Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
(7) Singapore: education – As a way towards modernisation
Teachers’ Referen
Enquiry
question
What is the role played by education in the process of modernisation and
transformation in Singapore?
Content
Related to the History curriculum (S4-6)
Related to civic and national education
Learning
Objectives
Knowledge:  National education in Singapore
 Two main features of the education system in Singapore –
streaming at Secondary 1 according to results in public
examination and bilingual policy
Skills:
Attitude:






Singaporeans’ responses to the rising global competition
Analysis
Comparison
Formulation of personal views
Encourage a positive attitude toward national education
Encourage the concept of life-long learning
Teaching flow:
Teachers may select or modify the activities in this teaching plan so as to suit the learning needs of
their students.
Activities
A
B
Introduction
Activity 1
Format
 Discussion
 Watch documentary
(complete set)
 Worksheet
 Selected part from
the video
C
Activity 2
 Worksheet
 Group work
D
Activity 3
 Selected part from
the documentary
 Worksheet (optional)
E
Extended
learning
 Extended reading
 Think-pair-share
Learning Objectives
Content
 To arouse interest
 To activate prior
knowledge
 To find out some of the
ways and reasons of
giving national
education in schools
 To develop empathy,
imagination and
creativity in historical
context
 To facilitate learning
from characters in the
video programme

 To bring students back
to the HK scenario and
make reflection

1
The
documentary on
Singapore




Flag raising
ceremony
Reciting the
national pledge
Pledge
Characters’
reflection (Ma
and his
daughter)
Education
today
Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
An Overview of the chapter
Education in Singapore:
as a way towards
modernisation
National pledge
Streaming and
bilingual policy
Constant
self-improvement
A. Introduction
Step 1
Note
Question: Name the 4 Little Dragons of Asia
Answer: Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea

If students have not watched the documentary on Singapore, let them watch the
whole programme, and remind them to pay more attention on education of
Singapore. After watching the programme, draw students’ attention to the
overview underneath, and the enquiry question given on page 1.

If students have watched the documentary on Singapore, simply draw their
attention to the overview given above and the enquiry question given on page 1
and below.
Enquiry
question
What is the role played by education in the process of modernisation and
transformation of Singapore?
B. Activity 1: National education in Singapore
Step 1
Teacher:
What do Singaporeans do with national flag-raising ceremony and the National
Pledge?
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Do you

The national flag-raising ceremony is held in all schools in Singapore every
school day.


A national pledge is an oath of loyalty to an individual’s country.
The Singapore National Pledge is commonly recited by Singaporeans in unison
at public events, especially in school assemblies and the armed forces
assemblies, and during the National Day Parade.

According to the guidelines given by the government, the individuals reciting
the Pledge shall clench their right fists to the left side of their chests as a gesture
to symbolise loyalty to the nation.
know?
Step 2
Activity:
Fill in the missing words in Source A when you watch the documentary.
(Ch.4 13:30-13:51)
Source A
The Singapore National Pledge
We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one_______________ people,
regardless of_______________, _______________, or_______________,
to build a _______________ society
based on _______________ and _______________
so as to achieve_______________, _______________
and _______________ for our nation.
Suggested united, race, language, religion, democracy, justice, equality, happiness,
prosperity and progress
answers
(We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless
of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and
equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.)
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Do you
know?


The Singapore National Pledge is written in four languages.
In 1959, when Singapore gained self-rule from Britain, it chose to become an
officially multi-lingual state. Four languages were selected as official
languages. They are English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Tamil (mother
tongue of Dravidian-speaking Indians).

English is promoted as the ‘working language’ for inter-ethnic communication
while the other three are considered ‘mother-tongues’ of the major ethnic
groups.

All students study the core curriculum through the medium of English.
Besides, they are required to reach a ‘second language’ level of proficiency in
their official mother tongue.
Step 3
Questions for students:
 Would you consider creating a pledge of loyalty for your school? Why or why
not?
 What about your class/family? Why or why not?
Note


Teachers are advised to accept any logical answers.
Remind students the need to take multiple perspectives when they
formulate their personal views.

