To track some personally noteworthy events, observations and thoughts, letting them age and savor/regret them again a long time later.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Education and Success
At least the government is no longer in denial about social mobility. Heng Swee Keat predecessor was stubborn about this until his bosses contradicted him and he had to climb down.
But I wonder if they know the targets they are chasing aren't stationary but fast moving trains. That is the reason why our education system keep improving and we never seem to have arrived. We are all tired. More and more people will start to wonder and look for another game to play. This is simply one which a small group wins with many losers.
To have more winners we need more pathways to success ending with many alternative destinations.
He says, "We cannot have broader definitions of success in education without our society accepting broader definitions of success in life"
He is spot on and why are we like that? My quick one word answer: Confucianism. The scholar gets all the prestige and rewards. Here is where I feel that LKY and GKS got it wrong. I insert GKS because he was a great believer since he set up the Institute of East Asian Philosophy after he left politics.
Confucianism is quite unbeatable when the conditions are right and the right people are in charge like we had until now. Regrettably China's history had proven over and over again that is rare. Methinks if we cannot have a more consistent way to get first class governance, we must at least make bad government difficult to take root.
Our intellectuals much less our artists, never spent time trying to meld democratic ideas with Confucianism. They only understand both in terms of conflicts and clashes. Since we absorb culture, values and knowledge mostly in English and the premium we place on transparency and accountability; especially when respect must be earned rather than assumed Confucianism cannot win. Furthermore Confucianism demands the highest virtue and ability from our leaders which looks like we are not able to sustain. The Junzi also often turns out to be a Pharisee under the glare of transparency and demand for accountability. What we need to do in the meantime is to keep our families strong and hope for the best.
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Education is another Singapore problem that will never be solved.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Firstly.
The Education Minister job has a 2 year tenure. This is to ensure non-continuity in policy from one Minister to another.
"Teach less, learn more" Minister.
Then "Hentak kaki" Minister.
Then 'Values" Minister
Secondly.
As a result of the first reason, Education policy in Singapore never moves beyond the policy abstraction phase(i.e. mental masturbation).
After 50 years. And here we are again ... listening to the new Education Minister and more mental masturbation.
Thirdly;
How do we know when they are really serious about improving the education system in Singapore?
ANSWER:
When classes in Singapore average no more than 20 students per class for ALL students.
And not just the kids in the GIFTED programme.
The government often touts Singapore students high ranking in international standardised tests as evidence of the quality of the education system. Fair enough. However paradoxically, Singaporean workers don't rank very high (mid-table only?) when it comes to economic productivity. So why the disconnect? Shouldn't good education system produce highly productive and innovative workers? After all, isn't that the more relevant goal of education (among others)?
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd like to see is a study of the relationship between the result of standardised tests and the economic productivity of a country. Would be interesting to see if there is any positive link.
Our lousy education system is subsidized and supported by a competent, multi-billion dollar private tuition industry.
ReplyDeleteIt's the private tuition industry that enables our Singapore students to achieve high ranking in international standardised tests.
Our Education Minister can hire chimpanzees as teachers.
As long as there is a private tuition industry.
Our students will continue to achieve their high rankings.
Ban private tuition for 2 years.
ReplyDeleteAnd Singapore's lousy education system will be exposed.