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Aug 21, 2007
SINGAPORE SCHOOLS VERSUS WESTERN ONES
Alarming drop in UK educational standards
AS A Briton who is a long-time permanent resident in Singapore, I was
surprised by the comments of the head mistress of an inner-London
primary school who extolled the virtues of the UK primary education
system over that of Singapore ('How Singapore schools compare with
UK's'; ST, Aug 18).
As a head teacher, surely Ms Bavaani Vadivale-Nanthabalan has seen
recent reports circulated widely in Britain that no less than one
fifth of all children at British primary schools are set to start
secondary school next month unable to read, write or add properly?
Exam results for 11-year-olds to be published soon are set to show
that as many as 120,000 lack basic literacy skills and almost 140,000
cannot do basic sums.
These statistics come from the UK's Children's Secretary, Mr Ed Balls,
writing in the authoritative Times Educational Supplement earlier this
month. In his article, he admitted: 'While we have experienced a
decade of rising standards, the pace at which results have been rising
has slowed in recent years. That is why we need a new focus on
standards and discipline.'
Contrary to what Ms Vadivale-Nanthabalan claims, Mr Balls recognises
that standards are low in many UK primary schools. He further admits
that 'pupils who struggle with basic literacy and numeracy were not
getting the help they needed'.
Mr Balls added: 'We have not done well enough at raising the
performance of lower-achieving students, especially at the crucial Key
Stages 2 and 3 (seven- to 11-year-olds and 11- to 14-year-olds).'
Ms Vadivale-Nanthabalan goes on to suggest that the success of the
Singapore education system depends on private tuition rather than what
is taught in schools. I am surprised she does not know that in fact
demand for private tuition for British children is at record levels.
And the demand for a private education at one of the so-called 'public
schools' has never been higher, such is the lack of confidence in the
state education system.
As a foreign observer, I have always found Singaporeans, especially
the young, to be thoroughly well versed in the basic tools of good
written English as well as having solid arithmetical skills.
Sadly, this is not my experience on my return visits to the UK.
The plain fact is that the UK is experiencing an alarming drop in
basic educational standards among young people - and the rot is
setting in at the primary-school level.

Edward Ion

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