This field study is a critical analysis of early streaming in
Singapore. Primary school pupils are streamed at the end of Primary 3 on
the basis of their performance in achievement tests in English, Mathematics
and Second Language.
The streaming policy is based on eugenic and economic premises.
The policy-makers believe that intelligence is largely determined by genes,
and that the quality of human resources is a vital factor for nation building.
The study identifies the ideological position of the policy-makers
by unpacking some of their major assumptions about humans, society,
knowledge, school and curriculum, and reveals the ideological underpinnings
of inherited differences in IQ and meritocracy which support this policy.
The study also examines the inequality of advantage of this form
of streaming. The findings of the pre-primary study and the study on
dropouts show that unnatural inequalities do affect the performance of
pupils in achievement tests and their desire to stay on in school.
The analysis of the planning and management of the change shows
that different reactions of principals, teachers and parents can have
different effects on pupil motivation and learning, with grave social implications.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219322 |
| Date | January 1984 |
| Creators | Seng, Lai Kwok, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Lai Kwok Seng |
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