Comments on: The role of education in Singapore http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:35:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Goh http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17741 Goh Sat, 24 May 2008 16:08:36 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17741 wrt "The IB programme is turning out to be a joke: 70% of the assessment is from daily work, 30% from final exams." you've got it wrong its 70% finals and 30% internals just did my diploma this may and its a larger than life experience!!! i just hope somewhere arnd 38 on 45 is good enough to get into NUS wrt
“The IB programme is turning out to be a joke: 70% of the assessment is from daily work, 30% from final exams.”

you’ve got it wrong its 70% finals and 30% internals just did my diploma this may and its a larger than life experience!!!

i just hope somewhere arnd 38 on 45 is good enough to get into NUS

]]> By: Ajani Mgo http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17352 Ajani Mgo Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:22:32 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17352 Good day, I am a Singaporean myself, currently bonded to Nanyang Junior College ]academically. I have always been wondering, for what is education for? In developing nations, it is for the 'passing on of lifeskills and technical know-how', as such that they may develop, while in developed nations, it is a matter of high-class quality knowledge pursuit. I am much irritated nowadays, and it is a source of social sadness for me at times, to see people in Singapore STUDYING more than what they are LEARNING. For what is the point of structured education? I am left deeply-skeptical. It seems to me today that the exams-based standard is responsible for such senseless pursuit for itself. Tuition; cognitive psychology-based 'supermemory' classes etc. all these suffice to prove enough what our Singaporean culture is creating. We are no longer learning for life or even for expertise, but studying for the sake of a good set of grades. Yet this is unfortunately not our goal! Even as I may criticize that Singapore has little place for artists and thinkers of the humanities, I doubt that we are creating the engineers and scientists well-enough. Once again, despite reforms to the syllabuses, we may not be creating what the workforce really needs - creativity. It does not matter, or should it? Anyway in the sciences today a sense of curiosity is not necessary for the scientist - he may remain purely theoretical upon the already-existing knowledge pool, or go towards unifying the Physics Theory of Everything - these are pursuits that prize the Singaporean mind more than the rest. What our education system does not compensate for in creative thought, it does so for thoughts-in-demand. Although I am not sure if my fiercely non-norm attitude can bring me past the 'A' Levels sufficiently, nevertheless I can agree with you - I do think in universities there lays my path of escape, and I cannot wait to go there. -Ajani Mgo Good day,

I am a Singaporean myself, currently bonded to Nanyang Junior College ]academically. I have always been wondering, for what is education for? In developing nations, it is for the ‘passing on of lifeskills and technical know-how’, as such that they may develop, while in developed nations, it is a matter of high-class quality knowledge pursuit.

I am much irritated nowadays, and it is a source of social sadness for me at times, to see people in Singapore STUDYING more than what they are LEARNING. For what is the point of structured education? I am left deeply-skeptical. It seems to me today that the exams-based standard is responsible for such senseless pursuit for itself. Tuition; cognitive psychology-based ’supermemory’ classes etc. all these suffice to prove enough what our Singaporean culture is creating. We are no longer learning for life or even for expertise, but studying for the sake of a good set of grades.

Yet this is unfortunately not our goal! Even as I may criticize that Singapore has little place for artists and thinkers of the humanities, I doubt that we are creating the engineers and scientists well-enough. Once again, despite reforms to the syllabuses, we may not be creating what the workforce really needs - creativity.

It does not matter, or should it? Anyway in the sciences today a sense of curiosity is not necessary for the scientist - he may remain purely theoretical upon the already-existing knowledge pool, or go towards unifying the Physics Theory of Everything - these are pursuits that prize the Singaporean mind more than the rest. What our education system does not compensate for in creative thought, it does so for thoughts-in-demand.

Although I am not sure if my fiercely non-norm attitude can bring me past the ‘A’ Levels sufficiently, nevertheless I can agree with you - I do think in universities there lays my path of escape, and I cannot wait to go there.

-Ajani Mgo

]]> By: guojun http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17244 guojun Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:25:26 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17244 It's the context of what is being discussed. Do you see that in this manner, education is steered to PRODUCE more good doctors, and not effective citizens? It’s the context of what is being discussed. Do you see that in this manner, education is steered to PRODUCE more good doctors, and not effective citizens?

]]> By: jhxy http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17241 jhxy Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:54:15 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17241 Hi... I thoroughly agree with you! I was extremely unnerved when I saw a motto/logo/etc which says "We <b>produce</b> leaders of dignity (etc)" (It's quite long) It does somewhat imply that if I'm not going to grow up as a leader, I'm not a true alumna? And that I am being 'produced', because I am incapable of developing leadership skills without the school? Oh and the Raffles Programme does have philosophy lessons, but it's pretty boring and talks on about stuff like euthanasia, etc, which all are right and good but there's a conspicuous lack of focus on Singapore issues that are quite worth debating. Hi…

I thoroughly agree with you! I was extremely unnerved when I saw a motto/logo/etc which says “We produce leaders of dignity (etc)” (It’s quite long)

It does somewhat imply that if I’m not going to grow up as a leader, I’m not a true alumna? And that I am being ‘produced’, because I am incapable of developing leadership skills without the school?

