Kayuhan Ceria Ogos 2013 @Putrajaya 12km

Tarikh : 25 Ogos 2013

Lokasi :  Putrajaya

Jarak : 12 km

 


Berdiri menyanyikan lagu Negaraku 

 

 

 

 

  

Fake-busyness

One of my least favorite phrases that people always use is “I’m too busy for that”. But, are they really busy? or they are “buat-buat sibuk”. The dictionary.com defines busy as “actively and attentively engaged in work’’. But how if they are actively engaged with something not relating to work, are they still can be categorized as busy. Hmmm… from my personal opinion, I’m agree with the definition given by dictionary.com. I can accept if you are really busy with the numbers of work given. But sometimes they look busy but actually do nothing and have plenty of free time. There is a small subset of people in the office who keep saying that he/she is very busy when people ask for help. It is very difficult to get help from this kind of person as they always try to find reasons to showing that they are very busy and reluctant to help others. And if you are really busy you need to manage the time wisely, in a day we are given 24 hours to work with, we can come to the office early in the morning or else we still can work till late night. Most people say that they are very busy, but they come late to the office and go back at 5.30pm.

If this happens very often to us, we need to tell them politely that even if they are busy, they should have time for others if someone needs your help. If they still pretending to be busy to us, the best way to deal with this kind of people is neglect him/her and throw them far away from our daily lives. There are many peoples out there willing to help us although they have a tight schedule.

Quality of Education System in Malaysia

The 2012 Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) was announced on 19 December 2012. Out of 440,643 candidates who sat for the examination, 30,474 or 6.9% scored straight A’s. The result also showed that fewer candidates failed the examinations this year, which only 241 candidates scored all E’s this year compared to 346 candidates in 2011. The overall achievement in 17 subjects was stable with the National Average Grade Index (GPN) maintained at 2.1 points as in 2011.

However, where are we compared with other countries? Is it our education’s quality on par with developed countries? In order to answer this question, there are two international standard tests to determine overall students’ performance and the education system as a whole, namely, Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in Mathematics and Science Survey (TIMSS). These two international standard tests will be explained further detail as below:

A.      Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

• Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), coordinated by the OECD, is an international study which aims to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students. To date students representing more than 70 countries have participated in the assessment.
• Since the year 2000, every three years, a randomly selected group of fifteen-year-olds take tests in the key subjects:  reading, mathematics and science, with focus given to one subject in each year of assessment. The students and their school principals also fill in background questionnaires to provide information on the students' family background and the way their schools are run. Some countries and economies also choose to have parents fill in a questionnaire.
• In 2000 the focus of the assessment was reading, in 2003 mathematics and problem solving, in 2006 science and in 2009 reading again. The 2012 data collection focusing on mathematics is well under way and includes an optional computer-based assessment of mathematics and reading involving some 30 countries as well as an optional area of assessment:  financial literacy, which 19 countries have taken up.  Preparations for the PISA 2015 assessment began in September 2012 with the first meeting of the PISA 2015 National Project Managers.
• PISA is unique because it develops tests which are not directly linked to the school curriculum and provides context through the background questionnaires which can help analysts interpret the results. The tests are designed to assess to what extent students at the end of compulsory education, can apply their knowledge to real-life situations and be equipped for full participation in society.
• PISA data provides governments with a powerful tool to shape their policy making.

B.     Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

• The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international assessment of the mathematics and science knowledge of fourth grade (Standard 4) and eight grade (Form two) students around the world.
• TIMSS was developed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to allow participating nations to compare students' educational achievement across borders. The IEA also conducts the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).
• TIMSS was first administered in 1995, and every 4 years thereafter. 59 nations and 425,000 students participated in TIMSS 2007. TIMSS 2011 just released.

Malaysia’s ranking in PISA and TIMSS

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

• When Malaysia first participated in TIMSS in 1999, its average student score was higher than the international average in both Mathematics and Science.

• The average score in the TIMSS is benchmarked at 500 points, with countries scoring above that considered to have improved their performance in the two subjects while those falling below that mark are regarded as underperformers.

• By 2007, the system’s performance had slipped to below the international average in both Mathematics and Science with a commensurate drop in ranking. Critically, 18% and 20% of Malaysia’s students failed to meet the minimum proficiency levels in Mathematics and Science in 2007, a two to fourfold increase from 7% and 5% respectively in 2003. These students were identified as possessing only limited mastery of basic mathematical and scientific concepts.

