A matter of mentality?

Proven: S'pore maths good for US students


I first read the above article in the New Paper on Sunday. Basically, it talks about how U.S. kids, using our Singaporean textbook, have shown improvements in their math grades. Who even knew that our math textbooks were being exported? I certainly didn't.

Know what else I did not know? Our Sec 2's and Primary 4's have topped the International rankings for achievement in maths and science a whopping 4 times! I felt so proud though i do know that my year probably wasn't one of the years who were awarded this recognition.

It got me thinking though. If our young kids (i feel so old saying this) show so much promise, should it not translate to more success in the outside world? I am not saying that Singapore have not been achieving anything in the last decades or so. On the contrary, our progress is admirable. I will always admire Creative for taking $100 Million from Apple in a legal suit.

All the ipods out there have to thank creative for their origin! Why it is not Creative but Apple which sells the most amount of Portable Music Players (brings back memories of project work) remains to be seen? Somewhere between the conception of the idea and implementing the idea, Creative got lost.

I would be even more delighted if their pay cheque came in from the shopping malls instead of from the court room. Is it just signs of learning? Perhaps next time a Singaporean company will get it right and become a global giant? Or is it our mentality preventing us from taking things to the next level?

We all embrace Corrinne May as a "Singapore-Made" Singer. Yes, she grew up here. The facts remains though that she is now a citizen in Los Angeles. She felt that the only way to further her music career was to "defect" over the US. Is it true that you can't remain in Singapore and become a superstar? Or is it a matter of mentality?

When I talk to my friends, many want to migrate overseas to work. Singapore isn't "big" enough for their dreams to be fulfilled here. Is it just a case of the grass being greener on the other side? Or do we feel shackled by the chains our own minds have locked us in?

I do think the day will come when Singaporeans will win Nobel Prizes, Grammy's, Emmy's and whatever award the west has come up with. I do think that we need to take another look at our education.

Is loading children with maths and science the route to success in the outside world? Unless one intends to be a teacher, a scientist or a mathematician, only a basic grasp of the above subjects are necessary.

I believe our Primary education is fine. What I do not understand is why does a student have to score for maths, physics, chemistry and history for O levels if they just want to pursue a course in Mass Communications in Polytechnic? Why is a student with As in Physics and Maths not allowed to get his course of study in Engineering due to his/her failure in Literature or Geography.

The scenarios above are hypothetical, but I do have friends who have not been able to do a course they would have probably excelled at because of their O level grades.

Another thing to look at is the admissions criteria for our Universities. I do think that the playing field for JC Students and Poly Students should be level. I was a JC kid and yes i managed to attain a place in a university. I do feel for those who slogged it out for 3 years in Polytechnic only to find that the local University is not offering them a place to continue their studies.

For those with lots of capital, overseas uni is readily available. Those who do not have this luxury, they enter the working world, sometimes prematurely. The ONLY reason that I went to a Junior College was to buy time. If at 16 I knew what I wanted to do for a living, I would have gone to a Polytechnic. The assumption that students are in polytechnic only because they could not get into JC needs to be dropped.

I am convinced that we have lost a host of creative and talented students to overseas colleges. A significant number will choose to live out the rest of their life there, just like Corrinne May.

The key to unlocking our rigid mentality is education. Until we let each and every child recognise and grow the God-given talent that he/she has, the potential Singapore obviously possess will continue to waste away.

I am waiting for the day when Singapore produces a show which streams world-wide, or an artiste who releases a number 1 hit or even a soccer team which qualifies for the World Cup (i'm allowed to dream, aren't i?). Till then though, I shall endeavour to support our locals as much as I can. Be it buying creative earphones or attending a local comedy act, I will do my part to grow our local talent pool.

Wonder if anyone else will follow...