Revamping Education System - Middle East Countries Look To Singapore For Expertise.

You simply can't beat quality. And Singapore over the decades has proven itself to be synonymous with top-notch quality. So much so that even the Middle East countries are looking to her for help in improving their education system. When it comes to getting the very best assistance in education, questions of religion, race, ideology or geographical location apparently don't matter to the Arabs. If it did perhaps we would have been a natural choice, keeping in mind that we are a 'model Islamic country.'

Why Malaysia was overlooked and the honour given to Singapore does not really merit an answer. The shambles that Malaysian education is actually in, is generally well known. Do you think that our authorities will take it upon themselves to improve it? Not in a million years. All that talk of new paradigm etc etc is merely that - talk. Our education policies, entrenched in and institutionalizing racism will never allow for true quality to be infused into the system. Don't be surprised, if in the unlikely event of an enlightened leadership taking over the helm of our government administration, we too will look to Singapore for their tried and tested methods for bettering our own education system.

Read here the Channel Newsasia report on the subject:
Singapore's education system has caught the eye of some Middle East countries and they have invited the Republic to help revamp theirs, says Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Presenting the Edusave Awards at CHIJ Katong Convent Secondary School on Saturday, Mr Goh also stressed the importance of educating the young.

The Middle East, long dependent on its oil and gas reserves, now knows it needs to invest in educating its people more than ever before. And it is looking to Singapore for some help, says the Senior Minister.

Mr Goh recounted that education was one topic of discussion during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi. He says: "The government (there) also wants Singapore to help them with their education system. They are now revamping their education system, trying to privatise, and having different kinds of services run by different kinds of people in order to inject a spirit of excellence. They have invited Singapore to help train the teachers, to help run some of the schools."

Saudi Arabia hopes to send some 200 students to study in Singapore. Mr Goh says: "That's a tribute to Singapore, to our education system. Can you imagine an oil rich country like Saudi Arabia which has been sending its students to the West, and which will continue to do so, now wants to send its students to Singapore to study."

At the Edusave Awards presentation ceremony, Mr Goh says a strength of Singapore's education system is in helping students realise their potential. But there is still room for improvement.

Mr Goh adds that Singapore has a good brand name of efficiency, reliability and trustworthiness which he singles out as an important element in education. And he hopes schools can continue to inculcate a sense of integrity among the students.
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