SINGAPORE — Citing drastic declines in the proportion of students studying the humanities — Geography, History and Literature — at the O- and Normal (Academic) Levels, Nominated Member of Parliament Janice Koh yesterday reiterated her concerns over the issue.

“Has the emphasis on academic performance perpetuated an unhealthy preoccupation within our educational system to favour subjects with model answers and 10-year series solutions?” said Ms Koh, who had first aired her concerns in Parliament last month.

Speaking at the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Committee of Supply debate yesterday, she added: “What does this say about our priorities in education and is it something the ministry intends to redress?”

In 2001, 21.8 per cent of the O-Level cohort took Full Literature, but this fell to 9 per cent last year. Similarly, 4.2 per cent of the Normal (Academic) cohort took the subject in 2001, while only 2.5 per cent took it last year.

For Full Geography, 64 per cent of the O-Level cohort took it in 2001, while 12.1 per cent took it last year. Likewise, 58 per cent of the Normal (Academic) Level cohort took the subject in 2001, while only 1 per cent took it last year.

And just 3.3 per cent of the O-Level cohort took Full History last year, down from 37.5 per cent in 2001. Similarly, 38.3 per cent of the Normal (Academic) level cohort took Full History in 2001, while 0.3 per cent took it last year.

Responding, Senior Minister of State (Education and Law) Indranee Rajah noted the broader issue was to encourage more students to take up humanities subjects.

“We have traditionally been strong in maths and the sciences; less so in the humanities. This is not desirable in the long run,” she said. “Singapore needs both in the 21st century. And MOE will encourage the schools and IHLs (Institutes of Higher Learning) to promote and support humanities subjects alongside the sciences.”

Ms Indranee added that the proportion of distinctions in Literature among O-Level graduates is about 40 per cent, which shows that it is “very much within the realm of possibility” to do well in the subject, despite the perception that it is difficult to score for.

Ms Koh also offered suggestions on how to give Literature “a boost” in schools, such as including literary texts, techniques and skills in the teaching of English Language, infusing the subject into Social Studies where relevant and making sure that all schools offer Literature as a subject at every level.

In response, Ms Indranee said the ministry would be “happy to study” the suggestions.