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TheStraitsTimes
www.straitstimes.com

PublishedonMar07,2015

EXCERPTSOFHENGSWEEKEAT'SSPEECH

From'studybook'ordushutolearningwithjoy
forlife
ThisisaneditedexcerptofaspeechbyEducationMinisterHengSweeKeatinParliamentyesterday.

In1965,educationmeantdushuor"studybook".Ourpioneershadasenseofwheretheywantedto
beinthefuture,wheretheywere,andworkedhardtobridgethatgap.Thebiggapthenwasbasic
literacyandnumeracyskillsso"studybook"madesenseastheylearntthethree"Rs"orreading,
writing,arithmetic.
Manybecameliterateandnumerate.Wethenbuiltonthiseducationsystem.Atcriticalpoints,we
madeimportantchoicestoadaptandchange.Educators,parents,studentsrespondedwithspirit,and
eachwaveallowedustomakefurtherprogresswithpurpose.Buttherewerealsoinadvertent
negatives.Inourmind,"studybook"becameincreasinglyaboutexams,gradesandqualifications.
Astrengthinfocusingonacademicgradescanbeoverdoneandbecomeaweakness,asweleave
littletimetodevelopotherattributesthatarenecessaryforsuccessandfulfilment.
Studentstellmeofthestresstheyfacedbecauseofthehighexpectationsplacedonthem.Thechase
forbettergradesfuelledatuitionindustry.Itcreatedaverticalstackingofqualifications,aswellasthe
tieringofschoolsinthemindsofparentsbasedmainlyonacademicresultsahierarchyofgrades.
Wearenotuniqueinthis.Thesame"studybook"culturethatenabledthethreeEastAsiandragons
SouthKorea,HongKong,Taiwantomakegreatstridesisalsogeneratingthesame,ifnoteven
greater,pressureintheirsocieties.
Likeourpioneersbeforeus,wehavetoaskanew:Wheredowewanttobeinthefuture,wherearewe
today,andhowdowemaketheleap?
Thefuturewillbemoreuncertain,volatileastheglobaleconomyandpoliticalorderchangein
unpredictableways.Anageingpopulationwillcreatechallengesthatwecannottotallyforesee.A
youngergenerationthatisdigitallyconnectedcaneitherbemoreunitedormoredivided.
Thenatureofjobswillalsochange.Manyexistingjobswilldisappear.Smartmachinesandlowercost
workerselsewherewilltakethesejobs.Wehavetochangejobs,maybeseveraltimesoverourlifetime.
Butjobsthatneeduniquelyhumanqualitiescannotbedisplacedbymachines,andwillbecomemore
valuable.
Traitslikecreativity,inventiveness,adaptability,socioemotionalskills,andculturalandglobal
awarenesswillgiveSingaporeansanedge.Someofuswillcreatejobsforothersasentrepreneurs.
Andifoureconomygrowswell,morejobswillbecreated.Allthesepresentnewandmultiplepathways
forsuccess.
Atacrossroads
WEAREatacrossroads.Wehavetwooptions.
Wecouldcontinuewiththe"studybook"path,withanarrowfocusongradesandexams,anddescend
intoaspirallingpaperchaseandexpandingtuitionindustry,asmanyofyouhavewarned.Employers
choosenottoinvestinemployees,relyingwhollyonacademicqualificationstodeterminewhogetsthe
job.Educatorsdrillandtest,andseetheirdutyashelpingstudentsobtainthebestexamgrades
possible.Parentsobsessovergradesandspendeverincreasingamountsofresourcestogivetheir
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childanedgeoverotherchildren.Andstudentschasethenextpoint,andspendmostoftheirtime
goingformoretuitionandenrichmentinverynarrowareas.
Stresslevelsinsocietyclimb,andthesystemchurnsoutstudentswhoexcelinexams,butareill
equippedtotakeonjobsofthefuture,norfindfulfilmentinwhattheydo.Andunemploymentorunder
employmentbecomespervasive.
Orwecanhaveanotheroutcome.
Wecanactwithboldnessandresolvetoembarkonamajortransformation.Wewillneedcollectivewill
andactionbyemployers,teachers,parentsandstudentsandsocietyatlarge.
Whereemployerslookbeyondacademicqualificationsinhiringandpromotingthebestpersonforthe
job,wherebossessupportemployeesinskillsupgrading,whereeducatorsfocusonholisticeducation,
buildingastrongfoundationofvaluesandthecapacitytolearn,whereourinstitutionsofhigher
learningplayaleadingrolestrengtheningthenexusbetweenlearningandwork,learningandlife,
whereparentsrecogniseeverychild'suniquestrengths,anddotheirparttobuildtheirchildren's
character,wherestudentsflourishthrougharangeofacademicandcocurricularactivities,take
differentpathwaystosuccessandgrowuptobewellrounded.
Theeconomystaysresilientandflexible,withhighlevelsofemployment,andmanyopportunities.High
skills,highproductivity,highwages.Andoursocietyandourpeoplecontinuetobecaring,harmonious,
