Why are Malaysians so lucky

A couple of weeks ago as I prod the hill down to Queen Street for my brunch moment, I came across a demonstration in the middle of main junction, causing a traffic scene temporarily.

Police huddled together to control the situation. Apparently it was quite nicely done; no eye-tearing gas and no public assaults. I spied some big banners along with the crowd which read 'Free Education' and other demands too.

But what attracted me was the demand about free education.

 

For a second I paused and thought, hm, was these demonstration necessary? I mean, look at our country. We are blessed with cheap and accessible sources of knowledge, to the extend that some of the children are too packed with this school work they can't afford to take that anymore.

So we have this viral alarming rate of truancy in schools.

And I don't know what drove me to listen intensely to this morning lecture.

It was about privatization and marketing strategies of education institution in New Zealand.

Once upon a time, New Zealand is a country that practiced our government-rooted education system. It was when everyone has equal chance to succeed in their studies. Meritocracy was the mantra.

But it reached a time when schools are privatized; they become exactly like our tuition centre- money sucking companies with appealing exteriors.

Education needs to be purchased, yet schooling is compulsory; just like tax.

At this stance I realize how lucky we are to enjoy free education with countless subsidies. Yet some of us remain ignorant and refuse to be serious in their studies when in fact millions of people are struggling to have a place in school.

I felt enlightened, like my chest wanna explode in mirth; thats exactly how satisfying that lecture was.