fly away like the butterfly: February 2008

I always frequent Local Freakonomics for her views. She has good and interesting ideas, but at times I tend to disagree with her opinion. We are all different, and I accept that. This entry which I had written quite sometime ago is not meant to diss her opinion, but a deepening of her idea. And I quote,

"... And I have also seen many of those who are earning decent monthly incomes, ... cannot even pay their children’s school fees! WHY? Simply because they value their NOWS.

My aunt, who is a headmistress ...told me that there were HUNDREDS of parents who could not pay the school fees. ...

But, think of the consequences. It is not only the child who will be affected by such selfish act. The whole nation will do too! Now, I’m not going to put forward the argument that if you think you can’t afford to pay the private school’s fee, then the children should be sent to the government schools (while education is still free!), because as a parent myself, I know that I want the BEST for my children. But, please I implore, PAY their fees! And I'm also NOT patronising the quality of government's schools. I am after all, a product of one. (Hmm.. perhaps another blog entry for this topic)." Local Freakonomics, Jan 19th

FOA, I'm sorry for her aunt who has a tough time getting parents to pay their kids education in time (or to pay at all?). Yet, I am not totally concerned about the 'inability to pay'. There is no statistical evidence to indicate this being a phenomenal problem. I stand to be corrected. Significant or not, I agree that it'd be patronizing to tell parents not to send their kids to what they perceived as the 'BEST' (early childhood) education. It would not be right anyway, even if it's the best of intention.

I'm one of those parents who send their kids to private education provider. My eldest to a school on Jangsak, known for its students' academic achievements. Honestly, I am unsure if it's the school, or the students, really. I am happy to say, over the last 6-7 years of her schooling, she has kept at the top cohort of her class. Receiving awards, which I hope she will keep getting. It will make life a lot easier, we insisted to her. But her citizenship has been in question, for last year's nomination. So, even nominated at a school level, she was not considered at the national level. She did the year before, though. I don't know how that happened, they must have overlooked it. But, I'm glad she received it that year. It inspired her to work harder. We are still trying our best to get her citizenship sorted. We have been since the last 2 years. We hope it'll be finalized soon. I know the Youth and Welfare Department, and the National Registration and Immigration Department are assisting us on this matter, and they have been very helpful. The process is now stuck at the Syariah High Court, I don't know for how long. We thought it was sorted, the last time we went to court, over 2 months ago. Unfortunately, we were wrong. It's pretty taxing with all the bureaucracy. We are tired, but we can't stop. She is our child. Ah, policy, we just have to understand and accept it(?).

Then, my 3 year old, she is in a Montessori system in Telanai. A cheaper and a closer alternative, to an international school I favour in Berakas. We think it is perfect for her for now. My only concern is that this system let the child develops at her own pace. It's good, but I am not sure if that means she wouldn't be competitive. I don't want her to fall behind. But accordingly, the system somehow works on this aspect through mixing kids of various age group so the younger children learn from the elder group in their class. Then again, I remember Dato Timothy Ong mentioning how Finnish kids only started schooling at 7, and still that nation is one of the top economies in the world. I bought into that idea. So, we're not going to push my child, we'll let her develop first. We'll wait and see. We have some years before 'pressuring' her to excel. Haha.

I digress. We were talking about how we tend to send our kids to private education. Some 'sacrifices' so their kids will get the BEST education. I think all right minded parents would do so. Perhaps, some of these right-minds ceased to function when they stop paying for their education and purchasing 'luxuries' instead. But, I refuse to make judgment. I don't know for certain whether the reason for their kids expulsion were because they prioritize their cars or luxuries over their kids education. It may be logical to say so, but we are living in a complex world. Could the car be more important to them as a form of transportation, after all they know their kids education have an alternative - i.e. by going to public schools. I'm not defending those who aren't paying. I just don't want to be judgmental on this. And no, Alhamdulillah, we've never been in such situations so far.

