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Education: Charting our education reform

Published

12 years ago

on

By Richmond Lee –

It is strange in a way how the primary education has been politicized for education belongs to everyone. With the haze encapsulating our city state, we are too fumbling with a flurry of hazy views to best proceed with our education reform.

PLSE is the only current yardstick for categorizing kids at the age of 12 into different academic moulds. When I say ‘categorize’, I mean it in a very condescending manner: I mean how fair is it to put a kid at a tender age of 12 into a crucible to decide his or her success in later life and force them to excel in subjects that are considerably boring?

I empathize with myself when I was 12 I had to go through this system. Thinking back, I was oblivious of what PSLE had intended to bring. Throughout the six year primary education, I was at the backseat of an express train riding through for academic success and grades meant little to me. Or rather I had little bearings of my future.

 

‘Halo-ing education’

Education is sacred to society and this is my belief: it brings out the common beliefs and expounds shared values which the society would want to foster their young.

I would like to mention Ken Robinson as an inspiring person whose unimpressive job title as educationalist believes that schools should do away with industrialist notions of education. The way our education system has been modeled could be connected indirectly to training our progeny to fill future positions in our industries. The content of our curriculum are thus dosed highly with hard subjects (mathematics and science) to gear them for an unimaginative future in our workplace.

The industrialist education system is purposeful, but it lacks the human touch to education and that is to instill in students creativity and the appetite for learning, rather than the hunger for success to climb ladders solely. Robinson believes that in the modern world, innovation is more highly sought after than fulfilling factory manpower quotas.

However, I do not hold grudges against the industrialist education system. Given our precarious position in the world as a resource bereft city, we must carefully mould our resource to bring in the best for everyone. This is a hard fact that we must swallow that our only resource is people.

Thus the current discourse for education reform is timely called for. But the crux of the debate must be how one can revamp the current education system and raise children who are much more worldly and value-centric without losing their appeal to industries and how we add that halo to education.

 

‘Fault finding and cracks in the system’

Critics quickly find fault that our education system is too stressful and elitist. This is a generally well perceived problem. Yes, removing PSLE may root out elitism and some other of the unwelcomed aspects in the system, but it will lead us nowhere because it is still deeply entrenched in people due to strong Confucian convictions. From a historical perspective too our education system evolved from the old British school model which was elitist.

Parents still lead in the thought that having strong academic credentials will enable their child to have a better stead in society. This is not wrong as education could is a leveler of social classes. Students from poor families will still have a chance at education to move up with social mobility. The question then leads to ‘how about kids who do not succeed in studies?’ 

 

‘Parents are still the best educators’

Kids who do well in studies and do not come from a great spectrum of family demographics: from the well-to-do to splintered single parent. The complex issue of how further a child will go later in life (not merely in studies) lie in the values that their parents impart and inculcate on. In other words family is one of the key factors in their success. Parent(s) are after all a child’s first and foremost important mentors and children their disciple.

Generally, kids from broken families (or even well-to-do ones) and do not perform academically must not be stigmatized by society first. It is important to remove the stigma that academic ability equates to doing well in life. A person could be intelligent enough to be a Mensa candidate but lacking emotional intelligence. Of course we do not wish to raise didactic robots in our child who are of Mensa caliber but lacking social graces and good values.

Parents are still rigid in the regard of praising their child’s creativity. From a very tender age and it is very important to allow them to explore and find means to suit their interests. Exploration and creativity work hand-in-hand and is not detrimental to a child who is beginning to gauge whether education and learning is fun or not. Hence we should not judge others by the merit of their papers; the root goes back to elitism which is a barrier holding our thoughts back and how we measure achievement socially. 

But all this is a tall order and idealistic: but how can we achieve total equality when the yardstick is still causing biasness?

 

‘Ability differentiation’

The education situation in South Korea and Taiwan bear similar resemblance in their liberalized university sector and common ills of most graduates having depressed wages and facing a tight graduate labor market. Thus many degree-holders are working jobs that do not commensurate their degrees. The realities of economics are harsh and the key to problem is supply.

Because of the large numbers of universities competing for a small pool of students, some private universities would go on to lower admission standards and admit students who are not yet ready for a university education. Lowly ranked universities offer easy courses to attract paying students and thus short change students in equipping them with the best mental training that a university should offer. As a result, companies like the Chaebols in South Korea and MNCs in Taiwan typically hire graduates from their country’s top colleges.

