Will the Finnish model work in Singapore?

[adamtan]

According to Wikipedia, Finland (widely recognized as having one of the best education systems in the world) has a nine-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (starting at age seven and ending at the age of sixteen) that is not based on selection.There is no selecting, tracking, or streaming students during their common basic education.


If we could have this system in Singapore, it could mean that the children’s first major exam comes at 16 instead of 12 when the late-bloomers (usually more boys than girls) would have matured sufficiently to treat their studies more seriously. This might give our young ones more time to develop their soft skills at an earlier age instead of having to prepare for their PSLE.

Of course, the downside of this could be that it might give the high achievers or those with learning disabilities less specialized assistance to reach their full potential.

As a parent of two toddlers, I dread to think of the day when I will be preparing them for PSLE when their childhood should be one that is more carefree.