The Straits Times
Monday, Feb 22, 2016
Fewer students seem to be taking geography this year in junior
colleges, with an updated curriculum for the subject kicking
in.
The revised curriculum, which requires them to draw links between
physical and human geography - and go beyond memorising facts - has
made some think twice about taking the subject.
Several who were contacted said they think it could now be harder
to do well in it, and were drawn to other humanities subjects, such
as history and economics.
The Straits Times understands that interest in geography among
first-year students has dipped across the JCs this year. Some have
about 30 to 70 students taking the H2 subject in JC1; in the past
they would have had upwards of 60.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that in the last few years -
from 2012 to 2014 - the number of students taking H2 geography has
remained at about 9.5 per cent of each cohort. About 14,000
students take the A levels every year.
One student who took geography in upper secondary chose economics
instead when she got to JC .
"I like geography because it helps us have an informed view of the
world. But my teacher told us that the changes are not as
straightforward, and integrating human and physical geography means
you can't be half-good at the subject," said the 17-year-old
Integrated Programme student who declined to be named.
"My impression is that it will be harder to score. I thought about
it quite hard but, in the end, students are practical - we still
need subjects that will help us get As."
But Ms Helena Ting, a lead geography teacher at National JC, said
the changes are not major as the focus is still on the physical and
human aspects of geography.
Students' uncertainty is expected when there are syllabus changes,
she said. "But content has not changed much; what's different is
the emphasis. Now we try to incorporate both aspects in the
discussion of environmental and human issues so that it's more
realistic."
For example, the subject will be taught through themes such as
tropical environment, sustainable development and globalisation. A
fourth theme, geographical investigation, requires students to
craft research questions, identify data needed to test their
hypothesis and explain how they collect data.
Some educators contacted said the integrated approach is in line
with the university style of learning but students who are
grappling with content may find it hard.
But the changes are necessary to make the subject more relevant,
said Ms Sabrina Teo, subject head of geography at Serangoon JC.
She said: "We hope that the new syllabus will get students to read
up and be exposed to news and trends, beyond the fixed sets of
readings."
Associate Professor Pow Choon Piew, from the National University of
Singapore's geography department, said students are used to the
human-physical geography divide, which is an "artificial" one.
"Contemporary issues, such as urban sustainability and climate
change, straddle both fields," said Prof Pow, who was involved in
MOE's latest review of the JC geography syllabus.
Ms Ting added: "Geography reflects issues in the real world. It's
about understanding spatial patterns in and across places and
observing variations.
"Teachers will need to help students of varying abilities in
different ways," she said. "This is also a chance for us to
collaborate across JCs and have conversations about how to teach
the subject better."
Prof Pow added that, despite the initial worry, he is confident
teachers will help students adapt to the new syllabus over the two
years. "The hope is that the larger spirit of why the ministry is
embarking on these changes is not lost."
First-year Innova JC student Sapphire Ong, 17, who is taking
geography, said she enjoyed it in upper secondary school."As a
geographer, it's important to understand both physical and human
aspects as they're inter-dependent."