On the contrary, our system is differentiated as with the German’s. This would come to the point of ability differentiation as opposed to the rather singular educational approach of South Korea and Taiwan.

In Germany, students after primary school have varied choices in their secondary education streams and not all end up in a university. Some may go to vocational institutes and be employed as a technician but still enjoy a level of high regard in the society because of their professionalism and training which the institutes endow. A German friend once told me that graduates from the vocational institute can still go to a university if they show similar academic accomplishments.

In the same token, at one track of our education pathway our students from the Normal technical stream will proceed to the vocational institute (ITE) and then further to polytechnics and finally to our public universities. This is possible because of the bridges that are made available; a longer route but still necessary. I would be interested to see repurposing ITEs so as to refresh our education system to include vocational training as an important member of society that is still relevant.

 

‘Not all can fit into a mould, so why not more?’

PLSE is outmoded in the aspect that it is a measurement solely of academic achievements. If we only blindly pursue excellence in grades and not a holistic experiential learning, we would have missed the essence of education and that is to foster our child to become useful members of the society and hopefully making them independent learners.

Implanting and allowing creative thinking to blossom in a ‘new PSLE curriculum’ would enable innovation to calibrate the economics to shift to favor the demand curve rather than supply. Thus our future industries would actually rely on the creative and inventive environment that our young will build and realize. Ability differentiation should also be reinforced and elitism waned to create respect for people of varying abilities and contribution.

The recent addition of two newly minted universities will not result in such an impasse as Korean and Taiwan if the entering students are able to receive good quality instructions. In fact coming from a renowned or unknown university does not matter as long as a person is able to grasp the essence of university education and that is to learn how to learn.

People do not attribute success to a coveted university degree but rather it is the intrinsic values in them that will drive them to scale greater heights. Thus expectations should veer towards students achieving positive values like in sports and healthy competition.

Of course changes take time to bear fruit and changes should also take place cautiously lest we bump into a wrong turn and cannot back-track. So are the parents’ anxiety to send their kids to a top school and cramming them with unnecessary tuition. As academic expectations slowly devalue, we should see a shift of mindset from getting to elite schools to schools which will ‘get you there’. It may not be in this generation that we see the shift.

Education is an ever revolving door as different people with different expectations enter and exit. Our reforms should take heed of our societal changes and in the macroscopic scale world developments to change if necessary to keep up with the times. This will take forever.

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Lim Tean criticizes Govt’s rejection of basic income report, urges Singaporeans to rethink election choices

Lim Tean, leader of Peoples Voice (PV), criticizes the government’s defensive response to the basic living income report, accusing it of avoiding reality.

He calls on citizens to assess affordability and choose MPs who can truly enhance their lives in the upcoming election.

Published

1 year ago

on

15 September 2023

By

SINGAPORE: A recently published report, “Minimum Income Standard 2023: Household Budgets in a Time of Rising Costs,” unveils figures detailing the necessary income households require to maintain a basic standard of living, using the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) method.

The newly released study, spearheaded by Dr Ng Kok Hoe of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) specifically focuses on working-age households in 2021 and presents the latest MIS budgets, adjusted for inflation from 2020 to 2022.

The report detailed that:

  • The “reasonable starting point” for a living wage in Singapore was S$2,906 a month.
  • A single parent with a child aged two to six required S$3,218 per month.
  • Partnered parents with two children, one aged between seven and 12 and the other between 13 and 18, required S$6,426 a month.
  • A single elderly individual required S$1,421 a month.
  • Budgets for both single and partnered parent households averaged around S$1,600 per member. Given recent price inflation, these figures have risen by up to 5% in the current report.

Singapore Govt challenges MIS 2023 report’s representation of basic needs

Regrettably, on Thursday (14 Sept), the Finance Ministry (MOF), Manpower Ministry (MOM), and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) jointly issued a statement dismissing the idea suggested by the report, claiming that minimum household income requirements amid inflation “might not accurately reflect basic needs”.

Instead, they claimed that findings should be seen as “what individuals would like to have.”, and further defended their stances for the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) and other measures to uplift lower-wage workers.

The government argued that “a universal wage floor is not necessarily the best way” to ensure decent wages for lower-wage workers.

The government’s statement also questions the methodology of the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) report, highlighting limitations such as its reliance on respondent profiles and group dynamics.

“The MIS approach used is highly dependent on respondent profiles and on group dynamics. As the focus groups included higher-income participants, the conclusions may not be an accurate reflection of basic needs.”

