Still trapped in older educational expectations

THE Education Ministry is actively transitioning from inflexible examination-centric learning towards a more holistic path that prioritises critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity and diverse talents.

But changing a system is not easy. While national policy moves forward, many schools and parents are still trapped in older educational expectations. This tension is particularly evident in certain traditional sectors of Chinese vernacular education, which tends to resist transformation, preferring to adhere to a deeply hierarchical, obedience-focused culture.