ASSIGNMENT

_________________________________________________________________________
HMEF5143
SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
MAY 2022 SEMESTER

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION

1. Answer in English or Bahasa Melayu.

2. Number of words: 3000 – 5000 words excluding references.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in MULTIPLE files.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 19 JULY 2022.

6. This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

PURPOSE
The purpose of the assignment is to assess learners’ knowledge of the sociology of
education.

PART 1: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (35%)

‘Early retirement among teachers worrying’

SEREMBAN: A claim by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) that in recent years, some
10,000 teachers have applied annually for early retirement is worrying as this can affect the quality of the
education system, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The UMNO deputy president said the Education Ministry needed to explain why so many were choosing
to go on optional retirement when they could still contribute.

“The NUTP’s estimate also far exceeds the ministry’s statistics released on Nov 9 last year, which stated
that it received only 4,360 applications for optional retirement from teachers beginning January 2021.

“The ministry has to intervene and arrest this trend as the early retirement of teachers, especially those
experienced, is a huge loss to the country,” he said in a statement yesterday.

According to the Statistics Department, there were 233,365 teachers in government and government-
aided primary schools in 2015, and 181,975 in government and government-aided secondary schools.

On Monday, NUTP secretary-general Wang Heng Suan said the trend in recent years was worrying as
most of those who applied were experienced teachers either in their early or mid-50s.

He said some teachers were probably no longer interested in the profession due to online learning and
teaching introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. A claim by the National Union of the Teaching
Profession (NUTP) that in recent years, some 10,000 teachers have applied annually for early retirement
is worrying as this can affect the quality of the education system,

(Excerpt from: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/04/20/early-retirement-among-

teachers-worrying online dated 20 April 2022)

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Based on the above article, conduct online in-depth interviews with THREE senior teachers
who have been teaching for more than five years at any school/institution on the topic of
‘The Impact of the Early Retirement Among Teachers on Schools’ that addresses the
following research questions:

i) What are the reasons for the early retirement among teachers?
ii) To what extent does early retirement impact students’ school performance?
iii) What are suggestions to reduce the early retirement among teachers?

In your report, you need to include the following elements.

1) The profile of the key informants - detail the profile of these two key informants to be
written descriptively (NOT in a table form).
2) Transcription, coding, and emerging themes.
3) Qualitative data analysis – analyse descriptively and narratively the in-depth interviews
in the qualitative method which is by themes with the mixture of direct
speech/reported speech. The theme should be at least four themes. Please note that it
is NOT in a dialogue/conversation form or raw data.

The following is a sample of writing a thematic approach.

Perception of Online Learning

The majority (n=7) of key informants mentioned that they did not have experience teaching
online to young children before the COVID19 pandemic. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, these
teachers had to conduct online classes without any referral from anyone. They also expressed
their concern that the children might not understand the lesson well. According to Sinar Suria
(KI6),
“… I am worried that my students might not understand my lesson because they could not have
me physically. Even during the face-to-face teaching session before the Covid-19, it was hard to
get their response from the children. It is even more difficult when it comes to online teaching.
It is more to one-way communication and what is more when I have to do online teaching."

Another significant point to be highlighted is the expression of Kak Mar (KI5) stated,
“… My first experience in online teaching, so, of course, it was without any referral I'm worried
about my young children’s acceptance of the method of new learning. I am in charge of a reading
session, and I provided each student with a 30 to 45 minutes slot. The reaction and acceptance of
each student were subjective. Those who can read well were very focused. For those who were at
a lower level, it was hard to grab their attention.”

Aishah (KI4) added that “… video calling them is not appropriate for those in a lower level if it
was related to reading skills. When it comes to science subjects online teaching, is a waste of
time without proper preparation. Pre-schoolers need hands-on methods. It is still the best

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approach for them."

Alia (KI8) also had the same notion and she stated that teaching online was not effective because
some children needed the realia materials to be shown in front of them physically. Besides, she
added there were some problems such as the internet connection and gadgets from both
parties.

All of the key informants believed that the management should offer training on online teaching
to teachers. According to Orked (KI2), training would help teachers to get exposure to online
teaching. Therefore, they would be well prepared. Bunga (KI3) was agreeable to Orked (KI2) by
saying that the training could attribute to the effectiveness of online teaching when a teacher
would have exposure to steps and tips for appropriate online teaching. In general, they
concluded that online learning needed a high level of patience among teachers.

4) Key findings and conclusion – elaborate on key findings and draw a conclusion

Assignment Format:
a. Use 1.5 spacing and 12-point Times New Roman font.
b. Provide reference using the American Psychological Association (APA) format.
c. References should be the latest (the year 2017 onwards)

[Total: 35 marks]

PART 2: POWERPOINT SLIDES AND ORAL PRESENTATION (15%)

Based on your report in Part 1, you need to comply with the following:
 Prepare PowerPoint slides between 8 and 10 slides only
 Use Google Meet to present your slides within 10 minutes in front of your tutor and
peers during etutorial classes.
Note: Your presentation mark will be given based on the given assessment rubric.

PART 3: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

This part requires students to participate actively in the MyINSPIRE eforum. Discuss the
following topics in the forum and submit proof of your participation with your tutor and
peers in the eforum online discussions:

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 1. Discuss the three sociological theories in education.
2. Discuss the factors that contribute to social mobility in society.
3. Discuss the roles of schools in society.

