Review Underway of the Educational System

[schweppes]

insider:

jtoh:

Your son is in Uni already? What faculty is he in to take photography and filming modules. His landscape shots will be jaw-dropping given the beautiful scenery there.

He is now in poly first year doing Film, Sound, & Media (a course that literally doesn't need to study, aka mug, but need to do a lot of hands on projects). Heard every year they will have chance to travel to overseas for certain modules with the poly's tie-up with the various universities but the kids have to 'fight' for popular destinations (allocation is results-based).

Kids nowadays so good life actually. I want to go back to school...

Really?? Maybe not for the primary and secondary school kids. But it does get better (and sometimes more fun) at tertiary level.

[concern2]

schweppes:

insider:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]Haha! You are probably right about him being loaded with tuition. But your method worked bec he's doing fine and enjoying life too. Is your son in China on an exchange programme?

He is there for 6 weeks to take two modules in the university (somewhat like an immersion program). Basically, travelling around 山水 for his photography module and one of his filming modules.

So far feedback from him is that he enjoys himself there and doesn't mind to study there! hahaha...I almost fell off my chair when I heard that. Actually asked him whether the students there can understand his broken Mandarin and he said, '嘿！妈妈！你儿子的华语没有那么差OK!\"

Thanks for your sharing, insider. Happy to see your son enjoying poly life.

Just goes to show that when kids are studying for something which they truly enjoy and feel passionate about, then it does not become a chore.

Reinforces my belief that as a parent, our children must live their own dreams as they lead their own lives. And as parents, that's where we come in to guide them and nurture their strengths and interests. Still, I must confess, sometimes it's easier said than done as we cant help but get swept up in our stressful education system and worry all the time if we are doing the right thing for our kids.[/quote]This reminds me of my little bro who was on borderline every year in primary school. Both my parents were not educated, so I became his tutor - not a very good one, but managed to help him get by without failing. We're from Mandarin speaking family so the biggest challenge was always English - if you're terrible in that, all other subjects got affected. Scoring well in CH was no help at all.

That went on till sec school which he ended up in the normal stream, after which he applied for early admittance into NS. Once out of NS, my parents had enough savings for him to get into an Australian Uni, which he did foundation year and went on to do his love - architecture. Along the way, I helped to support his education as I was working by then. He graduated with good grades and was one of the top in his cohort, winning numerous competitions.

Looking back, I think the education in Singapore could easily have killed his love to learn. NS could have made him a man, but I think the overseas education allowed him to be who he wants to be. Being thrown into the English-speaking environment, and being independent (no pressure imposed on him), somehow, all his brain cells got connected and he bloomed.

[jtoh]

concerned2, schweppesand and insider,


Thanks for sharing your stories. I really enjoyed reading them.

[jedamum]

concern2:

schweppes:

Thanks for your sharing, insider. Happy to see your son enjoying poly life.

Just goes to show that when kids are studying for something which they truly enjoy and feel passionate about, then it does not become a chore.

Reinforces my belief that as a parent, our children must live their own dreams as they lead their own lives. And as parents, that's where we come in to guide them and nurture their strengths and interests. Still, I must confess, sometimes it's easier said than done as we cant help but get swept up in our stressful education system and worry all the time if we are doing the right thing for our kids.

This reminds me of my little bro who was on borderline every year in primary school. Both my parents were not educated, so I became his tutor - not a very good one, but managed to help him get by without failing. We're from Mandarin speaking family so the biggest challenge was always English - if you're terrible in that, all other subjects got affected. Scoring well in CH was no help at all.

That went on till sec school which he ended up in the normal stream, after which he applied for early admittance into NS. Once out of NS, my parents had enough savings for him to get into an Australian Uni, which he did foundation year and went on to do his love - architecture. Along the way, I helped to support his education as I was working by then. He graduated with good grades and was one of the top in his cohort, winning numerous competitions.

Looking back, I think the education in Singapore could easily have killed his love to learn. NS could have made him a man, but I think the overseas education allowed him to be who he wants to be. Being thrown into the English-speaking environment, and being independent (no pressure imposed on him), somehow, all his brain cells got connected and he bloomed.

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).

[concern2]

jedamum:

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).

Ya, the better ones can at least get scholarship.

[coast]

jenao:

Chenonceau:

It's a start. We can only be patient and work with our 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.

: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.

[Chenonceau]

coast:

jenao:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]

It's a start. We can only be patient and work with our 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.

: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.

[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.

[coast]

Chenonceau:

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.

: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.

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:
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?

[coast]

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.

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.

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 ...