Singapore Best Education System Ranked 79 in Adult Literacy
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Does Singapore have a good educational system?
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Singapore has an adult literacy rate of 92.5% and is ranked 79th in the world. So Singapore has 7.5% of the population who are illiterate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate
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Not to say that our education system is the best. I like to ask which group do the bulk of our illiterates belong to. The post independence generation whom should benefit from MOE or elderly people whom are still alive but lived their youth under the leadership of a different time?
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Originally posted by foxtrout8:
Not to say that our education system is the best. I like to ask which group do the bulk of our illiterates belong to. The post independence generation whom should benefit from MOE or elderly people whom are still alive but lived their youth under the leadership of a different time?
Hong Kong ranked 68th which was a British Colony till 1997 has achieved a literacy rate of 94.6%.
Has the British Education System surpassed that of Singapore's MOE? Since Hong Kong was free from British rule for 10 years, while Singapore severed her relationship with the British approximately 50 years ago.
I heard from my parents that during colonial days, education was free, you don't have to pay for schools fees, all you have to do is get yourself to school.
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Don't you already get a rough idea when you see forumers like Gazelle and clones?
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Originally posted by maurizio13:
Hong Kong ranked 68th which was a British Colony till 1997 has achieved a literacy rate of 94.6%.
Has the British Education System surpassed that of Singapore's MOE? Since Hong Kong was free from British rule for 10 years, while Singapore severed her relationship with the British approximately 50 years ago.
I heard from my parents that during colonial days, education was free, you don't have to pay for schools fees, all you have to do is get yourself to school.
And yes by ur list, Cuba has a better education system than HK and Singapore and even Japan.
I tried to think along the line on our population having a portion belonging to the old era then i found out literacy rate may not be a direct indication of the efficiency of a country's education system. I believe many factors play a part such as history and culture.
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singapore best education system??
whoever says that can sICK my dUCK.
mayb if rephrased to singapore has the best failed education system.
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NUS graduation is now known as commencement.
Following the US example.
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Originally posted by charlize:
NUS graduation is now known as commencement.
Following the US example.
Heh... I was at the main commencement ceremony today...
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I think if we are talking abaout Education, we should consider not only academic advancement, but also overall development. Today, we see childrens scolding their parents, scolding their maids, ignoring their grandparents...
To me, if learning to read and write is considered education, how about respect, understanding or even filial piety? My take is that Singapore DO NOT have an good education system, but our literacy system is definately up to mark.. Maybe it's time MOE look into THIS aspect of education.
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Originally posted by Sialution:
I think if we are talking abaout Education, we should consider not only academic advancement, but also overall development. Today, we see childrens scolding their parents, scolding their maids, ignoring their grandparents...
To me, if learning to read and write is considered education, how about respect, understanding or even filial piety? My take is that Singapore DO NOT have an good education system, but our literacy system is definately up to mark.. Maybe it's time MOE look into THIS aspect of education.
Yeah...get the teachers to adopt the kids too..
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Originally posted by Sialution:
To me, if learning to read and write is considered education, how about respect, understanding or even filial piety? My take is that Singapore DO NOT have an good education system, but our literacy system is definately up to mark.. Maybe it's time MOE look into THIS aspect of education.
I believe respect is an issue that should be dealt at home and on a larger scale, be well demostrated and emphasized in our society. Teaching respect in school is very much as empty as national education whereby after so many years, people are still ashame to sing their national anthem. -
Originally posted by foxtrout8:
And yes by ur list, Cuba has a better education system than HK and Singapore and even Japan.
I tried to think along the line on our population having a portion belonging to the old era then i found out literacy rate may not be a direct indication of the efficiency of a country's education system. I believe many factors play a part such as history and culture.
Your initial contention was that of Singapore being under British rule, therefore it wasn't able to achieve a higher literacy rate, that's why I brought up Hong Kong (which was under British rule till 1997), it achieve a higher level of literacy rate than Singapore.Don't get confused with adult literacy rate with tertiary education, it's two totally different issues. I have no doubts that Cuba has more literate adults, but they might not be graduates.
Literacy rate might not play a 100% role in a country's education system, but it does play some role in determining a country's education system. If say the percentages are 50%, would you still think that our country's education system is doing a good job?
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Originally posted by foxtrout8:
I believe respect is an issue that should be dealt at home and on a larger scale, be well demostrated and emphasized in our society. Teaching respect in school is very much as empty as national education whereby after so many years, people are still ashame to sing their national anthem.
When you said issues like social education should be dealt with at home, you might be wrong. A holistic education system is one that encompasses a wide range of subjects, from learning to be healthy, being good citizens, playing a part in society, etc. Maybe that is what's wrong with our MOE system of education.Attached below is a transcript of the National Curriculum for UK.
Be healthy – understand how to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Young people will understand:
- how to look after their physical, emotional and sexual health (aims: confident individuals)
- that they can and should make positive choices and take sensible actions and avoid harmful choices (aims: confident individuals)
- the consequences that some decisions might have on their health and that of others and how to deal with illness, in themselves and others (personal wellbeing).
Make a positive contribution – form relationships and participate in society
Young people will:
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understand the multiple roles individuals play (personal, learning and thinking skills: effective participators)
- develop the skills and strategies to form effective relationships in a variety of roles (aims: responsible citizens)
- know how to make a difference in a group, community or society (citizenship)
- know how to work effectively with a range of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds (personal, learning and thinking skills: team workers) understand the consequences of anti-social behaviour (aims: responsible citizens).
http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/personaldevelopment/index.aspx
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Originally posted by eagle:
Don't you already get a rough idea when you see forumers like Gazelle and clones?
Hiak hiak hiak.
Can't help but laughed when I read your post. -
Singapore education system still has lots of room for improvement.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
Singapore education system still has lots of room for improvement.
Are you reffering to stressful workload if I may ask? -
Originally posted by maurizio13:
Your initial contention was that of Singapore being under British rule, therefore it wasn't able to achieve a higher literacy rate, that's why I brought up Hong Kong (which was under British rule till 1997), it achieve a higher level of literacy rate than Singapore.Don't get confused with adult literacy rate with tertiary education, it's two totally different issues. I have no doubts that Cuba has more literate adults, but they might not be graduates.
Literacy rate might not play a 100% role in a country's education system, but it does play some role in determining a country's education system. If say the percentages are 50%, would you still think that our country's education system is doing a good job?
What i meant in my initial post was not to imply that the british education system is at fault. Reminding everyone including myself that the GCE system exist now in our country is from the british. What was lacking at that time was the promotion of education which is evident by the fact that alot of schools at that time were privately funded and scholarships were limited.What i meant from my post was to imply that education wasnt emphasized and made available as much as in pre independence as compare to post independence in which alot of funds and efforts were made to promote educating our nation by MOE. The main recipent of the education movement is the post 65 people but not the pre 65 generation whom were at that point of time stop schooling. Considering that u brought MOE into the discussion, i was mainly trying to point out that the wand MOE carrying was unable to touch a considerable number of people then and therefore these group of people may form the bulk of the illiterate now.
I didnt say that the literacy rate is not an indication of the country's education system. I said that it is not a direct indication and therefore implying that there are many other factors that are at play.
If the literacy rate is a direct indication to the country's education system, Cuba as demostrated in that list might possibly possess a better education system that alot of the other countries like Singapore, Hongkong and Japan.
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Originally posted by Beautiful951:
Are you reffering to stressful workload if I may ask?
No. -
Originally posted by foxtrout8:
What i meant in my initial post was not to imply that the british system is at fault. Reminding everyone including myself that the GCE system exist now in our country is from the british.What i meant from my post was to imply that education wasnt emphasized and made available as much as in pre independence as compare to post independence in which alot of funds and efforts were made to promote educating our nation by MOE. The main recipent of the education movement is the post 65 people but not the pre 65 generation whom were at that point of time stop schooling. Considering that u brought MOE into the discussion, i was mainly trying to point out that the wand MOE carrying was unable to touch a considerable number of people then and therefore these group of people may form the bulk of the illiterate now.
