1. [Type text] ATIQAH L AIZAN D20081033644
What is the problem?
Although the nation’s education system is standardized, academic achievement is still heavily
influenced by a number of factors, namely location, teacher quality, school quality and student
quality. This in turn affects a student’s motivation and drive to excel. How can this disparity be
reduced?
Why is there a problem?
The government provides sufficient funding to build schools and staff them, but the school
management is what dictates the outcome a school – will it be excellent, mediocre or poor? The
tier system of classifying a school also affects the amount of funding a school can receive from
the central government. Higher-tier schools will receive more funding and better infrastructure
compared to poor performing schools, but this is not to be mistaken with lack of funding – it is
simply a matter of better vs good.
Teachers will also tend to gravitate towards schools with a good reputation as it makes teaching
easier. Usually they will like to work in cities, leaving the inexperienced teachers to rural areas.
This does not help to close the disparity gap.
School management i.e. school culture also influences academic achievement. How teachers
think about their students will be reflected in their interactions with their pupils. How teachers
think about their subjects will be reflected in their daily teaching. It is the management’s job to
make sure teachers are focused, caring and working towards the same goal – excellence.

2. [Type text] ATIQAH L AIZAN D20081033644
SKILLFUL PROBLEM SOLVING
How might I decrease disparity in academic achievement?
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
 Provide the same education infrastructure and amenities in rural,
suburban and urban areas.
 Have the same school culture in all schools
 Use Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for Mathematics
 Ensure teachers are equipped with sufficient content knowledge and
pedagogical content to teach.
 Increase motivation in students to excel in academics
SOLUTIONS
CONSIDERED
CONSEQUENCES PRO / CON VALUE
 Eliminates the question of PRO There will be no differences in terms of
education accessibility to all infrastructure and accessibility to all
levels of society students no matter where they are.
CON The cost of this solution will be
astronomical. Malaysia will be bankrupt
before it can even be fully implemented.
 All schools will uphold the PRO Uniformity in terms of values and goals
same values and have the means it will be easier to exchange ideas
same goals and methods among institutions.
CON Uniformity means there is little room for
individuality, which is the key to
nurturing critical-thinking and creative
individuals.
 Teachers are knowledgeable PRO Lessons will be conducted in a lively
in their field and have a wide manner and students will not likely be
variety of pedagogical skills bored.
to deliver the content with.
Atiqah Lana Aizan D20081033644