Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

Lucky to be the first one to post Well, I definitely agree with your Forth point. More the language you can use, bigger the advantage you have, lower the language barrier makes you can be much closer to your interviewer and maximize their satisfaction, which will benefit the company or easier to communicate with people in the world. I would love to be a "Pen-Lango" (5 languages speaker). Although i am "tri-lango speaker". For sure, we have to eliminate afternoon school (I though Malay has already eliminate Afternoon School, since HK had eliminate for long time ago) But regarding to your third point, at the point of a student, i would love to minimize the amount of test and exams since noone would "Like" it and for sure it is a nightmare that all the student might have experienced. But in certain circumstances you need it because it is used to be determain the amount that the student have learnt. (BTW, i would like to share my cases: I move back to Australia fews ago from HK, i was ranked the first in My english back in my HK "English Grammar school", But since i left HK, my english really affect my results, i keep failed my English exam up til my last year of High School. which also affect my other subject like Phy, Econ......or even Maths.) In this case, anyone would not like the exams since it really can't determain what you have learnt. Anyway, I really can't imagine Tony would express such these ideal as a Air Asia CEO, because it makes me thought you are going to set up a school franchaise--- (The Slogan can be: Everyone can learn....or Everyone can learn extensively more.....XD!!!!) Have a great week as well, Tony and "Kung Hei Fat Choi" (Another "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Cantonese) (P.S: I still don't have the chance to chat with you on Meebo although i came on your blog everyday...Nearly!!)

Totally agree with you Tony. Recently I noticed that most of the students lack of creativity. They doesn't seems to be smarter even though loaded with tuition classes and exams. What we need is to learn on how to solve problem but not to memorize the solutions (unless we want to be second/third class mentality people in future :) Hope you can write more. Gong Hei Fat Choi! .

Hi Tony, Excellent sharing ! Since I am in the scene (education industry); Allow me to share my view... 1) There are many parent aware of the wrong doing at school level, they are in vain to help their children, many cannot afford to follow the new wave in sending their kids to international school or those which claims they are Multi Intelligence (MI) school. 2) I met many double income parent, to work harder for living whom mainly PARK their children at nursery/childcare in the afternoon (or morning); They only picking them up after work thereafter. 3) There have some issues of parent whom are play their roles with good intention, sending their children to pre-school ENGLISH class only, many from as low as 2 1/2 years old; Now there are many facing their kids love ENGLISH only; so they are facing new challenges when their children at primary school do not find interest in learnig Mandarin, BM , Tamil or Hindi. Of all, parent are not blind to what are happening .They accept creative learning are the NEXT in things that they wanna their children to possess and excel with; Therefore , our poor children are FORCE to attend A-Z extra classes, after their school.... It wouldnt be long we will see Yoga for children (maybe Hot Yoga to cheer up your child's creative brain etc) or LOHAS Your Child ..so forth. Just to share, I met one interesting Primary 2 kid last 2 week, father brought to us becoz the kid hate BM, but spoke fluent English, after 1 hour with the teacher, the kid approached us (while father and me are chatting)...says " Daddy, whatever it is, I still dont like BM leh!, I dont want to come for the class !" I smile at him and ask ONE question : " Hei, Wei Ming, What U want to be when you growing up ? " He replied " Astronaut" I asked again " Can you speak Mandarin" , he said " a little" " How abt BM ?" ....he answerd " why, Astronaut MUST speak BM meh ?" I said" Imagine this, you re Astonaut alone in the space....you could only communicate if you can understand and speak the same language, maybe people you communicate can only speak BM, Mandarin or English if you are lucky......" Without hesistate; He cut off me and said " OK loh, since BM is so important. To achieve my DREAM, i learnt BM , I come again 2morow, can or not ? " I experience the proverb says : There are no 7 wonders of the world in the eyes of a child , there are 7 million. ~ Walt Streigtiff To me, there's always conflics of interest between what's parent wants and children needs..... We have to work on the Children Plateau, working on the root and we can only see the fruits beyond ...!! I have some crazy thought; Instead of waitng for the "authority" to accept, approve, implement new solutions for next generation. Why not, do something RIGHT now from corporate level, start something from somewhere our intuition tell us it is RIGHT thing to do, for the benefits of TODAY children.... Many corporate leader talk about Work-Life Balance; the most they extending to personal (staff) level, provide in house fitness ctr, saloon, play house, free F&B etc. How about in house pre-school education for employees' children, or in-house child care for those whom are more ambitious. In my observation, parent are spending average RM120 - RM 450 or more for each children in this area. With the RIGHT leverage on resources, I am confident it can be execute with the main objective helping our children - Start from where we can reach, subsequently with NO ONE left behind in mind ! I believe this social business model can create vibrancy, pioneer a new thinking to private business owners for tackling the avid issue helping (our ) innocent children. With current economy proceeding, many educated work force are (going to) laying around; I do see it is great time and opportunity to embark on this recession-proof industry. Happy Holiday to You & Family! Mark

