If one compares Singapore educational system to Malaysia’s, we are, of course crap, because we bend backwards for the sake of ‘Ketuanan’ and abandon Meritocracy/Equal Opportunities and English in the back burner! But for Azly Rahman to claim that “we have a world-class education system in our neighbour” (Singapore)? Come on, it depends on what you define is “world-class education system”. Singapore Education Minister would make that claim if international ratings are the benchmark, for examples “Singapore’s ranked 1st in quality education system in the world” – Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008; Singapore ranked one of the world’s best-performing school systems” – McKinsey Report, published September 2007; “Singapore students ranked among the top in Mathematics and Science” – Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007; “Singapore ranked 4th among 45 education systems” – Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006. The fact that some US schools are using Singapore Maths is also testimony of that. The main advantage of Singapore educational system based on meritocracy and rat race is that it makes a student competitive. He is “kiasu” and does not want to lose out. He is forced to study hard and do well in examinations and one of the good thing about this rigorous regime is that it trains the mind to be “disciplined”. By that I mean the mind that can analyze and synthesize facts to arrive a reasonable conclusion. It helps when the main medium of instruction is international language, English. One cannot do well in exams unless one is very articulate in the language, written and spoken which of course places Singaporeans in good stead in convincing and impressing – when that language is used – at all levels, whether in academic or professional contexts, in board rooms and commerce etc. Yet there significant drawbacks in the Singapore system if you look at education in broader sense, one of which is that it does not encourage creativity and imagination. Albert Einstein knows better when he stressed how important imagination is: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world”! But leaving aside imagination, even if one is talking about acquisition of knowledge – what knowledge are we talking about here?

When I say generally high averages in Singapore but fewer higher peaks as in Malaysia, I was thinking of how many Lim Kit Siangs and Raja Petras can Singapore’s conformist/competitive educational system produce. Ha ha ha.

Lim Kam Put, did I say “Singapore’s achievement is nothing?” or that our educational system is better?

Your manner of response and interpretation of my comments is perhaps the best and most cogent argument that you have put forward thus far why our educational system has failed!

Oh I forget your question, “So how does innate interest different from competition?” is another fuether cogent argument that you have put forward on why our educational system has failed!

Trublumsian,
I have already said in very first sentence of my first posting #2 that “if one compares Singapore educational system to Malaysia’s, we are, of course crap”. Your comment ” I bet you the majority of our minorities in bolehland will prefer Singapore’s education any day” is true. I would say for a very good reason too as Singapore system produces as I said “generally high averages”.

I point out the draw backs of the Singapore system not so much to argue that if the choice is between either Malaysian or S’pore education system or facilities, that the Malaysian one is the better. That is definitely not the case. But Singapore system is definitely far from the ideal of getting the best in education tantamounting in Azly’s words to “world-class education system in our neighbour” in broader sense of the word “education” as I elaborated (though it may still be true if you go by international ratings based on certain criteria).
Your statement “but when the brainstormers get their kudos, who’s gonna prove the concept and design the design? who’s gonna put on the lab coats, and ultimately churn things out of manufacturing?” is correct. I have no problem with the argument that there is competence, esp technical competence. I know because I have worked before with and have highly educated Singapore’s scholars/ technocrats/financiers before and many are my friends. (I am not even referring to buccaneer entrepreneurs which both sides have). It is also dangerous to even say that they can’t think out of the box for some obviously do. But I don’t sense that generally many evince that readiness to do so.
Be that as it may, my comments are not intended to compare on the average Malaysian versus Singapore educational systems on which is better. I am looking at how to give one’s children a good education in preparation of the world not necessarily confined to the choice – either entirely the Singapore or the Malaysian educational system.
I want to tell Malaysian parents especially Middle class non-Malay not to despair. The formative years are level 2 or 3 in secondary school upwards. Give them trilingual exposure, education at home on what counts to supplement, twinning (if one can’t afford for proper education elsewhere) and they may yet turn out better. In praising Singapore’s system we forget that for all its advantages it too has significant drawbacks including very stressful, the exam driven competitiveness not exactly the best in town in developing all round personality based on broad based education as I define it. (I am generalizing of course). We can despite our limiting circumstances leverage on other advantages that we have to give them a better education than to be just competent technocrats. I do wish to hear others’ comments who have similar experience in dealing with the Singaporeans (educated in the Singapore system) in the course of work or business.

