Disclaimer: The owner of this blog does not condone these views and is not a member of any political party. Any teachers out there would like to comment on this?
Let me share with you my views on this issue. In my opinion, this has got to do with our "EDUCATION" system. We no longer "EDUCATE" our students in schools; in the late 80s and 90s, our schools are just "factories" that keep stuffing technical knowledge to our students, but not "EDUCATING" them to become a human being with decency. "EDUCATION" was left to "chances" and each individuals' natural inclination. Now, it is even worst. Our schools have shifted their attention to "AWARD WINNING".... Principals are more interested in winning awards after awards for the school so that they could beef up their portfolios, profiles and achievements; they could even make students sarcrifice their studies just to make sure that they win awards for the "school" (but in actual fact, it is for the principals' own profile filings). This shift in "Education" system has got to do with the so called "advancement" of society. When the economy needs a great supply of "techincally trained" (note, not "educated") population to fill up factories' position, our "Education" system was turned into a factory that is only interested in chunking out "products" that are equipped with technical knowledge. Well, not that it is wrong to do so, but on the expense of the deliberate neglect of character training in TRUE EDUCATION of the populous into a "HUMAN BEING" was too high cost to pay. When they find out this "problem" of over emphasis on "technical training" (in terms of results orientated), they come up with another sets of "measurements" that they thought could "balance up" the "education" system; yes, using the number of "non-academic awards" to measure a school's "success" in "education". This is rubbish. This has resulted in principals (especially the young ones) to put in all efforts in winning "awards"...all kinds of awards. This is no "character building" at all. The casualties? Students. Especially for those below average neighbourhood schools... those principals know pretty well that with that kind of "academic quality" of students, it is impossible to impress their bosses at the Ministry level with "academic achievements". Thus, to them, to win all sorts of awards are their top priorities. Teachers that could help the schools win awards will be treated as "jewels", never mind about their teaching abilities. Examinations could be postponed or even break into two different time frame, just to let students prepare for activities that could possibly win awards for the schools! Never mind whether the students could cope with their school work or not....they are not "top quality" students anyway... use them as tools to win awards to glorify principals' achievements lor! I know all these funny things happening in Singapore schools because I have many friends in the teaching profession. It is really disheartening to learn all these crazy happenings in schools. Schools no longer "Educate" morality, not even provide "academic/technical training", but has become a "award winning" machine for principals to glorify their own profiles! Beside "award winning" mentality, principals "glorify" themselves by spending unnecessary monies on landscaping, monuments...etc etc...Who to blame? Of course the chief of MOE has to be blamed! This "glorification" culture has extended into all sectors of the civil service; that is why you see all sorts of funny and "designer" buildings built for the civil service.... there are more than seven wonders in Singaproe! That is why we could spend $600million on the two durians, knowing that we are going to spend another $50million in ANNUAL maintenance fees! This is the decay we are facing right now... friendliness and civic minds? How could we cultivate all these when the whole government, from the top to the bottom are all obsessed with self glorifications?
Goh Meng Seng
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