Record Date

Recording Language

Accession No.

Type

Format

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Synopsis :

1) Speech by Permanent Secretary (Education).
2) PM Lee Kuan Yew's speech at the Opening of Education Seminar 1966:
- This seminar is a follow-up from PM Lee's discussion with Principals in August 1966.
- Call to Principals to identify problems for discussion first and propose solutions
- Take stock of what we have done & what we must do now
- Desired end-product is a well-educated, skilled & well-adjusted people i.e. a good citizen (maximum of nurturing of natural talent; able to bring up & care for family)
- Professional expertise should be discussed at the Seminar as these are important problems/issues
- what is the objective of getting our young well-equipped to meet problems of getting a livelihood?
- Need for a "cultivated mind". How to move away from technique of cramming to pass exams to process of giving the child something that is self-generating.
- Unique situation in Singapore is that we have a lightly-knit community. Have to give people that extra that will provide a common denominator or else there will be no communication between sectors of our community.
- Monolinguists will be a problem for themselves and for the society as their minds have a limited "window".
- How to find solution that is practical for our school children?
- Sterilising effects of a completely English-type education (deprive child of spiritual line with his past)
- Preserve for each child the "cultural ballast".
- Standards of teaching staff.
- Education content.
- Re-orientation of values & emotional attitudes is a difficult problem.