EXPANDING HORIZONS: Lofty ambitions

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar‘s father with a message book to his son written by Taman Pendidikan Raihan Petaling Jaya pupils

The angkasawan programme has opened doors to another area of science. It has also provided children with a role model in Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, writes NURJEHAN MOHAMED.

A positive impact on students, says Siti Zaini

Investing in the future of the country, says Khaidzir

Zuhairah says it has opened doors

FOR all the praises and criticisms that the angkasawan programme has garnered, there is no denying the impact that it has had on young minds.

Children from as young as three have started dreaming of going to space while older students are now considering the possibility of doing space exploration studies (see H16).

Child psychologist Associate Professor Dr Khaidzir Ismail from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia sees the programme as a positive one, considering the effect it has had on children.

"The best time to expose children to things would be when they are about seven to 10.
"This is the time that they are forming their sense of self and when they are looking for heroes," he says.

Angksawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor represents many possibilities for children -- something they can grow up to become, someone whose traits they admire, or realising different applications of science.

Khaidzir says that investing in the angkasawan programme can be seen as investing in the future of the country.

After all, he adds, spending billions on building first world infrastructure would be a waste if the mindset of the people is still third world.

"I really hope that the angkasawan would be able to go to schools, from preschools to secondary, to talk to children and encourage them," he says.

There needs to be a paradigm shift in the way that we think and learn, and children have to be taught how to think for themselves.

We do not need an overhaul in what we learn but perhaps a tweak in the way we learn it.

For example, schools could organise a "science week", where they make learning of the subject interactive and fun.

Parents have a role in encouraging their children to work towards their dreams, and not just focus on the glory of being an astronaut.

Younger children are more open to new ideas than teenagers, who are more critical and questioning.

The latter should not be disregarded as being negative but rather as using their thinking skills to articulate their arguments and should be met with straight answers.

"We have the potential to be up there with more developed nations and this is something that the children must see," Khaidzir says.

SK Bukit Damansara co-curriculum coordinator Siti Zaini Idris agrees that the programme has had a positive impact on students, especially those learning science.

Though children in lower primary already learn about space and astronauts, there is nothing like having live contact with one in space.

Twenty students, aged seven to 12, were given the chance to speak to Dr Sheikh Muszaphar while he was in the International Space Station.

The fact that they were in the only primary school among four schools is indicative of the level of interest.

Siti Zaini notes that recent students' tuckshop conversations revolved around the latest happenings of the angkasawan and that many also have paper clippings and scrapbooks to start their space dreams.

Due to popular demand from students, Siti Zaini plans to set up an astronomy club next year.

Zuhairah Ali, executive director of Taman Pendidikan Raihan in Petaling Jaya observes that younger children are more open to the idea of becoming astronauts than older ones.

"It could be that by the time they are older, they are more critical of the possibilities of becoming an angkasawan," she says.

"To me, there is no limit -- this programme has opened doors to another area of science and it has also given children a role model in Dr Sheikh Muszaphar."

You have to instil in them the idea that many things are possible, she adds.