The joint statement claimed that the MIS approach included discretionary expenditure items such as jewellery, perfumes, and overseas holidays.

Lim Tean slams Government’s response to basic living income report

In response to the government’s defensive reaction to the recent basic living income report, Lim Tean, leader of the alternative party Peoples Voice (PV), strongly criticizes the government’s apparent reluctance to confront reality, stating, “It has its head buried in the sand”.

He strongly questioned the government’s endorsement of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) as a means to uplift the living standards of the less fortunate in Singapore, describing it as a misguided approach.

In a Facebook video on Friday (15 Sept), Lim Tean highlighted that it has become a global norm, especially in advanced and first-world countries, to establish a minimum wage, commonly referred to as a living wage.

“Everyone is entitled to a living wage, to have a decent life, It is no use boasting that you are one of the richest countries in the world that you have massive reserves, if your citizens cannot have a decent life with a decent living wage.”

Lim Tean cited his colleague, Leong Sze Hian’s calculations, which revealed a staggering 765,800 individuals in Singapore, including Permanent Residents and citizens, may not earn the recommended living wage of $2,906, as advised by the MIS report.

“If you take away the migrant workers or the foreign workers, and take away those who do not work, underage, are children you know are unemployed, and the figure is staggering, isn’t it?”

“You know you are looking at a very substantial percentage of the workforce that do not have sufficient income to meet basic needs, according to this report.”

He reiterated that the opposition parties, including the People’s Voice and the People’s Alliance, have always called for a minimum wage, a living wage which the government refuses to countenance.

Scepticism about the government’s ability to control rising costs

In a time of persistently high inflation, Lim Tean expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to control rising costs.

He cautioned against believing in predictions of imminent inflation reduction and lower interest rates below 2%, labeling them as unrealistic.

Lim Tean urged Singaporeans to assess their own affordability in these challenging times, especially with the impending GST increase.

He warned that a 1% rise in GST could lead to substantial hikes in everyday expenses, particularly food prices.

Lim Tean expressed concern that the PAP had become detached from the financial struggles of everyday Singaporeans, citing their high salaries and perceived insensitivity to the common citizen’s plight.

Lim Tean urges Singaporeans to rethink election choices

Highlighting the importance of the upcoming election, Lim Tean recommended that citizens seriously evaluate the affordability of their lives.

“If you ask yourself about affordability, you will realise that you have no choice, In the coming election, but to vote in a massive number of opposition Members of Parliament, So that they can make a difference.”

Lim Tean emphasized the need to move beyond the traditional notion of providing checks and balances and encouraged voters to consider who could genuinely improve their lives.

“To me, the choice is very simple. It is whether you decide to continue with a life, that is going to become more and more expensive: More expensive housing, higher cost of living, jobs not secure because of the massive influx of foreign workers,” he declared.

“Or you choose members of Parliament who have your interests at heart and who want to make your lives better.”

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Political observers call for review of Singapore’s criteria of Presidential candidates and propose 5 year waiting period for political leaders

Singaporean political observers express concern over the significantly higher eligibility criteria for private-sector presidential candidates compared to public-sector candidates, calling for adjustments.

Some also suggest a five year waiting period for aspiring political leaders after leaving their party before allowed to partake in the presidential election.

Notably, The Workers’ Party has earlier reiterated its position that the current qualification criteria favor PAP candidates and has called for a return to a ceremonial presidency instead of an elected one.

Published

1 year ago

on

5 September 2023

By

While the 2023 Presidential Election in Singapore concluded on Friday (1 September), discussions concerning the fairness and equity of the electoral system persist.

Several political observers contend that the eligibility criteria for private-sector individuals running for president are disproportionately high compared to those from the public sector, and they propose that adjustments be made.

They also recommend a five-year waiting period for aspiring political leaders after leaving their party before being allowed to participate in the presidential election.

Aspiring entrepreneur George Goh Ching Wah, announced his intention to in PE 2023 in June. However, His application as a candidate was unsuccessful, he failed to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on 18 August.

Mr Goh had expressed his disappointment in a statement after the ELD’s announcement, he said, the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) took a very narrow interpretation of the requirements without explaining the rationale behind its decision.

As per Singapore’s Constitution, individuals running for the presidency from the private sector must have a minimum of three years’ experience as a CEO in a company.

This company should have consistently maintained an average shareholders’ equity of at least S$500 million and sustained profitability.

Mr Goh had pursued eligibility through the private sector’s “deliberative track,” specifically referring to section 19(4)(b)(2) of the Singapore Constitution.

