Trace evolution of education in Singapore at upcoming exhibition

An exhibition on how education has evolved over the last 50 years will be launched later this month, to mark Singapore's 50th birthday.

Good Morning 'Cher: Our Schools, Our Teachers, Our Stories is being organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and will have school memorabilia, artefacts, photographs and interactive elements.

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat will launch the exhibition at Changi City Point next Saturday and it will travel to various locations until the end of next month, said the MOE yesterday.

Visitors to the free exhibition will be encouraged to pen their thoughts on what they hope schools here will be like in 2065.

Students will also be on hand to conduct activities such as the weaving of ketupat wrapping, which visitors can join.

Said Mr Heng in an MOE release: "I am sure this exhibition will evoke Singaporeans' fond memories of their good old schooldays, and inspire all of us to continue to bring out the best in every child."

On Facebook, Mr Heng also shared fond memories of how he and his classmates had a huge field but not much sports equipment. They played "police and thief" instead, a game which Mr Heng, now 54, called "great fun".

He noted that blackboards "have been replaced with interactive smartboards, and tablets stand in for some textbooks".

But Singapore's progress over the last 50 years cannot be attributed to the greater use of technology or equipment alone, as important as they are, he said. "It is how our teachers and schools have made use of what is available to help our children learn and bring out the best in every child. That has stayed constant right from the start."

The show will be open from 12pm to 9pm. After Changi City Point, it will move to Westgate, then Ang Mo Kio Hub and Suntec City mall.

This article was first published on July 3, 2015.
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