PAP responsible for high levels of anxiety: Chee Soon Juan

“The danger is that our ministers, themselves brought through a system that stifles independent thinking and financially engorged with their salaries, possess neither the vision nor the courage to effect change even when they see the problems,” said Dr Chee Soon Juan in response to the results of an OECD report. The report indicates that 86 per cent of students in Singapore were worried about poor grades in school, 20 percentage points higher than the OECD average of 66 per cent. The report also indicates that 76 per cent of Singapore students felt anxious for a test despite being well prepared.

Dr Chee, Secretary-General for the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), argued that these high levels of anxiety are the result of the examination system in Singapore which fails to prepare students “for a rapidly changing future where critical thinking and innovation is prized over rote-learning.”

Citing statistics which show an increase in mental health problems among students, Dr Chee pointed out that many students commit suicide because of exam pressure. He also quoted psychiatrist Brian Yeo’s comment: “What kind of life are we putting our kids through if they’re so frightened of exams?”

Dr Chee’s comments in full:

What will it take for the PAP to understand the harm they are inflicting on our children and the future of this country?
– One in three students say they sometimes think that life is not worth living because of fear of exams.
– 13% of primary schoolchildren show signs of anxiety and depression.
– The no. of children warded at IMH jumped 35% from 2005-2010.
– Many students kill themselves because of exam pressure.
– “What kind of life are we putting our kids through if they’re so frightened of exams?” – Psychiatrist Brian Yeo.

None of this prepares us for a rapidly changing future where critical thinking and innovation is prized over rote-learning.

The danger is that our ministers, themselves brought through a system that stifles independent thinking and financially engorged with their salaries, possess neither the vision nor the courage to effect change even when they see the problems.

Never has an alternative voice been more urgent.

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