Does it seems so? There are many potential students out there
and they aren't doing very well in the current education system.
The students generally has nothing to do with "kiasuism".
If it has anything to do with "kiasuism", then it should be
directed the parents.
Meritocracy? Stress? Why should meritocracy be stressful? You work
for it, you get what you want. Why should that be stresssful
too?
It is the pressure from parents,friends,classmates and school that
adds on to the stress of students in Singapore.
Parents, afraid that their children will lose out to their
kins//friends/colleagues' adds pressure by forcing their offsprings
to study, have more tutions.
Friends/classmates, this applies to many people, when you see
friends/classmates doing well in their results, you would want to
do well too.
Blame it on the government? I see no reason to. I am not a PAP
enthusiastic but it is the very "Singaporean Mentality" which
creates this trend in our education system.
For me, studying have never been a pressure except that it is
boring to study subjects which are not interesting to me.
Enjoy my youth, I have always been doing that. 
[This message has been edited by tango (edited 24 September
2000).]
