What is wrong with our system?

[markfch]

Here’s my 2cts. By regional standards, we’ve actually done very well. I mean as an island w/o natural resources (we don’t even have enough water supply to begin with), we’ve made really good progress in terms of education. We should feel proud about it.


But in no way should we kid ourselves that we’re world-class standard. I’ve a friend whose son was an overseas scholar (used to ace his exams even amongst the local elites). When his son went to Harvard, he found out to his dismay that there’re so many people who are better than him (academically). And they came from all over the world.

I think what will be interesting is to learn from the Nordic countries. They’ve small populations just like us, but many inventions, world-class brands have come from them. To improve further, we should learn what makes them tick.

[Donkey Kong]

Thank you for your comments.


But, I am a little lost in Singapore and I don't know what can I help my kid. I noticed many average pple, including BTC (Never study) earning more than me. Friend (O Level) owns a few pubs, driving bigger car, owns few properties. Just look at SME bosses, how many from branded schs and unis?

A good example is SMRT COO, company annual report said he earns 875k p.a. He is NUS Arts grad, with MBA from Phoenix U. Many of my scholar friends, Oxbridge Harvard/Yale grads, don't earn this much. SMRT CEO is about 1.3mil p.a. She is NUS Science grad. Why?

So, branded schools not equal to high salaries. Shall we tell our kids to study or not to study? I guess (may be wrong) we don't be so stressful over kids grades. If they are good, they will make S$1 mil even they are BTC. (never study)

What is your view.

[markfch]

Donkey Kong:

Thank you for your comments.


But, I am a little lost in Singapore and I don't know what can I help my kid. I noticed many average pple, including BTC (Never study) earning more than me. Friend (O Level) owns a few pubs, driving bigger car, owns few properties. Just look at SME bosses, how many from branded schs and unis?

A good example is SMRT COO, company annual report said he earns 875k p.a. He is NUS Arts grad, with MBA from Phoenix U. Many of my scholar friends, Oxbridge Harvard/Yale grads, don't earn this much. SMRT CEO is about 1.3mil p.a. She is NUS Science grad. Why?

So, branded schools not equal to high salaries. Shall we tell our kids to study or not to study? I guess (may be wrong) we don't be so stressful over kids grades. If they are good, they will make S$1 mil even they are BTC. (never study)

What is your view.

I think society is full of examples of successful people who were less-academically inclined when in sch. Have you read the Life section article recently about the housing agent who's aiming to make 1 million bucks a yr? To be rich & successful, there're other variables at play such as personality, opportunity, guidance & even luck.

In any case, to pursue education solely for financial benefits is to take a very narrow view of education.

[adhdadhd]

markfch:

Donkey Kong:

Thank you for your comments.


But, I am a little lost in Singapore and I don't know what can I help my kid. I noticed many average pple, including BTC (Never study) earning more than me. Friend (O Level) owns a few pubs, driving bigger car, owns few properties. Just look at SME bosses, how many from branded schs and unis?

A good example is SMRT COO, company annual report said he earns 875k p.a. He is NUS Arts grad, with MBA from Phoenix U. Many of my scholar friends, Oxbridge Harvard/Yale grads, don't earn this much. SMRT CEO is about 1.3mil p.a. She is NUS Science grad. Why?

So, branded schools not equal to high salaries. Shall we tell our kids to study or not to study? I guess (may be wrong) we don't be so stressful over kids grades. If they are good, they will make S$1 mil even they are BTC. (never study)

What is your view.

I think society is full of examples of successful people who were less-academically inclined when in sch. Have you read the Life section article recently about the housing agent who's aiming to make 1 million bucks a yr? To be rich & successful, there're other variables at play such as personality, opportunity, guidance & even luck.

In any case, to pursue education solely for financial benefits is to take a very narrow view of education.

After reading all your posts, it occured in my mind of an old saying: 一命，二运，三风水， 四读书 。。。 seems to make sense... Academic achievements should not be the yardstick for Average Peoples, no more. I have classmates, who had obtained great basic degree, but committed suicide...

Has it ever come to your mind, that Singapore's huge daily prints were/are \"regulated\" to propagate/market the message of \"how great achievements can be\" in this meritrocratic society, versus, the smaller nightly prints are more pragmatic, and we can even speculative and superstitious contents in it?

The point I am trying to put forward here is, all these backdrop settings are projecting similar image to capitalistic ideals (which may have become skeptical due to financial melt down)..

Singapore is a city state, frequently promoted as \"the little red dot with a big heart\" in primary schools today, ... however, we cannot predict it will remain red in 50 years time, it may turn purple, it may be otherwise. A glimpse of such uncertainty is evidential, as our recent Blue Ocean's vibrancy is due largely to controversial development 2 IR's, albiet against the wills of some nation builders, and even the hardcore baby boomers... after this compromise, will we have \"more good years'?

A volcanic erruption in the bankruptted Icesland, can have global impact, financial deficit in Greece, can deter the investment sentiments.. if our kids still hide in the well, and be so proud about being the conquerors of exams in the red dot, is like a frog in the well.. one would never know, how fast and great a mind can ever be, in the world!

As the matter of fact, I come to this kiasuparents.com, as part of my research to answer my child's academic directions. As I suspect that I am one of the victim of re-active education systems.

