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Youth purpose as the basis for a purpose-driven vision of schooling in Singapore
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Type
Book chapter
Citation
Heng, M. A., & Pereira, A. J. (2023). Youth purpose as the basis for a purpose-driven vision of schooling in Singapore. In D. W. L. Hung (Ed.), Moving beyond grades to purposeful learning: Lessons from Singaporean research (pp. 41-59). Springer. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4705-8_3
Abstract
In this chapter, we explore the idea of youth purpose as the basis for a purpose-driven vision of schooling in Singapore. Beyond the performance-focused outcomes of education characteristic of high-performance schooling in Singapore and elsewhere, education reform scholars have begun to call for a more human experience of schooling. An important impetus towards a more person-focused conception of school is imperative to take a deeper look into students’ localised experiences of school to uncover what drives students’ learning. We argue that these insights provide a catalyst for teachers’ own development and growth to teach for purpose. Purpose in life is a stable and long-term intention to accomplish meaningful goals for both self and others. Our research showed that the development of youth purpose among Singapore adolescents is left to chance. Singapore students have a largely self-focused purpose orientation tied to the immediate goals of school achievement. Fewer students with support have nascent beyond-the-self life goals. We offer suggestions for what teachers can do in the classroom to give focus to the educational significance, relevance and value of learning in the school curriculum and give importance to both the academic and human purposes of schooling.
Date Issued
2023
ISBN
9789819947041 (print)
9789819947058 (online)
Publisher
Springer
Series
Studies in Singapore Education: Research, Innovation & Practice
DOI
10.1007/978-981-99-4705-8_3