Singapore’s Education System: Are There Any Chinks in the Armour?

Singapore spent S$12.8 billion for education in 2018. And there is a whole host of information provided by the Ministry of Education, Singapore in their Education Statistics Digest 2018 (available on the net). As a percentage of GDP it is around 3%, lower than Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia or France or Malaysia (4.8% in 2017). In terms of actual outcomes, the city-state has managed to do more with less.

 Source: Statista/OECD

The island nation’s education system is among the best in the world. Singapore has consistently led international rankings, such as the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA estimates that Singaporean pupils are nearly three years ahead of their American peers in maths.

 

Parents meticulously sign their children up for after-school tuition and enrichment classes in the hope that their child will gain the competitive edge. A rat race ensues as students and their parents are driven by the pursuit for a better grade and a better future.

By the time Singaporean pupils finish their primary school education, they have already embarked on an extensive national test-taking career. Their first crucial test comes in the form of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). PSLE, a national examination system for 12-year-old students, determines entrants into secondary school and critically shapes a child’s education pathways.

Sources: Local schools, network, indirect, Study Malaysia,

WENR (I), (II), OECD, ISSS

As new technologies continue to disrupt traditional industries, the workforce of the future needs to be creative, innovative, and adaptable.

However, the Republic’s present testing and grading system is not developing young innovators but, rather, good test-takers.

In a bid to ensure that Singapore benefits from the global digital transformation, the city-state has embarked on a Smart Nation initiative. This initiative strives towards the nationwide adoption of smart technologies and envisions the development of a leading economy powered by digital innovation.

In recent years, Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) has also announced several changes to the education system for primary and secondary school students. From the removal of all exams for Primary 1 and 2 students to the introduction of wider scoring bands for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

By moving away from an over-emphasis on academic grades, the education system can provide space for students to discover the joy of learning and experience a more holistic development.

Singapore’s leaders may have begun the transition towards reducing the emphasis on grades within the education system. But a corresponding change in mind sets is lacking within Singaporean society, where ‘kiasuism’ is entrenched and the perennial need to get ahead is keenly felt.

The city-state needs to reassure its citizens that achieving strong academic results is not the only path to success. The kiasu mentality drives continual betterment. But the fear of failing impedes innovation. That is the biggest challenge.

In Malaysia, it is not kiasuism but mediocrity.  So we have black shoes, khat and a whole host of “form over substance” issues. Thank God the Minister is gone! Could we have someone with an outlook for the future – digital, languages and mathematical skills to be emphasised for our next Minister of Education?

Reference:

The Singapore education system’s greatest asset is becoming its biggest weakness, Maegan Liew, 9 January 2019 (www.aseantoday.com)