H1 GP P1 Essay

To what extent does education promote creativity in your society? (YJC 2018 CA4)
What is education? Why is it important? As Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of
the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” This illustrates beautifully
the fact that education is vital in honing creative thinking skills in our acquisition of
knowledge, be it in schools or higher institutions. In a highly competitive society like
Singapore, the education system has unfortunately been in the spotlight for years for its
rigidness and overemphasis on elitism. With meritocracy being the core ideology of
Singapore’s governance, many could have blamed politicians for the unnecessary stress
brought on by high stakes tests and exams. While some might claim that education fails to
invoke creativity in our society, a deeper analysis of the issue reveals that most of the time,
education does actually train our imaginative juices, albeit more recently.
For starters, the shift in emphasis from a results-orientated society to a more holistic
approach in education aims to develop inventiveness in Singapore students. Parents with
their medieval attitude towards examinations have pushed their kids to be constantly ahead
of the academic rat race, bringing them for pre-school education at as young as 3 years old.
With what aim? The Primary School Leaving Examination or PSLE. For the extremely ‘kiasu’
parents, every single point matters in securing their child’s future. However, with the recent
shift in focus to realise the full potential in each and every student, the Ministry of Education
(MOE) has recently introduced various initiatives such as Applied Learning Programs (ALP)
and Direct School Admissions (DSA) to further enhance creative thinking in our students. ALP
sessions in school allows them learn about knowledge beyond the textbook, as well as
providing them with a platform to design projects, carry out hands-on activities and apply
skills to real-world problems. DSA motivates students to hone their leadership skills, talents
and aptitude capabilities in co-curricular activities (CCA) so that they can use it in their
portfolio when gaining admission into secondary, teritiary or university education or when
applying for jobs. It is thus evident that education will likely increase the level of creativity in
our society.
Education, through greater diversity, allows for greater creativity in our society as well. When
people think of education, many would immediately ponder about the various subject
disciplines such as mathematics, science or humanities. However, that is not always the case.
It can include things beyond the classroom like outdoor learning journeys, learning a new
musical instrument or simply picking up a new language. Take the Outward Bound Singapore
(OBS) for example. It organises annual 5 day 4 night camps for Secondary 3 students. Through
this camp, students would get to have an enriching and fulfilling experience as they learn how
to appreciate nature, take up survival skills and bond with students from other schools. As
they learn how to adapt to changes and step out of their comfort zone, they get to know more
about their own strengths and limitations. Only through learning about oneself, can one
realise the creativity and potential in him/her and manifest it in their daily lives. Similarly,
learning a new musical instrument like violin is unlike learning a new concept in Physics, which
requires repetitive memorisation and consistent practice. This impedes innovative thinking.
Rather, the violin with its melodious and calming tune allows one to express their innate
emotions and feelings through the unique symphony and combination of notes and rhythms

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H1 GP P1 Essay

that is being conjured. Therefore, it is likely that with more diversified forms of education,
when used more meaningfully, can spark joy and passion from within, leading to more
creativity in our society.
Admittedly, some people would argue that education does not promote creativity in
Singapore because the mere presence of tests and exams discourages any form of noble ideas
and suggestions. Students are required to follow a strict and structured curriculum that covers
content systematically. There is barely any room for students to suggest new ideas that may
sound absurd or stupid. For instance, learning about Atoms in Chemistry may probe some to
ponder about the history of its discovery as well as the likelihood of being able to see one in
the school science lab. This would certainly annoy some teachers as it gives them the
impression that the students do not believe in its existence. Most teachers would only simply
say that the theory is correct and that we just have to learn it. While this may be true to some
extent, being inquisitive is actually vital for effective learning. Asking questions is actually a
form of indication that one is thinking critically and being curious about what he/she is
studying. In fact, numerous scientists have made tremendous progress and important
discoveries in their field of study only because of their incessant questioning and their ability
to think out of the box. Moreover, the method of assessment in Singapore has been evolving
over the years. With the introduction of certain coursework subjects such as Design and
Technology and Project Work, students are given more opportunities to put on their thinking
caps during the exams. This also signals the shift from traditional pen-and-paper exams to
more emphasis in imagination and deeper analysis of real-world problems. Hence, while some
would claim that education fails to instill creativity in students, things are definitely changing
for the better in Singapore as MOE aims to align its assessment objectives with 21st century
competences which requires high proficiency in problem-solving, especially in a rapidly
evolving and volatile world. As such, even tests and exams can be modified in such a way that
students are able to be more creative in their approach towards learning.
To sum up, creativity is what makes our world a more vibrant and exciting place to live in. And
education is imperative in realising that goal. As Nelson Mandela once declared, “Education
is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” With creativity in
education, we can make the world a better place together, and we can then lean into our
future with greater confidence and carry the hope and aspirations of our next generation. 