Functions of EducationFunctions of Education

To allow individuals to better To allow individuals to better themselves financially and in themselves financially and in status (means of social mobility)status (means of social mobility)

To perpetuate existing social To perpetuate existing social structurestructure

To transmit culture and values of To transmit culture and values of societysociety

To raise economic To raise economic competitiveness of societycompetitiveness of society

To inculcate morals and promote To inculcate morals and promote ethical behaviourethical behaviour

Universal Declaration of Human Universal Declaration of Human RightsRights

EveryoneEveryone has the right to education. Education has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to higher education shall be equally accessible to all all on the basis of on the basis of meritmerit..

Article 26:

Education- Issues and Education- Issues and ControversiesControversies

Who do we teach?Who do we teach?Everyone, according to the Universal Declaration of RightsEveryone, according to the Universal Declaration of RightsBut….is this the case? But….is this the case?

- Gender inequalityGender inequality• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989),Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989),

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979)against Women (CEDAW, 1979)

• By mid-2003, 173 countries had ratified the CEDAW convention. By mid-2003, 173 countries had ratified the CEDAW convention. Exceptions: Bahrain, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, The Exceptions: Bahrain, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, The Islamic Republic of Iran, Somalia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Islamic Republic of Iran, Somalia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United StatesRepublic and the United States

• A large minority of countries will not achieve gender parity at A large minority of countries will not achieve gender parity at primary and secondary levels by 2005primary and secondary levels by 2005

• Social forces which propagate gender inequality- All-round Social forces which propagate gender inequality- All-round dependence and son preference (North Africa, the Middle East, dependence and son preference (North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia- Pakistan, much of India and Bangladesh and East Asia- South Asia- Pakistan, much of India and Bangladesh and East Asia- China, Korea and Taiwan)China, Korea and Taiwan)

• Wider and more fundamental social changes need to be madeWider and more fundamental social changes need to be made

Education- Issues and Education- Issues and ControversiesControversies

- Social class and racial inequalitySocial class and racial inequality• Upper- and middle-income parents vs. low-income parentsUpper- and middle-income parents vs. low-income parents• ““Untouchables” of IndiaUntouchables” of India• Burakumin of JapanBurakumin of Japan• Roma minorityRoma minority• African AmericansAfrican Americans

What do we teach?What do we teach?- Aims and objectivesAims and objectives• Economic development and wealth creation?Economic development and wealth creation?• Enhancement of social cohesiveness?Enhancement of social cohesiveness?• Inculcation of ethics and morals?Inculcation of ethics and morals?• Nourishment of the soul?Nourishment of the soul?- Specialised vs. Broad-based educationSpecialised vs. Broad-based education

Education- Issues and Education- Issues and ControversiesControversies

How do we teach?How do we teach?- Structure vs. FreedomStructure vs. Freedom- Conformity vs. IndividualityConformity vs. Individuality• American system vs. Asian American system vs. Asian

systemsystem

Education- The Singapore Education- The Singapore ContextContext

““Education is about opening doors for our children, and Education is about opening doors for our children, and giving them hope and opportunities. It is more than giving them hope and opportunities. It is more than filling a vessel with knowledge - it is to light a fire in our filling a vessel with knowledge - it is to light a fire in our young people.”young people.”Prime Minister Lee Hsien LoongPrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong12 August 200412 August 2004

Desired Outcomes of EducationDesired Outcomes of EducationThe Singaporean - an Individual, a CitizenThe Singaporean - an Individual, a Citizen Education does two things: it develops the individual Education does two things: it develops the individual and educates the citizen.and educates the citizen. " " An educated person is one who is An educated person is one who is responsible to himself, his family, and his responsible to himself, his family, and his friends."friends." " An educated person is also someone who is " An educated person is also someone who is responsible to his community and country."responsible to his community and country."

Compulsory EducationCompulsory Education

Implemented in Singapore from the new school year Implemented in Singapore from the new school year commencing 1st January 2003commencing 1st January 2003

Concern Concern that students are not being equipped with the that students are not being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to be productive necessary skills and knowledge to be productive citizens in a knowledge-based economy (KBE) citizens in a knowledge-based economy (KBE)

Should be up to Primary 6 as this is considered the Should be up to Primary 6 as this is considered the minimum period of education for all Singapore childrenminimum period of education for all Singapore children

Certain categories of children, e.g. those with special Certain categories of children, e.g. those with special needs will be exempted from compulsory education. needs will be exempted from compulsory education.

Penalty- Penalty- a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.to both.

The education system at a The education system at a glanceglance

Alternative RoutesAlternative Routes

Private SchoolsPrivate Schoolsthe state is the principal provider of the state is the principal provider of

education at primary, secondary and education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels  tertiary levels 

the private sector has the role of the private sector has the role of providing for providing for continuing/supplementary non-formal continuing/supplementary non-formal education education 

private schools need to be registered private schools need to be registered with the MOEwith the MOE

Alternative RoutesAlternative Routes

Private Schools

CommercialSchools

Foreign System Schools

Academic SchoolsIslamic Religious

Schools

Special Education (SPED)Special Education (SPED) SPED schools run different programmes catering to distinct SPED schools run different programmes catering to distinct

disability groups of children who are unable to benefit from disability groups of children who are unable to benefit from mainstream schoolingmainstream schooling

20 SPED schools 20 SPED schools pre-school and primary educationpre-school and primary education run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and

the National Council of Social Service (NCSS)the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) the Genesis School for Special Education the Genesis School for Special Education the Dover Court Preparatory Schoolthe Dover Court Preparatory School