Of course, we should question parents' ethicality if they use educational allowance to pay for their car instead. But the educational allowance of B$120 per child is claimable only if the child is 6 years old and above, I think. Or is it 5? My assumption comes from the new Compulsory Education Order, which mentions a child needs to be in school from age 6. Bear in mind, many kids go to school as early as 2 and half, meaning parents have to fork out from their own finance. They need NOT send their kids to school, but many have no choice as 1. both parents work, and 2. many grandparents are now not willing to mind their grandkids anymore (many grandparents are much much older these days); 3. some parents thinking it would be cheaper to send their child than to get a nanny or amah; 4. the amahs have younger kids/babies to take care of, and parents felt much at ease to send their other kids to schools (which is in my case).

Anyway, I'm not going into a debate on what parents should and shouldn't do. Or argue for them. Certainly, they need to pay if they've sent their kids to school, after all a debt is a debt. But my concern is not on their inability to pay, but a more pressing matter than that. That is our perception of government-provided education.

Like LF, I myself was educated in public schools, Sekolah rendah, Prep School, then to College. Afterwards, I pursued my tertiary educations, all in the UK. I am thankful to the government for the education I received, the great teachers who taught me, the allowances I received, and all. It's perplexing to not appreciate this public education that took me to where I am today, and to pass onto my kids. Many of us and yes, there are really many of us, who had had public education and are 'successful', are all - well almost, sending our kids to private education, and what is perceived as BEST education.

So, why do we all think that BEST education is not government-provided education? Why are we the products of public education ourselves, have no or little confidence over it? After all, we know for a fact 1. we are all okay, and 2. there is huge government investment in education. In the previous NDP, an amount of B$507m was invested, and over B$800m is to be spent on developing education in the current NDP (source: Brunei Darussalam Long-Term Development Plan). In fact spending on education is among the highest allocated between sectors. Considering the colossal spending on focusing this particular human development and a considerable amount to be spent on buildings, classrooms and labs, as well as training systems (though I didn't manage to see any breakdown on specificities, including specific fractions on primary education), I do believe the government is pushing to improve on better education system in the country. If that means quality education, then perhaps so.

As far as I am concern, quality in education is hard to define. I suppose it all comes down to expectations. We as parents have all different expectations. In fact, my expectations even differ between my children. We are sending one to a mainstream private school, and another to a Montessori system. For me then, quality is not just about syllabus, pedagogy, but also availability of choices to suit the personality and prospect of my child, i.e. it's environment. No, I can't expect the government to provide for ALL, but then again, it would be interesting. My observation is that at the end of the day, the government is keen to have 'educated' citizens, able to perform at a particular standard. Beyond that standard, it's a plus, but not paramount. There is nothing wrong with that. But that's really the issue. Quality to us is about 'beyond the expected value of performance' or 'exceeding expectations'.

If we think about it, that's what private educators are selling. A syllabus a little richer than public education. A training style a little different than that of public education. Trainers who seem to differ than those in public schools. Maybe, these are not really needed. Yet, to the public, getting the extras are perceived as better value aka quality. Perhaps why, in 2006, 25,234 went to private preschool and primaries, compared to 33,564 students who went to public schools of the same level. Equivalent to a 40:60 ratio. Almost equal but not quite.

Anyway, I don't know if any portion of that government spending on education includes spending for private education (exclude the allowance), that 40:60 ratio is alarming. Assuming the figures are the same today, it indicates the citizens obvious LACK of TRUST on government-provided education. That's a huge amount of money invested to creating 'quality education' but never perceived so by the public. That 40% and not less that went to private, and perhaps another extra from the 60% that didn't have a choice but stick to public education, are expecting for a lot lot better education. Or did we all jump into the bandwagon, believing the grass is greener on the other side? We all heard terrible stories of public education. They could just be hyped up.

But consider this, that 40% also means extra monies spending on private childhood education for parents rather than saving for future (private) tertiary education. Bear in mind, the amount reimbursed is only B$120 per child, but each child in private education had to be paid a little more than that, depending on which school they go to and which level.

