Transcript Education- The Singapore Context

Functions of Education
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To allow individuals to better
themselves financially and in status
(means of social mobility)
To perpetuate existing social structure
To transmit culture and values of
society
To raise economic competitiveness of
society
To inculcate morals and promote
ethical behaviour
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
Article 26:
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Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be
free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.
Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical
and professional education shall be made generally
available and higher education shall be equally
accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Education- Issues and Controversies
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Who do we teach?
Everyone, according to the Universal Declaration of Rights
But….is this the case?
Gender inequality
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989),
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW, 1979)
By mid-2003, 173 countries had ratified the CEDAW convention. Exceptions:
Bahrain, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, The Islamic Republic of
Iran, Somalia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United States
A large minority of countries will not achieve gender parity at primary and
secondary levels by 2005
Social forces which propagate gender inequality- All-round dependence and
son preference (North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia- Pakistan, much of
India and Bangladesh and East Asia- China, Korea and Taiwan)
Wider and more fundamental social changes need to be made
Education- Issues and Controversies
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Social class and racial inequality
Upper- and middle-income parents vs. low-income parents
“Untouchables” of India
Burakumin of Japan
Roma minority
African Americans
What do we teach?
Aims and objectives
Economic development and wealth creation?
Enhancement of social cohesiveness?
Inculcation of ethics and morals?
Nourishment of the soul?
Specialised vs. Broad-based education
Education- Issues and Controversies
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How do we teach?
Structure vs. Freedom
Conformity vs. Individuality
American system vs. Asian system
Education- The Singapore
Context
“Education is about opening doors for our children, and giving
them hope and opportunities. It is more than filling a vessel
with knowledge - it is to light a fire in our young people.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
12 August 2004
Desired Outcomes of Education
The Singaporean - an Individual, a Citizen
Education does two things: it develops the individual and
educates the citizen.
 " An educated person is one who is responsible to
himself, his family, and his friends."
" An educated person is also someone who is
responsible to his community and country."
Compulsory Education
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Implemented in Singapore from the new school year
commencing 1st January 2003
Concern that students are not being equipped with the
necessary skills and knowledge to be productive citizens in
a knowledge-based economy (KBE)
Should be up to Primary 6 as this is considered the
minimum period of education for all Singapore children
Certain categories of children, e.g. those with special
needs will be exempted from compulsory education.
Penalty- a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
The education system at a glance
Alternative Routes
Private Schools
the state is the principal provider of
education at primary, secondary and
tertiary levels
 the private sector has the role of providing
for continuing/supplementary non-formal
education
 private schools need to be registered with
the MOE
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Alternative Routes
Islamic Religious
Schools
Academic Schools
Private Schools
Commercial
Schools
Foreign System
Schools
Special Education (SPED)
SPED schools run different programmes catering to distinct disability
groups of children who are unable to benefit from mainstream
schooling
 20 SPED schools
 pre-school and primary education
 run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs)
 funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the
National Council of Social Service (NCSS)
 the Genesis School for Special Education
 the Dover Court Preparatory School
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Special Education (SPED)
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Hearing Impaired (HI)
 2 designated secondary schools:
 Boon Lay Secondary School
 Balestier Hill Secondary School
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Visually Handicapped (VH)
 Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped
(SSVH)
 4 designated secondary schools:
 Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
 Bedok South Secondary School
 Dunearn Secondary School
 Ghim Moh Secondary School
Singapore Education System:
Issues and Controversies
Streaming- Developing specific talents or
stigmatising weaker groups?
 Bilingual policy- Does every student have the
mental capacity to be proficient in two
languages?
 Passive and examination-oriented learners –
“The Graduate Factory”?
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Streaming- Boon or Bane?
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Arguments for streaming
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All students have equal chances regardless of race
or social status
Students are allowed to study at a suitable pace as
they are grouped according to learning needs and
abilities
Develops different potentials and talents in students
Future leaders of the nation will be groomed for
their roles through appropriate enrichment
programmes
Streaming- Boon or Bane?
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Arguments against streaming
Students from lower-end streams suffer social
stigmatisation and labeling eg. Normal Technical
students
 Self-fulfilling prophecy; they are not expected to do
well and so they do not
 Students lose self-esteem and confidence
 Disadvantages many children whose talents and
strengths develop and show up later
 Does not take into account different abilities,
intelligences and learning styles
 Gives rise to elitism where the more academically
able and well-educated students are better rewarded
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Bilingual Policy
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Bilingualism and learning the Mother Tongue will
remain the cornerstone of our education policy
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English Language- Development and economic
survival
Mother Tongue- Access to one’s cultural roots and
heritage
Main argument: Not everybody has the innate
capacity to become effectively bilingual
 Mother Tongue admission criterion to local
universities has been relaxed
 Weaker secondary school students are allowed
to read simplified Chinese Language B syllabus
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Generation of Passive and
Examination-oriented Learners
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Education system criticised as rigid and lacking in
intellect-exercising stimuli
Development of powers of memory recall and
information-absorption faculties seen as important to
students
Students lack thinking skills and creativity to compete
economically on a global scale
Is the system too focused on academic excellence?
Initiatives and Programmes
Gifted Education
Programme
Elective Progrmmes
Innovation &
Enterprise
Psychological
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Guidance Services
Initiatives &
Programmes
Project Work
Trim & Fit (TAF)
Programme
Co-curricular Activities
Integrated
Programme
Essay Titles
Is a sound knowledge of science and technology
essential for a well-educated person in today’s
world? (GCE 1999)
 Do you think there is any need for change in the
educational system in your country? (GCE 1990)
 “Education does not develop individuality but
conformity.” Is such a statement always valid?
(GCE 1998)
 Consider the importance of the study of arts in
modern society. (TPJC JC2 CT 1995)
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That’s all folks!
Resources:
 UNESCO website: http://www.unesco.org/
 Human Rights Watch website: http://www.hrw.org/
 United Nations website: http://www.un.org/
 http://www.educationguide-usa.com/isg/edusystem.htm
 http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html
 http://www.moe.edu.sg
 Calhoun, Light and Keller 1997 Sociology Seventh Edition
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.