Special Education (SPED)Special Education (SPED) Hearing Impaired (HI)Hearing Impaired (HI)

2 designated secondary schools:2 designated secondary schools:Boon Lay Secondary School   Boon Lay Secondary School   Balestier Hill Secondary School          Balestier Hill Secondary School          

Visually Handicapped (VH)Visually Handicapped (VH)Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped

(SSVH)(SSVH) 4 designated secondary schools:4 designated secondary schools:

Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary SchoolAhmad Ibrahim Secondary SchoolBedok South Secondary SchoolBedok South Secondary SchoolDunearn Secondary SchoolDunearn Secondary SchoolGhim Moh Secondary SchoolGhim Moh Secondary School

Singapore Education System:Singapore Education System:Issues and ControversiesIssues and Controversies

Streaming- Developing specific talents or Streaming- Developing specific talents or stigmatising weaker groups?stigmatising weaker groups?

Bilingual policy- Does every student have Bilingual policy- Does every student have the mental capacity to be proficient in two the mental capacity to be proficient in two languages?languages?

Passive and examination-oriented Passive and examination-oriented learners – “The Graduate Factory”?learners – “The Graduate Factory”?

Streaming- Boon or Bane?Streaming- Boon or Bane? Arguments for streamingArguments for streaming

All students have equal chances regardless of All students have equal chances regardless of race or social statusrace or social status

Students are allowed to study at a suitable Students are allowed to study at a suitable pace as they are grouped according to pace as they are grouped according to learning needs and abilitieslearning needs and abilities

Develops different potentials and talents in Develops different potentials and talents in studentsstudents

Future leaders of the nation will be groomed Future leaders of the nation will be groomed for their roles through appropriate for their roles through appropriate enrichment programmesenrichment programmes

Streaming- Boon or Bane?Streaming- Boon or Bane? Arguments against streamingArguments against streaming

Students from lower-end streams suffer social Students from lower-end streams suffer social stigmatisation and labeling eg. Normal stigmatisation and labeling eg. Normal Technical studentsTechnical students

Self-fulfilling prophecy; they are not expected Self-fulfilling prophecy; they are not expected to do well and so they do notto do well and so they do not

Students lose self-esteem and confidenceStudents lose self-esteem and confidence Disadvantages many children whose talents Disadvantages many children whose talents

and strengths develop and show up laterand strengths develop and show up later Does not take into account different abilities, Does not take into account different abilities,

intelligences and learning stylesintelligences and learning styles Gives rise to elitism where the more Gives rise to elitism where the more

academically able and well-educated students academically able and well-educated students are better rewardedare better rewarded

Bilingual PolicyBilingual Policy Bilingualism and learning the Mother Tongue Bilingualism and learning the Mother Tongue

will remain the cornerstone of our education will remain the cornerstone of our education policypolicy• English Language- Development and economic English Language- Development and economic

survivalsurvival• Mother Tongue- Access to one’s cultural roots and Mother Tongue- Access to one’s cultural roots and

heritageheritage Main argument:Main argument: Not everybody has the innate Not everybody has the innate

capacity to become effectively bilingualcapacity to become effectively bilingual Mother Tongue admission criterion to local Mother Tongue admission criterion to local

universities has been relaxeduniversities has been relaxed Weaker secondary school students are allowed Weaker secondary school students are allowed

to read simplified Chinese Language B syllabusto read simplified Chinese Language B syllabus

Generation of Passive and Generation of Passive and Examination-oriented LearnersExamination-oriented Learners

Education system criticised as rigid and lacking Education system criticised as rigid and lacking in intellect-exercising stimuliin intellect-exercising stimuli

Development of powers of memory recall and Development of powers of memory recall and information-absorption faculties seen as information-absorption faculties seen as important to studentsimportant to students

Students lack thinking skills and creativity to Students lack thinking skills and creativity to compete economically on a global scalecompete economically on a global scale

Is the system too focused on academic Is the system too focused on academic excellence?excellence?

Initiatives and ProgrammesInitiatives and Programmes

Psychological&

Guidance ServicesTrim & Fit (TAF)

Programme

Co-curricular ActivitiesInitiatives &Programmes

Gifted EducationProgramme

Elective Progrmmes

Project Work

Innovation &Enterprise

IntegratedProgramme

Essay TitlesEssay Titles

Is a sound knowledge of science and Is a sound knowledge of science and technology essential for a well-educated technology essential for a well-educated person in today’s world? (GCE 1999)person in today’s world? (GCE 1999)

Do you think there is any need for change Do you think there is any need for change in the educational system in your country? in the educational system in your country? (GCE 1990)(GCE 1990)

““Education does not develop individuality Education does not develop individuality but conformity.” Is such a statement but conformity.” Is such a statement always valid? (GCE 1998)always valid? (GCE 1998)

Consider the importance of the study of Consider the importance of the study of arts in modern society. (TPJC JC2 CT 1995)arts in modern society. (TPJC JC2 CT 1995)

That’s all folks!That’s all folks!

Resources:Resources: UNESCO website: http://UNESCO website: http://www.www.unescounesco.org/ .org/ Human Rights Watch website: Human Rights Watch website: http://www.hrw.org/http://www.hrw.org/ United Nations website: http://www.un.org/United Nations website: http://www.un.org/ http://www.educationguide-usa.com/isg/edusystemhttp://www.educationguide-usa.com/isg/edusystem

.htm.htm http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.htmlhttp://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html http://www.moe.edu.sghttp://www.moe.edu.sg Calhoun, Light and Keller 1997 Sociology Seventh Calhoun, Light and Keller 1997 Sociology Seventh

Edition The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Edition The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.