Haha, I just wrote this huge post, but I didnt sign in. So I
lost all of it.
Basically, what do you guys think of the Singapore Education
System?
What do you think of GEP?
Of streaming?
Of PSLE?
Personally, I think that streaming really shatters a person's
confidence. Or (sometimes) it makes people think too well of
themselves. I know that it's supposed to allow people to study at
their own pace, but things such as intellect shouldnt be decided at
such a young age. By streaming, you may sometimes be sending the
message that someone isn't good enough. That very someone may lose
confidence in him/herself, and may never release their full
potential. Instead of living out who they could be, they live by
how they've been labelled -- ex/ a failure, a loser, a
"slow-learner". Everyone is gifted in their own way. They may be
good at comforting people, at cooking, at singing, at art -- but
these things usually arent taken into account when it comes to
'educating' people. I have nothing against people who go to
prestigious schools, but thinking about it, those who enter are
usually accepted due to their high PSLE scores -- basically, those
who are good at math, science and english. What about those people
who have talent in other areas? And is one test good enough to
determine someone's intellect? I have this friend. She's really
bubbly and kind and everything -- and she was once really good at
math. Actually, I'm sure that she's still good at math -- but she's
lost faith in herself. Why? 'Cause she didnt do too well in her
PSLE. Her teacher was counting on her to get an A* and to get into
some really good school. In the end, she only got 1 A* for her exam
-- Science. She counted on math, but due to stress, she messed up
on the examination. According to her, she forgot how to do all the
really easy questions. In the end, she went to CHIJ -- St. Theresa
(i think that's how you spell it), but she was really disappointed
in herself. Now, she gets Bs and Cs. Sometimes, I wonder, if her
PSLE score was good and she didnt lose faith, would she still be
getting A*s? Also, I think that the PSLE creates a lot of division
among students. I know that some students from different schools
get along just fine, but some dont. Maybe it has something to do
with how some people got better scores then others, thus leading to
them getting into "better" schools? People slowly form this twisted
impression that those in "less good schools" are gangsters (ah
lians/ ah bengs), while those in "prestigious" schools are nerds
with "elite uncaring faces". Though it may be true in some cases,
it usually only generalises the minority. Don't you think all this
division may be getting too far?
Also, what is the purpose of the GEP? Isnt the GEP simply about
allowing people with greater intellect to learn at a faster pace?
If there is such a need, why cant the student simply skip a grade
instead of being labelled with such a title? People may be slightly
spiteful that they are younger, but at least they probably wont
gain as many glares or weird looks as (I hear) some GEPs
receive.
I dont know how to end this, so .. yeahh.
What's your opinion? xD
