Is it??

I am responding to this discussion as a pioneer of all MJSC. MARA Junior Science College (MJSC) or commonly referred to by its local acronym MRSM,used to have a different system of education compared to Malaysian government run secondary schools. That was why potwntial students were chosen not based on academic excellence in primary school. In fact most of those chosen in the first batch were not top scorers in their Standard 5 Evaluation. Among the criteria for selection were independent, curious, active in co-curricular activities, confident, optimistic, and intelligent. Learning was fun. No textbooks to bring to school, and no homework during the school holidays. Uniforms were worn only on special days. We were free to organise events and to do almost everything as long as it did not break any rules. The sytem worked because most of us achieved first grade in the Lower Certificate of Examination which was prepared by the Cambridge Examination Board. Things started to change after I left the college. Its success attracted many people and somehow, I cannot explain it in public, unqualified students were accepted into the first MJSC and others built in various parts of the country. The sudden explosion caused MARA, a quasi-government body, to teke in lecturers who did not understand why MJSC was established. The result was a decline in academic performance and general discipline. I see the current system as an effort to stop the decline. Unfortunately it put a lot of stress on the students, Learning at MJSC is no longer fun as it used to be. all the best, rosdimy