THIS year's Budget has initiatives to empower every Singaporean to learn and develop throughout their lives ("Grant, top-ups in push for workers to upgrade skills"; Tuesday).
This is a heartening move that recognises the importance of constantly staying relevant through skills upgrading and knowledge acquisition.
As we mark our 50th year of independence, the time is ripe to review our education system's effectiveness. Granted, our students attain stellar results in international tests and national exams. However, it is less certain whether the average student readily exhibits the qualities of a truly educated person.
Many students in Singapore fall short when it comes to communicative skills, especially if they are asked questions on the spot for which they have not prepared any scripted answer. Few students can confidently articulate their opinions on broad issues. Some do not even possess much general knowledge or awareness of current affairs.
Critical thinking skills may not be readily observed in our students. This may, in part, be due to the lack of time for reading amid a hectic daily schedule.
However, it is also questionable whether lessons in school sufficiently infuse and integrate real-life, current knowledge and issues into lessons. Perhaps, this has been sidelined by the heavy focus on exams.
While the constant upgrading of technical and vocational skills is vital, so is the need to have our students stay abreast of current affairs and have opportunities to debate issues that have an impact.
Likewise, our students need to have ample opportunities to hone their oratorical skills so that they can effectively communicate with others. Even in written communication, we need to ensure they understand the importance of tone and register so that they do not end up sounding too informal or casual in their language use.
We cannot afford to have our classrooms function as bubbles, with students cut off from current issues and concerns of the day.
While they may boast of impressive technical skills, they must also be equipped with updated knowledge. Otherwise, they are not truly empowered nor prepared for the real world.
Ng Seow Hwee (Ms)
This is a heartening move that recognises the importance of constantly staying relevant through skills upgrading and knowledge acquisition.
As we mark our 50th year of independence, the time is ripe to review our education system's effectiveness. Granted, our students attain stellar results in international tests and national exams. However, it is less certain whether the average student readily exhibits the qualities of a truly educated person.
Many students in Singapore fall short when it comes to communicative skills, especially if they are asked questions on the spot for which they have not prepared any scripted answer. Few students can confidently articulate their opinions on broad issues. Some do not even possess much general knowledge or awareness of current affairs.
Critical thinking skills may not be readily observed in our students. This may, in part, be due to the lack of time for reading amid a hectic daily schedule.
However, it is also questionable whether lessons in school sufficiently infuse and integrate real-life, current knowledge and issues into lessons. Perhaps, this has been sidelined by the heavy focus on exams.
While the constant upgrading of technical and vocational skills is vital, so is the need to have our students stay abreast of current affairs and have opportunities to debate issues that have an impact.
Likewise, our students need to have ample opportunities to hone their oratorical skills so that they can effectively communicate with others. Even in written communication, we need to ensure they understand the importance of tone and register so that they do not end up sounding too informal or casual in their language use.
We cannot afford to have our classrooms function as bubbles, with students cut off from current issues and concerns of the day.
While they may boast of impressive technical skills, they must also be equipped with updated knowledge. Otherwise, they are not truly empowered nor prepared for the real world.
Ng Seow Hwee (Ms)