Teachers are reminded not to judge.
It is time for students to practice
expressing their personal views freely and logically.
Step 4
Questions for students:
What are the merits and demerits of adopting the policy of reciting the national
pledge in unison every school day? Answer the question with your own
knowledge.
Note

Suggested
answers
Teacher may remind students that when they evaluate a policy (solution),
they should consider the problem(s).
Merits


Demerits

a common identity and develop sense of 
It is brainwashing.
belonging.
fed up with it, they
Citizens and students will be aware of
may become
the importance of the values of their
rebellious.
It may help to gel people together, forge
country e.g. democracy, peace, progress,
4

When people become
It wastes time.
Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
justice and equality in Singapore.

Any other logical
answer.
Step 5
Questions for students:
Why is the national pledge of Singapore written in four languages?
4 major ethnic groups feel?
(documentary time location: Ch.4 12:21-12:39, 12:56-13:03)
How will the
Suggested  Singapore is a multi-cultural nation. ethnic harmony is important in
maintaining unity of the country.
answers
 The 4 major ethnic groups may feel that they have equal importance in
the government.
 Any other sensible answers.
C. Activity 2: Using your creativity in history study
- Design a pledge of your own class/club/school
Step 1
Questions for students:
If your club/society/house/school needs a pledge to be recited in unison during
school events, what ideas, attitude and values that you want to include? You may
take the Singapore National Pledge and pledges of other organisations as
examples.
Note 
Teachers may discuss keywords that students would like to use in the pledge, and
then let them design and polish the language.


Free expression of opinions is encouraged.
Teachers may further discuss with students on the aim of the pledge and the values
which is laid in it.

Other references:
(i) Pledge of the Hong Kong Red Cross (see Appendix 1)
http://www.redcross.org.hk/en/volunteering/volunteer_policy.html
(ii) Pledge of Allegiance (see Appendix 1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
(iii) The Teachers’ Pledge (Singapore) (visit the webpage)
http://www3.moe.edu.sg/purposeofteaching/
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Differentiated Teacher may ask students to suggest keywords, phrases and ideas only, but not
to write the full pledge.
instruction
Our Pledge
We, members/students of ___________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
D. Activity 3: What are the reflections of Ma Guocheng and his daughter?
Step 1
Time location
of the
documentary
Study Sources B and C. Watch the part on the interviews of MA Guocheng
and his daughter. Then answer question (1) to (5).
Ch.5 14:37, 18:32, 19:24,
Ch. 5 12:56, 18:58, 19:32
Differentiated
This activity can be done by referring to Sources B and C only.
instruction
Source B
An interview with Ma Guocheng
Ma Guocheng:

As a soldier, you had to hike, sometimes all through the night without sleep till morning.
You’ll find such kind of pressure useful after entering society. You’ll know there’s no
family without nation. If you can’t even defend your country, how then can you defend
your family?

I went to study every weekday, except Wednesdays. I left work at six, and studied from
seven to half past ten before returning home. The next day I went to work at about six.
I studied all week for 11 months. It’s hard work... Further study keeps you from
becoming obsolete. That’s the reason…

My mother’s generation is relatively local.
My generation is exposed to investment.
Source C
An interview with Ma Xin’er
MA Xin’er:

Even though we have different races, different cultures, we come from different family
backgrounds, but we are all Singaporeans.

With more foreign people, and they are also quite clever, so it’s much harder. The
competition is tougher ...

I think I will contribute to Singapore because Singapore helps me a lot.
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Question 1
Refer to Source B?
Why did Ma Guocheng study every weekday after work
for almost a year?
Suggested
answer
Ma Guocheng wanted to keep himself from becoming obsolete.
Question 2
What does the word “competition” in Source C refer to?
Suggested
answer
It may refer to the competition from other S.E Asian countries, Asia,
Note
Teachers may remind students that Ma Xin’er does not specify ‘competition’,
therefore students are expected to make inference.
Question 3
Describe Ma Xin’er’s attitude toward ‘competition’ and ‘country’ as shown in
Source C. How does her attitude reflect the effect of education in Singapore in
other parts of the world, including Hong Kong.
citizenship building?
Suggested
answer
 She is aware of the competition she faces, and that the competition has
become tougher.
 She is grateful to the country. To return kindness, she is willing to
serve the country.
 Her attitude reflects the success of education in citizenship building.
Question 4
In addition to schooling, how does military training help to develop an
individual’s competitive power and responsibility to the country? Elaborate
you ideas with the experiences of Ma Guocheng as reflected in Source B.
Suggested
answer


