NDR 2024: In maiden rally, PM Wong calls on Singaporeans to join govt in ‘major reset’ to realise new ambitions for country

AN EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR ALL

Mr Wong also spoke about the major reset required in the education system, and parents’ attitudes towards it.

While Singapore’s education system is among the best in the world, Mr Wong acknowledged that it is also competitive and can lead to anxiety and stress. Parents, in wanting their children to have a good head-start, exert pressure on their progeny to work hard and push their own limits.

“But too much pressure will do more harm than good. It can snuff out the joy of learning early in life,” he said, adding that such contradictions are something that all parents encounter.

“It can’t be resolved through policy alone. We have to manage this together as a society,” he said.

To this end, the government has enacted tweaks such as changes to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scoring system and doing away with streaming in secondary schools.

Mr Wong assured Singaporeans that more will be done to ensure that every school is a good school, including providing additional resources for schools which have more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The government is also providing subsidies for Singaporean students in the new University of the Arts Singapore  – a private university – to the same extent as students in autonomous universities, and giving more attention to aspiring athletes.

“So when we talk about multiple pathways, we mean it seriously – we are backing these goals with resources, and fully committed to nurturing the diverse abilities of every Singaporean,” said Mr Wong.

Mr Wong reiterated that the government cannot walk alone in this endeavour to build a more caring and cohesive society.

His voice cracked with emotion as he recalled how Singaporeans stood united as a nation and helped one another to overcome challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that this indomitable spirit is what will help the country “shine ever more brightly”.

“We can be a nation where everyone can flourish, thrive, and be the best possible version of ourselves,” he said. “I ask for your support as we embark on this journey. We have much to do, and a full agenda ahead. Let us join our hands and hearts, and chart our new way forward, together.”

Mr Wong shared an anecdote from his past, saying that when he was studying in Michigan in the United States, he learnt about one of the most famous ghost towns in the state, which was named “Singapore”.

It was founded in the 1830s and became a busy lumber and ship-building town, he said.

“No one really knows the origins of its name, but it was very likely inspired by a British port in the exotic Far East founded in 1819,” he added.

The town lasted for about 50 years, before it was swallowed up by shifting sand dunes. Today only a signboard remains as a marker of its existence, Mr Wong said.

“Singapore in Michigan didn’t last very long. We want this Singapore to be around for a very long time – for the next thousand years and beyond.”

This article was originally published in TODAY.