First east of Suez!

Malaya had it better. Not that we were not colonised but because our colonial masters were much kinder than some that over neighbours got. Look at the Indochinese countries and the mess the French left behind. Their masters not only pilfered the region of its wealth but try to erase their advanced ancient culture. The Dutch left a bad aftertaste even long after their long departure. Belgians used their subjects as target practice to milk their dry of their diamonds, minerals, natural resources and even exotic fauna. Even the Land of the Free, the Thais, did not gain so much of order in their country.

Malaya was left by the captors a proper system of administration, legal and education systems when they finally gain independence. With this head start, they started their status as a new country with an advantageous jump-start. The euphoria of the new nation pushed it great heights producing new talents from the clan of natives.
The same thing happened in the field of education. We have Penang Free School, St Xavier's Institution, Andersons, Victoria Institution, St Paul's, St Francis Institute and many more. The products of these schools had served this country well all this while. Unfortunately, many turns of events after people of a particular vision of how our nation should be heading, took the helm, these godowns of knowledge have turned into just another certificate stomping factories churning out half-baked scholars dearth of scholastic and charismatic prowesses! They have become just another statistic in the list of schools providing basic literacy to the nation.
No doubt the upper crust of echelon are there yearning to serve the motherland, but like a stepchild, they are discriminated. Hence what do they become? They only provide a reservoir for the rest of the world with their level-headed leader to pinch our boys, give citizenship, to tie them down and prosper. 
This is the impression I got when I had the chance to meet many of my long lost school mates over the weekend in my alma mater's celebration of its 200th year of establishment. Many of classmates have been engulfed by the red dot at the southern tip of our country. Others have looked and moved westwards. It appears like this country has to make do with discards and half-boiled visions. Reaching excellence is nowhere on our agenda.


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