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Based On Your Teaching Practice And Internship Experience In Your Respective

Schools, Prepare An Intellectual Discussion On Educational Issues And
Challenges aced And Suggest !a"s #o$ You Overco%e The%
Our Education world is often shocked by the news related to the educational
issues and challenges that need to be face by teachers in the country. This situation
raises concerns of community members, school and government leaders. Basically
Teaching profession is challenging, because to understand other people is challenging.
Every individual are different in their development, backgrounds, strengths and
weaknesses, and more. These challenges are even greater because of the limitations
that teacher need to face. Thus, teachings are constantly engaging balance principles
with practicality. I have experienced some challenges and have faced few of the issues
as a trainee teacher for about four semesters during practicum and internship.
In the middle of educational issues that I have identified throughout my practicum
and internship was teacher work load. I have noticed that most of the teachers in school
are given with variety of positions that are not supposed to be done by a teacher.
teacher had held several portfolios that are not related to the sub!ect. "or example, a
teacher who has been appointed as #ead of $epartment for the sub!ect had to be a
member of the management committee in the %upil ffairs.
Being busy with other work some teacher may not enter the class due to the
work load such as filing systems, inventory, and record updates that need to be
completed and managed. The challenge is to be implemented by teachers to assist the
development process and the assets of the school. To overcome these challenges
teachers must allocate their time wisely while in school. In the process teachers should
spend most of their time to teach their pupils and not to spend most of their time in
school to implement the system documentation. Therefore, a teacher must balance the
time needed to teach and perform the work as well.
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In addition, the challenges associated with the preparation of various documents
that are too complex and does not involve in the main task of a teacher. teacher
seems to have become a clerk to fill a variety of education management document and
specific forms that have nothing to do with teaching and learning in the
classroom. &ometimes, there are forms that have to be filled in 'ad hock and
urgent. Thus, to meet the challenges of a teacher must hold a number of positions that
are not related to teaching and learning and the preparation of various documents, a
teacher will need to balance the time needed to teach and perform the work as
well. &chool calendar must be updated. framework and time schedule should be
provided with more detail along with a checklist. "ollow the schedule to facilitate a
teacher moves. ll of this will help teachers to perform their duties.
Besides that, classroom management are also one of the challenges that I have
to face during my time in school particularly during second practicum. $uring the first
week my focus are more toward on how to carry out my lesson rather than managing
the class control and pupil regulation during class. In the end I found that it is hard for
me to carry out my lesson as the class become very loud and pupils totally ignore and
respect my instruction.
Therefore, I could not put my lesson plan into practice due to uncontrolled
classroom environment. fter reading some books on classroom management and
discuss with senior teacher in that respective school, I have found some solutions on
how to control my class and regain my respect as a teacher. &o I try to execute my
solution during the following week. I have introduced a new system !ust for my class
during my lesson that contains some rules and punishment to ensure that pupils sternly
follow it and behave during my lesson. In that way, I could manage my time, my class
and put my lesson plan into practice during the lesson.
Based on my teaching practice and internship experience I have identified that
most of the school have similar educational issues. Basically there will be pupils in the
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class who have problem to speak, read and write properly in English and the main
cause for this problem is lack of pupils( interest to participate and learn in English.
These pupils are not motivated to participate and learn during class. "urthermore they
are not aware the importance of speak, read and write in English. In my opinion, this
issue happen due to pupil lack of interest and understanding of the needs learn in
English. They may also do not realise that English is one of the fundamental way in
order to gain knowledge.
I was a language teacher so this issue troubled me as well. In order to learn
English better as a non)native speaker, the children must learn it stage by stage and the
key to learn a language is by making learning more interesting. By making the lesson
more interesting, this will grab the pupil attention and make them participate during the
lesson. "or example, at the beginning of my lesson I suggest to have an interactive
activity for pupils so that they will become more motivate trough out the lesson such as
sing song and play simple game. In every lesson I provided a form for them to fill up
each time they participate in my activity and by the end of each week, the highest
participant will be rewarded.
