Here’s a concise wrap-up of Minister Chan Chun Sing’s key arguments and policy positions from the interview:
Tuition & PSLE “Arms Race”
- Arms-race dynamics: Even an “opt-out” PSLE system would simply shift competition elsewhere—tuition becomes the new baseline.
- Balance over volume: Pushing kids into ever-more classes or structured camps can undermine their confidence and problem-solving agency. Instead, carve out unstructured time for self-directed play and learning.
Educator & Parent Mindset
- Duty of care vs. space to grow: Know when to step in (support, guidance) and when to step back (let children tackle challenges themselves).
- Perfection → irrelevance: An over-emphasis on flawless performance can sap motivation; focus instead on continuous personal improvement (“surpass yourself”) and lifelong learning.
Evolving the School System
- Subject-based banding: Stream students by subject level (not whole-class) so each child learns at the right pace, with freedom to move up or down as they develop.
- Mass customization with tech: Leverage adaptive-learning platforms to deliver affordable, high-quality, scalable instruction—while preserving teachers’ irreplaceable “high-touch” role, especially for at-risk kids.
Regulating the Tuition Industry
- Culture + rules: Outlawing tuition outright drives it underground; better to stigmatize fear-mongering marketing, ban blatantly false “guarantee” claims, and build a social norm against exploitative practices.
Stress, Resilience & Adaptability
- Optimal stress: You can’t—and shouldn’t—eliminate all stress. Resilience comes from overcoming manageable challenges with support, then facing similar obstacles again with confidence.
- Preparing for uncertainty: In a fast-changing world, structured schooling must cede space for creativity, self-direction and “messy” problem-solving.
Politics as a Means to Good Governance
- End-state focus: The point of any system—one party, two or many—is the quality of life and governance it delivers, not the tally of seats.
- Political leaders vs. politicians: Look for people who put Singaporeans’ and the nation’s interests first, who can build consensus on tough trade-offs rather than fire off slogans.
- Voter advice for GE2025: Pick candidates you trust to care for you locally, form an effective Cabinet nationally, and stand up for Singapore on the world stage.
Across all these themes, his bottom line is: structure and support where it helps, but don’t straitjacket citizens—young or old—in ways that stifle their agency, adaptability and long-term well-being.
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