• In 2011, Malaysia continued to score below the average score. Malaysians scored an average 440 points in mathematics in Form Two (the equivalent to eighth grade worldwide), lagging behind Korea, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Japan, which occupied the top five spots worldwide. In science, Malaysians scored 426 points, tying with Syria and just pipping Palestine, Georgia and Oman, which totted up 420 points each in the tests.

                        Trends in Mathematics Achievement                                         

     Trends in Science Achievement

Science Achievement Ranking Against Other Countries

Ranking Mathematics Achievement Ranking Against Other Countries

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

• The results from PISA 2009 (the first time Malaysia participated in this assessment) were also discouraging, with Malaysia’s ranking below the international and OECD average.

• Almost 60% of the 15-year-old Malaysian students who participated in PISA failed to meet the minimum proficiency level in Mathematics, while 44% and 43% did not meet the minimum proficiency levels in Reading and Science respectively. A difference of 38 points on the PISA scale is equivalent to one year of schooling. A comparison of scores shows that 15-year-olds in Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are performing as though they have had 3 or more years of schooling than 15-year-olds in Malaysia.

Comparison of Malaysia’s PISA 2009 ranking against other countries

Country performance in international assessments relative to public spend per student

• Data as of 2010 indicates that Malaysia’s performance lags behind other countries that have similar or lower levels of expenditure per student, such as Thailand, Chile, and Armenia. This suggests that the system may not be allocating funds towards the factors that have the highest impact on student outcomes, such as the training and continuous upskilling of teachers.

• High-performing systems like Singapore, South Korea, and Shanghai, however, do spend more per student than Malaysia. The education system is also about to embark on a major transformation effort. Consequently, Malaysia’s expenditure levels should be maintained but the efficiency and effectiveness of how funds are allocated and spent should be reviewed.

  

Government Initiatives to improve students’ performance

• The issue of low performance of Malaysia’s students was highlighted in the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025. Initiatives will be undertaken to benchmark the learning of languages, Mathematics, and Science to international standards.

• Every student will receive a strong grounding in literacy and numeracy which the foundational skills for all further learning, as well as in science, a key growth area for the Malaysian economy.

• Students will be taught a curriculum that has been benchmarked to the standards of high-performing education systems, and this benchmarking will be validated by an independent party to build parents’ confidence. The Ministry will also set and monitor performance targets for its performance on the PISA and TIMSS international assessments. Additional assessments that address other dimensions of quality that are relevant to the Malaysian context may be added as they are developed, and become accepted international standards

• The aspiration is for Malaysia to be in the top third of countries in terms of performance in international assessments, as measured by outcomes in TIMSS and PISA, by 2025.

 Mohd Sallehhuddin Zainal Abidin

Importance of Tourism Industry

1. Earns foreign exchange

• The tourism industry in Malaysia currently ranks as the country’s second biggest foreign exchange earner.
• Travel inflows of the tourism industry have been steadily increasing at an average of 11% per year during the period 2000 to 2011.
• Tourist spending remains the main contributor to earnings in the services account in the balance of payments, generating an average of 48.4% of gross receipts on an annual basis.

2. Contributes to economic growth

• Tourism contributed 11.2% to the GDP in 2010.
• Tourism industry has contributed significantly to the Malaysian economy, particularly to the wholesale and retail trade as well as accommodation and restaurant subsectors. These two subsectors account for the largest share to the services sector.
• Under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the wholesale and retail trade subsector has been identified as one of the drivers of economic activity that has the potential to contribute significantly to the Malaysian economy. The subsector is expected to register a growth rate of 8.3% per annum, contributing 15.1% of GDP in 2015.

3. Provides employment

• The tourism industry contributes a significant share of Malaysia’s total employment. In 2010, tourism-related activities provided 1.8 million employment, representing 15.9% of the total workforce.
• However, employment creation is even higher, taking into account the strong linkages tourism has with other segments of the economy, such as transport, retail, utilities, food and beverages, as well as financial services.