/// We have to be clear whether we are talking generally or about exceptions/// . That’s not the main focus. Who can measure that exactly general or exceptions to argue? Not comparing Malaysia’s, we’re talking of the education system of Singapore which, whilst good in many aspects already highlighted, whether it is “world-class education system” as Azly said. That depends on what one means “world class”. If one says producing scholars and competent technocrats is “world class” then there is really no common ground to argue/debate.
I mentioned the standard and pursuit of excellence as being prerequisite of “high achievement” and that excellence flowers better when it stems from (1) inspiration of innate interest than (2) the gruesome labour of competitive examinations. I stand by this. The first condition (1) is very thing that fosters creativity, imagination, curiosity, a sense of adventure, and persistent love of learning and acquiring knowledge & nibbling/working at a problem to solve it due to love/interest than (2) just to beat the next fellow and get the accolades! (1) is real talent meritocracy whilst (2) is competitive exam meritocracy. The society that fosters (1) will produce in longer run (way after graduation) more world champions, beaters top-ranked scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, inventors, business executives or academics. Of course to micromanage Singapore a team of able technocrats will do. To get world-beaters, it just opens its door to attract foreign talents/brains. How many talents/brains from malaysia have they got already? But people homegrown from their educational system?
If one talks of life’s skills don’t we agree that Middle class non malay kids have better opportunities to be trilingual here than in Singapore?
Another part of world-class education is to produce intellectuals (not so much of scholars per se). That this is necessary is obvious: intellectuals have an important part to play to influence the society they are in to a higher organization of thought and organization of affairs. Intellectuals have a broad based understanding of issues, and a value system daring to speak the truth, in speech or writing, where ever it leads to (pleasant or unpleasant consequences) and a daring to speak truth to power. For that the education system must encourage a mind that questions and challenges conventional wisdom, even if it means challenging authority….I ask whether you think the Singapore educational system encourages this or conformity! Since primary they are taught to respect authority and the wisdom of authoritarian figures, whether teacher, lecturer, employer, PAP cabinet minister or Prime Minister. When student speak up on something controversial,
will he be applauded and encouraged in Singapore or viewed by his peers as pushy and weird??
I regard many people here in Malaysia as public intellectuals, for example YB Kit, Raja Petra, Malaysiakini’s Steven Gan and many others in blogger sphere and the NGOs. They flourish (notwithstanding our limitations in educational sphere) in part due to our adverse oppressive conditions where we have to fight and conscious of fighting tooth and nail for our basic right. So we can break out of our conformist shell that our own education system shackles. In S’pore what is there to break from the conformist shell when the choice is stark : either you can talked down by the intellectually superior PAP minister, go to jail, get sued for defamation as weighed against the other argument – what have citizenry got to complain anyway : “we’re first in this and first in that, high GDP per capita (not necessarily purchasing power parity), efficient public transportation and housing, corrupt free civil service etc.” Nothing much for the citizenry to think ain’t it (except as technocrat to get work efficiently done)? Where’s S’pore’s LKS, RPKs with the guts, fire in the belly and so forth? I agree they still have Chiam See Tong (once upon a time Tan Wah Piow who never came back) but by and large?
This is dilemma of Singapore education. (That does not mean they don’t know and won’t slowly change for the better).

I would assume that comparing the US and S’pore education systems, the former fosters (more on comparative basis) creativity, imagination, curiosity, a sense of adventure, and persistent love of learning and acquiring knowledge & nibbling/working at a problem to solve it due to love/interest.

Reposting: Alastine said in #49 “I wonder whether really you have any experience with the Singapore educational system to be in a position to make such judgements”. I have had such experience.

Ooops typo – “HOWEVER IF (not ‘even’) they are already going to tertiary level (at 16 or 17 & above) and of reasonable maturity it may be a different story

King Cobra,

Re your statement “so u tell me which country’s costs of living is actually higher ? without considering the effects of exchange rate……” When they consider Purchasing power parity (PPP) as benchmark to calculate the differences in the cost of living between two places, the relationship between the exchange rates of different countries and the price at which goods or services are sold in those countries is always considered.

The other problem is as always choice of uniform and identical consumer “product” or service to compare. If you talk about coffee at RM1.30 in JB, there are problems whether coffee shop coffee is also RM1.30 in KL or Penang and whether one should use American Starbuck’s coffee to compare. Or Mc Donald’s burger. (I just came back from Marseilles, Mac burger there cost me about 7.50 Euro!)
Analyst Eugene Yeo claims he uses a specific, highly uniform product that is available everywhere in the same quality such iPod nano (with 8 GB of storage). He then calculates how long an employee has to work to afford it in each city. (Note he’s comparing S’pore with cities in developed countries such as Zurich and New York when worker could buy a nano from an Apple store after nine hours of work. A Singapore worker will have to work three times longer after 27.5 hours. He’s also comparing with other Asia-Pacific cities like Sydney (9.5 hrs), Tokyo (12hrs), Auckland (16hrs), Hong Kong (19hrs), Seoul (22hrs) and Taipei (23.5hrs). Again he says S’pore came in last among the 4 Asian Tigers. (He’s comparing S’pore with developed cities than comparing with KL in this respect!

Its outside the scope of blog here to put in details. Try to get a copy of “An analysis of the UBS study: Singapore has the lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among the Asian Tigers By Eugene Yeo” for details.

Like we here complaining of our own country Eugene’s is striking a chord with many of my disgruntled Singaporean friends, amongst whom I am presently with, complaining about their position vis-a-vis their government’s management of Singapore Incorporated. His conclusions are entertaining. He likens an average Singaporean worker to a Russian Serf and says, “Not only are our standards of living becoming more and more like Russia, there is an insidious ”Russification” of our economy and politics as well. What started out as a “Swiss dream” is fast becoming a “Russian” nightmare under continued PAP hegemony…He refers tpo a recent study published by the New Economics Foundation whose take is that the happiest people on Earth are not from countries with the highest GDP per capital. Costa Rica, with a GDP a quarter of the United States, has the highest Global Happiness Index in the world. Like the case of Bhutan, the guidimng national philosophy is not GDPs or GNPs but GNH or “Gross National Happiness” In 2006, Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, citing a global survey conducted by the University of Leicester in 2006 called the “World Map of Happiness”.
Interestingly people skew to read things and use selective examples to reinforce our own bias and perception relative to our dissatisfactions of our own place and the idea that the pasture on the other side is greener. As we do here, so the Singaporeans comparing themselves unfavourably with others (though ‘others’ exclude mostly Malaysia).

“without by your own admission knowing anything about me or where I am.”