Other than that, we create the English corner for the whole school to make use
of it. This English corner is something like the reading corner in the classroom but with
more fun activities to be done while enhancing reading, speaking, and writing skills. *e
also had a speaking session every morning which is right before the morning assembly.
The school has a short assembly every morning and we allocate about three minutes
before the assembly for the pupils to speak about certain topic given.
In addition, lacking of teaching and learning facilities was another challenge that I
faced in my internship school. $uring my internship, I went to a school in suburbs. The
school was in a remote area and it was a small school with less than +,- pupils. *hen I
first entered the school, I was been told by the principle that this school only have one
class for each year. *hich means, that school only have . classes. I was given one
class. $uring the internship, I have a tendency to use more I/T in my classroom to grab
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my pupils attention. #owever, due to lack of facilities such as 0/$ pro!ector, speaker
and usable electrical plug which is crucial to teach through I/T. Even thou there is one
0/$ pro!ector in the I/T room but it was hard to get the 0/$ because some teacher
may reserved it in advance.
In my opinion, the school administration must inform the 1inistry of Education
that they are lacking of these fundamental e2uipments and asks for their assist.
Teachers as well can donate some money in order to get some e2uipment needed in
school.

part from those issues in the classroom, I also faced with many other social
problems among the pupils. &ocial problems and pupils( misconducts in the schools
interfere with teaching and learning process. These social problems also contribute to a
teacher(s stress. I found that these social problems that are brought to school had a
profound impact on my teaching experiences.
One of the biggest social problems that took place in most of the schools that I
did my practicum at is skip school or truancy. Truancy or skip school can be defined
when pupils, misses more than the allowed number of days of school. 3#abitual
truancy3 is when pupils misses several consecutive days in a row or hits a total number
of unexcused absences for a semester or year. In my previous school I found that
truancy has become a trend to them and their attendance per day showed a decreasing
result and pupils who play truant the most are the ones that fall behind other classmates
in academics. Truancy is an issue that must be taken seriously because it affects the
pupil(s self)esteem, academics, achievement, and finally their employment potential.
The main cause of this practice is started by the pupils' own family
problems. /racks in the relationship between mothers and fathers will cause their
children been neglected. &ome parents did not take note on the activities of their
children outside the home and at school.
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&ome parents are busy making money and been taken over by the desire to
pursue purely materialistic. Their children are neglected and no caring and loving policy
in the family. The children will choose to skip school and hang out with friends outside
the school which was considered more closely with them. These children do not
understand that if they did not attend the class, they are the one who loses the
knowledge they supposed to gain. I found that even some parents do not mind if their
children do not come to school. The possible reason for this issue keep on occurring is
because a serious action was never taken for this issue.
nother main cause of truancy is pupils( lack of interest in their studies. &ome of
the pupils do not take hold of the basic understanding of a lesson so they get bored and
play truant. Besides, truancy is also a result from peer influence. Often times, pupils
play truant as a group and rarely as an individual. Thus, they tend to be absent from
school during certain lessons or from the beginning of school session due to their
friends( influences. 1oreover, teachers also become one of the causes of pupils(
truancy. &ome pupils do not attend classes if they find that the teachers are fierce.
Teacher can use certainly method to overcome truancy among pupils. Initially,
teachers must be careful not to show favouritism in the classroom, all the pupils must be
given e2ual chances to engage during the lesson. &econdly, if a pupil absent for several
consecutive days in a row without any excuses, their parent will be called to principal(s
office and they need to explain why their children did not come to school. This issue
should be concerned because not only pupils will be affected, the teacher and even the
parents( time also will be affected.
