Tertiary education, which is the academic pursuit undertaken after high school, has long been something done to obtain a deep as well as rich knowledge and understanding in a wide or specific range of subjects.
Education is something many have fought for, but as the years go by, more and more Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) graduates lose interest in continuing their studies. For some, continuing their studies is not even an option as they cannot afford it, and many are not even aware of all their available choices.
According to Utusan Malaysia, a 2019 report from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) revealed that of the 560,000 people who took the SPM examination, 390,000 were interested in obtaining a job right away, while only 170,000 wanted to continue their studies. All SPM graduates have different opinions and rationality on why they have decided not to continue their studies, but I believe that there are many reasons to consider studying, at least to a diploma level or its equal. Let me elaborate on why.
TO PROPERLY UNDERSTAND AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR DESIRED FIELD
Tertiary education in the field you desire provides the guidelines and builds the foundation blocks for you to prepare in the furtherance of your future occupation.
In this era, basic knowledge alone is not enough. Rather, you need superior functionality to survive. Course requirements such as hands on practicum provide you with the practical tools and abilities that are essential in order to embark on your journey.
With every passing year, the educational sector changes the curriculum to many courses to prepare learners for this competitive age. It shows why education is important.
For most high demand jobs, tertiary education is vital and legally required. As an example, to become a teacher, having a diploma is the minimum requirement. This is because teachers are one of the most prominent members of our society. They shape the next generation of leaders and have a great responsibility to steer students in the right direction. It works this way in many other fields as well, like how a doctor needs to be fully educated in their specialisation to properly care for their patients.
As I aspire to become an early childhood teacher, I have decided early on in my academic career to pursue my studies in early childhood care and education. I expected to be taught about how to become a teacher – developing my knowledge on how I can provide appropriate care and education for them.
It is a lot more complicated and important than most people assume, especially when childhood psychology is involved as it proves to be a tough subject to learn through self-education.
But as I progressed in my studies, I understand now that my certificate would allow me to gain much more than just a ‘license’ to teach – it provides me with experience to develop my skills and competencies to empower me to create an environment that encourages each child’s own uniqueness for them to thrive and accept themselves – something more than just textbook education can provide as I get to learn from more experienced professionals and industry leaders and gain insights from their years of service.
FOR YOURSELF
While not everyone would agree, I think that continuing your studies simply to improve yourself is admirable. To be open to learning something new without any knowledge of it beforehand seems like a brave thing to do. With that in mind, you get to learn new things about yourself that you never thought of before like what you can do with just raw talent and things you need more practice in.
You start analysing your strengths and weaknesses better and develop greater self-trust. This in turn could lead to you stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks, big or small. It gives you the courage to try again even when things go wrong. It helps you uncover your true potential. To add on, when it comes to becoming independent, the importance of tertiary education is apparent. It helps improve your problem solving, critical thinking and research skills.
You can see that education extends to personal growth. We can progress and do things we never thought were possible by always educating ourselves, asking questions, and desiring to learn more. It also gives us a certain assurance because our level of education is often seen as a testament to our knowledge and can give us the confidence to speak our mind.
Through the teachings of my Diploma in Early Childhood Education thus far, I have been taught to understand that there is much more to educating and caring for children.
As I progress in my diploma studies, I become more confident in my abilities which will allow me the privilege to improve not only myself, but also improve the systems, processes, and methods in my choice of career for the future generation.
TO HAVE A BROADER WORKING AREA AND A THRIVING AND FULFILLING CAREER
Having the education needed could lead to a much more broader working opportunities, thus building your chance to gain a fulfilling career aligned with your aspirations and goals. A high school certificate could only get you so far.
Although there are some exceptions, tertiary education is the smartest investment when it comes to long-term career goals, and the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Simply put, gaining a tertiary education would provide jobseekers with the experience to handle different situations in the work environment, improve their skills and expertise, and seek higher positions in their current workplace and elsewhere.
Cognitive skills also make workers more efficient and productive, making them more attractive to employers. In other words, the more knowledge you have, the more efficiently you can find a job.
Even though tertiary education does not guarantee a job, it is still an effective way of increasing your chances of being employed and of making a fulfilling career than otherwise especially since networking is made available through the continuation of your studies.
At the end of the day, I am convinced that most people want to continue their education but are unable to because of the living costs and wages in this country. The government plays a big part in combatting this problem as everyone should have the privilege to access education.
Alternative ways to continue their studies other than the typical college and universities such as community college and polytechnic should be further conversed through public discussions so that more SPM graduates are made aware of their options.
Moreover, the responsibility in building a child’s interest in education starts from when they are young, in the hands of parents, teachers and any other adults or peers among them. With the lack of concern and support, it is no wonder most of them lose interest in their studies.
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Ariana Suraya Fatzunnahar is currently a first-year student pursuing her education in Diploma in Early Childhood Education at Taylor’s College.
This content is provided by Taylor’s College.