He pointed out five companies he had led for over three years, collectively claiming a shareholders’ equity of S$1.521 billion.

Notably, prior to the 2016 revisions, the PEC might have had the authority to assess Mr Goh’s application similarly to how it did for Mr Tan Jee Say in the 2011 Presidential Election.

Yet, in its current formulation, the PEC is bound by the definitions laid out in the constitution.

Calls for equitable standards across public and private sectors

According to Singapore’s Chinese media outlet, Shin Min Daily News, Dr Felix Tan Thiam Kim, a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, noted that in 2016, the eligibility criteria for private sector candidates were raised from requiring them to be executives of companies with a minimum capital of S$100 million to CEOs of companies with at least S$500 million in shareholder equity.

However, the eligibility criteria for public sector candidates remained unchanged. He suggests that there is room for adjusting the eligibility criteria for public sector candidates.

Associate Professor Bilver Singh, Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, believes that the constitutional requirements for private-sector individuals interested in running are excessively stringent.

He remarked, “I believe it is necessary to reassess the relevant regulations.”

He points out that the current regulations are more favourable for former public officials seeking office and that the private sector faces notably greater challenges.

“While it may be legally sound, it may not necessarily be equitable,” he added.

Proposed five-year waiting period for political leaders eyeing presidential race

Moreover, despite candidates severing ties with their political parties in pursuit of office, shedding their political affiliations within a short timeframe remains a challenging endeavour.

A notable instance is Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who resigned from the People’s Action Party (PAP) just slightly over a month before announcing his presidential candidacy, sparking considerable debate.

During a live broadcast, his fellow contender, Ng Kok Song, who formerly served as the Chief Investment Officer of GIC, openly questioned Mr Tharman’s rapid transition to a presidential bid shortly after leaving his party and government.

Dr Felix Tan suggests that in the future, political leaders aspiring to run for the presidency should not only resign from their parties but also adhere to a mandatory waiting period of at least five years before entering the race.

Cherian George and Kevin Y.L. Tan: “illogical ” to raise the corporate threshold in 2016

Indeed, the apprehension regarding the stringent eligibility criteria and concerns about fairness in presidential candidacy requirements are not limited to political analysts interviewed by Singapore’s mainstream media.

Prior to PE2023, CCherian George, a Professor of media studies at Hong Kong Baptist University, and Kevin Y.L. Tan, an Adjunct Professor at both the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore and the NTU’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), brought attention to the challenges posed by the qualification criteria for candidates vying for the Singaporean Presidency.

In their article titled “Why Singapore’s Next Elected President Should be One of its Last,” the scholars discussed the relevance of the current presidential election system in Singapore and floated the idea of returning to an appointed President, emphasizing the symbolic and unifying role of the office.

They highlighted that businessman George Goh appeared to be pursuing the “deliberative track” for qualification, which requires candidates to satisfy the PEC that their experience and abilities are comparable to those of a typical company’s chief executive with shareholder equity of at least S$500 million.

Mr Goh cobbles together a suite of companies under his management to meet the S$500m threshold.

The article also underscored the disparities between the eligibility criteria for candidates from the public and private sectors, serving as proxies for evaluating a candidate’s experience in handling complex financial matters.

“It is hard to see what financial experience the Chairman of the Public Service Commission or for that matter, the Chief Justice has, when compared to a Minister or a corporate chief.”

“The raising of the corporate threshold in 2016 is thus illogical and serves little purpose other than to simply reduce the number of potentially eligible candidates.”

The article also touches upon the issue of candidates’ independence from political parties, particularly the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

It mentions that candidates are expected to be non-partisan and independent, and it questions how government-backed candidates can demonstrate their independence given their previous affiliations.

The Workers’ Party advocate for a return to a ceremonial presidency

It comes as no surprise that Singapore’s alternative party, the Workers’ Party, reaffirmed its stance on 30 August, asserting that they believe the existing qualifying criteria for presidential candidates are skewed in favour of those approved by the People’s Action Party (PAP).

They argue that the current format of the elected presidency (EP) undermines the principles of parliamentary democracy.

“It also serves as an unnecessary source of gridlock – one that could potentially cripple a non-PAP government within its first term – and is an alternative power centre that could lead to political impasses.”

Consistently, the Workers’ Party has been vocal about its objection to the elected presidency and has consistently called for its abolition.

Instead, they advocate for a return to a ceremonial presidency, a position they have maintained for over three decades.

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