Ingredients to make National Education succeed

DR AMY Khor's parliamentary speech on National Education (NE) strikes a chord with me. I believe the NE committee should look into these areas if it wants to rid the programme's 'boring' or 'propaganda' tag: philanthropy, the kampung spirit of selflessness, the thinking of our country's leaders, and globalisation.

The Government's call for more philanthropists can be made more effective if action is taken to educate our young about the need to give back to society through citing the actions of today's philanthropists. This provides reinforcement to families who are already educating their children about it.

Sunday Times columnist Mathew Pereira wrote this month about his Singaporean friend who had second thoughts about coming home as he felt his countrymen do not bother to build bonds with others. What if this thinking exists in a considerable number overseas?

We are known globally for our many achievements. But this will be affected in the long run if our social fabric is weakened eventually - when people build 'walls' between one another.

We need to revisit the kampung spirit of earlier generations where everyone would make an effort to help those around them who are in need, even mere acquaintances. One country to learn from is South Korea. At least two of my friends were impressed by the generosity of Korean companies in sponsoring their country's student community during a student cultural day in a Chinese university, and the strong family spirit felt during a home stay with Koreans while attending a National Youth Council-related event last year.

What is needed lastly is up-to-date literature: readings about our leaders and their thinking, and influential writers such as Thomas Friedman. Our young are just a click away from the Internet. They can read and hear almost anything - even the utterly baseless. Political opponents may disagree, but no one can deny that we got to where we are because of the minds of leaders such as Messrs Lee Kuan Yew, S. Rajaratnam and Goh Keng Swee.

I reckon half the students here do not even know who the last is. More importantly, what students need to know to survive is the globalisation system that we live in - where cruel competition comes not only from within, but from the world.

The road is long but I believe NE can eventually be a success.



Daniel Ong Kian Hong