Comments on: Education in Singapore and Finland: a comparison Part 3 http://educononline.com/2009/09/13/education-in-singapore-and-finland-a-comparison-part-3/ Educational consultancy for schools of international standards in Asia from Singapore. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:27:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Amran http://educononline.com/2009/09/13/education-in-singapore-and-finland-a-comparison-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Amran Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:51:27 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=2046#comment-560 Thanks, Markus for your input. I guess it is fair for me to say then that compared to Singapore, Finland is far from examinations-focused. In Singapore, we have at almost all levels (until recently even at 7 and 8 years old, that is Primary 1 and 2), twice yearly semestral examinations which are summative in nature. Thanks, Markus for your input. I guess it is fair for me to say then that compared to Singapore, Finland is far from examinations-focused. In Singapore, we have at almost all levels (until recently even at 7 and 8 years old, that is Primary 1 and 2), twice yearly semestral examinations which are summative in nature.

]]> By: Markus http://educononline.com/2009/09/13/education-in-singapore-and-finland-a-comparison-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Markus Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:10:18 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=2046#comment-558 And not all students will do matricular examinations, only those who go to general upper secondary schools. Vocational schools won't have such exams. And not all students will do matricular examinations, only those who go to general upper secondary schools. Vocational schools won’t have such exams.

]]> By: Miikka http://educononline.com/2009/09/13/education-in-singapore-and-finland-a-comparison-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Miikka Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:41:16 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=2046#comment-555 Yes Amran, the main national tests are at the end of the upper secondary school. The system is definitely not as active in ranking students as the Singapore one. But still the existence of the matriculation tests have an effect on how students act in school and how they are expected to perform. To clarify, the problem is more a cultural one: the schools are compared in the media, not as much by the government authorities. Some school was just criticized of giving tips to students on what kind of questions would be asked in the matriculation exams. Students themselves want summative assessment as do their parents. The comparisons between schools happen at the higher education level mostly. So the government here might have good will, many teachers also, but the nature of the learning culture changes quite slowly. My research was at the university level at two different institutions of music education. The students there do not seem to be ready for student centred learning and thus I am concerned of their prior education and exposure to a teacher centred, externally motivated learning. Yes Amran, the main national tests are at the end of the upper secondary school. The system is definitely not as active in ranking students as the Singapore one. But still the existence of the matriculation tests have an effect on how students act in school and how they are expected to perform. To clarify, the problem is more a cultural one: the schools are compared in the media, not as much by the government authorities. Some school was just criticized of giving tips to students on what kind of questions would be asked in the matriculation exams. Students themselves want summative assessment as do their parents. The comparisons between schools happen at the higher education level mostly.

So the government here might have good will, many teachers also, but the nature of the learning culture changes quite slowly. My research was at the university level at two different institutions of music education. The students there do not seem to be ready for student centred learning and thus I am concerned of their prior education and exposure to a teacher centred, externally motivated learning.

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