4. Attracts investment

• The growing tourism industry has stimulated investment in Malaysia particularly in the accommodation industry. There are many international hotels to cater to tourist demand.
• As at end-June 2012, the total number of hotels in Malaysia increased to 2,575¹ mostly located in Johor.

MSZA

Kembara Siem Reap

Siem Reap adalah sebuah bandar kecil yang menawarkan satu pengalaman percutian yang berbeza berbanding dengan tempat-tempat pelancongan yang lain. Pada 21/1/2011 Pengalaman yang dimaksudkan telah dilalui oleh aku setelah berada disana selama 3 hari 2 malam. Bagaimanapun percutian aku bersama isteri tersayang dan 3 orang lagi rakan sepejabat telah terencat apabila aku bersama isteri telah tertinggal flight.  Ianya satu pengalaman yang akan menjadi pengajaran seumur hidup aku. Menerusi perbualan kami dengan pihak Immigresen, peristiwa ini sering berlaku ke atas penumpang-penumpang AirAsia yang lain disebabkan oleh kelemahan pihak AirAsia. Bagaimanapun peristiwa tersebut tidak mematahkan semangat kami untuk terbang ke Siem Reap. Kami membuat keputusan untuk mengambil flight keesokkan harinya. Pada 22/1/2011, kami meneruskan perjalanan dengan hati yang cekal dan tepat jam 7.40am kami telah menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Siem Reap.

Tidak sampai 2 minit berada di Siem Reap, aku sudah bergambar sakan di landasan Lapangan terbang Siem Reap. Setelah masuk ke dalam Airport, kami melalui proses immigresen. Apa yang mengejutkan kami ialah pihak immgresen Cambodia telah meminta duit tip dari kami, tetapi dengan muka yang selamba kami buat tidak tahu.

Setelah selesai kesemua proses ketibaan, kami di bawa ke Angkoriana Hotel dengan menggunakan tuk-tuk. Dengan bayaran USD90, aku sangat berpuas hati dengan suasana hotel yang cantik. Tanpa membuang waktu, kami mengatur jadual hari pertama dengan membuat lawatan ke Angkor Wat. Bayaran yang dikenakan bagi tiket masuk Angkor Wat ialah USD20 bagi satu hari lawatan. Kawasan Angkor Wat adalah sangat besar, oleh itu dengan masa yang ada kami merancang untuk pergi ke 3 temple utama iaitu Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom dan Ta Phrom. Lawatan aku ke Angkor Wat ini telah membuatkan aku terfikir bagaimana mereka boleh menyiapkan struktur Angkor Wat ini dengan menggunakan batu-batu yang sangat besar. Mengikut sejarah, Angkor Wat dibina oleh Raja Suryavarman II pada pertengahan abad ke 12. Pembinaan Angkor Wat memakan masa selama 30 tahun. Ia merupakan bangunan keagamaan yang terbesar di dunia dan juga merupakan satu hasil binaan tunggal yang terbesar di Asia Tenggara. Sepanjang perjalanan kami mengelilingi Angkor Wat, kami seringkali dihampiri dengan kanak-kanak Kemboja menjual barang-barang tempatan. Mereka akan cuba mengikuti kami bagi menjual barang-barang mereka. Lawatan sehari mengelilingi Angkor Wat sangat meletihkan ditambah lagi dengan cuaca yang panas, bagaimanapun pengalaman berada di Angkor Wat sangat mengujakan kami.

