Conversation with a 14-year-old that I'm working with at Whampoa:
Me: So, for the December holidays, would you rather continue doing mock test papers or do a project on something you really care about - like Education or Environment ...
14-year-old: I'd rather continue with the papers because that's what I get tested on at school.
Me: Don't you do projects at school? Aren't they more fun than assessments?
14-year-old: Projects are only 10% of my school grades. So I think I'll stick to assessments.
I posted this on facebook, and one of my friends who's in marketing posted back "Same happens in corporates with high variable pay... It's my target... Therefore..."
The education system in Singapore is really, really working on changing. It's been in the media a lot in the past few months and I truly believe it's more than a PR exercise. We're working on putting play into school, building more resilient, adaptable kids. About time too - and I hope this works.
In the meantime, we've already drummed it in many young minds. These young minds will grow up.
And I hope that one day, someone will tell them, as a teacher in highschool told me when I was 16: "Don't confuse academics with education."
Another told me that if she had to school between the two, she'd rather be wise than clever.
Me, I'm still learning.