Question 5
“In the process of modernisation and transformation, constant self-improvement
Military training made Ma Guocheng more able to resist pressure.
It also made him understand that there is no family without nation.
is the only way out in facing increasing competition”. Do you agree with this
statement on individual level and national level? Share your view with your
classmates.
Suggested
answer


Any sensible answer.
Remind students the need to take multiple perspectives when they
formulate their personal views.
Note

Teachers are advised to accept any logical answers, and show
empathy to personal sharings.
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
E. Extended learning
What are the characteristics of education in Singapore?
Source D
The education system in Singapore
Nowadays, education in Singapore is regarded as one of the best in the world. It has
undergone many changes since 1965. In the colonial days, education was to develop
highly efficient workers and dedicated executives for the colonial government. However,
Singapore after independence needed to create a national harmony to generate a
knowledge-based society to support the service industry. To get a place for Singapore in
the dynamic and ever changing global market, the following initiatives were taken by the
government to change the educational landscape:
1. Nationalism has been emphasized in education.
2. Streaming at Secondary 1 according to results in public examination, distribute students
to academic, vocational or technical schools.
3. ‘Multi-racial’, ‘multi-lingual’ and ‘multi-cultural’ have been promoted in schools as the
main features of the Singaporean society.
...
9. Students are educated to accommodate new economic strategies including new skills
and new work attitude for the nation building process.
10. Adopt bilingualism to balance East and West culture.
Lack of natural resources, human intellect and ingenuity is the only resources that
Singapore can rely on. It has made Singapore a truly competitive country. The road is
obviously in a supreme modernization process.
Question 1
According to Source D, what is the resource which has made Singapore a truly
competitive country?
Suggested
answer
Human resources/ human intellect and ingenuity
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Question 2
What kind of society was Singapore has to become in the mist of growing
competition? Why?
Suggested
answer


Question 3
From the 5 initiatives listed in Source D, suggest 4 possible characteristics of
education in Singapore.
Suggested
answer
Any 4:
A knowledge-based society
To support the service industry.
1.
National education is stressed.
2.
Schools are divided into 3 main streams: academic, vocational and
technical.
3.
Students of different ethnic groups go to the same school.
4.
Ethnic harmony is encouraged in schools.
5.
Respect to different cultures.
6.
The students will be able to speak more than one language.
7.
Students are encouraged to have new skills and new attitude as a way
to serve the country.
8.
Vocation training is important.
9.
English and Chinese Languages have equal importance.
Question 4
Are there new initiatives to change the educational landscape of Singapore for
the modernisation process in the 21st century? Try to collect some ideas from
government documents given in Appendix 1, compare Hong Kong’s current
education reform, then present your opinions.
Reference

(See
Appendix 1)
“Nurturing Our Young for the Future Competencies for the 21st Century”
(http://www.moe.gov.sg/committee-of-supply-debate/files/nurturing-our-young.pdf)

"Reform Proposal for the Education System in Hong Kong", 2000, HKSAR
(http://www.e-c.edu.hk/eng/reform/annex/Edu-reform-eng.pdf)
Suggested
answer

Free discussion
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Singapore: education – a way towards modernisation
Appendix 1
Source A
Nurturing Our Young for the Future Competencies for the 21st Century
(Ministry of Education, Singapore, as of March 2010)
Refer to: http://www.moe.gov.sg/committee-of-supply-debate/files/nurturing-our-young.pdf
Source B
Reform Proposal for the Education System in Hong Kong
The Education Commission, HKSAR, 2000
http://www.e-c.edu.hk/eng/reform/annex/Edu-reform-eng.pdf
More about Singapore education:
Singapore Government ＞ Ministry of Education ＞ Secondary education
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/
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