Saturday, July 17, 2010

Education system

Scrap all primary school exams?
PSLE - the unfactored elephant in the room...
Wee Hien Seng
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_554516.html


Future requires a bolder strategy
Samuel Ng
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_554514.html

My views
I have written on past occasions that the focus should be to educate the students to be literate, numerate, learn social skills and have values and characters. The examination can be conducted to ensure that the students achieve these basic skills, and should not aim to identify the top scholars. We aim to get at least 90% of students to pass. This will not put pressure on students and parents. We should learn our children enjoy their childhood. They should not have to compete for top positions in class.

I believe that educated people with good values and character can make a living in our modern society. All jobs should pay reasonably well, although the more difficult jobs can pay better than others (but the difference should not be excesssive).

See item 6 in this paper.