Singapore has come a long way, but at its core, nothing much seems to have changed from when the parents of today were schoolchildren themselves.
Grades still seem inordinately important – especially at pivotal education milestones like the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), O-Levels and A-Levels, where the results determine the next phase of your education journey and, subsequently, the jobs you land and life you lead.
So if my child has shown that he’s capable of attaining good grades with consistent effort, is it my responsibility as his parent to help and guide him to reach his potential?
If so, what is that responsibility shaped by and where does it end?
THE CASE FOR NOT PUSHING
The stresses of excelling within such a system are also undeniable: Singapore’s children are an extremely stressed-out bunch, with many saying that school is the primary source of their stress.
Calls to redefine definitions of success have resounded of late. Two prominent examples are the Forward SG report in 2023, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s 2024 National Day Rally speech in August.
Some pragmatic naysayers were outspoken: “Of course the government can say this – those in it are already considered elite. For ordinary people, good grades are still important for a better life.”
But I, for one, really like the sound of this.
I’m hoping that this will herald the start of a new era of education – one in which my children face considerably less pressure to attain high grades, because these grades are no longer closely tied to certain “prestigious” jobs.
As my two oldest children sit for their year-end exams this year, I’ve been challenged to put my idealistic beliefs into action.
If I believe that good grades are not the only means to a successful, good life, then I ought not to over-emphasise grades in my parenting.
