Mindsets must shift for education changes to have lasting impact: Chan

Structural reforms alone will not ease academic pressure, says minister

- Gabrielle Chan

Changes in education must be accompanied by a shift in mindsets and culture to have lasting impact, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said.

Structural reforms alone - such as changes in the Primary School Leaving Examination scoring system or the removal of mid-year exams - will not ease academic pressure or broaden the definition of success unless societal attitudes evolve as well, he said on Feb 11.

Mr Chan was speaking at a lecture organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Institute of Policy Studies and National Institute of Education (NIE), as part of celebrations marking SG60 and MOE's 70th anniversary.

Addressing about 500 graduating student-teachers from NIE and guests, he said that having consistency and conviction in carrying out policies is important.

"Timing is everything. We must have the shrewd instincts to know when to lead the way with conviction and the wisdom to know when to pace ourselves with society's shifts," he said in a nearly hour-long speech tracing how Singapore's education system has evolved over the years and the challenges ahead.

Policies such as academic streaming were introduced despite initial resistance due to their long-term benefits, he pointed out, while introducing bilingualism required a gradual transition.

"Dr Goh (Keng Swee) and our pioneer leaders went ahead to implement streaming in 1979, even though it was not widely accepted by society," he said, noting that while it would have been far more politically expedient to not roll out the policy, that would have led to high levels of school dropouts and illiteracy.

More recently, full subject-based banding - where students take subjects at levels according to their strengths - was put in place when conditions were ready and schools had the resources and capability to implement it, Mr Chan said.

The change is meant to address stigma and meet evolving aspirations.