SINGAPORE students fare well internationally, but Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that they must continue trying to do
better if they are to hold their own against fierce competition
from elsewhere in the region.
He was speaking to about 600 constituents - students and their
family members - at a bursary and scholarship presentation ceremony
in his Teck Ghee ward.
In an off-the-cuff speech, he also stressed the importance of
Singaporeans having the knowledge and skills to start them off in
life, so that they can take on good jobs and improve their
lives.
His comments come a month after Singapore ranked among the top
performers in the Programme for International Student Assessment
(Pisa) 2009 survey by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD).
The study, which Mr Lee also cited in his New Year message on
Friday, assesses the abilities of 15-year-old students in reading,
mathematics and science.
Singapore students rated fifth in reading, second in mathematics
and fourth in science among students from 65 economies.
-- ST