KULIYYAH OF EDUCATION

EDU 6003: ADVANCED HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY IN

ISLAMIC EDUCATION

ARTICLE REVIEW

Prepared by Group 7 of GK5:

1. Siti Fatimah binti Iskandar G1817406
2. Husmaisarah binti Che Hussien G1816950
3. Noor Liza binti Ishak G1810774
4. Efa Liyana binti Nordin G1811612

Prepared for:
Dr. Tahraoui Ramdane Murad
Article Review 1
Flocking Elsewhere to Master English Proficiency
by Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim

In this article, the writer attempts to highlight the need of providing an easy access to
English-medium education in Malaysia. The existence of English-medium schools which
being perceived by average-earning parents as a better-quality education, has indirectly
created the gap between the rich and the masses.

The writer states that parents are enticed with the International General Certificate of
Secondary Education (IGCSE) syllabus and the English-medium education offered by the
international and private schools despite of their pricey fees. Even some middle-class folks
are determined to provide better quality education for their children at all cost. The writer
further criticizes the abolishment of Science and Mathematics in English in 2009 which
hindered the opportunity of the masses to partially embrace English-medium education. Even
though the Education Ministry has indeed liberalised the international schools in 2011, it only
benefited the highly-income parents, not the masses.

Referring to the Razak Report 1956, the writer argues that the right of using more
than one language in the same school as the medium of instruction has been denied due to
political reasons. The writer also expresses her concern pertaining the future of our education
system if the decisions made by the Education Ministry do not benefit the public. It would be
detrimental if the double standard exists in our education system. She affirms that the
privilege of the rich in education should not be denied but at the same time the public should
also be given opportunities to walk alongside to rise to the higher level.

For amendments, the writer hopes to see the transformation of some public schools
into English-medium schools and the reinstatement of Science and Mathematics in English to
narrow the class gaps. She further insists that the education should serve its purposes and be
free from any political agenda.

The writer has clearly demonstrated her arguments on this significant issue. She has
firmly stood by her belief that Malaysian students should be given an easy access to English-
medium education despite of their social background. She consistently furnishes the readers
with relevant facts to support her arguments. This prescriptive discussion provides realistic
solutions to be acted upon.
 This article is a well-grounded and sound argument. From the philosophical point of
view, this argument is a value matter issue as it deals with social status and society. The
writer has successfully demonstrated the facts and recommended solutions which sound
persuasive to the readers. The writer is hoping for immediate actions to be taken in order to
ensure the equal access to English-medium education in Malaysia. We are responsible in
preparing our students to compete in the global market. Thus, the opportunity has to be
offered to everyone who wishes to rise to the higher level.
Article Review 3

Let’s Not Skirt Around This Issue

By Professor Rosnani Hashim

This review referring to the article “Let’s not skirt around this issue” (News Straits Times,
June 15). In this article, the writer attempt to prompt an awareness due to issue of wearing
sarong or maxi length skirt for women at government offices. The writer want to cultivate
people to be more respectful by wearing decent dresses while in public. Although the writer
has some good points, his article is biased and contains some over-assumption toward women
who wearing shorts and miniskirts in public places.

In her point of view, the writer want to educate our society especially women to be
more sensitive toward decent wear while in public. This issue was raised based on the
incident that occurred on a woman who being asked to wear sarong while she were in Road
Transport Department. This action is considered noble for the writer because the security
guard has acted to ensure the composure for all visitors at the department. However, whether
the action is appropriate to the diversity of races, religions and cultures in Malaysia, it is
requires understanding and respect from every community to be implemented.

The society need to realize the significant of wearing decent clothes with morality. As
we can see nowadays, in many societies across the world, indecent dressing among the youth
has become the emblem of the modernity. It is clearly one of the effects of globalization. The
leading opinion moulders in the society today are models in the fashion, advertising and
entertainment industries. However, this increase affects the collapse of moral values in
society. Now, women do not hesitate to wear clothes that are irrelevant to the norms of
society.

This may be seen easy for some parties, but look at the statistic of sexual activities
among teenagers aged 13 to 17 in this country over the past two decades has increased from
0.9 in 1994 to 8.3 percent in 2012. The statistics were derived from the Global Student Health
Survey (GSHS) and the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN)
regarding adolescent behavior committed before legally marriage from 1994 to 2012.
Meanwhile, data recorded from the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2005 to 2011
also showed Malaysia ranked fourth out of 10 countries in adolescent pregnancies between
the ages of 15 and 19 (MyMetro, 11 Mac 2015: “Statistik moral remaja kita”)
 Looking at the bigger picture, this issue need to be noted as we live in multiracial,
multiethnic and multireligious, everyone needs to take part and play our roles, to cultivate
people to wear decent clothes in public places, especially government offices. It is very
inappropriate if we choose not to serve the women who dress indecently in public. Because as
we want to gain their respect towards our belief, we also need to respect their choices by
wearing the dress. Furthermore, the authorities need to create a law enforcement towards
dressing ethics in public and government offices. By imposing obligations of obedience, a
law necessarily allocates power and distribute rights and responsibilities among affected
individuals and groups (Segun. O. A, 2009). By this enforcement, it will create awareness for
these women to dress decently in public.

Hence, the writer has her point of argument about dress decently in public. The idea is
not just to protect women from any sexual harassments in public, but also to prevent demise
of morality because it can cause various problems and crimes in our society. As a society
with mutual respect, Malaysian women need to be wise to dress respectfully and need to
consider about Malaysian’s cultural norm. Every people in society has to take part in this
situation to educate more awareness about wearing decent clothing. This situation can be
realized with the establishment of a noble character that must be comprehensive involving all
aspects of individual life and society.