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Teach Less, Learn More ~ by PM Lee Hsien Loong
An excerpt from his National Day Rally 2004 Speech
112 ~ I think that there are a lot we can do, and which we will do. But
there is one thing which we shouldn't do and that is when we add more
teachers, we better don't add more homework or increase the syllabus
because that just defeats the whole purpose. Then we are back to square
one. In fact, I think we should cut down on some of this syllabus. It would
mean less pressure on the kids, a bit less rote learning, more space for them
to explore and discover their talents and also more space for the teachers to
think, to reflect, to find ways to bring out the best in their students and to
deliver quality results. We've got to teach less to our students so that they
will learn more. Grades are important – don't forget to pass your exams –
but grades are not the only thing in life and there are other things in life
which we want to learn in school.
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Excerpt of...
SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG
AT THE TEACHERS’ DAY RALLY 2006
ON 31 AUG 2006, 8 PM,
THE MAX PAVILION, SINGAPORE EXPO
51. And if you are teaching the majority of kids, ‘Teach Less, Learn More’ means prescribe less, work harder. Because it is much harder than teaching the textbook, or teaching the examinations. You have to understand the subject and you have to get them to understand the subject. Focus on what is meaningful, what is important, getting the kids to be self-motivated to want to learn and to absorb what is inside.
52. We have talked about ‘Teach Less, Learn More’ for quite some time. I think it is happening in many schools. I just give you one example of what it means. This is a school from Bedok – it is Bedok South Secondary School. The things which they are doing, learning through projects – designing and making movies and posters for the Singapore Heart Foundation, designing gadgets, handphone charger and pencil holder using IT, Computer Aided Design. Having prototype machines and making the things which they are designing. What subject is it? It is not one subject. It is a combined learning - Art, Music, Design and Technology, Food and Nutrition, all put together applied and through applying, you learn. I think it is very good, and it takes a lot from the teachers and we should recognise the efforts of the teachers who are able to make this happen.
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Original Links: (note that dead links are beyond my control):
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ndp2004/rally/highlights.htm
http://www.getforme.com/pressreleases/leehl_220804_nationaldayrally2004.htm
http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/teach.html
http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/pdf/teach-less-learn-more.pdf
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2006/sp20060831.htm
http://www3.moe.edu.sg/bluesky/images/TLLM_Journal.pdf
http://www.jurongsec.moe.edu.sg/img/happenings/clippings/Teach%20Less.pdf
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/mediacentre/speechesninterviews/primeminister/2009/July/transcript_of_primeministerleehsienloongsspeechatthe9thworldconv.html
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/printerfriendly.html
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ndp2004/rally/highlights.htm
http://www.getforme.com/pressreleases/leehl_220804_nationaldayrally2004.htm
http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/teach.html
http://www.moe.gov.sg/about/yearbooks/2005/pdf/teach-less-learn-more.pdf
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2006/sp20060831.htm
http://www3.moe.edu.sg/bluesky/images/TLLM_Journal.pdf
http://www.jurongsec.moe.edu.sg/img/happenings/clippings/Teach%20Less.pdf
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/mediacentre/speechesninterviews/primeminister/2009/July/transcript_of_primeministerleehsienloongsspeechatthe9thworldconv.html
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosite/printerfriendly.html
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