Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Educational reform in Singapore: from quantity to quality

  • Published:
Educational Research for Policy and Practice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In 2004, Prime Minister Lee called teachers to “teach less” so that students might “learn more”. In 2005, the Ministry of Education clarified this philosophical statement to mean transforming learning from quantity to quality—“more quality and less quantity” in education. This is in line with the national vision of ‘Thinking Schools, Learning Nation’. This policy initiative, which began in 2004, is set to change the fundamental nature of education in Singapore. This article discusses this initiative, its major implications for schools in Singapore and the challenges to be addressed in the implementation of the policy. In particular, the article discusses the issues of understanding an engaged learning paradigm, establishing signposts for the shift from quantity to quality and the difficulties of system-wide transformation. The challenge for schools is to go beyond the form of the initiative to bring real, substantial and sustainable educational change through this movement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bangert-Drowns R.L., Pyke C. (2001). A taxonomy of student engagement with education software: An exploration of literate thinking with electronic text. Journal of Educational Computing Research 24(3): 213–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa A.L. (2004). Foreword. In: Ho B.T., Netto-Shek J.-A., Chang S.C.A. (eds) Managing project work in schools: Issues and innovative practices. Singapore, Prentice Hall, pp. xiii–xix

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, A. L., & Kallick, B. (2000). Discovering and exploring habits of mind. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.

  • Dempster F.N. (1993). Exposing our students to less should help them learn. Phi Delta Kappan 74(6): 432–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullan M. (2000). Leading in a culture of change. San Francisco, Jossey Bass

    Google Scholar 

  • Gergen K.J. (1985). The social constructionist movement in modern psychology. American Psychologist 40: 266–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goh, C. T. (1997). Shaping our future: Thinking schools, learning nation. Singapore Government Press Release. Speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Opening of the 7th International Conference on Thinking, 2 June.

  • Grant S.G. (1996). Local authority over content and pedagogy: Cross-current influences on teachers’ thinking and practice. Theories and Research in Social Education 24: 237–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho B.T., Netto-Shek J.-A., Chang S.C.A. (eds) (2004). Managing project work in schools: Issues and innovative practices. Singapore, Prentice Hall

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones B., Valdez G., Nowakowski J., Rasmussen C. (1994). Designing learning and technology for educational reform. Oak Brook, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearsley G., Shneiderman B. (1998). Engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Educational Technology 38(5): 20–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. L. (2004). Our future of opportunity and promise. Singapore Government Press Release. Address by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2004 National Day Rally at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore, 22 August.

  • Lee, H. L. (2006). Address by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2006 Teachers’ Day Rally at the Singapore Expo, 31 August.

  • Lui, T. Y. (2007). Speech by RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State for Education, at the Opening Ceremony of the “Redesigning Pedagogy: Culture, Knowledge and Understanding” Conference at the Nanyang Auditorium, 28 May.

  • Ministry of Education. (2005a). Project work. Retrieved July 14, 2007 from http://www.moe.gov.sg/projectwork/

  • Ministry of Education. (2005b). Glossary. Retrieved July 14, 2007 from http://www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/contactonline/2005/Issue22/glossary/p_glossary.htm

  • Ministry of Education. (2005c). Greater support for teachers and school leaders. Singapore Government Press Release, 22 September.

  • Ministry of Education. (2005d). Flexible school design concepts to support teaching and learning. Singapore Government Press Release, 29 December.

  • Ng P.T. (2003a). The Singapore school and the School Excellence Model. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 2(1): 27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng P.T. (2003b). The Singapore learning society. In: Kumar P. (ed) Organisational learning for All seasons: Building internal capabilities for competitive advantage. Singapore, National Community Leadership Institute, pp. 7–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng P.T. (2005a). Students’ perception of change in the Singapore education system. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 3(1): 77–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng P.T. (2005b). Innovation and Enterprise in Singapore schools. Educational Research for Policy and Practice 3(3): 183–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan J. (2003). Reflections on Singapore’s Education Policies in an Age of Globalisation. In: Mok K.H., Welch A. (eds) Globalisation and educational restructuring in the Asia Pacific Region. Houndmills, Palgrave Macmillian, pp. 32–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Tharman, S. (2004a). To light a fire: Enabling teachers, nurturing students. Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the MOE Work Plan Seminar 2004 at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre, Singapore, 29 September.

  • Tharman, S. (2004b). Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the Academy of Principals’ Global Education Conference, Singapore, 8 November.

  • Tharman, S. (2005a). Parliamentary reply by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the Singapore Parliament, 9 March.

  • Tharman, S. (2005b). Achieving quality: Bottom up initiative, top down support. Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the MOE Work Plan Seminar 2005 at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre, Singapore, 22 September.

  • Tharman, S. (2005c). Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the opening of the conference on ‘Redesigning Pedagogy: Research, Policy and Practice’ at the National Institute of Education, Singapore, 30 May.

  • Vygotsky L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological process. Cambridge, Harvard University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Wee H.T. (1998). The desired outcomes of education. Singapore, Ministry of Education

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y. (2005). Increasing math and science achievement: The best and worst of the East and West. Phi Delta Kappan 87(3): 219–222

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Policy and Leadership Studies Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore, 637616, Singapore

    Pak Tee Ng

Authors
  1. Pak Tee Ng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pak Tee Ng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ng, P.T. Educational reform in Singapore: from quantity to quality. Educ Res Policy Prac 7, 5–15 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-007-9042-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-007-9042-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation