Analysis of the Education Minister position on Study Pressure
March 19, 2001
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INTRODUCTION: We recommend that you download the powerpoint show version. It is much better than the web version. (Fig 1)The source of stress and unhappiness (box 3) comes from the Achievement-Expectation gap (box 2) of parents and students, which many find it very hard to close. Increasing the intake of very good foreign students (box 1) could worsen the gap as standards are peg higher. |
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(Fig 2) So they try harder (box 4), which leads to some trade-off (box 5), e.g., less time for leisure activities. We have a reinforcing loop between Box 3, 4 and 5. The product of this loop is to minimize Box 2. |
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(Fig 3) The government continuously finds means to alleviate this (box 6). E.g., poorer families make smaller or no trade-off for PCs because they are subsidized or given away. This is positive, serving as a demotion effect on Box 5. |
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(Fig 4) This system is driven by a powerful reinforcing loop from Box 3, 4 and 5. The limits of growth is postponed by Box 6. This is probably one of the best way to obtain the best possible measurable results (box 1). Singaporeans continue to complain, but if asked to dismantled this powerful reinforcing loop, I am skeptical that they would buy it - See the dotted blue arrow to Box 3. |
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(Fig 5) But there will always be some who are leaders in their own right, and want to take the road that is less traveled (box 1). They may be one of the most unhappy people because they will feel the pressure to be part of the system. Singapore must mitigate this negative by encouraging more such types, but this is not for the majority. Conclusion You cannot have your cake and eat it. The system we have is as good as it get given our resources. What is important is to keep improving it. We would love to overlay different views on this map. We welcome your views. Please send it to Contact Us
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