Character education in Singapore : the three phases of Singapore's education

Abstract

This thesis strives to draw parallels between syllabus changes in character education with the government’s political and social goals in the corresponding period. This paper has asserted the view that education in Singapore has been used by the government to build social cohesion through character education. The syllabus changes in character education over the years since 1959 thus reflects the changing political and social goals of the government. There are three distinct phases of character education developments in Singapore’s education. I have termed these three phases as - ‘‘National Identity-Guided’’, where the goal of the government in the 1960s to the late 1970s was to develop a sense of national identity amongst the people in the fledging nation state; ‘‘National Values-Guided’’, where the government’s goal in the 1980s was to inculcate and reinforce Asian morals and values into young Singaporeans, amidst the fear of them becoming Westernized; and lastly ‘‘National Education-Guided’’, where the government’s goal was to develop a commitment to nation building; to inculcate in young Singaporeans on the importance of contributing back to Singapore and the society. Syllabus changes to character education were aimed to fulfill these goals in the corresponding periods.