Ramadhan is here again..

Salam Ramadhan Al Mubarak..

Ya Ramadan!, by Noor Syed
In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Kind
A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us
A night of this month is better than a thousand months
Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman

It's a continuous training to strengthen our Imaan.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
Glorified is He, who choseth this holy month,
To test our sabr and fill our hearts with warmth

Ya Allah! For thee, let my breath be more pleasant than musk
Ya Allah! For thee, let me be thankful when day turns to dusk

My thoughts and heart are purified, my eyes truly see'
This blessed month, the month of spiritual rhapsody!
Ya Allah! For thee, my life I shall live!......Ya Allah! For thee, my soul I shall give!
In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Kind,
Praise be to Allah, who sent Ramadan as a gift to mankind

from: http://www.muhajabah.com/ramadan-poems.htm

Reviewing School Mathematics.

A good review of current Malaysian research issues and problems in science teaching (basically same as with mathematics ) addressed by akademisains  report: www.akademisains.gov.my/download/relatednews/sci_math/Review.pdf

The report highlighted researches (very briefly...) finding on:
1. Urban and rural disparities
2. Implementation of PPSMI
3. TIMMS result -
4. Current education and policy

What I find  disturbing is that, despite almost 50 years of independence we are still looking out to other countries and trying to figure out what to do with our own education systems....

Despite huge amount of budget allocated in technology integrations, technology remains a little adopted in most Malaysian schools..We must realise that technology do not guarantee quality learning can occur,what is more important is how technology is adopted by teachers.
With rigid curricullum this is not easy to implement.
Training good teachers to do the job specifically in rural areas remains as a big problems..while exam orientated learning trend among schools are not getting any better.

I also find it disturbing that so many malaysian studies consistently try to compare betweeen Malay and Non malay students (logically, can we put Indian /Chinese in same group..?? i dont think so) or national school vs chinese schools..comparing for achievement. This is basically like trying to compare apple and oranges..!
Comparison must be fair..majority of malay students or national schools are in located in rural areas..similalry with indian schools..

Anyway why compare..what are this studies trying to conclude? In national school teachers factors remains a big problem (I know that many national school teachers who are trained to teach Bahasa but ends up teaching mathematics and sciences..so what kind of output can we expect? what about extra classes..?.. There are so many factors should be considered...Once and for all lets stop these type of studies..Yes may be are differences among different ethnicity/regions, but most important is that only those who hunger for success and are motivated enough will excell,while those with no appetite for knowledge will continue to be left behind.

So why not focus our time and money on more beneficial work such as motivating students and finding ways to improve each schools??

Matematik Huluan

Pertama kali mendengar istilah Matematik Huluan (upstream mathematical research).

Apa bezanya  dengan ethnomatematik? Menurut Dr Adi Setia Institut Penyelidikan Matemtaik UM.
..penyelidikan yang terbit daripada rasa sedar-diri yang tinggi akan “makna-diri” penyelidik itu sendiri, sesuai dengan kefahaman dan kepekaan beliau terhadap sistem nilai dan pandangan hidup yang dianutinya, termasuk permasalahan sebenar yang ditanggapi dan dikenalpasti hasil daripada kefahaman dan kepekaan tersebut.
Contohnya kajian membabitkan: 1. Model Penggunaan wang dinar
                                                      2. Model matematik sistem wakaf
                                                      3. Kosmologi Islam
                                                     4. Sejarah Matematik melayu islam

Bertentangan (bukannya Lawan)  ialah "matematik Hiliran' (downstream research). Menurutnya lagi,

Penyelidikan hiliran ialah penyelidikan runcitan sekadar mengemaskinikan di sana-sini teori dan bidang yang sudah sedia ada, malah yang sudah lama “matang,” atau lebih parah lagi, sekadar menemukan penggunaan baru atau menguji keberkesanan bagi pelbagai teknik atau pengisian matematik (mathematical software) atau pemodelan matematik (mathematical modelling) sedia ada.

Mungkin kajian sebegini dapat mempertingkatkan jatidiri, esteem diri orang melayu.

Sifat rendah diri dan rasa tidak yakin dengan keupayaan bangsa begitu tebal..kalau tidak percaya ..buka suratkhabar cotnohnya utusan melayu/berita harian..kita akan baca artikel/pendapat/komen dari ahli politik yg gemar membuat generalisasi negatif tentang orang Melayu!! tanpa fakta/data, sewenang wenangnya sedap mulut bercakap mengatakan orang melayu itu dan ini..