I didnt say that the literacy rate is not an indication of the country's education system. I said that it is not a direct indication and therefore implying that there are many other factors that are at play.
Ermmm...the GCE is just an examination, it's not the British Curriculum per se. GCE is like the SAT exams, they don't have topics teaching you how to be good citizens.Both Hong Kong and Singapore adopted the British system, but Singapore evolved into something different, whereas Hong Kong continued with the British system till 1997. So here we have Singapore with MOE system resulting in 92.5%, whereas Hong Kong ended up with a higher 94.6%. I wonder how many of the post independence Singapore are illiterates, maybe you can look around the hawker center and gauge for yourself. Maybe we should have remained a British colony, our achievements might have surpassed the current.
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Originally posted by maurizio13:
When you said issues like social education should be dealt with at home, you might be wrong. A holistic education system is one that encompasses a wide range of subjects, from learning to be healthy, being good citizens, playing a part in society, etc. Maybe that is what's wrong with our MOE system of education.Attached below is a transcript of the National Curriculum for UK.
Thank you for the curriculum. Your posts are always filled with good findings and information.I like to point out that while curriculum directs the education process, it is not a sacred cow in which it alone cannot shape the whole education result.
For example, the liberal approach in the sex education curriculum seen in the west may not yield the same result if put in place in China. The curriculum may be shaped for the best interest of educating the society but the approach may not fit into the culture of the society. The conservative society of china may too apprehensive to accept that approach in teaching.
Sex education, moral education, national education are not something new in our curriculum but yet we are not moving far as anticipated. My take is that our society is still way back in our cultural understanding. You can definitely teach students to give up their seats for the people whom need them most. These are little cultural introductions will work little by little within our generation but not in large broad steps because our society on the whole doesnt practise such courtesy. Learn all you can at school about giving ur seats but people around you including your family members are not practising it. How much impact can the school alone bring about on such issues?
The curriculum and society must work hand in hand. As much as the school can teach us on courtesy, only our parents have the true authority to tell us to behave ourselves.
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Originally posted by maurizio13:
Ermmm...the GCE is just an examination, it's not the British Curriculum per se. GCE is like the SAT exams, they don't have topics teaching you how to be good citizens.Both Hong Kong and Singapore adopted the British system, but Singapore evolved into something different, whereas Hong Kong continued with the British system till 1997. So here we have Singapore with MOE system resulting in 92.5%, whereas Hong Kong ended up with a higher 94.6%. I wonder how many of the post independence Singapore are illiterates, maybe you can look around the hawker center and gauge for yourself. Maybe we should have remained a British colony, our achievements might have surpassed the current.
Correct, GCE is an examination system. But the examination dictates our curicullum. Although some of the curicullum were modified for Singapore, we still follow the bulk which therefore link our education process somewhat to the british education system and not the american or the swiss.
Hong kong and Singapore were under the british but were under 2 different administration so how to compare? For example by 1865 Hongkong was a financial focal point in Asia, what was Singapore doing? After independence, we struggle to stay afloat by ourselves while hong kong float with a british life raft, so i think it is very unfair to say that we have a common parentage.
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Originally posted by foxtrout8:
Correct GCE is an examination system. But the subject tested on the examination dictates our curicullum. Although some of the curicullum were modified for Singapore, we still follow the main bulk of it which therefore link our education process somewhat to the british education system and not the American or the swiss.
Hong kong and Singapore were under the british but were under 2 distinct administration so how to compare? After independence, we struggle to stay afloat by ourselves while hong kong float with a british life raft, so i think it is very unfair to say that we have a common parentage.
Difficult to compare indeed. But it has been like that for years.
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UNESCO?What is it?
http://voanews.com/english/archive/2001-12/a-2001-12-19-16-UNESCO.cfm
tell me why US,UK and SG quitted it few decades ago?
May i know what is their definition in this survey?
Have they came to SG to conduct any surveys?
Dunt just pick anythings to blacken SG!!
But no worry.PAP will not sue them to enhance their name.
GPN thinks that his case is enhancing his reputations!!
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Originally posted by foxtrout8:
Thank you for the curriculum. Your posts are always filled with good findings and information.I like to point out that while curriculum directs the education process, it is not a sacred cow in which it alone cannot shape the whole education result.
