pas-
sion to want to do it properly; the
vision to see the potential and the
imagination to carry it out. Sad to
say the state government has none
of these.
The Larut Hills must be devel-
oped sensitively if it is not to lose its
natural attraction and also to serve
about what is happening.
In addition to making an an-
nouncement that a train has been
cancelled, would it be too much
to ask for a notice? Instead, KTM
counter clerks continue to sell tick-
ets without a word of caution. But,
what is worse, at times there is no
announcement.
I shall be uploading my Komuter
experience on http://komuterusers.
twitter.com to keep other commut-
ers informed of train delays and
disruptions.
Pauline
Rawang
as an effective catchment area.
The state government must
resist the temptation of fast money
offered by businessmen who want
to make a fast buck without due
regard to the environment. Before
the state government embarks on
creating another white elephant it
should invite input from the public
and tourism stakeholders.
It’s time the state government
involves the stakeholders in the
tourism industry as equal partners
in developing Perak’s tourist po-
tential. I’m sure the Perak Tourist
Association will be glad to share its
expertise.
Yin Ee Kiong
Penang

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