KoKo-Stick to school hours

Sunday May 18, 2008
Stick to school hours
I cannot help but agree with Hamzah Abu Bakar. His letter “
Pupils pushed to the limit” (StarEducation, April 20) only stresses the point that students, particularly those sitting for the UPSR, PMR and SPM exams are being put under tremendous pressure.

The pressure is being exerted by overzealous school principals to achieve their target and to get a good name for themselves.

Our children are merely victims of these over-ambitious and insensitive school heads.

The extra classes, presumably to help students get better results start immediately after normal school hours with hardly any break for lunch.

By the time my children get home from school in Puchong, Selangor, it is almost 5pm.

On Wednesdays they have to stay back until 5.30pm for co-curricular activities.

When my children are absent from the extra classes, they are warned and given a scolding by the principal.

Isn't the principal supposed to treat and approach students in a civil manner instead of yelling and hurling insults at them?

Many parents have brought the matter up to the principal, but he refuses to accept the argument that children should not be made to stay in school for too long.

After all, tired and hungry schoolchildren will not be able to focus during the extra classes.

I strongly urge the Education Ministry to pass regulations that will standardise the school hours for primary and secondary schools each day.

It should also stop principals from arbitarily extending school hours

The labour law gives protection to office workers who are forced to work within a stipulated number of hours daily.

But, there is no regulation or law to protect students from being forced to stay in school for more than eight hours!

As a parent, I appeal to school teachers who are directly involved in educating our children to ensure our children get a total education.

Most teachers are unhappy about the extra classes, but, choose to remain silent rather than risk being transferredor losing their yearly increments, promotions, overtime and awards!

It is high time the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) issues a strong warning against school heads who exploit teachers, already overworked, with the extra classes.

Teachers should just focus on their primary role of teaching our children within normal school hours.

Sometime ago, the Education Minister said that there would be more emphasis on sports and co-curricular activities.

If the ministry is keen on emphasising these activities, then more time should be allocated for them.

The academic focus should only be on core subjects and related homweork. No more time should be granted for extra classes.

FED UP Puchong