I APPLAUD the Government for doing a fine job in shaping the education system into what it is today. In recent years, the Government has recognised the need to fine-tune the system and thus the phrase 'teach less, learn more' was coined.

The aim is a noble one but the challenge lies in its implementation, and a bold paradigm shift is necessary to make this happen.

The current system which emphasises results has unwittingly made educators and parents alike work towards achieving academic excellence. This is manifested in the lifestyle of children - endless tuition, relentless practice of assessment books and 10-year series, etc.

Perhaps we could learn from other education systems. For example, I have a friend who sends her children to Canadian schools in Canada and Hong Kong. There is no exam and little or no homework but her kids do not learn less. In fact, at ages eight or nine, they are doing projects like creating short video clips about hitchhiking.

Her kids have become very conversant with PowerPoint which they learnt from doing presentations in school and they are much more vocal as well as tech-savvy, as they are required to research via the Internet. Without the burden of exams, they have more time to explore and learn much more, besides academic pursuits.

Children in Singapore are also given such exposure in school these days but to a smaller extent. If education continues to be academic driven, then such activities would at best be supplementary.

The challenge to educators is really how to strike a balance between academic and non-academic pursuits.

As we have achieved academic excellence, the next lap is really the balancing act. With the world getting smaller, our kids will have to compete with foreign talents groomed in other education systems. Scoring straight As is no longer enough.

Lee Yuet Lai (Ms)

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