Panel advises tweaks to primary education

GENEROUS sums of money should be set aside for building and upgrading primary schools and hiring more staff, but the emphasis on fundamentals such as maths and science will not change.

A committee tasked to look into improving the primary school education system has said that an overhaul is unnecessary.

However, it said steps should be taken to increase pupils' confidence and ignite their interest in learning, so that they become better at thinking and communicating, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed yesterday.

Touching on a report by the Primary Education Review and Implementation (Peri) Committee ahead of an announcement next week, he said it had concluded that Singapore's current primary school system is working well, but tweaks to improve interest levels and student confidence would not go amiss.

'An emphasis on science and mathematics is still important to do well in today's technologically driven world,' he said.

He was speaking at the Singapore- MIT Alliance (SMA) 10th Anniversary Symposium yesterday at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

Dr Ng said the report suggests different and more engaging teaching methods could assist the development of primary education, but did not give details on its proposals.

He also said Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education Grace Fu, who chaired the Peri Committee, had asked for 'a sizeable commitment' to expand existing primary schools, build new schools and facilities and hire more teachers and support staff.

Dr Ng agreed that it was 'worth spending if stakeholders are convinced that these changes will bring positive benefits to our students'.

At the Education Ministry's annual workplan seminar in September last year, he announced major changes would be made to primary school education, including having only one session at all primary schools and hiring only graduate teachers.

He said the 11-member Peri Committee, led by Ms Fu, would look into ways of implementing the suggestions.

The panel, made up of educators, parents and industry leaders, started its review last October.

It solicited views and inputs and had heard from over 600 people through focus group discussions and various online platforms such as e-mail and forums.

It will release its full recommendations next week, and they will be fully aired at the Committee of Supply discussions over the Budget later.

Yesterday, Dr Ng also announced that his ministry is now studying ways to provide more opportunities for polytechnic students to further upgrade after graduating.

Touching on Singapore's fourth university at East Coast, he said that it gave academics the rare opportunity to start with a clean slate in areas such as integration, course design and organising faculty.

It would partner leading institutes in the United States and China to exchange ideas and work on long- term projects.

He said Singaporeans need no convincing that the key to ensuring continued economic development is through education, but warned against being lulled into complacency and believing that success is 'formulaic and inevitable'.

'We can play perfectly the music of a great composer but as a soulless rendition, achieve little effect,' he said.