Our Education System??

Was having tutorials for Govt n Politics of SG. Always interesting. But the actions of my classmates strike a chord in thinking on our education system. It was my group to present one tutorial, so we made handouts on the main points of our presentation. A yr1 guy remarked, 'Is this the answer sheet?' no he didn't say it in jest, nor was he joking or anything, he was serious and sincere in his question. My tutor and I laughed over it, for this mindset is not allowed in FASS, there is never set answers, we all learn its processes and ways of argument.

Another tut, same module. Another yr1 guy, he was arguing his points, but the class and tutor disagreed with him. Feeling the pressure, he blurted out, 'Dont mark down my points/score!' (tutorial participation has CA % to encourage ppl, but oso cause ppl to hog the class at times). So all SG students are conditioned to think only about grades marks etc, they dont really bother with the quality of education or whether they are learning something akin to their interest. By and large, we are still very much influenced by our parents, trapped in their own societal norms and interests and signs of their times. Professions and careers need stamp of approval. (Cant be muscian, artist, cannot earn money). The government encourages streamlining.

Question, how much talent has been wasted by this streamlining concept? SINGAPOREANS in general cannot accept failure. Ppl seemed to think, perhaps our parents (cant blame the 60s n 70s are not really great times), that once a failure always a failure. There seemed to be no routes for reentrants to our education system. There is a stigma for those who are too old for their education level, eg, 21 yrs old at sec4. True they should have worked harder, but not giving them a second chance? Cant they pick up and try again? Then i recalled my fren's msn nick (well he quoted from someone but i cant rem who, :P) 'The first step to innovation / creativity is to accept failure. (or along these words). Logically, its true, unless one failed at something, nothing will compel you to try something else, to innovate something new. If one never fails, then what happens?

All this is sparked when i was reading something in sch, 'The Singapore Dilemma: The Political and Educational Marginality of the Malay Community'. The book does touches on the education system in general, abt policies, but also on cultural/social issues.