Diversity!!!!
Some good articles here concerning diversity in Singapore (education landscape) and Malaysia (religious landscape)
Article 1 is about the impending reforms in the Singapore education landscape, as announced by PM Lee during the recent National Day Rally Speech. Some of the policy changes you need to be aware of are:
1) allocating 40 spaces in all primary schools to children who are not affiliated to the sch
2) where top secondary schools are concerned, broaden scope of Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme to include not just talents in sports and arts, but also character traits like resilience, leadership, etc.
3) allow Normal Technical stream students to take subjects at the Express stream level from secondary one if their PSLE grade allows for it
4) replace the PSLE T-score system with grade banding (i.e. numerical marks are replaced by alphabetical grades, just like 'O' and 'A' level)
The first three changes are targeted at ensuring diversity of intakes at the schools (esp branded top schools) to encourage social mixing. Read the article to see why this is so crucial for Singapore.
Note an interesting paradox in Article 1a (column 2, para 2), where the diversity of pathways to cater to the differing abilities and needs of students is meant to be a good thing, but this comes at the expense of the students from different pathways not being able to mix, i.e. segregated, and even stigmatised. Diversity here is thus both good as well as bad. Note though that policy change (3) as spelt out above will help to rectify this, allowing students of different academic streams to interact, even as it allows the weaker student to learn at his own pacing.
Articles 2&3 are about how religious diversity in Malaysia can pose a challenge for the country and creates potential problems for the govt.
In Article 2, the rising influence of the Shi'ite branch of Muslims is dividing up the nation and eroding the power of the ruling govt. Read the article for some background on the distinction between the Shi'ite and the Sunni branch of Muslims. Malaysia is predominantly Sunni.
In Article 3, the diversity of religions in Malaysia can cause friction where the use of the word 'Allah' is concerned. The Muslims are unhappy with the Catholics' use of the word 'Allah' as a translation for the word 'God' in the Catholics' Malay bible. The issue has gone to court is and potentially divisive for the society.
Sample Qn:
1) How far is your society tolerant of diversity?
2) 'the trend towards diversity is a positive development.' Comment. (AJC Prelim 2012)
Article 1 is about the impending reforms in the Singapore education landscape, as announced by PM Lee during the recent National Day Rally Speech. Some of the policy changes you need to be aware of are:
1) allocating 40 spaces in all primary schools to children who are not affiliated to the sch
2) where top secondary schools are concerned, broaden scope of Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme to include not just talents in sports and arts, but also character traits like resilience, leadership, etc.
3) allow Normal Technical stream students to take subjects at the Express stream level from secondary one if their PSLE grade allows for it
4) replace the PSLE T-score system with grade banding (i.e. numerical marks are replaced by alphabetical grades, just like 'O' and 'A' level)
The first three changes are targeted at ensuring diversity of intakes at the schools (esp branded top schools) to encourage social mixing. Read the article to see why this is so crucial for Singapore.
Note an interesting paradox in Article 1a (column 2, para 2), where the diversity of pathways to cater to the differing abilities and needs of students is meant to be a good thing, but this comes at the expense of the students from different pathways not being able to mix, i.e. segregated, and even stigmatised. Diversity here is thus both good as well as bad. Note though that policy change (3) as spelt out above will help to rectify this, allowing students of different academic streams to interact, even as it allows the weaker student to learn at his own pacing.
Articles 2&3 are about how religious diversity in Malaysia can pose a challenge for the country and creates potential problems for the govt.
In Article 2, the rising influence of the Shi'ite branch of Muslims is dividing up the nation and eroding the power of the ruling govt. Read the article for some background on the distinction between the Shi'ite and the Sunni branch of Muslims. Malaysia is predominantly Sunni.
In Article 3, the diversity of religions in Malaysia can cause friction where the use of the word 'Allah' is concerned. The Muslims are unhappy with the Catholics' use of the word 'Allah' as a translation for the word 'God' in the Catholics' Malay bible. The issue has gone to court is and potentially divisive for the society.
Sample Qn:
1) How far is your society tolerant of diversity?
2) 'the trend towards diversity is a positive development.' Comment. (AJC Prelim 2012)
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| Article 1a |
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| Article 1b |
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| Article 2: Clampdown on Shi'ism in Malaysia raises concern |
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| Article 3a |
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| Article 3b |
posted by Dark Shadow | 12:08 PM
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