Education is Priority - Alex Wachs

Education is key to succeed in life. On the surface this is a very generic statement to make and is a bit like saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Who could argue with this?

Governments spend millions of dollars on creating the right education system for its children from preschool through to university. They recognize that without good education the country’s future will be weakened. In the United States there is much debate about the quality of the current system and they have introduced programs like the No Child left Behind to ensure that all kids receive a high level of education. In Singapore, a high level of education is available for all kids and many of these student perform at a very high level when compared to other countries.

Most parents also believe that education is critical to their kids future. Without education their prospects for a good job and good salary is more difficult. Many parents expect their children to perform at very high levels at school so that they can get into the best universities around the world. Most parents surveyed in a recent study indicated that they believe their children don’t appreciate the education they are providing for their children. Other studies indicate that when parents push their kids too much that this can lead to depression and dropping out and whole set of other issues.

A recent poll conducted amongst Middle Schoolers at UWCSEA and American School by this newspaper The Daily News of Bukit Timah would tend to suggest that these parent’s beliefs are true. Almost half of the kids interviewed in one Grade 8 class said they felt some subjects in school were unnecessary and boring. For example many felt math is boring and not helpful in daily life. Another study by Live Science backs this up by showing that 30% of students are bored due to lack of interaction with their teacher. 75% of students say what they learning is boring. But they did agree with another study that says one of the biggest benefits of education is making friends. Studies show that we make 68% of our friends from school.

Later on, we got the chance to interview Nona who is now at OFS but was originally from Africa which is one of the poorest countries in the world. Like so many other children from underdeveloped nations she didn't have the chance to even go to school. Her single greatest wish was to be able to go to school and now she has her dream come true by going to school in Singapore.

During this newscast we have established the importance of education.

While governments and parents believe in the power of education it seems there is a job to do on educating the kids in developed countries, who have the privilege of going to great schools the value of education and appreciating the chances they have to attain one. Perhaps if they had to walk in the shoes of a child like Nona who didn’t have the right to an education for one day they may learn to value it more.