The BBC has a story out today about how Singapore parents often push their children to study and learn, resulting in a less-than-joyous childhood.
Andrew Wood, the editor of Teach magazine, a monthly journal about the Singapore educational system, says that traditionally, children in Singapore are put under a huge amount of pressure.
“Every parent seems to want their child to become a doctor, a professor or a government scholar, and that puts an enormous amount of pressure on children to learn things at a very early age,” Mr Wood said.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this the case in many Asian societies? I know I saw it in China and Hong Kong….
UPDATE: BWG tells a similar story about students in HK, where some are pushed so hard they are apparently jumping out windows, which is definitely not a good sign.
1
By Edwin
Hey – few years back 2 students in Sg committed suicide over poor results.
Hello – there is a lot of pressure. Teachers identity excellent students -while weaker students are dumped aside.
Welcome to Singapore.
August 7, 2003 @ 11:57 am | Comment
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By Idle
Have you seen the bags Primary One students carry to class? They’re not schoolbags, their luggages! They even have little trollies and wheels built in so that the kid just has to pull them along instead of carrying them around.
August 8, 2003 @ 3:51 am | Comment