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www.straitstimes.com PublishedonMar07,2015TheStraitsTimes

EXCERPTSOFHENGSWEEKEAT'SSPEECH

From'studybook'ordushutolearningwithjoyforlifeThisisaneditedexcerptofaspeechbyEducationMinisterHengSweeKeatinParliamentyesterday.

In1965,educationmeantdushuor"studybook".Ourpioneershadasenseofwheretheywantedtobeinthefuture,wheretheywere,andworkedhardtobridgethatgap.Thebiggapthenwasbasicliteracyandnumeracyskillsso"studybook"madesenseastheylearntthethree"Rs"orreading,writing,arithmetic.Manybecameliterateandnumerate.Wethenbuiltonthiseducationsystem.Atcriticalpoints,wemadeimportantchoicestoadaptandchange.Educators,parents,studentsrespondedwithspirit,andeachwaveallowedustomakefurtherprogresswithpurpose.Buttherewerealsoinadvertentnegatives.Inourmind,"studybook"becameincreasinglyaboutexams,gradesandqualifications.Astrengthinfocusingonacademicgradescanbeoverdoneandbecomeaweakness,asweleavelittletimetodevelopotherattributesthatarenecessaryforsuccessandfulfilment.Studentstellmeofthestresstheyfacedbecauseofthehighexpectationsplacedonthem.Thechaseforbettergradesfuelledatuitionindustry.Itcreatedaverticalstackingofqualifications,aswellasthetieringofschoolsinthemindsofparentsbasedmainlyonacademicresultsahierarchyofgrades.Wearenotuniqueinthis.Thesame"studybook"culturethatenabledthethreeEastAsiandragonsSouthKorea,HongKong,Taiwantomakegreatstridesisalsogeneratingthesame,ifnotevengreater,pressureintheirsocieties.Likeourpioneersbeforeus,wehavetoaskanew:Wheredowewanttobeinthefuture,wherearewetoday,andhowdowemaketheleap?Thefuturewillbemoreuncertain,volatileastheglobaleconomyandpoliticalorderchangeinunpredictableways.Anageingpopulationwillcreatechallengesthatwecannottotallyforesee.Ayoungergenerationthatisdigitallyconnectedcaneitherbemoreunitedormoredivided.Thenatureofjobswillalsochange.Manyexistingjobswilldisappear.Smartmachinesandlowercostworkerselsewherewilltakethesejobs.Wehavetochangejobs,maybeseveraltimesoverourlifetime.Butjobsthatneeduniquelyhumanqualitiescannotbedisplacedbymachines,andwillbecomemorevaluable.Traitslikecreativity,inventiveness,adaptability,socioemotionalskills,andculturalandglobalawarenesswillgiveSingaporeansanedge.Someofuswillcreatejobsforothersasentrepreneurs.Andifoureconomygrowswell,morejobswillbecreated.Allthesepresentnewandmultiplepathwaysforsuccess.AtacrossroadsWEAREatacrossroads.Wehavetwooptions.Wecouldcontinuewiththe"studybook"path,withanarrowfocusongradesandexams,anddescendintoaspirallingpaperchaseandexpandingtuitionindustry,asmanyofyouhavewarned.Employerschoosenottoinvestinemployees,relyingwhollyonacademicqualificationstodeterminewhogetsthejob.Educatorsdrillandtest,andseetheirdutyashelpingstudentsobtainthebestexamgradespossible.Parentsobsessovergradesandspendeverincreasingamountsofresourcestogivetheir

