BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Education Reforms in Singapore: From "\;Thinking Schools\, Lea rning Nation"\; to "\;Teach Less Learn More"\; - Dr Pak Tee Ng \, Associate Professor\, Policy and Leadership Studies Academic Group Nati onal Institute of Education\, Nanyang Technological University\, Singapore DTSTART:20091105T103000Z DTEND:20091105T120000Z UID:TALK21165@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Lyndsay DESCRIPTION:Motivated by a pre-occupation with the future\, Singapore’s vision of ‘Thinking Schools\, Learning Nation’ (TSLN) was launched in 1997. Thinking Schools aims to develop creative thinking skills\, lifelon g learning passion and nationalistic commitment in the young. Learning Na tion aims to make learning a national culture\, encouraging creativity and innovation at every level of society\, which goes beyond schools and educ ational institutions. A suite of reforms followed the launch of the visio n\, including the adoption of an ability driven education paradigm\, Natio nal Education and the IT Master-plan.\n\nIn 2004\, Prime Minister Lee call ed on Singapore teachers to “teach less” so that students might “lea rn more”. In 2005\, the Ministry of Education clarified this philosophi cal statement to mean a transformation of learning to focus on quality rat her than quantity. This “Teach Less Learn More” (TLLM) initiative att empts to change the fundamental nature of education in Singapore. In this seminar\, the speaker presents an overview of the recent education reform s in Singapore\, describes the TLLM initiative\, and discusses its major i mplications and challenges for schools in Singapore. In particular\, the challenge for schools is to go beyond the form of the initiative to bring real\, substantial and sustainable educational change through this movemen t\, a goal that is not easily achieved in a culture of performativity in t he education system. Schools are put in a position to think out of the bo x while doing well within the box.\n LOCATION:Faculty of Education\, 184 Hills Road\, Cambridge\, CB2 8PQ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR