Member-only story
Why I fear for Singapore’s future ….
Every year without fail, parents will inevitably complain about how difficult the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) test questions were, and how unfair it is to challenge their child.
As a parent, while I do understand the instinct to want to protect our child from harm, lowering the bar will actually do more harm in the long run. The harsh reality is that that world continues to turn whether we want it to or not. And, there are literally millions of other children around the world who are studying hard so that they can one day steal your child’s lunch.
If your child cries because the exam was hard, or gives up because they think they didn’t do well, how will they deal with challenges when they join the working world.
“No one owes us a living. The sooner your child learns this hard truth, the better prepared they will be for life.”
Instead of looking at the PSLE as a one-off examination to be aced, parents would do better to frame it as an important task that needs to be completed — much like a major project at work. With that as the frame, parents can use the preparation to teach the child planning, discipline, and even work-life balance. And, when it comes…
