Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu – Theory Classes Explained
Part I is conducted by one lecturer. It stretches from approximately 9:30am to 12:00pm. The 2nd lecturer then takes over Part II portion from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. A half an hour lunch break is given to students.
Most institutes have canteens. And for zohor prayers, most driving institutes have prayer rooms for both male and female students.
What can students expect from the 1st lecturer in this K.P.P. course?
Students can expect the lecturer to head count the attendance. So, those who wish to visit the toilet first, should not dilly-dally there too long.
In most cases, the lecturer would talk about certain rules and regulations, he or she expects the students to follow. Dozing off and sleeping are amongst some of the things not allowed.
They are encouraged, however, to ask as many questions as possible. This would make the class more interesting and lively.
But unfortunately, this frequently does not happen. Students today, irrespective whether they come from secondary schools, good colleges such as K.D.U, HELP or Taylor’s College, do not seem to be brave and daring enough to confront the lecturer.
I believe, maybe, their English prowess is weak. Or maybe their confidence to speak in public seems to be lacking.
Nevertheless, to be fair, there are some older participants, who are more matured or experienced do pose the lecturer some interesting questions as the lectures progress. However, it needs to be said, the number of students who do this represents only a small minority.
Usually, after introducing myself to the class, I would ask the class, if they have any problems or questions to ask me. This is important, as it “breaks the ice”. It is a good rapport between the lecturer and the students.
Topic Number One In The Instructor’s Itinerary
The lecturer will explain that all students have to undergo such a test. It comprises of 8 questions in all.
To pass it, one has to secure all 8 questions correct. Failure in this test will create some problems, like having to go to J.P.J. office for an interview and later an eye test at some government clinic.
In this section, the lecturer should also emphasize that students ideally be computer literate. Furthermore, a student should also not be black listed in the police or J.P.J. records. Or else they might land up being barred upon registration.
Topic Number 2: Necessary Information For Road Users
Among some of the topics to be exposed to a potential driver includes:
i) Responsibilities
ii) Irresponsible behavior
iii) Understanding traffic signs
iv) Hand signals
v) The traffic light system
vi) Overtaking
vii) Pedestrian crossings
viii) Distance to follow a vehicle
ix) Parking
x) Motorcycle riders
xi) Accidents
xii) Speeds to drive a vehicle
Topic Number 3: The Highway Code
All in all, there are approximately 150 signs to be learnt. During exams, Part I encompasses 15 questions in Section A. Students will be told, the sign are of various colours.
Yellow denotes “danger”. Blue denotes “directions”. Red is for “prohibitions”. Orange and yellow coloured signs are for “roads being repaired” or being built.
Knowing as many signs as possible is for the good of the driver. The more he knows, the better a driver he will become.
Topic Number 4: Driving Defensively Or Safely
A driver most fear accidents. The concept of D.A.D.A. is to be taught. This concept is said to prevent accidents. D (Define), A (Analyse), D (Decide) and A (Action) is explained extensively.
Next to be explained will be planning of a journey. Planning includes when to begin, what time to begin and where to stop and rest. Also taught are to things to bring along. Pre-checking of a vehicle goes towards helping to avoid accidents.
Another topic in this subject is “how accidents take place”. All in all, there are 6 manners in which accidents take place. All 6 have to be extensively explained and with diagrams and assistance of the LCD projector as well.
This topic also includes “Factors which cause accidents” as well. Factors responsible are drivers, the road conditions, vehicle, the weather conditions, reflections and the traffic conditions as well.
Other topics include “hazards”, safe driving distances and movement which a driver needs to know.
Topic Number 5: Emergencies
How a driver deal with an emergency situation is one topic a potential driver should be familiar with. Amongst the usual dangers and emergency situations a driver should be familiar with are:
i) Broken windscreens
ii) Tyre punctures or blow-outs
iii) Engine not being able to start
iv) Headlights failure
v) Falling into a swollen river
vi) Fires
vii) Accelerator getting stuck and many others
In this section, the lecturer will also touch upon topics like:
i) Tools that has to be brought by a driver
ii) Driving in expressways
iii) Night driving
As a guide, the lecturer will be using a text book entitled Kurrikulum Pendidikan Pemandu, a book published by Perpisma, an association of driving schools and institutes in Malaysia.
It should also be reiterated that inspectors from the J.P.J. department often make surprise visits to institutes to monitor how these lecturers are being conducted. Lecturers are advised to follow the topic sequence as shown in the text book.
