What a Diploma Means...

3 weeks into a lecturer's life I found out about the corruption that's happening in the Education system. No, not by money... But by Compassion. While other students are struggling to get a diploma or degree in their universities, here it comes easy. I'm not criticizing the humanity and kind-hearts of the lecturers here but this condition just made me stare at my diploma i had earned in a similar institution, and how this devalues it.

All my 6 years of higher education I had worked my ass of to get to where I am. During my diploma, it took me a lot of sucking up to lecturer's and losing friends just to maintain my 3.9 cpa. Nothing came easy. I did everything i had to do, from completing all given assignments to studying hard for exams and focusing in each and every class. I did it the right way. No copying, no hitch-hiking. And i got what i wished for... A scholarship to continue my studies to a B.eng level.

And my hardwork didn't stop there. While most of my friends took the easy way to pass their courses (i.e cheating, copying assignments, sleeping with people to get it done etc) i took the federal road. Meeting my lecturers every 5 minutes and making sure ALL my assignments fulfil the requirements and studied HARD for exams. All hardwork and backstabs later, i managed to get myself an upper second-class degree, and a Vice Chancellor award though I did aim for First Class. But I was satisfied that I did my best.

But today I see life from a lecturer's point of view. Students take advantage of lecturers. They don't take education too seriously. And my colleagues are too kind to fail them, doing their best to make sure the students pass all papers. Diploma comes easy for them, they don't have to earn it. All they had to do was pay the RM200 semester fees and a diploma is practically handed to them. No need for hardwork, no need to pay attention in class and Final Exams are like theme park rides for them.

Of course I'm not saying that all educators are givers. Some are highly strict and don't seem to bow to students' pleas. But the education level in where I'm working is too low. I admit High School Education was more difficult. It makes me think, is my diploma even worth anything? If everyone is getting it easy, what would my hardly-earned diploma mean?

Students get loans, buy super-expensive cellphones and hardly buys themselves any stationaries or books. Or they spent renting hotels and humping around... Some even use the loans for drinks and cigarettes and drugs... They hand in assignments using DRAFT papers and lecturers feel sorry for them for coming from a poor or problematic family. In classes they fall asleep, in exams they copy each other... And at the end of 3 years, a diploma is handed for all these "efforts"

I stick to my principle! A DIPLOMA SHOULD BE EARNED NOT DONATED!!! So Dear students of mine, hand in my assignments quizzes in a PROFESSIONAL condition. Clean, completed and organized. Answer my quizzes and tests truthfully and don't even TRY to copy in exams. I didn't sleep through my education, so why should I let you :)

What a diploma means?

Hard work!

What a degree means?

Determination!