a mindset...
I wonder how many people have read this letter sent into the forums of the Today newspaper. If you haven't, here it is - http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC111226-0000019/Disparity-in-tertiary-education-facilities
It is the view of a fellow Singaporean on the facilities of the education institutions in Singapore. He wonders why ITEs are so well provided for. Yet he observes that the students there do not appreciate what they have been given, hence the amount of vandalism on the campus grounds. This observation was made when the author of the letter went to ITE East for a seminar. He made the statement that if JC or Poly students were given such quality institutions to study in, they would definitely appreciate it more, and definitely not vandalise it.
It is quite sad to see that Singaporeans still have this perception of ITEs students. Are ITE students any less worthy of the a quality education? Would it bother anyone if a JC built a 25 million dollar arts centre? But if an ITE decides to build a shiny building, why are so many eye brows suddenly raised? I believe that everyone has a right to quality education. And that includes the nice shiny buildings that house these institutions.
Would JC and Poly students necessarily appreciate the buildings more such that they do not vandalise the infrastructures? I seriously doubt that. JC and Poly students would probably not vandalise anything because they fear punishment. Not because they have never thought about it. Furthermore, if the ITEs were old decrepit buildings, wouldn't that just invite more students to vandalise them? Shiny new buildings encourage and teach students to cherish and value what they have. Sure they will always be students that break the rules, but these students can be found everywhere. Thinking back to my own JC days, the tables were definitely not in any pristine conditions.
It is the view of a fellow Singaporean on the facilities of the education institutions in Singapore. He wonders why ITEs are so well provided for. Yet he observes that the students there do not appreciate what they have been given, hence the amount of vandalism on the campus grounds. This observation was made when the author of the letter went to ITE East for a seminar. He made the statement that if JC or Poly students were given such quality institutions to study in, they would definitely appreciate it more, and definitely not vandalise it.
It is quite sad to see that Singaporeans still have this perception of ITEs students. Are ITE students any less worthy of the a quality education? Would it bother anyone if a JC built a 25 million dollar arts centre? But if an ITE decides to build a shiny building, why are so many eye brows suddenly raised? I believe that everyone has a right to quality education. And that includes the nice shiny buildings that house these institutions.
Would JC and Poly students necessarily appreciate the buildings more such that they do not vandalise the infrastructures? I seriously doubt that. JC and Poly students would probably not vandalise anything because they fear punishment. Not because they have never thought about it. Furthermore, if the ITEs were old decrepit buildings, wouldn't that just invite more students to vandalise them? Shiny new buildings encourage and teach students to cherish and value what they have. Sure they will always be students that break the rules, but these students can be found everywhere. Thinking back to my own JC days, the tables were definitely not in any pristine conditions.
posted by alvin_c at 6:11 pm
1 comments
