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Critically evaluate the necessity of National Education and its effectiveness in achieving its
objectives.
Objectives:
1. Develop national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in our future
2. Sense of identity, pride, self-respect as Singaporeans, strengthen emotional attachment
to Singapore (at the same time be humble)
3. The Singapore Story how we succeeded against odds
4. Understand Singapores unique challenges, constraints and vulnerabilities
5. Instil in young Singapores core values
Necessity:
YES, NATIONAL EDUCATION IS NECESSARY.
1. Necessity rests on the premise that younger generation of Singapore is losing touch of
their roots, ignorant of their past
Which is generally true as evidenced by street polls conducted by The New Paper
in 1996 which revealed the general ignorance of young Singaporeans
Ignorance of past is not desirable as young Singaporeans could become
complacent, losing the instinct/will to survive in an uncertain world
Especially pertinent in todays highly globalised world, with increased
competition from foreign talents/emerging economies
Without this instinct, Singapore may become uncompetitive
2. Mitigate potential pitfalls of globalisation
Singapores successful education system has made talented Singaporeans
become increasingly mobile in this day and age
Greater tendency to forget their past as they travel abroad in search of better
career opportunities
Important to strengthen their emotional attachment to Singapore so they will
not forget to contribute back to their homeland despite their success in the
international arena (ameliorates the worsening brain drain)
Liberal immigration policies pursued by the government have led to an influx of
foreigners
Necessary to instil a sense of shared identity and belonging to keep our society
cohesive
Widening income inequality due to globalisation poses social challenge
Important to instil in Singaporeans our fundamental core values to build a
gracious society which does not leave its weakest behind
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3. Multi-racial/religious society prone to divisiveness, which could lead to Singapores
downfall if these differences are not managed properly
National Education emphasises the importance of maintaining racial and
religious harmony, celebrating and embracing diversity
Especially pertinent in todays age of rising religiosity and extremism, where
potentially polarising views are instantly spread and magnified via social media
Important/necessary to educate our young to effectively counter the
propagation of extremist views, to avoid the repeat of the 1964 racial riots
NO, NATIONAL EDUCATION IS UNNECESSARY.
1. National Education serves as a channel for PAP to further its political agenda
Obvious downplaying of key political events (selective portrayal of the Singapore
Story), such as arrest of 16 people under Operation Spectrum in 1987
Seeks to portray PAP in a positive light; claiming credit for all the positive things
Singapore has witnessed, while blaming external factors for the negative things
Singapore has experienced
Entrench PAPs political hegemony in this one party-dominated state
2. The Singapore Story may serve to magnify differences which could lead to more
problems in future
Malaysia cast in a negative light in the National Education curriculum, with
Singapore being portrayed as a victim as the communalists refused to subscribe
to a Malaysian Malaysia, which led to her eventual expulsion
Could possibly reopen old wounds, which could prove to be a stumbling block to
the goal of creating a united Southeast Asia (ASEAN)
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NATIONAL EDUCATION PLAYS AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN NATION-
BUILDING AND CONTINUES TO HAVE ITS MERITS AND RELEVANCE IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
In an increasingly global world, strengthening national cohesion is high on the list of
priorities for many countries, including Singapore
Having achieved so much economically, it is high time we focused on the soul and values
of the Singapore nation as we ascend Maslows hierarchy of needs (coincidentally PM
Lees National Day Rally speech this year was also centred on this, a fresh departure
from his previous style which focused on economic/material aspirations)
In an uncertain and divisive world, it is even more important to renew efforts to instil a
sense of shared future amongst the younger generation to ameliorate the attendant
challenges of globalisation
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Effectiveness:
YES, NATIONAL EDUCATION IS EFFECTIVE IN ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES.
1. More people are taking a more active role in nation-building
Increased interest among young Singaporeans in national issues
Increasingly participatory civic society, especially among the younger (and more
educated) generation of Singaporeans who feel they have a stake in Singapores
future, that they too can be involved in decision-making process alongside the
government
E.g. PM Lee recently hosted a tea session with his Facebook fans and Twitter
followers at Istana in a bid to engage this group of Singaporeans
Counter-argument: direct cause-effect? Without National Education, would this
active citizenry cease to exist?
2. Most of the students surveyed in Singapore have confidence in Singapores future
National Education quiz given to Primary 6 and Secondary 4 students in 2008
showed that 74 percent of students believe Singapore will remain prosperous;
90 percent said they were proud to be Singaporeans; 82 percent felt comfortable
with friends from different race/religion
Shows that objectives of instilling in young Singaporeans a sense of national
identity and pride have been achieved
NO, NATIONAL EDUCATION IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES.
1. Perception that National Education is propaganda by young Singaporeans diminishes its
effectiveness in fulfilling said objectives
Young Singaporeans, the target audience, could dismiss National Education as
yet another governments mouthpiece, rejecting such indoctrination
2. Didactic teaching and lack of engagement between teachers and students in delivering
National Education via compulsory Social Studies
Preoccupation with good grades in exam detracts from original objective of
understanding Singapore better; teachers more interested in drilling exam skills
than in conducting genuine discourse
Content of curriculum tends to gloss over sensitive/controversial issues of the
Singapore Story (out of syllabus)
3. Commemoration of key events tend to be cosmetic/superficial
Dressing up in ethnic costumes and one-off exchange between SAP schools and
mainstream schools (with ethnic minorities) do not necessarily translate to
increased awareness/sensitivities
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4. Persistent brain drain problem in Singapore reflects the fact that Singapores skilled
youths seem to have less emotional attachment to Singapore
In an interview with the United Press International, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said
Singapore is losing about 4 to 5 percent of the top 30 percent of its population
yearly
Emigration rate is one of the highest in the world on a per-capita basis
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NATIONAL EDUCATION HITHERTO HAS LARGELY BEEN A VALIANT YET
FEEBLE ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO INDOCTRINATE THE YOUNGER GENERATION WITH
THE OFFICIAL INTERPRETATION OF THE SINGAPORE STORY. WHILE NATIONAL EDUCATION IS
VITAL, CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED.
Current approach towards National Education is virtually didactic and top-down,
reinforcing the preconceived notion among students that it is propaganda
Critical thinking skills are stifled rather than strengthened as students unquestionably
accept given truths in National Education and there is limited opportunity to debate
controversial elements
A paradigm shift from the existing pragmatic, nation-centric focus to a more student-
centric approach is needed in order for National Education to produce the desired
outcomes
National Education cannot succeed if it is just a government programme. At the end of
the day, it is what you and I feel and what our young feel about this country, the values
and qualities of society that we hold dear and the contributions we make to society that
will write the next chapter of the Singapore Story. (Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 2007)