I was told that a singer was paid RM18,000 for 4 songs recently. If this is true, I find it to be irritating, but I guess that's where the value is placed.
When lecturers ask to be paid for commercial coursework, as per rules set, it is condemned and laughed at. "Ini tugas hakiki" (Its your job). Lecturers get paid a pittance. We don't get pay raises as what teachers get (the answer I got was that I could always have the possibility of getting a J Scale salary and therefore shouldn't ask for a pay raise. Ya right, the possibility.. and I pay my bills with a possibility as well).
I am lucky to get RM200 an hour for a commercial coursework lecture, that I must spend hours to prepare. Nevertheless I must say that I am extremely thankful for that RM200 and that class. Its better than nothing, or compared to a stupid figure from RM60 onwards that some other lecturers get teaching elsewhere. Yup, that's the value of a lecturer.
Yet with this piece of news, its saddens me. Spoils my mood. Not because the singer gets so much. Nope. That's the singer's 'rezeki' (God given income) and I don't begrudge that. What saddens me is that Knowledge is seen as so cheap. Its not wanted if it has to be paid for. Companies and individuals want me to give them my knowledge for free and don't place value on my years of experience, hard work, trials and tribulations in order to gain that know how. That saddens me.
Ernest
1 comment:
that indeed is sad. Lecturer is knowledge and knowledge doesn't come in a night, it came with experiences, trials, learning and more learning.
Authorities impose that knowledge is important and a must in this new era, but seems that knowledge being down-rated in the real world, especially in our community.
And we (knowledge) always being judge and deemed by people. Even some people like to take us knowledge (we) for granted.
I saw what people done on you and indeed feel sad of it. But as you says, life goes on.
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