The SPM 2022 results were just released, and we were delighted to learn of the marked improvement in terms of overall result from the previous year. A total of 2.7 per cent of the students who took the examination achieved the best result of straight As.
On one hand, we are constantly reminded that SPM is just another certificate, and it does not define our life. While the latter is true, it is not just "a piece of paper”.
It is in fact evidence of a person’s hard work.
However, we are humans. Sometimes we are short of achieving our own set expectations.
For those who may not be too thrilled with their SPM results, that is what tertiary education is for. Many studies have shown the shortcomings of standardised examinations such as the SPM. But tertiary education is different. It is catered to the student and her or his specific interest. Students have more flexibility, and thus more responsibility, to create meaningful experiences in universities or colleges that fit their passion. For this reason, high school leavers should aim firstly to attain higher education in order to find their niche in an increasingly competitive world.
I am not interested in delineating the benefits of a tertiary education as it is well documented.
Even in an economically challenging situation, on average, the ones with a bachelor's degree or skill-based certificates have better opportunities to find a fulfilling job than those without. More importantly, in the longer run, those who have upskilled themselves by continuing their studies may see their wages increase more in comparison to those with just an SPM.
Obviously, there will be anomalies.
There are many degree holders who are struggling with underemployment (which is a structural issue relating to our economy). And there are those without a degree who do find success in life. A degree is not a free ticket to a good life. Instead, the certificate is symbolic of a person’s hard work and dedication to perfecting their craft. If they are disciplined enough to graduate from university, there is a high probability they will continue being disciplined to achieve greatness at work in the future. And then there are those, usually with the guidance of loving parents, who are already disciplined and motivated enough even before going to college.
This is where examples such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates come in. But most people without a degree do not achieve multi-billionaire status.
More importantly, a tertiary education provided our youth with uninterrupted four years to grow and challenge themselves into better humans. If I may say so, what is lacking today is quality human beings. We have lost empathy and compassion for others as seen in viral clips on social media of people berating fellow citizens.
While our education system stresses the importance of being number one, education is supposed to help create better human beings as well. It is not zero sum; we can achieve both. We don’t want just any doctor. We want a doctor who is kind to a patient in pain. We want an accountant who is honest and trustworthy. We want a lawyer who is accountable. We want an engineer who is concerned about social and environmental issues. In a university, a student typically takes courses outside of her or his major. This is the opportunity to broaden their horizon and to learn something that is outside of their comfort zone.
Besides the classes itself, personally, the biggest asset of going into tertiary education is the relationship formed with the people you meet. For the majority of students who went to a public secondary school with classmates from around the same neighbourhood, university is where you will meet people from different states with different social backgrounds.
This is where you learn empathy. There will be people from different ethnicities, and perhaps even from different countries. This is where you learn tolerance and realize that the world is much bigger than one person, race, or religion. For a diverse nation such as Malaysia, this is what we sorely need. It may not be the best method, but it is a good start.
Some might say that all of these can still be achieved at the workplace, even without a degree. While that may be true, once you start working there will be limited time to think about worldly issues. You would be focusing on your next paycheck. But if you go to university, by the time you enter the workforce four years later, you would have evolved hopefully into a better human being that would make better decisions affecting entire societies.
As someone working at a university, I can vouch that the future of Malaysia is going to be fine.
Our students are dedicated to a better tomorrow. As long as we continue to trust our youth and allow them to fail and repeat, there is nowhere to go but upward. I always remind my students there is no such thing as failure. You either succeed or you learn. Universities and colleges are supposed to be that safe space for students to discover themselves and be better prepared for whatever career lies ahead.
Syaza Shukri, PhD is an assistant professor of political science at International Islamic University Malaysia.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.