Thursday, August 11, 2011

What not to learn from Britain

When British left Malaya, we inherited a fine system of administration led by a fair Prime Minister. Our standard of English was excellent, envied by other countries, especially non-Commonwealth ones.

Over 54 years, our system of administration is now almost of single race with a distinct bias towards it, and we have had a succession of Prime Ministers who opted not for meritocracy but to ensure they remain in power. One of the most obvious outcome is the increasing number of unemployable graduates and youths who shun manual jobs or refuse to learn a skill to overcome it. Lack of proficiency in English has led to diminishing chances of advancement in their careers.

Perhaps, we can find comfort in reading about Britain facing similar problems relating to youths...

"No sensible employer in a service industry would choose a young Briton if he could have a young Pole; the young Pole is not only likely to have a good work ethic and refined manners, he is likely to be able to add up and -- most humiliating of all -- to speak better English than the Briton, at least if by that we mean the standard variety of the language. He may not be more fluent but his English will be more correct and his accent easier to understand.

This is not an exaggeration. After compulsory education (or perhaps I should say intermittent attendance at school) up to the age of 16 costing $80,000 a head, about one-quarter of British children cannot read with facility or do simple arithmetic. It makes you proud to be a British taxpayer."

More:
http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/special-reports/42726-british-rioters-the-spawn-of-a-bankrupt-ruling-elite


While on the subject of Britain, and the recent riots, Art Harun took pains to explain the difference between what happened there and what happened here (Bersih rally)...
ARTHarun: London riots
http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2011/08/london-riots.html
Link

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