04 September 2020
Minister of State for Education as well as Social and Family Development Sun Xueling said in Parliament that the Singapore education system needs to evolve to ensure that our country maintains a fair and just society.
Education must remain a social enabler so that everyone, especially those who may have started with less, have hope and confidence that they have equal access to opportunities to do well.
Ms Sun said: “I believe our social conscience tells us that we do not want to create a self-fulfilling class system in Singapore that is entrenched and segregates individuals, limiting them in their endeavours, and stifling hopes and dreams.”
The government has invested heavily in the recruitment of teachers, as well as in their progression and professional development, said Ms Sun.
That being said, Singapore also needs to move away from an overemphasis on grades, “not just within the school system, but also a broader mindset shift in society, including from among employers and parents.”
Ms Sun added: “And we need to make real changes to some of the current ways of doing things, such as greater recognition of skills when evaluating someone for a job.”