Kuala Lampur, April 5 -- I recall DAP politician Tony Pua saying many years ago that instead of asking students what year Melaka fell to the Portuguese, students should be asked if it was inevitable that the city fell to the Europeans.

I'm of the view that if we look deeper into the nature of the question, it could provide a bridge for students to better navigate the transition from secondary school to college.

Let me explain.

Today a student finishing her SPM exam and entering college may face something of a culture shock. Why?

Well, in primary and secondary school, the key assessment item is the closed book exam taken (usually) within two to three hours in some scary-looking examination hall sometimes the size of a theatre.

As ever...