Tuk-tuk

Kanak-kanak Kemboja merayu bagi mendapatkan USD1

Kanak-kanak Kemboja mencari rezeki dari bot ke bot

Hari kedua kami bertolak untuk melihat sebuah perkampungan air di Tonle Sap. Sebelum sampai di tasik tersebut kami melalui sebuah perkampungan yang sangat daif. Rumah-rumah yang didirikan usang dan tiada perabot-perabot seperti sofa, peti sejuk dan meja makan. Suasana disini kelihatan seperti tiada langkah-langkah yang diambil oleh kerajaan Kemboja bagi memberi kemudahan yang lebih selesa kepada mereka. Menyusuri tasik Tonle Sap juga membuatkan hati kami sangat sedih dengan kedaifan mereka. Dikala menikmati permandangan sausana perkampungan air, kami dikejutkan dengan kehadiran sebuah sampan yang menghampiri kami bagi meminta sedekah sebanyak USD1. Dua orang kanak-kanak dengan ditemani bapanya merayu-rayu supaya diberikan duit. Bagaimana pun kami hanya memberikan gula-gula dan coklat kepada mereka. Peristiwa itu tidak terhenti setakat itu sahaja, tetapi kali ini bot kami cuba dikejar oleh seorang budak yang berumur lingkungan 7 tahun dengan hanya menggunakan besen dan sebatang kayu. Bagaimana pun, usahanya gagal apabila bot kami jauh meninggalkan budak tersebut dengan riak wajah yang hampa. Tika sampai di sebuah kedai terapung, kami dikejutkan dengan sebuah sangkar buaya. Buaya-buaya tersebut ditangkap dan dibunuh untuk diambil kulitnya. Perjalanan pulang kami ke daratan dihidangkan dengan beberapa buah kemudahan seperti sekolah, kedai dan gereja bagi keperluan pendudukan kampung air tersebut.

Kedaifan masyarakat Kemboja

Di sebelah tengahari kami lunch di sebuah restoran yang diusahakan oleh orang Malaysia iaitu D’Wau Restoran. Menu pilihan kami ialah lauk amok iaitu makanan tradisi Kemboja. Masakan amok dimasak bersama santan dan pelbagai jenis rempah, biasanya berlaukkan ayam atau ikan. Di sebelah restoran D’Wau ini terdapat sebuah hotel yang dimiliki orang orang Islam Kemboja. Dikesempatan ini, kami mengambil peluang untuk menumpang bagi mengerjakan solat Zohor di hotel tersebut. Kami diberi sebuah bilik bagi mengerjakan solat Zohor. Ucapan berbanyak terima kasih kepada pemilik hotel tersebut.

Bersama pengusaha Restoran D'Wau

 

Setelah selesai makan tengahhari dan mengerjakan solat Zohor, kami meneruskan agenda seperti yang dirancang ke Old Market dan Local Market. Program membeli-belah adalah antara agenda yang sangat ditunggu-tunggu. Membeli-belah di Siem Reap tidak lengkap sekiranya tidak membeli Cambodia Silk dan hiasan alas meja. Rundingan tawar- menawar adalah skill yang amat diperlukan bagi mendapatkan harga yang paling menarik. Bagi Cambodia Silk harga yang paling rendah kami dapat ialah USD 10 untuk 8 helai. Hati kami terasa puas apabila dapat membeli dengan harga yang diingini.

Program membeli-belah diteruskan dengan lokasi seterusnya iaitu di Night Market. Bagaimanapun, harga yang ditawarkan di Night Market lebih mahal berbanding dengan Old Market dan Local Market, ini mungkin kerana Night Market menjadi tumpuan pelancong. Sehubungan dengan itu, kami membatalkan hasrat untuk membeli belah, sebaliknya kami mendapatkan rawatan fish massage. Dengan bayaran sebanyak USD2, kami diberi peluang untuk meletakkan kaki-kaki kami selama satu jam didalam kolam untuk diurut oleh ikan-ikan. Harga yang ditawarkan ini adalah murah berbanding dengan harga di Malaysia. Selesai diurut oleh ikan-ikan Kemboja, seterusnya kami mengakhiri ekspidisi kami dengan berjalan-jalan di Pub Street yang terletak berhampiran dengan Night Market. Suasana di Pub Street adalah sangat happening, bagaimanapun aku berasa pening dan bingit berada lama disini, sehubungan dengan itu kami mengambil keputusan untuk pulang ke hotel bagi mengemas beg untuk kembali ke Malaysia pada keesokan harinya.

 

Pada 24/1/2010, kami berlepas ke Airport pada jam 6.50 pagi dengan dihantar oleh van yang disediakan oleh hotel. Kami mengakhiri percutian di Siem Reap dengan menyaksikan suasana pagi Isnin di Bandar kecil ini. Kiri dan kanan kami kelihatan rakyat Siem Reap sibuk dengan aktiviti harian masing-masing. Selama 3 hari dan 2 malam berada di Siem Reap membuatkan aku lebih bersyukur berada di bumi Malaysia. Suasana di Siem Reap tidak ubah seperti Malaysia pada 30 tahun dahulu.