S’pore education heading in the right direction

I read with interest the letters “S’pore should aspire to Finnish, Swiss education systems” (Sept 15) and “Asian culture of not voicing ideas hinders creativity” (Sept 20).

This year, Singapore students topped the first Programme for International Student Assessment of problem-solving. The test involved 85,000 students from 44 territories, including Finland, and measured the skills young people use to solve everyday problems, such as finding the quickest route to a destination. Singapore’s performance, said the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, showed that our students were “quick learners, highly inquisitive and able to solve unstructured problems in unfamiliar contexts”.

Contrary to popular belief, Singaporean students are not mindless, unquestioning conformers. Speak to enough young people, and one would probably realise that they are brimming with creative ideas and laudable ideals. The central issue is not the lack of creativity, but the anxiety resulting from an intense focus on academic achievement. Our society tends to have relatively limited ways to define success. So, the path to success becomes narrower.

What is unique about Finnish education is probably its focus on development, instead of performance; our focus on standardised testing could itself be a form of anxiety to ensure that students are performing to an acceptable level.

If our students are not as vocal as their Western counterparts, what matters is not that we do not speak up, but that it reflects a fear of straying from the narrow path to the right answer.

There is no right answer, however, only right mindsets. To better harness creativity and encourage curiosity in learning, our definitions of success must be widened. This leads to multiple pathways, opening up spaces for opportunities and honouring individuals’ sense of pursuing a purposeful life.

Singapore might not have arrived yet, whether that destination is greater well-being, widespread innovation or greater civic engagement. Recent developments show, however, that our conversation is moving in the right direction. For instance, the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review initiative seeks to champion applied learning and skills, lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence in diverse fields.

Recognising multiple ways to success can lead to more engagement and motivation to learn beyond school, leading to greater well-being for life beyond school.