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childanedgeoverotherchildren.Andstudentschasethenextpoint,andspendmostoftheirtimegoingformoretuitionandenrichmentinverynarrowareas.Stresslevelsinsocietyclimb,andthesystemchurnsoutstudentswhoexcelinexams,butareillequippedtotakeonjobsofthefuture,norfindfulfilmentinwhattheydo.Andunemploymentorunderemploymentbecomespervasive.Orwecanhaveanotheroutcome.Wecanactwithboldnessandresolvetoembarkonamajortransformation.Wewillneedcollectivewillandactionbyemployers,teachers,parentsandstudentsandsocietyatlarge.Whereemployerslookbeyondacademicqualificationsinhiringandpromotingthebestpersonforthejob,wherebossessupportemployeesinskillsupgrading,whereeducatorsfocusonholisticeducation,buildingastrongfoundationofvaluesandthecapacitytolearn,whereourinstitutionsofhigherlearningplayaleadingrolestrengtheningthenexusbetweenlearningandwork,learningandlife,whereparentsrecogniseeverychild'suniquestrengths,anddotheirparttobuildtheirchildren'scharacter,wherestudentsflourishthrougharangeofacademicandcocurricularactivities,takedifferentpathwaystosuccessandgrowuptobewellrounded.Theeconomystaysresilientandflexible,withhighlevelsofemployment,andmanyopportunities.Highskills,highproductivity,highwages.Andoursocietyandourpeoplecontinuetobecaring,harmonious,gracious,cohesive.Andwedonotseeeducationasaraceamongourchildren.Chartingthisnewterritorywillrequireustoonceagainbepioneers.Wedevelopednewwaysoflearninginourschools,madeeveryschoolagoodschool,expandedappliedpathwaysintertiaryeducationand,inthisBudget,outlinedaseriesofSkillsFutureinitiativesthatbuiltonAspire's(AppliedStudyinPolytechnicsandITEReview)recommendations.AllthesechangeshavelaidthegroundworkforatransformationthatcreatesabetterfutureforSingapore,anchoredindeepskillsandstrongvalues.Butthisfuturewillbelongtousonlyifwe,asapeople,shiftourmindsetsabouteducation.Thisisnotabout"studybook"ordushu.Itisaboutlearningineverydomain,anytime,anywhereforapurposeful,fulfillinglife.Inotherwords,weneedtolivethepioneeringspirit,beyondlearningforgrades,tolearningformastery,beyondlearninginschool,tolearningthroughoutlife,beyondlearningforwork,tolearningforlife.LearningformasteryTHEfirstmajorshiftistogobeyondlearningforgrades,tolearningformastery.WhenIwasinthePoliceAcademy30yearsago,morethan30yearsagoactually,oneofmypioneerinstructorswasMrJohnChang.Hedidnothavehighacademicqualifications,buthewas,inmymind,oneofthebestinstructorsheknewthelaw,heknewhowtodealwithtensesituations,heknewhowtoteach.Heexplainedtomethatafterhandlingeachcase,hewouldreflectonhowhecouldhavedonebetter.Hewouldimagineinhismindscenarioshowshouldhehavereactedifthecriminalsthathewasdealingwithhadbeenmoreviolent,iftheywerearmedwithafirearm,orifthevictimswerelesscooperative,andsoonandsoforth.Hestudiedonhisown,heattendedclasses,heaskedhispeers,heaskedhisseniors.Everybodyhecouldget,hewouldask.Johnwasoneofthefewpoliceofficerswhostartedasaconstable,gotmanypromotionsandwentallthewayandretiredasanassistantsuperintendentofpolice.Quiteafeatinthosedays.IlearntalotfromJohnasaveryyoungofficeraboutwhatitmeanstobeaneffectivelearner,andhowoneachievesmastery.Hewasselfdirected:Noonetoldhimhowtolearn,buthedidsoonhisown.Hewasreflective:Hethoughtthroughhisownexperiencesandlearntfrombothmistakesandsuccesses.Helearntinbitesizedmodules,pickingupwhatheneeded,whenheneeded.Hekeptanopenmindandlearntfromeveryone,everywhere,atanytime.Hewasdisciplined:Learningwasnotlefttochance,butbuiltinto

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hiseverydayroutine.Andhewaspassionate:Hecareddeeplyaboutwhathedoes.WeshouldaimtobeanationwhereSingaporeansdevelopmasteryineveryfield,Singaporeanswhoareresourceful,inventiveandbreaknewground.Thiswilltakeacollectiveeffortacrossourschools,institutesofhigherlearning(IHLs)andindustry.

Learningwithinterestandjoy:Animportantaspectoflearningformasteryistomatchourstudents'strengthsandintereststoopportunitiesinourschoolsandIHLs,incareersandenterprises.ArecentinnovationinourschoolsistheAppliedLearningProgrammesorALPs,infactinalmostalloursecondaryschools,andthisispartofourEverySchoolAGoodSchoolmovement.

Infunandcreativeways,ourstudentsapplyvariousdomainsofknowledgetosolvecomplex,reallifeproblemsintheirfieldofinterest.HillgroveSecondaryhasanALPonflightandaerospace.Studentslearnfundamentalaerospacetheories,andapplymaths,science,designandtechnologybybuildingandflyingtheirownmodelplanes.Studentsgoontotakeadvancedelectivemodulesinaerospace,wheretheyflyinflightsimulatorsandlearnhowplanesdefygravity.RaynerLeereallyenjoyedlearningatHillgroveandinfacthe'snowdoingaerospacetechnologyatNanyangPolytechnicandhesays:"IchoseHillgrovebecauseoftheYouthFlyingClubCCA.Iwantedtobeapilot.MyparentsandschoolteachersencouragedmetotakeupthePrivatePilotLicence(PPL).NowthatIhavemylicence,IhopetojointheRSAF(RepublicofSingaporeAirForce)asapilot."Well,IhopeRaynerflieshigh.

Masteryinwhicheverfield:DifferentALPsopenupdifferentpossibilitiesforstudentstoputknowledgeintoactionandbringlearningtolife.Learningbecomesrelevantandengagingforeverystudent,ineveryschool.