Instruction on how to submit proof of online class participation:

1. Select the best FIVE (5) of your postings from your forum discussion set in the
assignment.
2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as images in your Part 1 and Part 2
assignment file.
3. The screenshots should be in an image file (either in JPG or PNG format). Refer to the
sample of Screen Grab below
4. The screenshots should contain the name, title of the discussion, day, date, and time.

[Total: 10 marks]

[TOTAL: 60 MARKS]
Notes:

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 Submit all parts of your assignment in ONE file.
 Assignments should be submitted according to the due date.
 You must submit your assignment via the MyInspire.
 Plagiarism is not acceptable. If you are not sure what is meant by plagiarism, refer to
the various websites which discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts

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 ATTACHMENT
ASSIGNMENT RUBRICS
HMEF5143 SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION / MAY 2022
PART 1: WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (35%)
Unsatisfactory
Max
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Marks
QN CLO Criteria Weight No response
4 3 2 1 0
1 3 Profile of two key 0.75 The profile of the key The profile of the key The profile of the key The profile of the key There is no 3
informants informants is written informants is written informants is written informants is written profile of key
excellently and in well and quite details. adequately and in less poorly and lacks details. informants.
detail. detail.
3 Transcription, 2.5 The interviews are The interviews are The interviews are The interviews were No 10
coding, and transcribed and coded transcribed and coded transcribed and coded. transcribed and coded transcription,
emerging themes excellently. The well. The emerging The emerging themes are poorly. The emerging coding, and
emerging themes are themes are developed quite developed. themes are not developed emerging
well developed coherently. coherently. themes.
coherently.
3 Qualitative Data 3.5 The thematic analysis The thematic analysis The thematic analysis is The thematic analysis is There is no 14
Analysis is excellent with strong is good with evidence average with some weak with no evidence to thematic
evidence to support it. to support it. Good supporting evidence. support it. Limited effort analysis
Good effort to effort to elaborate Some effort was made to to elaborate with the evident.
elaborate with the with the combination elaborate on the combination of reported
combination of of reported speech and combination of reported speech and direct speech.
reported speech and direct speech. speech and direct speech.
direct speech.
3 Key Findings and 2.0 The findings and The findings and The findings and The findings and There is no 8
conclusion conclusion are conclusion are conclusion are presented conclusion are merely finding and
presented with an presented in a write- with an adequate write- presented in a limited conclusion write
excellent write-up. up. up. write-up. up.

Total 8.75   35
*QN=Question Number

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PART 2: POWERPOINT AND ORAL PRESENTATION (15%)
Unsatisfactory/No
Excellent Good Fair Low Max
QN CLO Criteria Weight Response
Marks
4 3 2 1 0
2 3 Introduction 0.5 Begins with a self- Begins with a self- Starts with a topic Does not clearly Do not introduce the 2
introduction, introduction, followed introduction but no introduce the topic and topic or the purpose
followed by a topic by a topic introduction explanation of the the purpose of the of the presentation.
introduction, and and explains the purpose of the presentation.
explains the purpose purpose of the presentation.
of the presentation in presentation.
a clear and capturing
voice.
2 3 Contents 1.0 All the information is Most of the information Information is valid but Information is not Information is not 4
relevant and is relevant but some not related to the related to the valid and not related
appropriate for the need elaboration. purpose of the assignment. to the assignment at
requirements of the assignment. all.
assignment.
2 3 Knowledge 1.0 Demonstrate full Demonstrate full Demonstrate full Does not demonstrate The knowledge 4
knowledge and ability knowledge and ability to knowledge but some of full knowledge. presented is not
to explain and explain. the explanation is not relevant.
elaborate clearly. clear.

2 3 Delivery Skills 0.75 Able to speak clearly Speaks with a Speaks in uneven Speaks with an The delivery and 3
with different satisfactory variety of intonation and reads uninteresting and sentence structure
intonation and intonation but still tends mostly from notes. monotonous tone and are understandable.
maintain audience to look at notes. the entire report is read
interest and seldom from notes.
look at notes.
2 3 Enthusiasm 0.5 Demonstrate strong Show some enthusiastic Show little or mixed Demonstrate no Show no interest in 2
enthusiasm about the feelings about the topic feelings about the topic enthusiasm about the the topic presented.
topic being being presented. being presented. topic being presented.
presented.
Total 3.75   15
*QN=Question Number

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PART 3: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Unsatisfactory
Max
Excellent Good Fair Poor Or
Marks
QN CLO Criteria Weight No response
4 3 2 1 0
3 3 Participation in e 1.0 The student The student participates Comments are generally The student does not No postings 4
forum participates actively actively in discussions vague or drawn from initiate contribution submitted
and constructively in outside of the and lacks interest in
discussions (ongoing) participation.
3 Quality of comments 1.5 Comments are Comments are most Comments are Comments are No postings 6
always insightful and insightful and sometimes constructive, uninformative and lack submitted
constructive. Uses constructive. Mostly with occasional signs of appropriate
appropriate uses appropriate insight. The student does terminology.
terminology. terminology. not use appropriate
Comments balanced Occasionally comments terminology; comments
between general are too general or not are not always relevant
impressions, opinions relevant to the to the discussion.
& specific, thoughtful discussion.
criticisms or
contributions
Total 2.5 10
*QN = Question Number