COR160: Improving Singapore's Educational System - A Detailed Analysis

This essay explores potential improvements to Singapore's education system, drawing from a sociological perspective and recent changes announced by the Ministry of Education. It highlights the pressures on students due to excessive focus on examinations and grades, leading to mental health issues. The essay suggests making learning more relevant through practical applications, promoting teamwork, and fostering stronger teacher-student interactions. It emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and avoiding demoralization of students based on poor marks. The essay concludes that while the government's initiatives are promising, further considerations are needed to create a well-rounded education system that benefits both students and society. Desklib provides a platform to access similar essays and study resources for students.

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SOCIOLOGY
Topic – Improvements on Singapore’s Educational System
According to Apple (2017), an education system is something that commonly refers to
the public schooling, more specifically the kindergarten and the high school programs. Usually,
schools are considered to be the concentrated form of the education system and states and
countries are the largest forms. In a nutshell, an education system comprises of laws, regulations
and policies, the resource allocation, public funding along with the procedures to determine the
levels of funding. It also includes the staffing, the compensation, the teaching resources and
many others. However, there are many challenges faced by the current education system. The
purpose of the current paper is to outline the ways in which the education system can be
improved in Singapore. The arguments will be drawn from Issues (social or economic or
educational or political or etc.) surrounding the existing changes made to the education system.
It will further evaluate the effectiveness of current measures to improve the education system.
The education policies are nowadays influenced by so many factors such as social,
economic, political, cultural and but the aftermath affects the pupils who are under that particular
education system. As per the view of Mortimore (2019), the talent and knowledge of a person is
evaluated on the basis of the grades he/she receives in the exams but the ultimate goal of learning
and spreading creativity is far reached. The extreme pressure put on the students both from the
part of their homes and from their teachers stretches their learning capability and leads towards
mental deterioration. The extreme pressure of competition, of overtaking others exacerbates
many life-long medial issues such as depression, personality disorders, anxiety, abnormal heart
beats, high blood pressure and even heart stoke.
However, the governments of many advanced countries have pointed out the seriousness
of the issue. They have found out that it can create problems in the long run and affect the
economy and social aspect of the country since the students are the upholders of the better
tomorrow. Notably, in Singapore, The Ministry of Education has displayed sincerity and
activeness and has announced considerable changes. As suggested by Luke (2018), these
changes are aimed at encouraging the teachers, the students and the parents too to move away
from focusing too much on the examinations and the grades and help the students to explore the
joy of learning. The initiatives are aimed at reducing the percentage of discouragement in the

2SOCIOLOGY
lower standards. Scholars are of the opinion that countries around the world need higher
standards of education system instead of pecking order of schools and colleges.
Although the educational system of Singapore has taken the initiative to move beyond the
examination system but it needs some more improvements. Firstly, the learning in the
educational institutes must be relevant. Taken for example, the students who are working on the
calculating area should be given a practical plot of land to clarifying the formulas. It will also
help them to derive the formula as suggested by Evetts (2017). The textbooks should be the
primary source of information but along with it a practical idea should also be promoted. The
rewards should be reserved for utilization when they are actually needed to serve the purpose of
motivating pupils. Learning with grades eventually becomes learning for the grades only.
The extrinsic rewards which are offered for the activities which is enjoyed by people
probably decrease the motivation. Rewards has to be offered for the tasks hated by people which
will enhance the interest of doing those activities. the team work spirit in the students need to be
encouraged. According to Giroux (2018), the collaborative learning experience helps to foster
students to listen to others, grow their inner analyzing abilities and expand their own thinking
process. The incorporation of thinking and movement helps to make the learning process more
permanent and easy. It has been found that those students who feel more connected with the
teachers and the classmates are likely to preserve their learning. Hence, interaction should be
stronger and frequent where the students get the opportunity to discuss their course material, the
lectures and their queries in a playful manner. Bell and Adams (2016) are of the opinion that
above all, underestimation for poor marks in front other students leaves impact on the
psychology of the students and they feel demoralized. It also remains stuck in their psyche and
creates loss of confidence in their professional life too.
Therefore, on a concluding note it a be said that the educational system plays a major role
and leaves impact not only on the student but on the entire society too. The initiative that the
government of Singapore has taken can be expected to prove fruitful and upgrade the education
system. Notably there are other aspects too which requires greater considerations for establishing
a well-made society and a country as a whole.

3SOCIOLOGY
Reference
Apple, M. W. (2017). Cultural and economic reproduction in education: Essays on class,
ideology and the state. Routledge.
Bell, L. A., & Adams, M. (2016). Theoretical foundations for social justice education.
In Teaching for diversity and social justice (pp. 21-44). Routledge.
Evetts, J. (2017). The sociology of educational ideas. Routledge.
Giroux, H. (2018). Pedagogy and the politics of hope: Theory, culture, and schooling: A critical
reader. Routledge.
Luke, A. (2018). The social construction of literacy in the primary school. In Critical Literacy,
Schooling, and Social Justice (pp. 28-74). Routledge.
Mortimore, P. (2019). Ten education issues the new government should address. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/may/04/education-big-issues-new-
government