Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Youth inclined to be "quiters"?

Here is an interesting article on Sunday Times entitled: ONLINE SURVEY ON ASIA'S YOUTHS.
July 30, 2006
ONLINE SURVEY ON ASIA'S YOUTHS
'Bochap'? Not us, say teens
By Elgin Toh

Migration rates
Image cropped out of a larger ST graphics, click to enlarge.

Yes, they may not be so concerned about Singapore's progress and may consider emigrating, but youths here insist they actually do care. That seems to be the picture a recent survey is painting of teenagers here.

The survey was done by The Straits Times and Hwa Chong Institution, in conjunction with the Asian Young Leaders Summit, which ended here on Friday.

The online survey polled 2,071 youths, aged 13 to 19, from top schools in Singapore, China, India, Japan and Malaysia. The students, who were encouraged by their teachers to complete the survey on an Internet site, were asked a broad spectrum of questions ranging from their attitude towards schooling, to their feelings about their country and their main concerns in life.

Youths here topped the list for being bored in class, not caring about their nation's progress and being the most likely to want to emigrate. So, are Singaporean youths really so 'bochap' (indifferent in Hokkien)? The Sunday Times sat down with youngsters to hear their views.
I am actually surprised that the students in their teens are already thinking of emigration. It never crossed my mind when I was in school. I always assumed I would be on the same road that my parents had gone through. The sample group is however, too small to draw any conlusive assumptions.

When my extended family met up for a maken session last Sunday, I shown the article to my younger cousins aged from 15-18. I notice there is almost a gender divide. Guys are far more vocal and interested in leaving for greener pasture, while girls are more reserved or indicated they are here to stay. What's interesting is both gender agree that a fair number of their schoolmates do considered emigration, in fact they think the figures are too conservative.

The root of the problem is that we have no real nation identity and thus no real love for the country. This is the real challenge for our current leaders, how to make young feel that they really belong to Singapore.
School daze
A TOTAL of 82 per cent of youths here, the highest among surveyed countries, said school was boring 'most' or 'some of the time'. Japan came in second at 76 per cent while China had 56 per cent saying they were bored.

It can get pretty draggy sitting through the long day. And lectures are especially draining,' says He Shuwei, 17, who studies English Literature, Economics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Her average weekday at Anglo-Chinese Junior College starts at 7.30am and ends at 4.30pm. Sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture is a yawn, but 'group discussions and breaks are fun', she adds.

'I guess it depends a lot on the teacher. If the teacher is interactive, classes can be interesting.'

Where's the relevance?
MORE youths here - 17 per cent - than elsewhere said what they were learning had 'little or no use' for the future. This is compared to 9 per cent in Japan and 4 per cent in Malaysia.

'It's often not relevant,' says Lau Tin Wai, 18, whose favourite subject is English Literature. 'It's only a stepping stone to university. I want to eventually work in public relations or the media, and what I'm learning now is not beneficial to that.'

Shuwei, who is interested in advertising, asks rhetorically: 'How is differentiating and integrating equations going to be relevant? We should be learning more hands-on skills, like computer skills.'

Amanda Chua, 17, wants to enter the business world, like her father who is a businessman. She wishes school would be more practical and give hands-on experience in running a business.

Educationist Ong Teck Chin says there are steps schools could take to keep students interested and help them understand the relevance of what they were learning. The principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) says: 'We are constantly seeking more creative methods to teach our students, and we invite them to express their views, exercise their initiative and take part in a greater variety of activities outside class.'He adds that students in his school were sent on work experience attachments at a variety of organisations, including law firms, banks, hospitals, universities and medical research firms. This helps them pick up the 'soft skills' that are more relevant to working life, he says.
I do agree that school is terribly boring and nothing seems to be relevant to real life. From the range of subjects taught in school, only a couple might be of interest to a student. However, I think it is important to expose the young to a wide range of subjects. That way, students can at least discover which subject doesn't interest them.

The real problem do not lie with the subjects but how the subjects are taught. From personal experience, I agree with Shuwei that school is only as interesting as the teacher. Most of the subjects are taught in a dry, methodical way geared purely on examinations. Singapore students never study beause he or she is interested in a subject but more because it is "important to score" in a subject. This alone is enough to turn school into a burden and a terrible bore. We are using teaching methods from the 20th century on the youths of the 21th century.

I am no educationist and thus unable to offer any concrete solution or even ideas. Maybe my more experienced readers can contribute some workabout.
Making tracks
YOUTHS here are also most likely to want to migrate or work overseas.
More than half would consider emigrating, and four in five said they might work abroad. In contrast, only 28 per cent of Malaysian youths would give emigration a chance, and half would think of working overseas.

It is not that they dislike Singapore, says Amanda. It is just that Singapore appears a tad too safe and boring, and so 'we need to work overseas to get a different experience'.

Family or self comes first
WHEN asked what was most important to them, 95 per cent of Singapore's youths picked the well-being of their families or their personal development.

Only 4 per cent chose the country's progress, whereas in India and Malaysia, the figures were 32 and 35 per cent respectively. 'Singapore is already developed. We were comfortable the moment we were born. Maybe that's why we're not too worried about its development,' explains Shuwei.
Ahh...this reminds me of an article by Heavenly Sword in which he writes extensively on the price of leaving. On why a person who really dislike life in Singapore might just end up staying anyway because of family ties. However, as Xenoboy had pointed out the young have less emotional burden and can move away with a lower price of leaving. I suppose the government are countering this tread by giving increasing number of generous scholarships to young "foreign talents".
No to politics
YOUTHS here show little concern for politics. Only one in 10 said they were 'very interested' in politics, compared to Malaysia, where the number was 27 per cent. Also, two in three would never take part in politics.
'We're still very young, so it's quite hard to understand politics. Also, because the Government is very efficient, we don't have to worry much,' says Amanda.

SOCIOLOGIST Tan Ern Ser was not surprised with the findings that youths wanted to emigrate and were not so concerned with Singapore's progress and politics. The associate professor with National University of Singapore said: 'Our country's ethos emphasises self-reliance and responsibility towards our own family.'He added, however, that this emphasis on individual responsibility has to be balanced with 'developing social solidarity', so 'we can strengthen the bond between young people and the nation'.
Interest in politics can be potientially harmful to one's career, and I don't think many would admit to be "very interested" regardless of their alignment. We are taught from young to be apolitical and with fresh examples of political pitfalls, it's hardly surprising.
SO ARE they 'bochap' or not?
All three youths protested when they heard the word.

'We are not 'bochap'. We are aware of issues concerning Singapore's progress; it's just that there's nothing we can actually do at this stage,' opines Shuwei.

Tin Wai adds she feels proud to be a Singaporean, especially when she goes abroad and talks to foreigners about Singapore.

'When it comes to the crunch, if the country needs me to make sacrifices, I'll be willing to. Even if it wants me to serve NS,' says Amanda, referring to full-time national service, which only male citizens have to serve.


elgintoh@sph.com.sg
Dear Amanda, I really hope you do mean what you said but I would leave my views on NS to another time.



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posted by wert | Tuesday, August 01, 2006 | Email This!


6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

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Tue Aug 08, 12:08:00 AM 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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Thu Aug 10, 08:05:00 AM 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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Fri Aug 11, 03:29:00 PM 2006  
Blogger wert said...

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Fri Aug 11, 04:51:00 PM 2006  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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Mon Jul 21, 11:17:00 PM 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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Mon Jul 21, 11:19:00 PM 2008  

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