there is a lack of creative approach in our education system. have to admit that all stakeholders (parents, teachers, ministers) are equally guilty in persuit of the A's in their results or be part of this overly glorified pedestal. tests and exams are predefined with set questions and answers and anything beyond the norm of applied analytical thinking, yet critical at times, warrant no marks or points to the intended process. the education system in malaysia have been one of compliance. guided by a set of rules and procedural fixtation on scoring merely from the ability to memorize texts and solutions. developed countries have since foregone such application, with more encouragement to their care to be vocal and expressive in their thinking hoping the child will be able to develop an opinion for an answer no matter how right or wrong there are. our classes are nothing more than revisions and reading of topics without tapping further into the creativity aspect which is so crucial for the the upbringing of a young mind. given the fact that our world are constantly evolving with new challenges, what used to be taught in universities are now being learn in the earlier years of schools. thanks also to the borderless world of internet. if ever our education system were to take a leap into a total revamp, all type of schools must first adopt a single curiculum practise and that inclusive of teachers, parents and ministers alike to re-orientate themselves without falling back on supposedly safe practises. there're never wrong answers, as long as the mind continues to explore.

I hope one day, sometime soon I will be able to hear these words (quote from Obamabelow) by our head of state when addressing structural changes in education policies, making businessess transparent, cultivating meritocarcy as a way of life, acknowledging talent without being bias of gender, race, creed or religion....enough said! “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.” US President Barack Obama has used his inaugural address

Hello Tony, I am Hishamuddin's classmate from Kota Bharu. My name is Joe Fernandes (a long lost cousin perhaps?). I enjoyed reading all your comments and totally agree with them. I now live in Sydney (since 1981) and it was my dad who convinced me to leave back then as he was very disillusioned with the education system having been a school teacher all his life. Hishamuddin was very obliging in arranging to interview one of my dad's teacher colleagues who is retired and lives in Klang. The article should appear in the Sinar Harian. We should not forget music in additon to sports and art and culture. Relying on a student to perform in one final written exam puts a lot of stress on everyone and is not a fair, valid and reliable method of assessment. Assessments should be summative and competencies should be demostrated over a period of time through various assessment tasks not just written. Congratulations on all your achievements, we had the pleasure of flying AA when I took the family for the first time to Malaysia 5 years ago. We were most impressed. I still keep in touch with all my school classmates from Standard 1 to Form 6 (including Hishamuddin) through a group email and reunions.....they were the best times of my life.

Well those were the days... when real education was meant to be. unlike now.. where racism stands much higher than any other. living in multiracial country, the parents should teach their kids not to judge people through their races / skin in fact to embrace the fact that we live in a multiracial country and have a good and harmony living with each other without any hints of racism. at times i felt pity when some parents totally brainwash their kids in this race issue.. i have had a good childhood, and i thank god my parents taught me not to judge people by appearance only... there's more inside than meets the eye.. in terms of education, we should abolish the afternoon classes and switched it back for activities to keep them more active and more creative. when i was in Japan for my student exchange program, the afternoon were kept for just activities to stimulate the creative side of the brain and to make sure that not only you have academic skills but also creative skills. i have heard that there are plenty of schools around and some has LESS students compared to others.. and they are just few kilometres away from each other... and yet they say.. not enough...

