TODAY, children need not despair if they do badly academically.

Vocational schools such as Assumption Pathway and North- Light provide them with a second chance to succeed in something they are good in.

In the United States, schools give youngsters many chances to get a good education as they believe that talent and genius do not usually get it right the first time.

They would prefer to provide students with chances to develop at their own pace.

Such students would want to attend university more out of passion for a particular subject rather than the opportunity to earn a lucrative degree.

Some street-smart people who dropped out of school and university have mastered skills in diverse fields and amassed huge fortunes for themselves.

Ironically, these successful entrepreneurs have qualified people working under them, with some even holding doctorates from prestigious universities.

The US education system can take credit for nurturing many late bloomers, who went on to become famous, successful and wealthy.

Schools here should learn from their American counterparts.

They should adopt principles which can help our street-smart kids, who have yet to see the value of being book-smart, to get ahead in life.

The authorities should also consider resurrecting the Adult Education Board, to give adults a second chance to improve themselves through part-time studies.

Mr Nelson Quah

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