Is Singapore education system turning us into prostitutes of the Rat-Race?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 9:16PM Jack Sim, founder of World Toilet Organization fired at Singapore education system. Let's hear his sharp remarks about education and nation building!
By Jack Sim
Jack's self portrait
It's time MOE revisits what is the purpose of school education. Does scoring high academic marks mean the child will be a good leader? Why do we reward academic excellence IQ when what we want are leaders with more EQ? What is the competitive edge of our nation? Is it the ability to be more efficient or to be more innovative?If both, why are we not able to identify the innovative ones and instead condemn them as naughty boys?
At national level, how do we compete with the world information that is a commodity available to all on internet? Where university degrees are obtained through downloading best answers and changing the grammar to technically avoid plagiarism but is de facto copying? At personal level, are there other pathways to a fulfilling life besides the self-destructive Rat-Race? What is it that is uniquely Singapore in our ability to punch above our weight?
"In my view, a strong society is one that cares for each other and holds itself together through a sense of community. The competitive edge of a nation is rooted in the virtues of its people: hard work ethics, learning culture, a sense of responsibility, a strong family nucleus, love, compassion, patriotism, open-thinking and communication, and the strategic integration of all these virtues into a cohesive power plus the wisdom exploit opportunities presented to us everyday without turning us into prostitute of the Rat-Race."