Sorry for grumbling so much.. I have to much in my mind, as I am equally lost...

[adhdadhd]

watmekiasu:

.............because our kids are wasting too much time brushing up on their weakest subject in school and not focussing on their strength to go further. That's the result of the PSLE. In the end, everyone is just an average Joe or Jack of all trades but master of none.

:goodpost:

[minnie2004]

I also think PSLE may be the killer of kids' creativity and curiosity. The future of a kid is being determined way too early. To do well in primary school is not so difficult as long as the kid works hard. However, real talents are often late boomers, who are being punished by the system.


My kids are still in kindergarten so I have yet to experience the pressure. But according to a parent I talked to whose daughter just went thru PSLE, the 6 years in primary school \"killed her daughter's childhood\" .

[cascada]

There are just TOO MANY layers of segregation throughout the entire primary & secondary school life, made compulsory by our education system/experts/schools. It all started many years back with that P3 assessment to make some to study 8 yrs of primary school.

Now, our poor children are subjected to such segregation right to the finest point at such young age. They are then labelled for life according to the layers they were assigned to based on the segregation. How often will they be given a chance to be labelled otherwise? And by that I don’t mean just those labelled as ‘losers’, as I also sometimes wonder if those labelled as ‘winners’ enjoyed what they are going through with the type of training they are receiving to ensure they take the path planned for them by the experts.

[Donkey Kong]

Well said. I don’t like to ask my kids to study study… then they end up like me, driving smaller car than the BTC. (bo tak che - no study) Then they will blame me…


Scholar friends, who were budding scientists, opted to study politics and economics. Where are their passions? Is scholarship good? How many Singaporeans are famous in the world? Famous means half the Americans or Chinese know him/her.

The 4 great little dragons of Asia: Taiwan has Acer, MSI, TSMC,Gigabyte, Logitech, HTC, Asus, etc. plus all the fruits and veg for NTUC Fairprice. S.Korea has Hyundai, Samsung, LG, Kia, Ssangyong,etc. What we have? Only SIA, Hyflux, Creative? We just lost our CSM. Oh ya, 2 IRs. Their huge companies provide many jobs for the locals.

Actually, we must be very very worried for our kids. What is their future?
Few of my friends have completed their process of immigration. Some to Australia, some to Canada. How about you?

[tamarind]

Donkey Kong:

Thank you for your comments.


But, I am a little lost in Singapore and I don't know what can I help my kid. I noticed many average pple, including BTC (Never study) earning more than me. Friend (O Level) owns a few pubs, driving bigger car, owns few properties. Just look at SME bosses, how many from branded schs and unis?

A good example is SMRT COO, company annual report said he earns 875k p.a. He is NUS Arts grad, with MBA from Phoenix U. Many of my scholar friends, Oxbridge Harvard/Yale grads, don't earn this much. SMRT CEO is about 1.3mil p.a. She is NUS Science grad. Why?

So, branded schools not equal to high salaries. Shall we tell our kids to study or not to study? I guess (may be wrong) we don't be so stressful over kids grades. If they are good, they will make S$1 mil even they are BTC. (never study)

What is your view.

To the majority of Singaporeans who earn below $5000 a month (our median salary is about $5000), parents will make their kids to study hard to get a degree. Without a degree there is usually a limit to how much the kids can earn. The parents know it very well because they are suffering this fate. The parents do not have millions of dollars in their bank account, and can never afford to send their kids to overseas university. So the only way is to pressurize the kids to study hard to get into local university.

I think those parents who have diploma levels or below, are the ones who push their kids the hardest.

Parents with university degrees, or earn over $10000 a month, are the ones who can afford to say that kids should study because of a thirst for knowledge blah blah blah If the kids cannot make it in Singapore, they can always send the kids overseas.

The above statements are my personal views only, not meant as \"sweeping\" statements. There are always exceptions.

In my case, I know that my son is not academically inclined, I have no hope of him becoming a great scientist. In fact, I am dreaming of him becoming a very popular singer (like Stephanie Sun, Lin Jun Jie, etc) Or if that fails, he can learn to become a hair stylist like David Gan Or just join the Singapore army lah (he says he wants to be a soldier). So long as he does not ask me to support him financially, I am happy enough.

[tamarind]

cascada:

There are just TOO MANY layers of segregation throughout the entire primary & secondary school life, made compulsory by our education system/experts/schools. It all started many years back with that P3 assessment to make some to study 8 yrs of primary school.

Now, our poor children are subjected to such segregation right to the finest point at such young age. They are then labelled for life according to the layers they were assigned to based on the segregation. How often will they be given a chance to be labelled otherwise? And by that I don't mean just those labelled as 'losers', as I also sometimes wonder if those labelled as 'winners' enjoyed what they are going through with the type of training they are receiving to ensure they take the path planned for them by the experts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein
Einstein applied directly to the Eidgenössische Polytechnische Schule (ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland. Lacking the requisite Matura certificate, he took an entrance examination, which he failed, although he got exceptional marks in mathematics and physics.


Even Einstein failed exams before. If Einstein were born in Singapore, he would probably be so demoralized, he would end up as a taxi driver.