gracious,cohesive.Andwedonotseeeducationasaraceamongourchildren.
Chartingthisnewterritorywillrequireustoonceagainbepioneers.
Wedevelopednewwaysoflearninginourschools,madeeveryschoolagoodschool,expanded
appliedpathwaysintertiaryeducationand,inthisBudget,outlinedaseriesofSkillsFutureinitiatives
thatbuiltonAspire's(AppliedStudyinPolytechnicsandITEReview)recommendations.Allthese
changeshavelaidthegroundworkforatransformationthatcreatesabetterfutureforSingapore,
anchoredindeepskillsandstrongvalues.Butthisfuturewillbelongtousonlyifwe,asapeople,shift
ourmindsetsabouteducation.
Thisisnotabout"studybook"ordushu.
Itisaboutlearningineverydomain,anytime,anywhereforapurposeful,fulfillinglife.Inotherwords,
weneedtolivethepioneeringspirit,beyondlearningforgrades,tolearningformastery,beyond
learninginschool,tolearningthroughoutlife,beyondlearningforwork,tolearningforlife.
Learningformastery
THEfirstmajorshiftistogobeyondlearningforgrades,tolearningformastery.
WhenIwasinthePoliceAcademy30yearsago,morethan30yearsagoactually,oneofmypioneer
instructorswasMrJohnChang.Hedidnothavehighacademicqualifications,buthewas,inmymind,
oneofthebestinstructorsheknewthelaw,heknewhowtodealwithtensesituations,heknewhow
toteach.
Heexplainedtomethatafterhandlingeachcase,hewouldreflectonhowhecouldhavedonebetter.
Hewouldimagineinhismindscenarioshowshouldhehavereactedifthecriminalsthathewas
dealingwithhadbeenmoreviolent,iftheywerearmedwithafirearm,orifthevictimswereless
cooperative,andsoonandsoforth.
Hestudiedonhisown,heattendedclasses,heaskedhispeers,heaskedhisseniors.Everybodyhe
couldget,hewouldask.Johnwasoneofthefewpoliceofficerswhostartedasaconstable,gotmany
promotionsandwentallthewayandretiredasanassistantsuperintendentofpolice.Quiteafeatin
thosedays.
IlearntalotfromJohnasaveryyoungofficeraboutwhatitmeanstobeaneffectivelearner,andhow
oneachievesmastery.
Hewasselfdirected:Noonetoldhimhowtolearn,buthedidsoonhisown.Hewasreflective:He
thoughtthroughhisownexperiencesandlearntfrombothmistakesandsuccesses.Helearntinbite
sizedmodules,pickingupwhatheneeded,whenheneeded.Hekeptanopenmindandlearntfrom
everyone,everywhere,atanytime.Hewasdisciplined:Learningwasnotlefttochance,butbuiltinto
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hiseverydayroutine.Andhewaspassionate:Hecareddeeplyaboutwhathedoes.
WeshouldaimtobeanationwhereSingaporeansdevelopmasteryineveryfield,Singaporeanswho
areresourceful,inventiveandbreaknewground.Thiswilltakeacollectiveeffortacrossourschools,
institutesofhigherlearning(IHLs)andindustry.
Learningwithinterestandjoy:Animportantaspectoflearningformasteryistomatchourstudents'
strengthsandintereststoopportunitiesinourschoolsandIHLs,incareersandenterprises.Arecent
innovationinourschoolsistheAppliedLearningProgrammesorALPs,infactinalmostallour
secondaryschools,andthisispartofourEverySchoolAGoodSchoolmovement.
Infunandcreativeways,ourstudentsapplyvariousdomainsofknowledgetosolvecomplex,reallife
problemsintheirfieldofinterest.HillgroveSecondaryhasanALPonflightandaerospace.Students
learnfundamentalaerospacetheories,andapplymaths,science,designandtechnologybybuilding
andflyingtheirownmodelplanes.Studentsgoontotakeadvancedelectivemodulesinaerospace,
wheretheyflyinflightsimulatorsandlearnhowplanesdefygravity.
RaynerLeereallyenjoyedlearningatHillgroveandinfacthe'snowdoingaerospacetechnologyat
NanyangPolytechnicandhesays:"IchoseHillgrovebecauseoftheYouthFlyingClubCCA.Iwanted
tobeapilot.MyparentsandschoolteachersencouragedmetotakeupthePrivatePilotLicence
(PPL).NowthatIhavemylicence,IhopetojointheRSAF(RepublicofSingaporeAirForce)asa
pilot."
Well,IhopeRaynerflieshigh.
Masteryinwhicheverfield:DifferentALPsopenupdifferentpossibilitiesforstudentstoput
knowledgeintoactionandbringlearningtolife.Learningbecomesrelevantandengagingforevery
student,ineveryschool.
Wearenotchannellingstudentstospecialiseearly.Infact,deepskillsacquiredinonefieldcanbe
transferredtoanother.
NgeeAnnPolytechnicusesthetechnicalknowhowinbuildingunmannedaerialvehiclesorUAVsto
buildunmannedunderwatervehiclesorUUVstocleanshiphullssotransferringtheskillsfromairto
sea.
AteaminITEworkingwiththeSingaporeZooappliedmedicaltechnologytodesignanincubator,and
