Review Underway of the Educational System
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jedamum:
Ya, the better ones can at least get scholarship.
many parents still rely on getting good grades as a form of paving the route to pursuing one's dream/having better job prospect because it opens up the first doors. Singapore education system only supports 'dreams' when you have good grades. if don't have good grades, must have sufficient money to support overseas education. if not for your parent's savings for your bro to go overseas, he could not have possibly smell architecture degree unless he went through the long route via poly (even if so, the COP for o-level for entry to architecture course is quite low).
however, regardless of whatever system, the key is if one is determined to pursue one's dream, nothing can stand in the way (just have to take a longer route). -
jenao:
:goodpost: I like what I saw initially too. It is certainly the right direction to focus on values and character and to make every school a good school. We need to be patient for changes to take place. However, as I read more ST articles on education recently, I cannot help asking myself - did MOE disregard or put on hold certain issues? Maybe they do have valid reasons but it would be good to knowing their rationale and assumptions.
Its a start and I also like what is see, though I see it as more cosmetic than working on the core issues like difficult syllabus and insufficient teaching materials/resources. And i hope it will not be a long long while ie years later before they start looking into the core issues, at the rate they are going. Though we need to be patient because we cannot rush though the review and they must be thorough, I do hope that they address critical issues first. As it is, the mindset is such that you need to get external resources to do well and this mindset will not be easily reversed unless more it done to the system. At the end of the day, its the psle that matters and as such, these core issues should be addressed first and take center stage.Chenonceau:
It's a start. We can only be patient and work with our MOE. -
coast:
:goodpost: I like what I saw initially too. It is certainly the right direction to focus on values and character and to make every school a good school. We need to be patient for changes to take place. However, as I read more ST articles on education recently, I cannot help asking myself - did MOE disregard or put on hold certain issues? Maybe they do have valid reasons but it would be good to knowing their rationale and assumptions.[/quote]I am a bit worried too. But I think I have done enough to raise issues in a civic dialogue. If MOE continues to think itself really great then I know how to make money from the gaps left by MOE.
Its a start and I also like what is see, though I see it as more cosmetic than working on the core issues like difficult syllabus and insufficient teaching materials/resources. And i hope it will not be a long long while ie years later before they start looking into the core issues, at the rate they are going. Though we need to be patient because we cannot rush though the review and they must be thorough, I do hope that they address critical issues first. As it is, the mindset is such that you need to get external resources to do well and this mindset will not be easily reversed unless more it done to the system. At the end of the day, its the psle that matters and as such, these core issues should be addressed first and take center stage.jenao:
[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
It's a start. We can only be patient and work with our MOE. -
Wish the educational system can remove unnecessary subject such as history, literature etc..so more time can be spent on those major subjects.
If history subject can be simply into summary version will be good. :frustrated: Hard to remember anything after years later since not much of this is used in work life. -
Chenonceau:
I am a bit worried too. But I think I have done enough to raise issues in a civic dialogue. If MOE continues to think itself really great then I know how to make money from the gaps left by MOE.[/quote] :rotflmao:
:goodpost: I like what I saw initially too. It is certainly the right direction to focus on values and character and to make every school a good school. We need to be patient for changes to take place. However, as I read more ST articles on education recently, I cannot help asking myself - did MOE disregard or put on hold certain issues? Maybe they do have valid reasons but it would be good to knowing their rationale and assumptions.coast:
[quote=\"jenao\"]
Its a start and I also like what is see, though I see it as more cosmetic than working on the core issues like difficult syllabus and insufficient teaching materials/resources. And i hope it will not be a long long while ie years later before they start looking into the core issues, at the rate they are going. Though we need to be patient because we cannot rush though the review and they must be thorough, I do hope that they address critical issues first. As it is, the mindset is such that you need to get external resources to do well and this mindset will not be easily reversed unless more it done to the system. At the end of the day, its the psle that matters and as such, these core issues should be addressed first and take center stage.
You have certainly done alot! Many thanks! Yes, you are right on the gaps and there is a lot of $$$ to be made from these gaps. I think it's already hundreds of millions (or could it be a billion) industry right now in Singapore. It will only grow bigger (South Korea, Taiwan, ...) when we realise MOE does not intend to address it. I have also read earlier posts that many good teachers left schools to teach externally because of $$$ (well, to be fair, some teachers left for balanced life, pursue their passion in teaching, ...) and we will lose more good teachers if this goes on.
I am impressed with MOE minister Heng Swee Keat's insight. A lot of what he said makes sense (how the schools implement the policies is another issue). But I cannot help but feel that MOE might overlook certain issues due to wrong assumptions. E.g., does MOE have the statistics on tuition/ enrichment (80% of our kids? 90%? average money spent per kid on tuition?). Is it really the schools cannot do anything about the over-reliance on external help/ resources? Yes certain parents will always send their kids to expensive tuition/ enrichment no matter what. But we came from a system that VERY FEW relied on tuition during our days ... why such an over-reliance now? We need to explore in depth the issues raised and analysed the statistics and try to do something about it. Otherwise, it is very unfair for kids whose parents cannot afford the time to home tuition or time/ money to send their kids for tuition/ enrichment. As for the many parents who are doing it extensively now, at what price? Not just the $$$ but how it impacts the child's balanced life? -
Oppsgal:
Hope you don't mind but I strongly believe in a holistic education. There is alot to learn from history, literature, ... a master in major subjects does not equate a successful career. Many skills \"essential\" for success (well, what is successful to begin with) are not \"learnt' from \"core\" subjects.Wish the educational system can remove unnecessary subject such as history, literature etc..so more time can be spent on those major subjects.
