Singapore to Remove Class Rankings & Exams to Teach Students That It’s NOT a Competition

A recent announcement by Singapore’s Ministry of Education detailed a number of big changes they will be making to the nation’s education system to encourage young students to focus on their own learning progress. This is also in an effort to teach students that learning is not a competition.

Source: the conversation

According to the Straits Times, the country’s Education Minister Ong Ye Kung outlined the following big changes that would be implemented in primary and secondary schools across Singapore;

• Class rankings will no longer be indicated in report cards so students will not compare each other’s performance.
• No more mid-year exams for Secondary 1 students and from 2020 to 2021, Primary 3 and 5 along with Secondary 3 students will also have no mid-year exams.
• All exams for Primary 1 and 2 students will be removed and there will be no grades.
• There will only be one class test per subject per term to be counted towards students’ year-end score.
• With no more exams for Primary 1 and 2, the criteria for Singapore’s Edusave awards (student bursaries given by the Ministry) will instead look at students’ learning attitudes.

In light of this news, a number of Malaysians also lauded these changes, with some even taking to social media wondering if this could be implemented here in the future.

News: Singapore abolishes school exam rankings, says learning is not competition.
Me: Well said & #Malaysia, are u following? You should.https://t.co/7HB0Y3AwSB

— Wardy Noor (@WardyNoor) October 15, 2018

This is actually a good idea kan!

— Uncle Barry (@fuzirbarry) October 16, 2018

Trust me brother, if it’s done here, many parents will rejoice and welcome it with open hands. In fact, many of us are instilling other skills like creativity in our kids, ourselves. Don’t let a few kiasu parents offline and online represent the majority of us ?

— driz (@izyanizulkifli) October 16, 2018

What are your thoughts on this huge change in Singapore’s education system? Let us know in the comments below!

Also read: Singaporean Fresh Grads’ Salary Now Starts at Nearly $3.5k A Month