Thinking in a nutshell

July 4th, 2008 at 10:36 · Filed Under Blogging, Critiques, Education, Humanity, Philosophy, Social 

Most Malaysia graduate students lack critical thinking and have narrow thinking in their small nutshell and yet they think they are thinking and handling problems like an adult. I don’t know exactly what makes them having this false perception but I think it is the lacking of critical thinking, experience and limited exposure in the real world of survivor. They are restrained only to academic and their activities circles are also bounded by non-sense laws set by the universities. These laws are designed to suppress the basic human rights of the students.

I spoke to a few students during tea breaks at the Ada Workshop which I conducted 2-3 days ago. It appeared that most students hate their university. Why? Because they are forced to become debtors before starting to have earnings. Most Malaysians have to take education loan to finance their studies. But what the universities offer them are sub-standard teaching and poor facilities. Besides paying a hefty sum for tuition, they are charged with miscellaneous fees. These university reaping off wealth from students, making them debtors to fill the university pockets.

A private university has the social obligation to educate future leaders. But most private universities put their profit above all. Students become victims of corporation and yet denied their rights to protest aloud. Students yelling with frustration and hate in blogs and forums with anonymity. What use?

In the recent proposal to impose IT service fee in MMU, we can see how the students being exploited for corporation profiteering and suppressed the rights of protesting and voicing out to the public.

There were a few students came to me expressing their frustration and seeking my assistance to voice up their concerns. They asked my help to arrange a press conference to amplify their vocals. In doing this, these students faced tremendous pressures from their ignorant and naive peers. They were blackmailed by their own peers for trying to make this imposition public.

These students who came to me had exercised democracy to defend basic human rights as knowledge and experience seeking students. They learned not to give up before running out of solutions and hopes. They learned how adults handling and working with youngsters like them. They learned how to analyze and think in multiple perspective. They learned the first lesson of politics.

I admire their courage and determination despite facing disciplinary action and peers’ pressure. I appreciate their trust in me for finding them a solution to voice up without any implication on them. I would like in return to encourage them to not stop here but keep moving forward. They bravely distinguished themselves away from their ignorant and naive peers and want to expand their ability beyond academic. Here is what Confucius said:

I will not be concerned at other men’s not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Thinking in a nutshell”

  1. Desperate MMU Student on July 5th, 2008 12:31

    I read the news in Chinese papers. Thank you.

  2. Katy Yong on July 8th, 2008 10:14

    Hi Adrian,

    What a long time!

    I am a little surprised that you become a student activist, freedom fighter. Yes?

    It is disheartening to see these graduate students having such narrow thinking and attitude. Don’t waste time on them. It is not worth the effort.

  3. Adrian Hoe on July 8th, 2008 10:19

    It has been a long time, indeed. You must be very busy with projects, yes?

    No. I haven’t become a student activist nor freedom fighter. I am just me. Some students turned to me for help. I just did my best.

    Just used up a little time and brain effort. Nothing wasted. I learned some important lessons too.

    Good to hear from you again.

  4. Katy Yong on July 8th, 2008 10:24

    Hey, that’s quick. Are you at your computer now? I am on Skype.

    Yes. I am busy with projects and I am doing my Ph.D. in computational physics.

    I know you will always do things which will gain valuable returns. I guess it was a good job done.

  5. dragon on July 16th, 2008 8:00

    Do they have students’ union?

  6. Adrian Hoe on July 16th, 2008 9:36

    See my post Tycoon or Dick Heads?

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