For example, the liberal approach in the sex education curriculum seen in the west may not yield the same result if put in place in China. The curriculum may be shaped for the best interest of educating the society but the approach may not fit into the culture of the society. The conservative society of china may too apprehensive to accept that approach in teaching.
Sex education, moral education, national education are not something new in our curriculum but yet we are not moving far as anticipated. My take is that our society is still way back in our cultural understanding. You can definitely teach students to give up their seats for the people whom need them most. These are little cultural introductions will work little by little within our generation but not in large broad steps because our society on the whole doesnt practise such courtesy. Learn all you can at school about giving ur seats but people around you including your family members are not practising it. How much impact can the school alone bring about on such issues?
The curriculum and society must work hand in hand. As much as the school can teach us on courtesy, only our parents have the true authority to tell us to behave ourselves.
Sex education is subject to cultural bias no doubt. But are you saying that China should forsake sex education just because of cultural bias. China's inability to implement it's sex education is a result of the older generation inability to adapt to changes in attitude to sexual practices. It's an implementation problem, it's not a curriculum error. If they discover that it's due to teachers' inability to teach sex education to teenagers, then they should do some corrective action to rectify the fault and not simply throwing out the sex education syllabus for teenagers.
“When it comes to the class for sex and puberty, the teacher always asks us to review the book without any guidance. When some classmates want to raise questions, the teacher’s face turns red,” said Yao Liang, a middle school student.
What makes you think we are not making headways in sex education? Do you have any empirical evidence to substantiate your claim? Is this snag a result of MOE's inability to properly train it's staff for the job?
If you look at the UK curriculum again under purposes, it states,
The Education Act (2002) requires that all maintained schools provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum that:
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promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of learners at the school and within society
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prepares learners at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/aims/index.aspx#page1_a
Perhaps this is where our MOE system failed because it's very rigid, it only prepares the individual to be successful without imparting moral, spiritual and cultural values.
MOE's system is very examination focused, the sole objective is to get good grades for exams. But the education of a child for the future goes beyond just having good grades. Something that MOE lacks foresight and understanding.
I believe the school and parents both have parts to play in the moral development of a child, it's not solely the responsibility of parents alone. The child spends 8-9 hours a days in school, whereas working parents will only get to spend 5-6 hours aday with the child.
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Originally posted by foxtrout8:
Correct, GCE is an examination system. But the examination dictates our curicullum. Although some of the curicullum were modified for Singapore, we still follow the bulk which therefore link our education process somewhat to the british education system and not the american or the swiss.
Hong kong and Singapore were under the british but were under 2 different administration so how to compare? For example by 1865 Hongkong was a financial focal point in Asia, what was Singapore doing? After independence, we struggle to stay afloat by ourselves while hong kong float with a british life raft, so i think it is very unfair to say that we have a common parentage.
GCE is an examination and it dictates our curriculum?There is a difference between curriculum and examination?
Examination is a subset of curriculum, curriculum is not a subset of examination.
By saying that you are telling us that MOE only produces exam focused individuals with no regards for morals or society. It's scary to hear of such education system, who knows, we might produce another Hitler or worse still another LKY.
I am comparing MOE system to the existing British system we would have adopted if not for LKY. We were under the British system before, Hong Kong continued with the British system till 1997. If our MOE's system had been superior in form and substance, wouldn't we have out ranked Hong Kong in their British system, instead we fall behind.
But the crux of your argument lies with the post and pre indepedence.
originally posted by foxtrout8:
Not to say that our education system is the best. I like to ask which group do the bulk of our illiterates belong to. The post independence generation whom should benefit from MOE or elderly people whom are still alive but lived their youth under the leadership of a different time?
FYI, the GDP per Capita for both Hong Kong and Singapore in the 1950s were approximately $2,500 (Singapore about afew hundred dollars less than Hong Kong). Perhaps if we had stayed our ground with the British our accomplishments would have surpassed that of LKY's administration. LKY's bid for independence from the British was akin to the adage, out of the frying pan and into the fire.