A Vibrant Global City Called Home
NDR - Education 1. In order to remake the economy, Singaporeans must be equipped with right skills and attitudes
2. Last year, spoke on education. Focus was on schools, “Teach Less, Learn More” to give our young more room to discover their passion and interests
3. This year, focus on post-secondary education, especially polytechnics and ITEs
a. Education system must offer first class education to all, and not just an elite few
i. To create opportunities for all our people, regardless of family background
ii. To develop every talent, not just an academic elite
iii. To prevent low skills, low incomes in next generation
iv. To keep us an inclusive, mobile society
b. This is why Singapore works
i. Not just a few stars, but a strong Singapore team
ii. e.g. tsunami operation – every volunteer, every specialist and officer, is well trained and knows his job
iii. e.g. good healthcare depends not just on having outstanding doctors, but capable and dedicated nurses and technicians. Hospitals in Singapore vs. the region
4. Polytechnics
a. Takes in the biggest segment of each cohort (40%)
b. Polys already world class, greatly admired internationally
i. Close to industry, able to respond to changing industry needs, and provide practical and useful training
ii. Graduates in great demand, paid well
c. Visited Nanyang Polytechnic; impressed by the quality of their facilities, dedication of staff, and calibre of students
i. Designing robots – not just toys to tinker with, but serious industrial projects, e.g. one commissioned by HP to make plotters
ii. Digital animation – creating own cartoon – Gan Cheong Kin shown on TV mobile
iii. Two students participated in the World Skills Competition held in Helsinki, Finland. Viridis Liew won the first prize in her category – IT PC Network Support. Min Ming won in the Software Applications category. Overall among all the 700 competitors from 39 countries in all categories, Viridis took the top prize (best of the best), and Min Ming was the 2nd best of the best
d. Other polytechnics also creating their own industry niches
i. Temasek Poly – course in hospitality & tourism management conducted in Sentosa. Preparing for IRs!
ii. Ngee Ann Poly – Early childhood education, mass communication, Film, Sound & Video
e. How to improve polys further?
i. Not make them universities, awarding their own degrees instead of diplomas – a mistake
ii. But make it easier for some students to get a degree. Link up with specialised foreign universities to run degree programmes in niche areas. Produce graduates in selected applied disciplines, different from NUS/ NTU/SMU. That way we produce diverse talents e.g.
(1) Interactive Media – with reputable institutions like US Digipen Institute
(2) Resort Management – with degree courses in Las Vegas and Hawaii
(3) Culinary arts, childcare and nursing – with top colleges in US and Europe
5. ITEs
a. ITE Brand of Education – unique in the world
i. Tagline: “Thinking hands”
ii. Hands-on, Minds-on and Hearts-on
b. Visited ITE Macpherson
i. Saw facilities, students working on their projects. Impressed by enthusiasm of students and dedication of staff
ii. Self confident, rounded, preparing to lead fulfilling lives
(1) 4 young ITE students who participated in the IBM Women’s Conference Student Contest – student leader, budding entrepreneur, teacher in MINDS, national hockey player
(2) Competed against university and poly teams – won Championship
(3) Watched their video. Quote Hemalatha Arudas (hockey player):
(a) “Never say die, try until you succeed.
When there is a will, there is a way.
If you strive hard and work consistently,
you will be able to excel.”
c. Take ITE to next level – One System, Three Colleges
i. Simei, Chua Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio
ii. Critical mass of students
iii. Comprehensive facilities and activities, like our polys
iv. More choices – both academic and CCA
(1) e.g. engineering students can take business and IT modules
6. Post-Secondary Education Accounts
a. Every student to go to post-secondary education
b. Post secondary education is heavily subsidised
c. But some still have difficulty paying, and institutions raise funds to help them
d. What more can we do to help?
e. Will allow unused Child Development Accounts (Baby Bonus) to be converted to Post-Secondary Education Accounts, to pay for Post-Secondary education, i.e. ITE, polytechnics, universities in Singapore.
f. Plus parents can continue to contribute till child is 18, and get Government co-funding.
g. Help each family to invest in the best education their children can get
7. Many of our ITE students come from Normal stream – half are from N(T)
a. Most prefer ITE to school, and blossom there
b. Asked Tharman how we can unlock their enthusiasm when they are in secondary school.
c. We are already making N(A) curriculum more flexible. Now working on N(T) curriculum
i. Teaching in a practical way. More group work, more hands-on work, more use of IT, which will make learning more engaging
ii. Basics like English and Maths
(1) e.g. in Clementi Town Secondary, students work in groups to plan their dream holidays. Use newspaper adverts and internet travel websites, work through percentage discounts, calculate exchange rates and taxes, plan arrival and departure times. A realistic lesson that shows how math is useful in daily life.
iii. Practical electives to develop specific interests and talents
(1) e.g. Digital Art – using software to create digital animation and graphics
(2) e.g. Making Medicine and Perfumes from Natural Products
d. Already 39 schools have introduced electives. Will roll out new N(T) curriculum to all schools by 2007.
8. Education system to provide many avenues to suit different students
a. Many different models of success
i. As 4 ITE girls showed
b. Many paths to success
c. Many opportunities to cross over
d. Many second chances to do well
i. e.g. met Eric Chen at ITE – He was expelled from school in Sec 3 for playing truant. ITE turned his life around. He went on to Ngee Ann Poly, and then an engineering degree in the University of Edinburgh and Masters at Imperial College. Offered a place in the PhD programme at Imperial, but decided to come back and teach at ITE
e. Aim for a mountain range, not a pyramid – ?????
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