Therefore, as lecturer number one, whose lectures stretches from 9:30am to 12:00pm, one is expected to touch upon such topics as I have advocated on top.
It is advised that lecturers do not veer away from the sequence as given in the text book. This might cause J.P.J. officers some displeasure.
12:00pm – 12:30pm is lunch for the students. It will then be followed by the lecture to be given by another lecturer, who will then touch upon the remaining 4 – 5 topics in the text book.
The lecture will finally end at around 3:00pm, after a grueling 5 hour marathon.
Students completing the above K.P.P. course will be issued with the J.P.J. L2A certificate by the institute concerned. This enables them to sit for the 50 questions computer test to be held at various computer centres such as MyEG and SPEED all across towns.
Preparing For The Malaysian Highway Code Test
The “L” license enable the potential student to take up practical driving. For B2 (motorcycle below 250 cc) a rider can ride on his own. However, a rider riding on his own should observe 2 requirements.
1) Affix “L” plates in front and at the back of his vehicle.
2) Must not ferry pillion riders.
Whereas in the case of student who wish to take up practical driving lessons for cars, he or she should seek a driving instructor, either from a driving school entity or someone from a driving institute.
The above instructor normally possess the S.M.2. (Sijil Mengajar 2) certificate to tutor potential students.
Even though, all the above might have been explained over and over again various times in other articles elsewhere, nevertheless I feel it is no harm repeating it for readers who may have missed reading it.
After attending the 5 Hour Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu (K.P.P) at the institute, how long should it be before one can appear for the computer test?
The above test is in Bahasa Malaysia and English. No other language are available. Those who wish to appear for oral tests, should wait for it to be arranged from time to time and also at selected places by the J.P.J.
Ask you instructor to keep the lookout for the authorities announcement, normally via the institute.
After attending the K.P.P. course, it’s you who decides when you choose to sit for the computer test.
Some students require only 1 or 2 days preparation. Others might need a week. Others need a longer time. Actually, it depends on you. When you are ready and well prepared for it, inform the instructor.
He will then do the enrollment for you to sit for the computer test at one of the private computer test sites around town.
Normally, tests are conducted at the computer test centre, 7 days a week. Time for tests normally stretches from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. At times, where there a lots of candidates, computer test centres open up to 8:00 pm.
What do you have to do or bring when appearing for your computer test?
You have to dress decently. Normally, male candidates should wear shoes and collared shirts. Bring along your MyKad and computer cards if you have one.
Ladies are advised to dress decently. Avoid short skirts and other revealing attire.
What does one do when arriving at the computer test centres?
Among certain thing you are expected to do are:
i) Check your name and sign your name at the registration list.
ii) Give you MyKad to the clerks.
iii) Those who have never taken a computer photo need to pay RM10 for it.
After that, you will have to wait for your turn to enter the computer room where the test is held. Normally, you will be given a number. Your test will follow the number given to you.
Results of the test are issued immediately after you come out from the computer rooms. It’s normally the clerk in charge who will hand you the results.
What happens if you should fail this test?
Usually, your driving instructor would send you home. You would be advised to prepare and come another day.
In fact, a student can actually re-register and sit for it the very day itself. For this, you have to liaise with your instructor.
New charges will have to be made. As charges differ from instructor to instructor, so the best person you should discuss with, as I said, is the driving school instructor himself.
Most students prefer to do a retest on the same day itself. However, remember, it does not necessarily mean you’ll get the result you aim for.
As a final word of advice, 42 is the passing marks required for you to pass. A few lawyer friends of my elder brother were reputed to have failed this Highway Code exam a number of times.
It may look easy and simple. But then, exams being such, you can never know. So, the best advice one can be given is “Be well prepared for it!”
Ballet Bible Review – Reviewing Anita Leembruggen’s Ballet Bible Guide.
How To Set Up A Malaysian Driving Institute
The public may not be aware. Setting up a driving institute is different. Not everyone or any entity for that matter, can decide to set up driving institutes. You cannot decide to set it up just anywhere you fancy. There are certain rules and regulations to follow.
Why is this so?
Permit me to explain. The driving school or institutes business today is in fact a controlled business. It is under the purview of the Transport Ministry.
To set up a driving school or institute, one has first of all secure a permit or license to operate it. This is known as S.M.1 in the driving industry circles.
