If overall student performance were a direct indication of education excellence and economic advancement, then the best example that can come from Asia is Singapore. Beginning in the late 20th Century, Singapore’s students have consistently excelled in regional and international science and mathematics surveys and competitions. The country’s high achievements in science and maths education are a credit to the nation’s high economic powerhouse ranking. Singapore’s government understands that the foundation of a strong economy is an even stronger educational system. However, a strong education carries a few caveats, one of them being the fast-paced learning environment in classrooms. Students who are weak in science subjects tend to get left behind and may even suffer low or failing grades, and this can affect their chances at university and a successful career. To offset this, parents can seek help from a science home tutor to improve their children’s science learning.
A little history
Singapore’s population is a unique mixture of several oriental ethnic groups, the three dominant ones being Chinese (77%), Malay (14%), and Indian (7%). Having only gained its independence from the British in 1965 after a century and a half, Singapore is considered a “teenager” compared to its Asian neighbours. Despite being a small country, Singapore’s government recognised that the only path towards economic development is through a strong and adaptive educational system, particularly with a strong science education. To become a strong nation, Singapore needed to produce high-quality engineers, doctors, and other science professionals.
Science Education
In many Asian countries, science subjects seem detached from their economic development. While the education system may teach the basics and branch out to the intricacies in such career paths as engineering, technology, and medicine, science education seems to play almost no part in these countries’ economic developments.
Not so with Singapore.
Singapore’s education system recognises that science education means training the mind to build up skills in gathering and assessing facts, developing capabilities in investigating and solving problems, and cultivating rational and creative thinking. Then, there is also the imparting of knowledge about the realities of the physical world, the environment, and the future of humanity. But most of all, science education prepares students for future occupations using these learned abilities and capabilities.
The main objective of all this is simple: To properly train and prepare all students so their contributions eventually add up to the economic growth and development of Singapore. Strong students with strong backgrounds mean strong careers and a strong economy.
Strong science teachers
Singapore’s high achievement in science education (and maths) is only partly credited to the nation’s science professors and postdoctoral scientists. While these professionals are credited with Singapore’s high economic growth and development, in education, it is the specially trained and dedicated educators who work hard in the classrooms from the elementary to the secondary level, laying down the proper foundations of science education. And surprisingly, some of these educators are not even university graduates.
According to government statistics, only 57% of school teachers hold tertiary qualifications. However, whether a 2-year or 4-year graduate, all full-time teachers need to go through specific teaching training at the National Institute of Education (NIE). This specialty institute is solely responsible for teacher training in Singapore. In short, it trains students to teach, and to primarily teach their specialty or major.
Many of these NIE-qualified educators eventually become home tutors in their fields because they understand that not all Singapore children are equally mentally gifted, and may need help to keep pace with the fast-learning lessons in classroom environments.
Choosing the best science home tutors for your children
Parents in Singapore understand the strong connection between science education and the economy, but also recognise that their children may need help from time to time. Thus, home tutoring science to children has become one of the keys to shaping the nation’s future and economy. Now this is the best time to learn science home tutor wherever you are. Science is not as daunting as some children may imagine. It’s all in the methods of learning, and a good science home tutor can open a lot of learning doors that a classroom environment cannot do. These science home tutors have a determination and passion for teaching your children, especially those from FamilyTutor. Contact them today.
