Singapore schools are reporting an increased number of students seeking professional help to deal with the stress and anxiety associated with their education.
While the country is ranked among the top in terms of education worldwide, this desire for excellence is taking a toll on students in Singapore. It is now a common occurrence for students to report experiencing symptoms of anxiety and high levels of stress throughout the school year.
These concerning levels of pressure on young students come not only from the educational system and standards set by the government but from parents as well. While the school schedule of students is filled with numerous after-class activities and a significant amount of homework, many parents also demand that their children attend private tutoring in addition to regular classes. The combination of these makes the school day last almost as much as an adult’s work day.
Commenting on the worrying statistics, Ong Ye Kung, Singapore’s Minister of Education said:
We have to balance the joy of learning and the rigor of education.
Worrying data on stress at school
According to the latest data released by the Hong Kong Child Fatality Review, pressure and stress related to education, and the amount of school assignments students have to complete are among the main factors, which push the youth in Singapore to commit suicide.
A report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also confirms that despite the undeniable success of the country in terms of education, students are not often satisfied with their success, and this puts additional pressure on them.
In response to the data, the Singaporean government is working on a plan to reduce the number of exams students will be taking while they are in primary and secondary school. Ministers are also discussing the possibility to only keep grouping students according to their ability for subjects like math and science, and not for all subject as the system is designed at the moment.
One good suggestion might be the introduction of stress reduction practices throughout the school day. Studies have proven that a canine friend in the classroom can reduce pressure and stress significantly.