The ministry really needs to sell to us that government schools are of the same quality or more. Unless if the intention is to develop more private schools and provide teaching employment to our teaching graduates (with better salaries?) and any knock on effects on the economy (school supplies, bookshops, textiles and tailoring, and I don't know what else cause I'm no economist). But the latter would beat the purpose of providing education for all. Because it will then become education for the able few. Any sociologist (like my dear friend - who gave me beautiful chilli oil yesterday - thanks babe!) would shout a no! if education were privatized. Education should be a privilege or a right to everyone. I second that.

No, I'm not blaming the government for the choice people make (to attend private or public schools). But, those figures tell it all. It's a shame if we let it be. I'm asking the ministry to convince me (to send my kids to public school). It's a helping process to rebuild the image of our education. If the 40% are sticking to their opinion, at least do it for those 60%. Make them prouder.

The ministry needs to talk to parents to understand what they define quality education as, and their expectations. Survey those mainstream private schoolers' parents on why they send their kids there, and what their perception of public education are. The ministry needs to provide us with accessible statistics (on-line?) on achievements of those from public education system (at primary levels) and compared that with private schools. It'll help us to truly decide where we should send our kids to. The question is, is it true that private schoolers performed better than public schoolers? Cause we are swayed towards sending kids to better performing schools. What if they do perform better? Well, emulate and work harder to exceed. It's not easy. There are confounding factors beyond the control of the ministry, e.g. students' intellect.

One thing I learnt is that my nieces who are in public schools are performing as well as my eldest. Their only weakness compared to my eldest is in the English language. My eldest speaks better, and fluent. My nieces are also shy to speak the language. I don't see any differences in knowledge appreciation with other subjects. So, if there was I believe it's mainly due to individual intellect and ability. So to say, private schools are better, I am still unsure. I must admit that my eldest syllabus are a little more advance than those of my nieces. Maybe she's a little more inquisitive, but then again she's been watching Playhouse Disney and the like all her life, and I won't credit the school for that. I do believe my daughter is smart and sharp, thus I'm not totally convince it's her school. Cause what I know, there are parents having problems with their kids performance. I've spoken to her classmates' parent who contemplates on sending their other kids to other schools. So I figure, if parents are thinking of looking for other private schools, the opportunity of public schools to rise again is there.

Then again, why am I not sending my 3 y.o to public school? 1. She is too young to go to public school, and she is at a disadvantage if she joins public pre-school due to her being born in the later months of the year. 2. I prefer my child to be able to speak English fluently. I need her to get that basic. 3. I'm unsure if the primary school in my area has the right environment for my child, and as good as where my nieces are attending. I'd like some convincing in terms of accessible stats on the school's performance, and other profiles of the school. I'd rather not go to the school, and perhaps 'insult' the headmaster along the way by asking him that.

In other words, I could be persuaded. I believe many will be too. If our expectations are considered and taken, and if our expectations are delivered. I know the ministry cannot pleased everyone, but it's worth a try. That 40% and another extra hidden, and a fraction of that B$800plus million (for primary education), are worthy of trying to persuade us parents to send our kids to public education. I know for a fact we have good education. Because, I turned out okay. Many of my friends too. Mine began 31 years ago. So, 31 years on - there must have been some incredible development. Just make us believe it once again.

Simultaneously, hopefully we wont have to expel students from private schools, and we'll relieve principals from that quandary. Instead, maybe the principals will have to work extra hard and invest more in trying to get back the students they'll lose. We will be back to saving for our kids tertiary education, we wont have parents with debts. We wont have worried parents that their kids are behind their private-educated peers, cause they are simply the same. We wont have to differentiate between schools, because everywhere it's BEST education. How ideal is that. Until we get another cycle, where one dominates the other. Square one, then it would be. Until that time, it's time for the ministry to tell us that we have been wrong. That we shouldn't worry about our kids future, cause the education they provide is of quality.