Academic Success Does Not Determine a Successful Life
Text: Grace Yeoh
The pursuit of perfection by Singaporeans has manifested itself in our children’s lives in the form of constant tuition.
Even though the relentless Singaporean paper chase is hardly news, it was recently given renewed airtime following the nation’s outcries towards Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah’s comment that Singapore’s education system is “run on the basis that tuition is not necessary.”
Many parents extensively justified the need for tuition. Even students who score an A average opt for tuition to maintain their standards or to do even better. This common practice makes it acceptable, and even encourages students faring comparatively better than their cohort to seek help outside school.
Moreover, there are reports that even tertiary students are also turning to tuition for modules with difficult concepts, such as calculus and the sciences.
While the desire to aim for the best is understandable, the problem with a largely grades-based merit system is that it promotes the notion that academic success leads to success in life. Even though good grades, more often than not, result in better opportunities, there are outstanding exceptions to the rule that have proved otherwise.
For starters, the world of technology has given us co-founder and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and creator of Tumblr, David Karp. In Hollywood, renowned film director James Cameron and famous talk show host Ellen DeGeneres are also examples of successful people who have taken the path less travelled. Karp never completed high school, while the other four dropped out of university.
We should, however, refrain from dissuading academic pursuit, even though these examples illustrate success is not always dependent on grades. In pragmatic Singapore, one cannot deny the importance of grades or how tuition can greatly help those who are academically challenged.
Yet, if the aforementioned examples are anything to go by, charisma, people skills and the ability to look for the right partners – all skills which tuition can never teach – are more important than one’s report card for life beyond the classroom.
Hence, perhaps the most effective method to cultivate a less grades-oriented mindset is to firmly implement a broader range of criteria, such as entrepreneurial skills, passion or community service work, for admission into tertiary institutions and the workplace.
The government should also stipulate that these alternative criteria be just as important as grades, instead of consulted as a mere afterthought to an individual’s academic portfolio so the idea that stellar grades alone do not determine a successful life becomes deeply ingrained into the individual’s mindset. If we can successfully handle the individual, society will change. Perhaps, our own Steve Jobs or Bill Gates will emerge as a result.
Tags: commentary/editorial
The pursuit of perfection by Singaporeans has manifested itself in our children’s lives in the form of constant tuition.
Even though the relentless Singaporean paper chase is hardly news, it was recently given renewed airtime following the nation’s outcries towards Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah’s comment that Singapore’s education system is “run on the basis that tuition is not necessary.”
Many parents extensively justified the need for tuition. Even students who score an A average opt for tuition to maintain their standards or to do even better. This common practice makes it acceptable, and even encourages students faring comparatively better than their cohort to seek help outside school.
Moreover, there are reports that even tertiary students are also turning to tuition for modules with difficult concepts, such as calculus and the sciences.
While the desire to aim for the best is understandable, the problem with a largely grades-based merit system is that it promotes the notion that academic success leads to success in life. Even though good grades, more often than not, result in better opportunities, there are outstanding exceptions to the rule that have proved otherwise.
For starters, the world of technology has given us co-founder and former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and creator of Tumblr, David Karp. In Hollywood, renowned film director James Cameron and famous talk show host Ellen DeGeneres are also examples of successful people who have taken the path less travelled. Karp never completed high school, while the other four dropped out of university.
We should, however, refrain from dissuading academic pursuit, even though these examples illustrate success is not always dependent on grades. In pragmatic Singapore, one cannot deny the importance of grades or how tuition can greatly help those who are academically challenged.
Yet, if the aforementioned examples are anything to go by, charisma, people skills and the ability to look for the right partners – all skills which tuition can never teach – are more important than one’s report card for life beyond the classroom.
Hence, perhaps the most effective method to cultivate a less grades-oriented mindset is to firmly implement a broader range of criteria, such as entrepreneurial skills, passion or community service work, for admission into tertiary institutions and the workplace.
The government should also stipulate that these alternative criteria be just as important as grades, instead of consulted as a mere afterthought to an individual’s academic portfolio so the idea that stellar grades alone do not determine a successful life becomes deeply ingrained into the individual’s mindset. If we can successfully handle the individual, society will change. Perhaps, our own Steve Jobs or Bill Gates will emerge as a result.
Tags: commentary/editorial