Nobel laureate calls for attention to slow learners<\/p>\n
SERPONG, W. Java (JP): Compulsory education must have a
\nflexible curriculum to ensure the advancement of all students,
\nincluding slow learners, according to Nobel laureate Yuan Tseh
\nLee.<\/p>\n
\"If a government decides to make education compulsory, it has
\na responsibility (to ensure) that all students can follow,\" said
\nLee, a Taiwanese, who won this year's Nobel Prize for chemistry.<\/p>\n
With a uniform education system such as that in Taiwan, which
\nrelatively quickly streams bright and slow children, 40 percent
\nof students lag behind, Lee said.<\/p>\n
Lee, who was speaking at the sixth national conference on
\nscience, said he was initially inspired by the life of French
\nphysicist Marie Curie.<\/p>\n
The Serpong conference, which will last until Sept. 15, is
\nbeing held at the Center of Science and Technology.<\/p>\n
Indonesia extended its compulsory education from six years to
\nnine years in selected schools last year.<\/p>\n
Lee said that for some years teachers and parents in Taiwan
\nhave been arguing over whether or not slower children should be
\nseparated from the others.<\/p>\n
\"Teachers say the (slow learners) always disturb classes,
\nwhile parents are horrified (at the idea of) grouping students
\ninto good and less good,\" said Lee, chairman of Taiwan's National
\nCurricula Commission, which is proposing a more flexible
\ncurriculum.<\/p>\n
\"I went to President Lee (Teng-hui) and I said it is a crime
\nthat the government is used as a tool for compulsory education
\nsince six years of age, in which 30 to 40 percent of children
\nfind they don't learn anything after four years.\" Violence and
\ndrug-use is one result of discouraging children, he added.<\/p>\n
\"I think Edison and Albert Einstein could not have graduated
\nif they went to school in Taiwan,\" said Lee, referring to the
\nlarge quantities of memorized material and the national written
\nexams.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Alisyahbana, a noted intellectual from the Bandung
\nInstitute of Technology, told reporters that he agreed with the
\nidea of a curriculum \"which recognizes the different potential of
\neach child.\"<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledged this would be more expensive since
\nmore teachers would need to be involved.<\/p>\n
Basic science<\/p>\n
Lee, who was an American national for some 20 years before he
\nreturned to Taiwan, urged developing nations to optimize efforts
\nto ensure that \"the best and the brightest\" can continue to study
\nand conduct research in basic science.<\/p>\n
This is important, he said, as the years of the \"free ride\" of
\nusing technology from the advanced countries is coming to an end.<\/p>\n
\"The distance between basic research and (applied) technology
\nis getting closer and closer,\" said Lee.<\/p>\n
Large corporations like IBM are building laboratories to
\nconduct basic research, but keeping a close watch to make sure
\nthat other parties do not profit from their scientists' findings.<\/p>\n
Whereas previously only technological findings were patented
\nand basic science was more available, the closer distance between
\ntechnology and basic science has changed this, Lee said.<\/p>\n
This narrower gap is the result of technological advances
\nwhich mean a faster rate of innovation, he said.<\/p>\n
While a developing country may not be able to compete at the
\nfrontiers of science, \"a country must select its certain centers
\nof excellence,\" said Lee.<\/p>\n
By developing basic scientific research, while enhancing the
\neducation of all children through compulsory formal education,
\nLee said developing countries will catch up with advanced
\ncountries within decades.<\/p>\n
Iskandar reminded the conference that developing countries
\nneed not repeat the mistakes made by advanced ones. (anr)<\/p>",
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