What goes up do, occasionally come down - quite true given the post-March events. Never mind that. Was having an after-dinner talk when the subject of Penang came up - the elections, USM, war cries. Think zenith-nadir or crest-trough.
With the APEX status conferred upon USM, I do hope better equipments and also a revamp in its syllabi come along. All I hear is money and more money. It's true what one says how local varsities churning out less-than-able graduates. Not that I'm any better; I feel there are much more things that ought to be incorporated into the 14 weeks of studies each semester. One would rebut by saying students are suppposed to learn and find out by themselves. Why bother going to lectures since what was thought is so basic that one could look it up on the net or better still, past year examination questions.
They could extend the period of study to four years and cut down on the amount of courses for a given specialization instead make each one more detailed. What's the use of Immunology when you only study B-cells? A year (two semesters) consists of only 28 weeks. Only 84 weeks is needed to complete a 3-year degree programme. Fantastic.
What's the rush in pumping out so many graduates? Hmm... Since when did I intend to rant about local varsities, USM in particular? Who am I to speak out against it? It'll take another five years before anyone will pay any thoughts to it.
Let's just hope the status wouldn't mean more money for research but also for the undergraduates as well since what goes up do come down and I hate to see that happen to USM. Perhaps, an up and a down would give rise to a more harmonic state of living for Penang and the nation as a whole?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Fire away! I'd like to know what's on your mind.