(Material obtained from CNA, 07 March 2015)
In his response to concerns raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) that parents were too obsessed with tuition, Education Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat said that Singapore needs to make the transformation from a “scarcity mentality” that focuses on a single pathway to success to an “abundance mentality” with multiple pathways.
“If we think there is one pathway to success, whether it’s school or at work … (we’ll) do everything we can to get on that pathway,” Mr Heng said. “For as long as there is only one path to success, the pressure will manifest itself as some point.”
On the other hand, having an “abundance mentality” will allow for an inventive, resourceful mindset to think about new ways of doing things and creating new pathways to success, said Mr Heng.
While changes in the economy have created jobs requiring specific skills and multiplied pathways, our thinking about education and pathways have not kept up with these changes, he added.
One way the Education Ministry has tried to change such thinking is through the Applied Learning Programme and Learning for Life Programme, and to create opportunities in every school.
Parents are beginning to see how each school can offer something interesting and special, Mr Heng said.
Over the next few years, efforts will focus on enabling this mindset transformation, and while Mr Heng said he is open to the merits of particular ideas, resources and attention have to be focused on what will make the biggest impact.