February 7, 2024

Singapore’s education system is notorious for its rigour and quality, with Singaporean students consistently performing well in international assessments, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Yet, there are some who surpass the demanding requirements of the education system – most recently, a 13-year-old prodigy who has already graduated from a university in Australia.

This incident has sparked a discussion about how these ‘prodigies’ ought to be taught in schools. In “Commentary: How can Singapore keep up with the unique needs of prodigies?” (Channel NewsAsia, January 2024), Mr Jonathan Sim (NUS Teaching Academy and NUS Philosophy) discusses the shortcomings of the Singapore education system in engaging these exceptional students, arguing that more can be done to nurture their full potential.

Mr Sim acknowledges the difficulties of simultaneously managing students of differing abilities and learning needs, having experienced this challenge himself. In response, he suggests several engagement strategies, for educators to use this diversity to enhance learning instead. He advocates for the benefits of peer-to-peer teaching, allowing for slower learners to review concepts, for faster learners to learn to explain them simply, and for all students to form friendships as a result. He also suggests that educators become more open to co-creation opportunities with fast-paced students, allowing them to partake in the lesson planning process.

Read the article here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/prodigies-gifted-children-university-school-system-challenges-balance-4064776