Focus on values may not benefit students: parents
Some Singaporeans are doubtful that the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) new initiatives to enhance values-driven education will give students a boost in their education.
The newly launched Edusave Character Award was announced by Minister of Education Heng Swee Keat on Thursday. Speaking in Parliament, Heng said that the award would “allow schools and ITE to recognise students who exhibit exemplary values, such as resilience and tenacity, integrity, care and respect, as well as civic responsibility.”
Up to 10,000 award recipients, from the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels can expect to receive $200 to $500 each. They will be nominated by their teachers.
In addition, MOE also plans to double the number of EAGLES awards and raise its value, which are given to Singaporean students in Primary 4 or higher who display good leadership, service to community and schools, or excellence in non-academic activities.
In his speech, Heng stressed on the need for a holistic education in Singapore. “To be future-ready, education must develop the whole person.... It is about developing an enduring core of competencies, values and character to anchor our young and ensure they have the resilience to succeed,” he said.
However, parents remain skeptical if the initiatives would benefit their children. While Pang See May, a mother of two, feels that the awards provide a positive boost to those doing well, most students will not be affected.
“Generally, it is a good thing but I don’t think it helps [all students]. Students who have received the award before and good students will work harder because chances of them getting it are higher. But for average students, it’s quite far away,” said the 40-year-old.
“An award is not easy to get, and usually given to top students,” Pang said. She added that her daughter, who is a recipient of an EAGLE award, had told her that the majority of award recipients were from the top class in the cohort.
Lim S.H, a mother of three, echoed Pang’s view. Said the 43-year-old, “Of course the idea is good, but the framework is not really there. If it’s up to the teacher to nominate it’s quite subjective.”
She added that if the Edusave Character Award has a family income limit for students to be eligible for it, then it would “defeat the purpose”.
According to MOE, there is no income limit for the Edusave Character Award. Currently, only the Edusave Merit Bursary Award has an income cap, as students need to have a gross household monthly income of below $4,000 to be eligible.
Lim also said that the initiatives do not add value to the education of youngsters, especially those studying for their O Levels.
“Secondary school education is important for them, because the next step will be the O Levels. People usually focus on the academic, so it does not value add unless it can help entry into schools or add points,” she said.
