Less rote-learning and more time for teachers to bring out the best in students
AUG 23, 2004
3,000 more teachers in schools by 2010
The aims are less rote-learning and more time for teachers to bring out the best in students
By Lydia Lim
MORE teachers, smaller syllabus.
The Government will deploy an army of almost 3,000 additional teachers to schools right up to junior college level and cut back the syllabus so they can achieve this unusual mission: less teaching, more learning.
Describing education as the 'most important gift to the young', Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night set out his plans to achieve a 'qualitative leap' in standards.
There will be a 15 per cent increase in the number of teachers per student by 2010, he announced.
Primary schools will get 1,000 more teachers, secondary schools 1,400 more teachers and junior colleges another 550. And it will be up to each school to decide how it wants to employ its additional teachers.
The change 'will make a difference in every school'.
The move comes on the heels of recent moves to make the school system more flexible and diverse, through new integrated programmes for those in independent schools and special schools for those strong in sports, arts and maths and science.
He explained that he focused on primary and secondary education because this was what all children went through and was a key issue to young adults starting families.
Although the number of teachers will go up, there will be no corresponding increase in homework or syllabus for that 'defeats the whole purpose of giving schools more resources'.
'In fact, we should cut down on the syllabus,' he said. The idea is to have 'less pressure on the kids' and 'less rote learning'.
'We've got to teach less so our children can learn more.'
There should also be more space for students to explore and discover their talents and for teachers to think, reflect and find ways to bring out the best in students. As for grades, they are important but 'not the only thing'.
Anderson Primary's principal, Mr Lawrence Chong, who was at the University Cultural Centre to watch the rally, welcomed the changes. He plans to lower the student to teacher ratio in his school and review its homework policy.
'We have to explain to parents that more homework is not necessarily better. Children need time to dream,' he said.
Last night, Mr Lee called on parents to support schools when they try new teaching methods, build up a child's character, or toughen him up.
They should stop comparing which school has more worksheets or sending their kindergarten-aged children for remedial classes.
Parents should instead learn to let go a little and take some risks.
'It's OK for children to get hurt. They fall down, they bruise their knees... that's part of growing up.'
He agreed with parents who wrote in recently to the press to say that children should get to play more and physical education periods should not be eaten up by homework.
Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam agreed too, Mr Lee said, adding that the ministry would be doing something about this.
Even as he addressed parents' concerns, Mr Lee also had words of encouragement for those in charge in the schools. Good and dedicated principals and teachers are the 'critical X-factor' in education, he said.
'We have a dedicated group of teachers and principals and quite a few outstanding ones.'
He cited examples of how teachers in Tanjong Katong Girls', Hougang Primary, Shuqun Secondary and Naval Base Secondary had enabled their pupils to learn through new experiences outside the classroom.
The principal of Shuqun supported a group of students who wanted to set up an entertainment centre in the school so their schoolmates could play games in a safe environment. Previously, they would visit a video-games centre where they mixed with bad company.
Naval Base got students from the Normal (Academic) stream who were good in art to sell their artworks and raise money for a field trip to Paris. While there, the students saw for the first time an original painting by Spanish master Pablo Picasso.
When they returned, all of them passed art and one third got distinctions.
He had been 'very encouraged by the vision, drive and ideas' of 10 primary- and secondary-school principals he had met two weeks earlier to discuss the changes.
It was best to let schools decide how to deploy the additional teachers, as each has different students and needs.
The principals he met each had different ideas. Some wanted to shrink class sizes, some to go into specialised teaching in arts, music or sports and others preferred to have more counselling or character-building programmes.
Whichever strategy they adopt, Mr Lee said having more teachers in schools 'will help ensure the next generation emerges confident and fighting fit'.
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Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
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