I would suggest, pupils that not present in school for several consecutive days
in a row without any excuses need to be sent for counselling. /ounseling sessions and
guidance are the best because they put the welfare of pupils, safety, fairness and
responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all information of pupils as
confidential. The units may organi4e school counseling programs, such as motivational
camps and leadership camps that can change pupils' negative behavior.
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This might help teachers to know this problematic pupils real problem and try to
aid and guide them. Other than that, parents also will be alarmed about this issue and
teacher will inform parents if their children still absent to school. "urthermore to control
and prevent pupils to involve with truancy in the future a drastic action need to be done
such as to punish this problematic pupil as example to other pupils.
The phenomenon of bullying or gangsterism in schools across the country is
getting worst. Bullying in the primary schools took two forms5 physical and verbal.
Through physical bullying, I found that pupils often blackmailed other pupils whom they
consider to be weak. They also hit other weaker pupils which sometimes cause in!ury.
1oreover, senior pupils also demand for pocket money from younger pupils and if they
refuse, they are threatened to be in!ured. On the other hand, verbal bullying often takes
place in the form of teasing and insults. Throughout my teaching experience, I have
initiated that some pupils love to throw racial remarks at another as a form of bullying.
1oreover, pupils with bigger body si4es also tend to be bullies compared to smaller)
si4ed pupils.
There are many causes that lead to this social problem. "irstly, mass media and
peer pressure play important roles in influencing pupils( behaviours. "or example,
younger pupils in primary schools tend to replicate what they watch on mass media in
schools. They find that by copying what they see in television, they are following the
culture. They are simply copying the tough men that they admire. Besides, pupils also
find that bullying helps them to maintain their power and reputation. In addition, many
bullies come from families with low economic status. These pupils exhibit frustration
they face in their lives by bullying and involving in gangsterism.
Efforts should be made to overcome bullying and gangsterism in schools. mong
the measures that can be taken includes parents and teachers having open and honest
discussion with pupils regarding the influence of cultures and mass media. t present
the development of information and communications technology, particularly Internet
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became the highway to the borderless world. &uch things could contribute to pupil
misconduct. %upils should be taught about ways of assessing useful information and
only applying them in their daily lives. They must be told that acts such as fighting or
bullying should not be followed by pupils. nd the government should censor and
control the material published, because the materials shown capable of damaging the
faith, mentality and lifestyle of pupils.
"urthermore, schools should in still tolerance and respect among pupils. They
should also attempt to provide pupils who unwell behave with knowledge on how they
should interact with peers and teachers. &chools should take bullying cases seriously,
they must be willing to receive anonymous reports from victims and take actions against
bullies.
This issue must be brought to attention to everyone during %arents)Teachers
ssociation meetings and reports must send to parents of the bullying pupils.The
involvement of parents in sociali4ing children in adolescence is very important. t this
stage the adolescent identity crisis resulting from the transition of childhood to adult.
Emotional support from parents is needed. In the event of default of social issues,
parents are responsible for their children and not only pointing fingers to teachers or
letting the school to overcome the problems. %arents also need to strengthen their
children with ade2uate religious instruction for children through assessments 6" or
moral education.
Each individual in society should carry out their roles and their responsibilities
properly because everyone is relevant. I learned that there are many challenges I will be
facing in future. I have to be prepared to face all these challenges and overcome these
issues with high minded. I will need to be sure and positive with of my performance and
need to be well prepared to overcome any problems that appear. I may have to do
further reading to solve the problems and issues I faced. I may also talk to superior
officers or experienced teachers who can guide me well in these situations so that I do
not have to struggle hard to survive my career as a teacher.
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Bibliography
+. 1uhd 1ansur bdullah, &iti 7ordinar 1ohd min,+899,%sikologi :ema!a,"a!ar
Bakti,%etaling ;aya
<. $ewan &iswa,;ulai <--=,$awama &dn.Bhd.,mpang &elangor
,. Ee h 1eng,+89>,%edagogo ?ntuk @uru,"a!ar Bakti,%etaling ;aya
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