Deciding future aged 13, is this fair?
19th November 2002, Day I completed my Primary School at Jamaluddin School, in Male'. I was handed a form to be filled and submitted to my PROMOTED school where I was to complete my O'Levels. It was that same day when I went back home, my Dad tells me "Now you need to decide what STREAM you are going to take in O'levels, either Arts, Business or Science ... and what ever you take choose it wise cause that will be your foundations for what ever you want to be in future"
There I was, a regular normal 13 year boy just as any other in the Maldives, who had to choose his STREAM ... the ticket for his education ... the warranty for his career ... the gateway into his future ... (Hope I made it very dramatic)
Can a 13 year old decide all this ?? should their PARENTS decide whats best for him?? Are 13year olds 'mature' enough to decide their future?? Can they understand whats best for them at this age?? Will they be aware of the different disciplines of education, and the job scopes?? Is it fair for there parents to choose something for them that they may not like when they grow up??
The education system in Maldives asks students at age of 13 just after they complete their 7th standard to decide a stream for studies at O'levels, which then becomes the foundation stone of their future careers and occupations, is this in anyway fair??
Teaching students limited subjects by dividing into a stream system and only allowing ONE stream for students to study is not at all fair. A science student has not a single clue nor the slightest idea of who Lenin was and what impact he brought to the world!! An Arts student have no clue nor the slightest idea of what the third law of thermodynamics or what a phylum is!!! As for the Business student all that stuff is Greek. Is this a proper education system??
It was pretty much made clear; Science Students were given priorities in Schools rather than the arts Students and Business ... Arts were neglected even compared to Business ... why was this?? was this because more lawyers and politicians might come out? or was it the fear of more Humanities graduates coming back home to start working on improving stuff?
Back in Dharumavantha School I did Arts; History and Geography and as my optional subjects I was given (not what i applied for) Computer Science and Travel and Tourism Studies. compulsory subjects were Mathematics, English, Dhivehi Language and Islam. Latter at A'levels I did History, Geography, English Language and Literature, Dhivehi language and Islam ...
Today I am doing a B.Sc in Chemistry, Environmental Science and Earth Science Resource Management ..... my interest in Geography brought me here ... BUT Science is totally new to me ... I ask my self why I was not taught simple basics of Science in O'level and why I had to decide what stream I needed to do at age 13......
I know a lot of friends who wanted to study this and that ... but their streams forbade them from their ambitions .... they had to choose subjects that they had no interest to get a degree ... today you need at least a degree to get a job that can give you any income at all ...
Is it fair .... ???
I strongly believe that students SHOULD be taught Science, History and bit of commerce as compulsory subjects in O'levels at least up to 10th or 9th standard. Students can then only be able to open their eyes and choose for them self independently their future education career.
Was this another crazy thought of mine or is this true?? You tell me ....
Comments
In addition children are encouraged to choose one from IT, Creative Arts, drama or music. If there’s a strong interest in English Literature that opportunity is provided as an optional 11th subject. If it is a Muslim student and who wish to do IGCSE Islam the opportunity is given to do the exam in 9th grade before the exams after completing 10th grade.
I believe it's a method we can have in the Maldives and it would broaden up our children's minds and an opportunity to learn and understand what they like most and to realise their strengths and weaknesses. In the 10th grade they can drop their weakest subjects or the one’s they don’t have much interest and focus on their stronger and most interested subjects and complete their IGCSE or O’levels.
To have such a system we need to change the way we think. The parents cannot be making excuses and saying it would be too hard and harsh on their children to do so many subjects. It's about setting priorities, willing to work hard and be balancing it all. The policy makers need to rethink and restructure our education system to make it possible.
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