ELLO PEOPLE! Did not really have the intention to blog today but well, after reading the tagboard and Gabby's post, I am touched by the fact that there are still some readers around here. So yup, for you readers out there, I am going to write a new post today. =)

Hmm.. Since there isn't much for me to say about myself, I think that it would be good if I just talk about something which I guess many of you out there have experienced.

I understand that many of the readers of this blog are polytechnic students. Which means to say, many of you have experience handling projects and group assignments with your fellow classmates, whom can be intimately known as "friends" as well.

As we all know, polytechnic education is trying to imitate the working environment in the society. This means that there are more team projects rather than individual tests to assess the capabilities of each individuals. However, there are two major flaws involved in the implementation of such a system and the following paragraphs will help to elaborate my arguments.

1. Colleagues and the "friends" in polytechnic are different.

As far as I know, it is very difficult to become very good friends with your working colleagues. This could be due to the lack of interaction time between both parties, or that both are older in age and are more likely to spend time with their families instead of pursuing entertainment with friends. Either way, it is very unlikely that working colleagues can become friends.

On the other hand, friendships are easily forged during polytechnic times. Besides the time that you and your classmates spend together in school, there are other activities which most teenagers perform as well, and this includes shopping together, going to the beach, playing sports, etc.. All these activites will help to develop a strong bond between any 2 parties.

Here comes the dilemna. During project work, are you able to give out orders to your friends the same way you do to your colleagues? Are you able to say and scold them should they not complete their tasks on time? Because of the friendship that you have forged with them previously, I guess many of your answers would be a flat "No."

Yes, some may argue back, saying that there are Peer Evaluation Forms to be filled up after the completion of the projects. However, let me bring forward this point: How many of you would state the truth and mark your friends down? In contrast, who would give everybody in the group equal marks and develop the thinking that the project has already been completed and there is no point being so petty? I guess the answer here is pretty obvious.

2. Working environment consists of a huge motivating factor: Money

I believe that most of the working adults out there are working to meet end needs. Money is given to those who are capable and are able to maximise profits for the company. People work hard to get promotions, to become recognised and ultimately, to earn more money for themselves and their families.

Marks, on the other hand, are not so much of a motivating factor to many individuals. Do not be suprised when I say that many people just want to scrape a pass in polytechnics and get the diploma at the end of the 3 years. Marks to them are crap. There is no difference between an A and a D grade. Therefore, when it comes to project work, they just do it the "anyhow" way, get those "anyhow" marks and are satisfied with it. In the process, of course, they neglected those who wants to do well in their studies and pulled them down to the slump that they chose to belong to.

Money is a need to everyone, marks isn't. Face it. There are plenty of students out there who just fail to realise that marks are required for them to get the money in the future.

With the above mentioned flaws in the current system, I think that the grades given out by the polytechnics for project works are not reflective of the capabilites of each individual students. In conclusion, I feel that more can be done to improve the current situation and hopefully, in the future, the better students can be distinguished more effectively.

Scandalous - Delvetures

Note: This post is not targeted at any particular person. Please do not be offended by the content in this post. I am writing purely out of inspiration. Thank you. =)