In recent years, I have overheard students saying that they are not going to let themselves be defined by a number on their paper. This illustrates how as we grow older and mature, we realise how much we attribute our grades to ideas of self-worth. Singapore’s education system seems to promote this unhealthy mindset.
This debate in Singapore has been contested for years, where citizens have raised concerns that there is too much emphasis placed on grades instead of making it a holistic experience for students. There is an approach that seeks to fully activate all aspects of the learner's personality (intellect, emotions, imagination, body) for more effective and comprehensive learning. In school, the lack of support is prominent when we think things like, “I’m not smart enough” , “I don’t have enough time”, or “I don’t have enough energy”. Students tend to complain about these aspects, as a result of their heavy workload, and the current education system should focus on helping these students overcome this barrier such as through therapy, light activities, sports, and more. Having said that, a small, healthy amount of stress can still have a positive outcome, by getting an individual to think of ways to succeed or allowing them to put in their best effort; in other words, one should not be afraid of the “fear of failure”.
Nonetheless, I believe that an excessive amount of fear of failure is undesirable as it can lead to risk-aversion, anxiety, and the reluctance to try new experiences. Experiencing failure is an unavoidable part of life that should not be frowned upon during our schooling years, as it is an essential stepping stone to success. Hence, the Singapore education system should focus on finding resources to help students overcome these obstacles during their learning journey. Teachers should show students how to rise after they stumble, and how to manage stressful periods that they may experience in school. Teachers should ensure their students are aware that there is no harm in feeling anxious about failure, and that they should instead provide useful feedback and learning tips in order for students to progress further in their academic journey. Despite the amount of stress and anxiety schooling brings to students, Singapore still manages to be the country with the highest IQ in the world. Could it be possible that Singapore’s education system offers valuable lessons for the path to educational success?
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