Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Education from Singapore, was another speaker who emphasized that quality teachers are the key to Singapore's remarkable success regarding student performance.
The government actually pays the university tuition of students enrolled in the teaching program, and it pays working teachers well. Principals are also very well trained so that they can continue to support the ongoing development of teachers.
The national government provides money and curriculum expectations, but local schools are encouraged to innovate, to try new things, and the results are quite interesting. Innovations are then shared across their small country.
And while Singapore is a world leader in math and science performance, the country understands the need to ensure that students have more than those skills. Singapore is emphasizing the value of performing arts and physical education lately, and it wants students to be good citizens.
Listen to this! In order that their kids have a view of things beyond Singapore, every elementary child has a trip to another country as part of the curriculum - and it's the same for secondary students!
So another recurring theme at this conference is the need for our students to learn how to learn, to learn how to work with people different from them in diverse groups. How are you finding your child’s experience in learning how to learn and group problem-solving? Do your kids’ teachers ask students to do projects in groups? Do they put together groups of kids with different approaches and strengths? Share with us!
