Teach Less, Learn More

Teach Less, Learn More? It works, schools tell PM
August 20th, 2007
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This is a topic that has aroused much suspicion amongst the students of Singapore. But finally, it seems to have worked – at least in two neighbourhood schools. The “Teach Less, Learn More” ‘campaign, so to speak, that has been advocated by the government, encourages schools to, quite literally, teach less, and use new, interesting methods to teach students instead of the rote learning of old.

It’s mentioned that PM Lee praised neighbourhood schools in particular, and that leaves the reader to wonder “what about ‘non-neighbourhood’ schools?” What, indeed? Although it seems that the students in Mayflower and Jurong secondary schools certainly have an interesting education, I would like to question the extent of the “Teach Less, Learn More” movement in some of Singapore’s “better”, supposedly, schools.

Without a doubt, education has indeed come far from the days of old. Not only are lessons more interesting than those of our parents, they are also more dynamic, and our premises are certainly much better. However, only part of this movement has been fulfilled - “Learn More”. It is quite definite that we, the students of today, are learning more, but are schools teaching less? And is this a good thing? When PM Lee said to “teach less, learn more”, I surmise what he meant was to teach less traditionally and instead let students go beyond “the four walls of the classroom”. Although this may be, how can students find time to do this when, to make up for the “teach less”, they are piled with homework so that they can “learn more”?

I would like to reference a recent article, a letter in the newspaper written by an expat who moved from Singapore to KL. Amongst other things, what stuck me was the statement by her child – “Why are the children here (KL) happier?” This is certainly something to ponder. Perhaps it is because there is something amiss in the majority of Singapore’s schools and their system of education?

The crux of this post would be the fact that while many other schools, especially neighbourhood schools, are lauded for their efforts to make lessons livelier and more interesting, to encourage students to explore and learn on their own, schools that are supposed to be at the higher end of the education system have mysteriously ghosted away. The point of the “Teach Less, Learn More” movement was to let students enjoy their education, yet the groans and moans of my fellow classmates can be heard whenever it’s time to return to school after the holidays. Surely a “premier school in the Bishan area” can make some efforts to correct this?