Oh and the Raffles Programme does have philosophy lessons, but it’s pretty boring and talks on about stuff like euthanasia, etc, which all are right and good but there’s a conspicuous lack of focus on Singapore issues that are quite worth debating.

]]> By: guojun http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17229 guojun Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:25:14 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17229 Everything is a means to 'progress' lah. That's how its always been in Singapore. Academic freedom only belongs to academia...the apathy you see in practical life is because we're not expected to be idealistic...thats only reserved for a few people up there who used these rights and ideals to seize power and then destroy the very rights they built their power on. Do i sound like a dissident now? :twisted: Everything is a means to ‘progress’ lah. That’s how its always been in Singapore. Academic freedom only belongs to academia…the apathy you see in practical life is because we’re not expected to be idealistic…thats only reserved for a few people up there who used these rights and ideals to seize power and then destroy the very rights they built their power on.

Do i sound like a dissident now? :twisted:

]]> By: Madeline http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17225 Madeline Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:56:00 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17225 The IB programme is turning out to be a joke: 70% of the assessment is from daily work, 30% from final exams. We all know how daily assessment is a crap - how can you gage a person's learning when the teaching (i.e. syllabus not fully covered) is not yet complete? Now the MOE is having problems how to equalise IB grades with standard A level grades for admission into the U. Is the IB student with score of 43 really as a good as the 4 distinctions at A level? Or did he just cosy up to the teachers during the classes? The IB programme is turning out to be a joke: 70% of the assessment is from daily work, 30% from final exams. We all know how daily assessment is a crap - how can you gage a person’s learning when the teaching (i.e. syllabus not fully covered) is not yet complete? Now the MOE is having problems how to equalise IB grades with standard A level grades for admission into the U. Is the IB student with score of 43 really as a good as the 4 distinctions at A level? Or did he just cosy up to the teachers during the classes?

]]> By: Aaron Ng http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17224 Aaron Ng Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:38:01 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17224 I guess ultimately, everything in Singapore is done for the sake of "progress" (whatever that means). Everything can be sacrificed in the name of progress. I guess ultimately, everything in Singapore is done for the sake of “progress” (whatever that means). Everything can be sacrificed in the name of progress.

]]> By: zweihuang http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17220 zweihuang Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:55:37 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17220 hey i am a hwachong n chinese high student as well, congrats on your wedding (belated) and all the best! I read your article from a link in theonlinecitizen.com. Great read, veri insightful :smile: I am currently in my second yr doing chemical engine at NUS. I have to agree that I am just part of the factory line though hey i am a hwachong n chinese high student as well, congrats on your wedding (belated) and all the best! I read your article from a link in theonlinecitizen.com. Great read, veri insightful :smile: I am currently in my second yr doing chemical engine at NUS. I have to agree that I am just part of the factory line though

]]> By: yh http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17219 yh Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:13:46 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17219 I think that I've become so reliant on correct/model answers I feel insecure when I cannot find something to match my solutions against. Although at least I'm glad I take History (instead of the usual Physics Chem Maths Econs I'm taking History instead of Chem) in JC which gives me a brief but if not well needed respite from the fact regurgitating and memorizing... But then again from Maths and Physics it's really unsettling for me when I find that my answers are wrong. It's like a built in mechanism already!!! and I can't get rid of it haha. I think that I’ve become so reliant on correct/model answers I feel insecure when I cannot find something to match my solutions against. Although at least I’m glad I take History (instead of the usual Physics Chem Maths Econs I’m taking History instead of Chem) in JC which gives me a brief but if not well needed respite from the fact regurgitating and memorizing… But then again from Maths and Physics it’s really unsettling for me when I find that my answers are wrong.

It’s like a built in mechanism already!!!
and I can’t get rid of it haha.

]]> By: Weiye http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17218 Weiye Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:51:10 +0000 http://aaron-ng.info/blog/the-role-of-education-in-singapore.html#comment-17218 I have to agree with you that university is the starting ground where we learn critical thinking. I'm just more cynical about lecturers saying that there's no such thing as a model answer; while all them may say so, most of them (I feel) have a set of answers that they deemed is most appropriate. Such answers are usually based on their research interests, religions and personal beliefs, backgrounds, political stands, etc. Till now, I have only experienced a handful of them who genuinely accept challenges and even award the students accordingly for beautiful attempts. Unfortunately, the remaining lecturers only expect students to challenge their points but conclude according to their ideals. Pardon my rambling. =) I have to agree with you that university is the starting ground where we learn critical thinking.

I’m just more cynical about lecturers saying that there’s no such thing as a model answer; while all them may say so, most of them (I feel) have a set of answers that they deemed is most appropriate. Such answers are usually based on their research interests, religions and personal beliefs, backgrounds, political stands, etc.

Till now, I have only experienced a handful of them who genuinely accept challenges and even award the students accordingly for beautiful attempts.

Unfortunately, the remaining lecturers only expect students to challenge their points but conclude according to their ideals.

Pardon my rambling. =)

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