In a recent article published by CNA on the 19th of July, more government schools are implementing modern techniques and placing more emphasis on local arts and artists.
With the new syllabus, announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on the 17th of July, students will be exposed to new forms of art-making to keep up with the ever-changing global landscape. Some new additions to the syllabus include augmented reality, mural painting and print-making. Aside from that, students will be exposed to more art from local artists, and schools are making an effort to bring in local artists to speak in their schools, letting the children be exposed to learning styles beyond their faculty members.
While this proves to be an exciting new step in pushing for the development of arts and culture in our government schools, commendably starting from an age as young as primary school, one might ask- what else is being done for our children to develop them holistically?
Singapore has never shied away from the reputation of being very academically driven. But with times changing and more pressure being put on young Singaporeans to excel in the arts and culture as well as in their academics, it might be a case of taking one step forward and two steps back. Perhaps the focus should not be on pushing our children to excel in every sector, but to strive in making them well-rounded human beings, before pinning expectations on them to succeed.
In an article dated as recently as April of 2023, about 1 in 3 Singaporean students suffer from mental health issues. While the NUS study surveyed students from ages 10 to 18, a good number of these students reported poor mental health systems like anxiety, depression and loneliness. While these symptoms might manifest more in students further along in life, it is believed that a strong mental health foundation begins at a young age.
With the youth of today having to deal with not only the stressors of navigating young adulthood, school pressures and now the fallout of living in a post-pandemic era, one might wonder just what else can be done to support our youth from falling into the pitfall of poor mental health. While healthy exposure to extracurriculars like sports and arts doe aid in cultivating good mental health, there’s a way to ensure that the benefits of such exposure do not create another stressor.
Participation in the arts and sports can be used as a hobby, to detract from the stress of everyday pressures to perform. Successes in their extracurriculars can be used to build resilience and confidence, as opposed to a breeding ground for competitiveness and insecurity.
In conclusion, the additional immersion in the curriculum can be a great source of holistic development for our children, but only in a way that encourages them and builds their confidence, not used as another area where they have to come out on top… or else.
