Thanks for your response. I prefer “learning habits”. Good learning habits are vital. My only concern is that if it is more of the same that has been done then I think it is bad. Learning must be looked at in a different light. “Studying” suggests quite something else That global competition that your refer too is already taking on a different light. See my post http://educononline.com/2009/10/02/china-and-singapore-the-test-oriented-education-trap/

It shows how even China is aware the old method or studying in schools and universities need to change. If a communist state can see this, why can’t we?

Still I look forward to a healthy discussion with you

Regards

Amran

I agree with all you are saying, the the system is overated. The schools, from top to bottom are pressured to produced results in students. Its really sad as the kids don’t enjoy learning, its rote learning. Sorry to say that schools have NO time to be concerned with process of learning, they are rushing the syllabus. Majority of the students are struggling and emotionally they are not happy. I really dislike the system.

Thanks very much for reading my posts and for the questions too. I have deliberately chosen not to praise teh system because teh praise is well-known if compared to the warts. I honestly believe that the Singapore schooling system is over-rated.

Having said that of course there are steps in the right direction. However, if you may permit me to generalize, it is too little and perhaps done in a half-hearted manner. Take for example, project work. That is the right step in the direction towards other modes of learning. Note I said “learning” as opposed to assessment. Of course assessment and learning goes hand in hand but if the stress on project work is that it just a part of an assessment towards a high stakes examinations, then I think it has missed the woods for the trees.

Another example is the use of portfolios for learning. Again, for me, it is a way for students to learn. However, in the Singapore school context portfolios are only used for Art or Design and Technology and even then it is used only when the students are required to submit them as part of high stakes examinations.

The last example I will cite for now is the introduction of thinking skills. Anyone who has been to Singapore schools today will see that it is way done, the priority given to it is way down low. Rare is the teacher who will make an effort to get students to use thinking skills during the learning process despite the oft-quoted “Thinking Schools, Learning Nation” slogan. If it used, it is used in a very cynical manner which is to teach students to answer the “thinking skills questions” in the high stakes examinations. I have written quite a bit on this in my blog. You may want to look up the tags “thinking” and “thinking skills”.

Thanks again for your response to my writing. It is much appreciated.

I was just wondering if there are any changes to the education system within the last 10 years that you’d consider as useful. I mean, your criticisms of the education system cannot possibly mean that everything that has been done thus far are really just a waste of time, right? Or am I wrong?

Sham