succeededinincreasingthehatchingrateofreptileeggsfrom25percentto75percent.
Withmorechoices,weneedgoodeducationandcareerguidanceorECG.Therearemanydomains
andfieldsthatstudentscouldexploreanddevelopdeepskillsinwhetherit'sindesign,business,arts,
musicorsports.Byexposingstudentstopossibilities,weempowerthemtomakebetterchoicesand
choosesuitablepathways.ECGcurriculuminschools,ITEandpolytechnicswillbeenhancedand,by
2017,we'llhaveaprofessionalcoreofECGcounsellorsandanonlineECGportalthatshowsmany
excitingopportunitiesenrichedbyourSkillsFutureinitiatives.
Learningthroughoutlife
THEsecondmajorshiftthatweneedtomaketogetherdeeperistogobeyondlearninginschool,to
learningthroughoutlife.
Fiftyyearsago,Seletarwasbetterknownforthesmellofpigfarms.And50yearson,IvisitedSeletar
towitnessthedeliveryofourfirstRollsRoyceTrent1000jetenginemadeinSingaporefora
Singaporeancompany,Scoot.Aworldofdifference.
Ravinderisateamleaderwith24yearsofaerospaceexperience.Youwouldhavethoughtthathe
knowseverything,buthetoldme:"Tome,everydayisalearningprocess."Andthisgentlemanwas
seriouswhenhesaidthat.
Itturnedoutthathissonwasalsointerestedinaerospaceengineering.SoRavinderdecidedthathe,
too,shouldreturntoschooltopickupnewskillsandmoreskills,sothathecanmentorhisson,and
passonhisskillstothenextgeneration.HeenrolledinTemasekPolytechnic'sDiplomainAerospace
Engineeringandisnowsixmonthsintohiscourse.Now,allthat,whileworkinghardatRollsRoyce
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mentoringhisyoungcolleagues,likeCheriaandSiti.
Now,CheriaistechnicallyRavinder's"schoolmate"inTP,assheisalsopursuingaDiplomain
AerospaceEngineering.Butsheisonethirdhisageabout.Asanintern,sheislearningatthe
workplace,evenasRavinderislearningatTP.
Siti,anITEstudentinaerospacetechnology,wasalsopartoftheteam.Whileworkingatabookshopat
ChangiAirport,shesawtheaeroplanestakingoffanditpiquedherinterest.Shestartedtowonderhow
doplanesfly.So,today,sheisaRollsRoyceITEscholar,thrilledtobebuildinganimpressiveand
complexenginewithsome30,000partsandlearningallthatasanintern.Soyouseeit'snotjustabout
learningtechnicalskills.
Ravinder,CheriaandSitiareatdifferentstagesoflifebutallactivelylearningtobebetter,tosucceed
bothatwork,andinlife.
Selfdirectedlearning
ASWEresolvetolearnformasteryandlearnthroughoutlife,weneedtorethinkafewissuesabout
learningandthesignificanceofthechanges.
TheOECD(OrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment)didarecentsurveyofadult
skills.WorkersinJapanrankedhighlyintheirskills,butrankedbadlyintermsofhowwelltheseskills
areutilisedonthejob.Attheoppositeend,workersintheUSrankedpoorlyinskills,butrankedamong
thetopinusingskillsonthejobsowhateverskillstheyhave,theyusetothefullest.
Besidesthemultiplepathwaysinourinstitutionsofhigherlearning,youcannowcreateyourown
learningpathwaysbuildaportfolioofskills,justintime,tailoredtoyourownneeds,atyourownpace.
Youcanstackmodulestowardsaqualification,orjustchooserelevantmodules.Itempowerseachof
ustotakecharge,directourownlearning,andbuildourownuniqueskillsmap.
Thisselfdirected,independentlearningmuststartyoung.Ourteachersmustnotspoonfeedour
studentsandgivethemmodelanswers.
Inlife,therearenomodelanswers.Ioncehadaparentwhowrotetometoargueforanextramarkfor
herchild'stermtestinschool.Ratherthanseekanextramarkintests,letusnurtureourchildrento
maketheirmarkinsociety.
Wehavetoencourageourchildrentobeindependent,selfdirectedlearners,skilfulatfiguringouttheir
ownway.
ProfessorTanTaiYongmadeanimportantpointthatwemustnotoverprotectourchildren,sothat
theycandevelopadaptiveresilienceandlearntodealwithuncertaintiesinlife.Butifweintervene
whenachilddidnotgettheextramark,howdoesheorshedevelopthatresilience?
Soletusstartearlyinourschoolsandmakeourchildrenselfdirected,independentlearners.Letusall
takeacollectivepauseandseewhetherthewaythatwearebringingupourchildreninschool,at
home,ishelpingthemtodevelopthatindependence,thatselfdirectedlearning,thatresourcefulness
andinitiative,orwhetherwearespoonfeedingthem,thattheyaregoingtolosethatthatwhenthe
crutchistakenaway,theycannotgooutandcreateandinventandbuildnewthings.
Copyright2015SingaporePressHoldings.Allrightsreserved.

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