Why does the driving school industry need to be controlled?
Why, you may ask, can’t it be a free enterprise. Like opening up a restaurant or a sundry shop for that matter?
Well, the authorities have their reasons. The public seems have a poor image about driving schools or institutes. They might not accord it high regards. You might not be aware, but driving institutes are regarded as being run by less educated strata of the society.
In the early days, on the 1950s and 60s, a driving instructor’s job was a part time job and a profession not many people will prefer electing to do. Except and unless you yourself are involved in this industry itself, that is, if you happen to be a driving instructor, do not expect that your son or daughter will ever land up in the same profession as you.
Amongst the thousands of jobs in the market, which sane father or parent would ever dream of encouraging his son to become a driving instructor?
The profession itself may command a pay or salary rather lucrative, compared to other profession around, but believe me, it is not an easy job to hold if you should ask me. I should know because I have been involved in this industry for nearly forty years.
Until today, no insurance company is willing to yet insure me for the dangerous profession I am doing. In fact, a driving instructor is likened to that of an air line pilot. Insurance for driving instructors are available, but at extremely high premiums. Very few instructors are able to afford paying for it.
Today’s article was in fact intended to discuss the procedures and the requirements needed to set up a driving institute.
Amongst the many things a business man or entrepreneur, who wishes to set up this industry should bear in mind are:
1) Have enough experience of some 15 – 20 years ideally.
Like any other businesses, one should have enough experience in the field itself. Therefore, the more experience you possess in the field, the better it is for you overall.
2) Ideally you have a driving school permit currently.
Why should this be so?
Because to ask for a new permit to be granted to you these days is rather difficult. To expect a new permit to be issued to you these days may be likened to the moon turning blue or in Bahasa Malaysia they say “mengharapkan bulan menjadi biru”.
Unless you have the correct cables, forget about trying to secure a driving institute permit at all. But having a driving school permit, you could then ask for it to be converted into a driving institute instead.
In this manner, your chances of approval to set up an institutes would be better and also faster.
3) Should possess some 30 – 40 business associates in the driving school industry.
Any person intending to set up a driving institutes should possess a minimum of 30 – 40 driving school instructors who possess the certificate to teach or Sijil S.M.2.
It should be borne in mind, the Transport Authorities will issue the total number of vehicles based upon the number of instructors you have in your institute. Therefore, the higher the total of instructors you have in your institute, the larger the number of vehicles you will be eventually given by the authorities.
4) Having a capital of some RM1 million would be ideal.
Having some RM 1 million in your hand will be a fairly good amount of money you could work with. To build the infrastructure, you will need a lot of money. Among some of the infrastructure which are required are:
i) Lecture rooms
ii) Office
iii) Toilet facilities
iv) Canteen
v) Prayer rooms
vi) Store rooms
vii) Testers’ hut
viii) Building slopes and parking lots
ix) Signage
5) Purchasal of vehicles such as motorcycles, tractors, lorries, cars and other vehicles.
Purchase of the above can cost quite a lot of money. A lorry, even a 2nd hand one may cost anything between RM80,000 to RM100,000. Motorcycles can cost a lot of money too. Not to mention other requirements.
6) Availability of land to build the institute.
One should remember land remains an important item. Those wishing to open up an institute should realize no institute is allowed to be built very near another institute.
Preferably, an institute should ideally be set up in areas which have a fairly large population. Do not forget, it is a service oriented business.
Talking about the question of land needed to set up an institute, how big should it be?
The authorities suggest anything from 6 acres to 8 acres would be just perfect. Unless you would like to set up a mega size institute measuring 20 acres or more.
Confucius said, “the journey to a thousand miles begins with the first step”. So, if it is the intention of anyone to start a driving school institute in Malaysia, hunt around for a fairly big piece of land first.
Look around and ask brokers and friends. Be interested in options. Advertisements in newspapers can sometimes assist you to scout for a suitable piece of land.
But besides land, which is obviously very important to set up a driving institutes these days, you first step towards the aim of setting up a driving institute anywhere is to get the necessary application forms.
And where do you secure the above forms?
The J.P.J. offices cannot supply you these forms. You have to head to the Headquarters of the Transport Authorities at Putrajaya itself to get the forms your require
Well, that’s where my good buddy Mr Chin of Sekolah Memandu Sentosa and I were headed to recently. And where do you think our next new institute would be set up eventually? In Taman Sentosa, Klang itself.
