National Education - From Didactic to Engaging
Friday, September 14, 2007
For National Education to work, young people should be given the space and opportunity to discover for themselves what it means to be Singaporean, said Minister for Education, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Think National Education and most people think of dry historical facts about Singapore, recited ad nauseam till one passes out from sheer boredom. Such misconceptions will surely be dispelled by the plethora of lively games, activities and approaches that were on show at the Network Conference held at Suntec Convention Centre on 14 August 2007. From fun-filled educational tours to digital games to World War II military paraphernalia, there was something for every school and teacher to make stories about Singapore come alive for their students.
Even graffiti art was par for the course. Mohamed Kamal Bin Dollah, a graffiti artist and part-time lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as well as founder of Bob Associates, took part in the accompanying exhibition, explaining how he teaches students graffiti art and helps them to create wall murals in their schools based on NE-related themes - graffiti-style, but with the school’s stamp of approval, of course. In the process, he also teaches “art and crime”, educating students on the difference between art and vandalism, and cites the 1994 story of the caning of Michael Fay, whom many students today are not aware of.
Innovative teaching approaches like this are more important than ever before as globalisation poses new challenges to societies around the world. As guest-of-honour, Minister for Education Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted in his speech, the Singapore government is not alone in wanting to strengthen cohesion and nurture a strong sense of belonging amongst its people.
After the Sydney riots in 2005, there has been a refocus in Australia on teaching Australian history and the values and lessons it holds. Schools in China are working harder to help student develop moral character and social responsibility, a move prompted by the concern with rising individualism and a renewed emphasis on values education.
Miss Seah Jiak Choo (DGE), applauding a young storyteller from Admiralty Primary School.
But National Education is perhaps more crucial to Singapore than for other countries. As Mr Tharman said, “We are an unusual country - a country that is no more than a city, fully exposed to global cross-currents; a country with only a brief history of its own; a country of diverse people, giving it vibrance but requiring constant care so that we remain one people; and a country that can take pride in its heritage of languages but lacks a language that can give it unique identity.”
For National Education to work, therefore, young people must be engaged at the affective level. Mr Tharman reiterated that they should be given the space and opportunity to discover for themselves what it means to be Singaporeans and discover their own ways to contribute to the community.
For example, a cultural mapping project by National Junior College evolved into a collaboration between the National Heritage Board and its students. Together, they created the Bukit Timah Community Trail, which provides a better understanding of the rich history of the area and incorporates never-told-before stories of the area.
Another example is how students in North Zone schools collected stories from their family members and friends about Singapore past and present. These collective memories were compiled into a book, Treasures from the NEST - A Collection of Singapore NE Stories from our Hearts.
Syonan Reflections showcases World War II militaria, an eye-opener for many students and teachers alike.
Specialised external expertise can also be a boon. Take the World War II history buffs that make up Syonan Reflections, for instance. Founded by NUS undergraduate Alvin Lee, the group conveys Total Defence messages through school talks and re-enactments. They also showcase to schools examples from their personal collection of Japanese and British military paraphernalia (authentic or reproduced), which many teachers have not come across before.
As NE hits its tenth anniversary this year, there’s certainly no shortage of ideas or resources for schools, teachers, parents and the community to help students better understand their heritage and identity.