Not published.
September 2012

Editor, Forum Page

Straits Times

I agree with the views expressed by Lisa Latip ("Proper childhood? Mum faces challenge, ST 1 Sep).

Although I belong to one generation before her, I also wanted my three children to enjoy their childhood. But, 

they had to struggle with demands of the school system and also need to attend 

enrichment and tuition classes.

The root of the problem is the high standard of the school syllabus set by the Ministry of Education. Twenty years ago, I saw a Maths problem in a Primary 4 textbook that I recalled learning in Secondary 1 during my time. I do not know if the standard had since been increased further!

The high standard did not seem to produce a better quality of people that leave our schools. We need people

who are educated, broad minded, confident in solving problems and are guided by moral, ethical and 

social values. Our highly stressed education system did not seem to produce this kind of people, 

even among those that did well in the system.

We should also ask if we want to continue with a competitive education system to produce

scholars at a young age. 

The alternative is a system that produces educated people who are confident of their

place in society. The top leaders should be identified after they had worked for many years in 

society.

I hope that the Minister for Education, who is now heading the National Conversation, can change the 

education system go give back the childhood to our children.

Tan Kin Lian