When I was in my primary school times, I learned Chinese. When I was in my secondary school times, I learned Malay. When I was in my college times, I learned English. I look advantage in language? Not really! Now I speak in 'Rojak' language, all sikit-sikit, it's terrible when I talk with others.

An interesting article Tony and in keeping with a conversation I was having the mother of my young 13 year old son the other day. I will soon be living in Penang in a new house we have purchased and while I work in Afghanistan and they live in Australia, in order for us to be together I am bringing him to see me in Penang on my next R&R (on Air Asia of course). His mother was mildly objecting to him missing school since he is already falling behind so I asked her to talk to his teachers about setting him some assignments that would engage him in learning about the rich and diversified culture of Malaysia and Penang in particular. I believe two weeks exploring its many interesting historic points of interest while prefacing that with two months of research on the internet will be immensely more educational and retained learning than sitting in a class room could ever be.

I think your comments regarding the education system have actually been discussed so many times over the years. Everyone knows what the issues are - and what needs to be done to solve them; and you have listed them down very clearly. And most parents and educationists agree. However we have a lack of political will in ths country to put in place those solutions. The lack of leadership in this country is appaling. The prime minister has mentioned some of these himself. But yet he nor his Ministers seem to act upon it. So what do we do? I think since March 8th - the writing is clearly on the wall.

Hi Tony, I am an Australian Basketball Coach working in Singapore for the past 9 years and have struggled to understand the lack of support given to sports both here in Singapore and I know it is the same in Malaysia in the school systems and beyond. Your second point is so true of the values children can learn from playing sport at either school, club or the elite level. Whilst I have seen many changes here in Singapore they are much too slow and I'm sure it is similar in Malaysia also. Banning students from competing in sports competition for example whilst studying and during exam periods is almost criminal. Students need to blow off steam. It is not possible to bury your head in books for days if not weeks on end without getting out and doing some exercise. A well rounded student needs a well rounded education. We can not all be Oxford scholars. Education systems need to find the balance for all their students and not work to achieve one goal but many. I treat my coaching like my idea of what education should be, I know that not all my players cannot reach the ultimate goal as it is unrealistic but if they are given the opportunity they can become a well rounded team player. I would be interested to chat sometime regarding your involvement in the new ABL, or maybe we will cross paths one time you are down here in Singapore. I look forward to reading more views from you in the future.

I am very much an idealist too :p And also in support of the KLIA East! Most people do not know the hard work and effort Air Asia has put to get this far.. I'm just glad I get to fly for less! ;)

Hi Tony, I must say that you have been my inspiration when I started my own business and everyday when I come in to my office, I look at 3 things:- the AirAsia cap; a model of the AirAsia plane and the Ferrari race car. Why...? This is what keeps me going. Likewise, I also hope that the education system in Malaysia keeps on this pace but sad to say the bickering on the mode of language to deliver these subjects have caused a lot of uneasiness amongst parents who want the best for their children. If language becomes the obstacle then how would we want to promote sports as a common interest? I do hope for Malaysians to do their country proud must first stop to think the repercussion that will follow if we cannot catch-up with world standards. Now that the economy is hobbling around the world over, where will our future generations stand in this nation? This is just a thought and do feel free to comment or suggest to improvements. Thank you.

Uncle tony, so many of my friends are leaving to study overseas. Just today, my neighbour mentioned that she and her brother will be going overseas to study. This makes me real sad as I am close to them. I strongly agree that our education system needs a revamp. Our beloved country Malaysia has so many young talents. Why give them the chance or excuse to run to other countries? I as a beloved rakyat of Malaysia, a student, a son really hope and pray that our dear MOE will do something about our edu system. Actually our edu system is not to bad, but there is still space for improvement. God bless Malaysia.