If history subject can be simply into summary version will be good. :frustrated: Hard to remember anything after years later since not much of this is used in work life.
You certainly have your reasons being frustrated (and I think I would agree on those reasons too). But there should be other ways to resolve those issues than removing history, literature ...
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Regarding values and character, schools can start with :-
1) teaching students to carry their own school bags,
2) remind their driver parents that it is inconsiderate of the driver parent to alight from the car at busy drop-off points, just to walk their child to school.
Frankly, I feel that some school leaders are very lacking in some "values" area like courtesy. When I send feedback to school leaders, principals of 3 schools do not have the courtesy to reply but forward to their administration manager or operations manager, one needed a reminder email after 1 or 2 months before she replied.
The issues I raised were not complaints but polite suggestions on the safety/conduct of the school’s students. The worst thing is when safety issues were raised, they were not proactive but put the blame indirectly on other government agencies why certain safety works were not in place even after 4 months.
If principals do not have this basic value system of courtesy and other characteristics(such as humility, perseverance/determination to check if their subordinates carry out the work etc) in place, I see this value and character emphasis as a smokescreen.
On a positive note, I had come across a principal who bothered to give a personal reply. -
coast:
Actually my views are that the high incidence of kids having tuition is not necessarily attributed to any problem with the school's teaching.
I am impressed with MOE minister Heng Swee Keat's insight. A lot of what he said makes sense (how the schools implement the policies is another issue). But I cannot help but feel that MOE might overlook certain issues due to wrong assumptions. E.g., does MOE have the statistics on tuition/ enrichment (80% of our kids? 90%? average money spent per kid on tuition?). Is it really the schools cannot do anything about the over-reliance on external help/ resources? Yes certain parents will always send their kids to expensive tuition/ enrichment no matter what. But we came from a system that VERY FEW relied on tuition during our days ... why such an over-reliance now? We need to explore in depth the issues raised and analysed the statistics and try to do something about it. Otherwise, it is very unfair for kids whose parents cannot afford the time to home tuition or time/ money to send their kids for tuition/ enrichment. As for the many parents who are doing it extensively now, at what price? Not just the $$$ but how it impacts the child's balanced life?
Personally, I send my kids for tuition on weekdays just to occupy their time (after school) and get them to practice what is taught in school since I am a FTWM. On weekends, I supervise the kids myself. No matter how wonderful the school teachers are, what is taught needs to be reinforced. I know many parents send kids to tuition for the same reason. Conversely, I also see kids who while away their time at home after school because no parents around to supervise - playing computer games, watching TV. Not saying these cannot be allowed but young kids tend to over-indulge w/o adult supervision.
When I was young, I didn't need tuition because mum was a SAHM and made sure I did tons of assessement books after school each day to get the necessary practice! She was not v highly educated but just place great emphasis on education.
In fact many parents are capable of teaching their own kids but choose to outsource it to external tutors etc because they are more affluent than before. This is a personal choice.
How it impacts on child's life depends on how parents manage all these enrichment - which is out of MOE's hands. This was a point made by Mr Heng as well. Parents just need to be discerning and be clear why the kids need tuition - to practice or to improve due to lagging behind or to aim to top the class?
Not saying there is nothing to improve with school system but my point is no matter wonderful the school system, there will always be a need for tuition. At least I know my kids still need it. -
coast:
Hope you don't mind but I strongly believe in a holistic education. There is alot to learn from history, literature, ... a master in major subjects does not equate a successful career. Many skills \"essential\" for success (well, what is successful to begin with) are not \"learnt' from \"core\" subjects.Oppsgal:
Wish the educational system can remove unnecessary subject such as history, literature etc..so more time can be spent on those major subjects.
If history subject can be simply into summary version will be good. :frustrated: Hard to remember anything after years later since not much of this is used in work life.
You certainly have your reasons being frustrated (and I think I would agree on those reasons too). But there should be other ways to resolve those issues than removing history, literature ...
Fully agree! Humanities are extremely important in training a person's character, values and outlook. I may be biased as I am a pure Humanities student at O and A levels.
In fact employers are finding that people trained in just technical subjects - deemed more useful like maths, science and physics are very silo in their thinking and this is not encouraged. Look at the trend towards a multi-disciplinary broad based curriculum in universities - even for engineering - see model espoused in Singapore University of Technology and Design's curriculum. -
Oppsgal:
Humanities have their place in the educational system. Literature builds one's flair for the language which may pave the way for a law/mass comm/advertising career. History is good for, law/political/social studies.Wish the educational system can remove unnecessary subject such as history, literature etc..so more time can be spent on those major subjects.
If history subject can be simply into summary version will be good. :frustrated: Hard to remember anything after years later since not much of this is used in work life.
I on the other hand am still wondering why was I taught stuff like tangent, co-tangent, sin, cosin in E math. Haha but if the only teach general application stuff they will end up with nothing to teach.
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