It is really interesting how the Education Ministry’s publicity machinery is cranking up the importance of values-based learning in schools.
The wheels have been set in motion and this was none more evident than in the speech given by the Education Minister, Mr Heng Swee Kiat, in the closing ceremony of the PolyForum 2013 at D’Marquee at Downtown East, Singapore.
He urged polytechnic students to continue to serve the community as volunteers in the soon to be set up Volunteer Youth Corp in 2014.
And through volunteering not only does the community benefits but the students as well as they learn values such as respect, empathy, resilience and integrity.
I was privileged to be a witness of this values-based learning in action at close quarters at the recently concluded PolyForum 2013. Approximately 300 poly students from all the 5 polytechnics in Singapore were mixed up and grouped under 5 sub-themes. I was a facilitator for sub-theme 5, Building Social Resilience, along with 4 other lecturers, one from each of the other polytechnics – Irene (NYP), Chin Ming (RP), Joanne (TP) and Evelyn (SP).
The performance of the students in their community action project (CAP), was nothing short of remarkable, given the very short timeline (2 weeks) to accomplish the task and the ambitious goals set.
The task originally was to conduct a block evacuation exercise but this was later revised to organizing a block party for residents of Block 757 Pasir Ris West and the other neighbouring blocks. The aim: to build social cohesion and bonds among the residents so that they are better able to handle crises and emergencies when they happen.
The students in the sub-theme, calling themselves PROS, set out to achieve the goals set with much vigour and gusto and with a true sense of mission, quite unlike what I have seen in students I have worked with in recent times.
They worked under the broad supervision of the 5 facilitators but never needed to be prodded or coerced. They had great motivation to work together and all of them worked in unison with a singular purpose in mind.
Personal goals and petty issues were set aside in order to achieve the larger group’s mission. What also impressed my fellow facilitators and I was that students had respect for whoever took the lead in the various activities, i.e. CAP, Closing Ceremony Performance or Exhibition. They discussed, debated, finalised ideas and implemented the action plan both expediently and in an expeditious manner.
Communication with the facilitators was prompt most of the time and we were fortunate that there were few gaps in communication or miscommunications.
I believe, the main reason for the lack of major hiccups or issues among the PROS, is the unity of the students in this group. Over the course of the PolyForum, they became a close-knit group and they truly lived and worked with each other and for each other. Even the organising committee members commented on their camaraderie and said it was exemplary.
In all this, I have definitely learnt something myself. These students have helped to rescue, if not reinforce, my wavering belief in the youths of Singapore. Our youths have had many names thrown in their direction, like “soft”, “needy”, “entitled”, “aimless”, “self-centered”, etc., etc.
The PROS have reminded me that these names, as with most broad-brush name-calling, is unfair and not representative of the whole. The PROS have restored my faith in the youths of Singapore.
The PROS have also taught me how to work and achieve team or group goals BECAUSE…
It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the credit. – Robert Yates
And for those who would like to view my video montage of the proceedings of PolyForum 2013, please click on the link – POLYFORUM 2013 VIDEO. CHECK IT OUT!!
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