Mindset Shift Needed in Tandem with Educational Reforms

We thank Mr Zuo Chen Yu for his feedback ("Educational reforms should be thought through carefully", Nov 15).

As Mr Zuo observed, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has introduced several policy changes under the Learn for Life movement to better prepare students for life beyond school, by equipping them with 21st Century Competencies like communications skills, adaptive and inventive thinking, as well as values like resilience, that will enable them to continue learning and thriving throughout life.

Efforts such as changes to the PSLE scoring system and removal of mid-year examinations are not aimed at reducing stress but at strengthening holistic education. By reducing an overemphasis on academic results and encouraging students to develop more intrinsic motivation to learn while they are in schools, they are more likely to become self-directed and lifelong learners after leaving school. We understand the concerns shared by Mr Zuo regarding how examinations are currently viewed by society. Yet we must be cognisant that the intended mindset shifts are important to seed and will take time to grow. We encourage students and parents to view learning in schools as a journey of self-improvement and not narrowly as a competition with others.

We have heard feedback from both teachers and students that the removal of mid-year examinations has freed up more time and space to promote holistic development and more effective teaching and learning. Even with the removal of mid-year examinations, there are sufficient opportunities for students to receive feedback on their learning and being familiarised with exam conditions.

We assure Mr Zuo that careful consideration goes into these multi-year education reforms, and MOE closely monitors feedback and outcomes to assess if refinements are needed.

MOE and schools will continue to work with parents and students to help them understand the rationale of the changes to the education system. Together with parents as our partners in education, we hope to engender a mindset shift in society that will help to broaden society's definitions of success and enable our young to truly learn for life.

Mr Sherwin Cheng
Director, Curriculum Policy Office
Ministry of Education

教育改革须有思维转变配合

谨答复《联合早报·交流站·青年视角》于11月15日刊登的左宸宇读者投函《应谨慎思考教育改革》：

我们感谢左同学的反馈。

正如左同学所言，教育部按照"学无止境"（Learn for Life）计划推出多项政策改革，旨在通过培养学生的21世纪能力，如沟通技能、适应性和创造性思维，以及坚韧不拔的精神等价值观，使他们能够终身学习并茁壮成长，以为毕业后小学离校考试（PSLE）评分制度改革和取消年中考试等措施的目的，不是为了减轻压力，而是为了加强全人教育。通过减少对学业成绩的过度重视，鼓励学生在校期间培养更多内在的学习动力，他们在离开学校后更有可能成为自主的终身学习者。我们理解左同学对目前社会如何看待考试的担忧。然而，我们必须认识到，为预期的思维转变播种是重要的，并需要时间让它萌芽。我们鼓励学生和家长把在校学习视为自我提升之旅，而不仅仅是与他人的竞争。

我们从师生那里得到的反馈是，取消年中考试腾出了更多的时间和空间，来促进学生的全面发展和更有效的教学。即使取消年中考试，学生仍有足够的机会了解学习进度，并熟悉考试情况。

我们向左同学保证，历经数年的这些教育改革，是经过深思熟虑才做出的。教育部会密切关注反馈和效果，以评估是否需要改进。

教育部和学校会继续与家长和学生合作，帮助他们了解教育制度改革的理由。我们希望与作为教育伙伴的家长一起，推动社会观念的转变。这将有助于拓宽社会对成功的定义，使我们的年轻人能够真正做到学无止境。的生活做好准备。

教育部 课程政策办公室司长
郑昌祥