Education in Singapore is headed In The Right Direction

The slow and steady changes that are being brought about by the Ministry of Education have started bearing fruit now. The consistent efforts of the schools and the well planned courses have channeled the efforts in the right direction as evident by the results.

What is being done can be listed down in the following -

Program for International Student Assessment of Problem-Solving

The students of Singapore surprised one and all by standing first in this program. Almost 85,000 students had participated in the assessment. The students came from 44 territories and were asked to solve problems related to their daily life. Simple problems involving finding the shortest route possible were devised for the participants. The result only re-affirmed the MOE beliefs that the students of Singapore were fast learners, with good levels of curiosity and an ability to solve all problems, in all kinds of situations.

Breaking Popular Notions

The excellent results also forced people to re-think their opinion of students and forced them to give them another chance. The students obviously cannot be called mindless, or disinterested in something new anymore. If a survey was to be conducted of the young generation of Singapore, it will be found that they are highly creative and have loads of ideas that they want to interpret.

Need To Shift Focus from Academics

Creative ideas can be interpreted into aspirations, only when the children get some breathing space from the intensely focused academic structure. The new changes were trying to break away from the conventional mode of thinking and changing the parameters of success, in order to produce individuals with all round development.

Learn Form The Finnish System

Singapore is quick to take tips from the Finnish system of education, where stress is laid on development rather than solely performance. The problem with the students of Singapore was the lack of voicing their opinions, and the fear to stray from the path laid down. This was leading to high anxiety levels, which could be ruled out if the leanings from the Finish system were incorporated here. Staying quiet should not be mistaken for fear of being different.

The Key Lies in the Mindset

Expecting things to change overnight is being a little over ambitious. Once the mindset and definitions of success are altered, success will take on a totally different meaning for parents and students. And once the mindset changes, the opportunities and the level of success will rise automatically. However, results prove that Singapore is headed in the right direction. Slowly and steadily the change will come along. The reviews of the Applied Study in Polytechnics and the ITE are proof enough to show that very soon, Singapore will be at power with nations like Switzerland and Finland.