Wearenotchannellingstudentstospecialiseearly.Infact,deepskillsacquiredinonefieldcanbetransferredtoanother.NgeeAnnPolytechnicusesthetechnicalknowhowinbuildingunmannedaerialvehiclesorUAVstobuildunmannedunderwatervehiclesorUUVstocleanshiphullssotransferringtheskillsfromairtosea.AteaminITEworkingwiththeSingaporeZooappliedmedicaltechnologytodesignanincubator,andsucceededinincreasingthehatchingrateofreptileeggsfrom25percentto75percent.Withmorechoices,weneedgoodeducationandcareerguidanceorECG.Therearemanydomainsandfieldsthatstudentscouldexploreanddevelopdeepskillsinwhetherit'sindesign,business,arts,musicorsports.Byexposingstudentstopossibilities,weempowerthemtomakebetterchoicesandchoosesuitablepathways.ECGcurriculuminschools,ITEandpolytechnicswillbeenhancedand,by2017,we'llhaveaprofessionalcoreofECGcounsellorsandanonlineECGportalthatshowsmanyexcitingopportunitiesenrichedbyourSkillsFutureinitiatives.LearningthroughoutlifeTHEsecondmajorshiftthatweneedtomaketogetherdeeperistogobeyondlearninginschool,tolearningthroughoutlife.Fiftyyearsago,Seletarwasbetterknownforthesmellofpigfarms.And50yearson,IvisitedSeletartowitnessthedeliveryofourfirstRollsRoyceTrent1000jetenginemadeinSingaporeforaSingaporeancompany,Scoot.Aworldofdifference.Ravinderisateamleaderwith24yearsofaerospaceexperience.Youwouldhavethoughtthatheknowseverything,buthetoldme:"Tome,everydayisalearningprocess."Andthisgentlemanwasseriouswhenhesaidthat.Itturnedoutthathissonwasalsointerestedinaerospaceengineering.SoRavinderdecidedthathe,too,shouldreturntoschooltopickupnewskillsandmoreskills,sothathecanmentorhisson,andpassonhisskillstothenextgeneration.HeenrolledinTemasekPolytechnic'sDiplomainAerospaceEngineeringandisnowsixmonthsintohiscourse.Now,allthat,whileworkinghardatRollsRoyce

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mentoringhisyoungcolleagues,likeCheriaandSiti.Now,CheriaistechnicallyRavinder's"schoolmate"inTP,assheisalsopursuingaDiplomainAerospaceEngineering.Butsheisonethirdhisageabout.Asanintern,sheislearningattheworkplace,evenasRavinderislearningatTP.Siti,anITEstudentinaerospacetechnology,wasalsopartoftheteam.WhileworkingatabookshopatChangiAirport,shesawtheaeroplanestakingoffanditpiquedherinterest.Shestartedtowonderhowdoplanesfly.So,today,sheisaRollsRoyceITEscholar,thrilledtobebuildinganimpressiveandcomplexenginewithsome30,000partsandlearningallthatasanintern.Soyouseeit'snotjustaboutlearningtechnicalskills.Ravinder,CheriaandSitiareatdifferentstagesoflifebutallactivelylearningtobebetter,tosucceedbothatwork,andinlife.SelfdirectedlearningASWEresolvetolearnformasteryandlearnthroughoutlife,weneedtorethinkafewissuesaboutlearningandthesignificanceofthechanges.TheOECD(OrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment)didarecentsurveyofadultskills.WorkersinJapanrankedhighlyintheirskills,butrankedbadlyintermsofhowwelltheseskillsareutilisedonthejob.Attheoppositeend,workersintheUSrankedpoorlyinskills,butrankedamongthetopinusingskillsonthejobsowhateverskillstheyhave,theyusetothefullest.Besidesthemultiplepathwaysinourinstitutionsofhigherlearning,youcannowcreateyourownlearningpathwaysbuildaportfolioofskills,justintime,tailoredtoyourownneeds,atyourownpace.Youcanstackmodulestowardsaqualification,orjustchooserelevantmodules.Itempowerseachofustotakecharge,directourownlearning,andbuildourownuniqueskillsmap.Thisselfdirected,independentlearningmuststartyoung.Ourteachersmustnotspoonfeedourstudentsandgivethemmodelanswers.Inlife,therearenomodelanswers.Ioncehadaparentwhowrotetometoargueforanextramarkforherchild'stermtestinschool.Ratherthanseekanextramarkintests,letusnurtureourchildrentomaketheirmarkinsociety.Wehavetoencourageourchildrentobeindependent,selfdirectedlearners,skilfulatfiguringouttheirownway.ProfessorTanTaiYongmadeanimportantpointthatwemustnotoverprotectourchildren,sothattheycandevelopadaptiveresilienceandlearntodealwithuncertaintiesinlife.Butifweintervenewhenachilddidnotgettheextramark,howdoesheorshedevelopthatresilience?Soletusstartearlyinourschoolsandmakeourchildrenselfdirected,independentlearners.Letusalltakeacollectivepauseandseewhetherthewaythatwearebringingupourchildreninschool,athome,ishelpingthemtodevelopthatindependence,thatselfdirectedlearning,thatresourcefulnessandinitiative,orwhetherwearespoonfeedingthem,thattheyaregoingtolosethatthatwhenthecrutchistakenaway,theycannotgooutandcreateandinventandbuildnewthings.

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