S’pore Pupils Top Tests, Score Higher In Reasoning- Ki Eunyu

S’pore Pupils Top Tests, Score Higher In Reasoning
Summary: In international bench-marking studies, Singapore has emerged as a top few for mathematics, science and literary subjects. The students who do not excel in academics have also shown improvements. The main reason for this success was Singapore's education system which not taught mere learning and memorising of the subject but more of application of their skills. Another reason would be MOE's policy of trimming syllabus to develop critical thinking skills in the students and give them chance to learn more actively and less dependent on teachers.

Opinion: I feel that the policy that MOE adopted is very successful and should be carried on. The critical thinking and applying skills will be able to help the students even when they grow up. The trimming of syllabus will also give the students less stress and pressure, enabling them to have a passion towards learning.

Play in Preschool: Why it Matters- Yen Yuen

Summary
The article states the importance of play in Pre-School as it provides a child a plethora of learning opportunities. Firstly, It develops a child's language and vocabulary development. While playing with other children or adults, a child pick up and learn to use language to communicate meaning as well as picking uo new word and hearing the grammatical structure of the English Language. Secondly, it develops a child's imagination and creativity. In our fast paced society, the children have fewer opportunties to use and develop their creavitiy. Thus it is through fun play that they learn to think of creative games to entertain themselves and the possibilities are endless. Thirdly, they can learn problem solving and matheatics through puzzles and blocks games. Lastly, they get to gross and fine motor development

Opinion:
In my opinion, i feel that play is important in pre school for young children and pre school should not focus too much on a child's academics. While a child is young, we should focus on developing her communication skills and not exert unneccessary stress on a child as it may cause them to dislike learning. They should see the joy of learning as pre schools introduced play into learning.

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/play-preschool-matters/?page=2

Children 'start school too young' say experts ZhiGang

Children 'start school too young' say experts 

Summary:

Research has shown that toddlers should not attend schools yet because it deprived them of the time to play, to have fun. The extra years provide a crucial opportunity for toddlers to be toddlers. Most parents think that starting their child early in school means having better results later on in schools. Even though there is nothing wrong with seeking high educational standards, but it is surely wrong when it comes at the cost of the natural development of child.

Opinions:

In my opinion, I disagree to sending toddlers to classes. Every child is different. Different child can withstand different stress levels. Therefore, I think parents should not send their children for classes to early. Evidence has also shown that children who have a longer period of play-based early childhood education, at the age of six to seven, finish up with a whole range of clear advantages in the long term. For example, they do better in academics and they experience more emotional well-being.

More Tools To Boost Bilingual Learning by Ki Eunyu

More Tools To Boost Bilingual Learning

Summary:
Singapore encourages bilingual learning. The Ministry of Education has set up funds to support the bilingualism in Singapore such as the mother tongue language of the students. Ten entries to improve this was suggested and selected based on how relevant it was and how much it will bring benefits to the community. Despite having lack of resources, Singapore will still support bilingual learning.

My Opinion: I personally think that bilingual learning in Singapore is important as Singapore uses mainly English and students may forget their own language. I feel that knowing your own language is very important and something that one must know. Thus, Singapore should keep on supporting this system.

MOE policies: holistic education by Ki Eunyu

Education in Singapore

Summary:

MOE believes in education system that will educate one not only academically but as a whole. MOE believes that this system will provide suitable education for students who are strong in different areas and develop a good opportunity for the students to reach their potentials. MOE wishes that through the different education they are providing, students will be able to progress with the values they have learnt in their life.

Opinion:

In my opinion, holistic education is very helpful. It will help to identify and develop the potentials of a child. This means that one may succeed with a certain talent even if he is not good academically. Thus, I feel that MOE policy of holistic education will enable joy in some students as they do what they enjoy such as arts.

Singapore educaton system by Ryan

Summary:
The Ministry of Education aims to help our students to discover their own talents, to make the best of these talents and realise their full potential, and to develop a passion for learning that lasts through life. It's to build the next generation of Singaporean for the future but it will also bring changes that cannot be foreseen. It have been moving in recent years towards an education system is more flexible and diverse to provide students with greater choice to meet their different interests and ways of learning.

Opinion: In my opinion, the education system has a good approach as it will encourage them to have better ownership in learning. It also help every child to find their own talent as the system is more diverse. Their talent in sports or the arts could be promoted so they would work hard to achieve their dreams of their talent.

Bridging the education gap by JunTian

Summary: Like most parents, dad Vincent Chia wants to help his son Josiah, 11, when he struggles with his mathematics homework. The problem is, however, education have changed a lot since nearly 40 years ago. Pupils in primary schools solve maths problems these days by the models method. Still, as the well-meaning Mr Chia, 46, says: “I can’t help but use the method I learnt”. His boy is in Yew Tee Primary School. While parents want to help, for teachers it is a hindrance. “It just confuses the pupils,” says Ms Elaine Tan, 42, a teacher at Xinmin Primary School, who has had to ask parents not to step in and teach their kids algebra., Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, call this a 40-year conceptual and communication gap. Parents such as Mr Chia are in the dark, disconnected from their own children’s learning, as Singapore’s education system switches from training exam-smart children to preparing today’s youth for an uncertain world in which critical thinking and problem-solving are prized.

Opinion: I feel that it is a good thing that the education system in Singapore is changing from being exam-based to training students to be prepared for their future as an adult and for their careers. I feel that this is what education should really be instead of just learning some things that you might hardly use in the future. However, this have caused an "education gap" between parents, teachers and students. While teachers try to bring in new teaching methods, parents might still prefer their own traditional methods. Parents may also be too obsessive with the grades of children, and feel that lessons like moral education is a waste of time. However, these are the lessons that are really important for students.