Learning from Singapore

Pak Tee Ng is Associate Dean, Leadership Learning at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

• Learning from Singapore: The Power of ParadoxesAcknowledgementsI. Background and Introduction Introduction: The Paradoxical Pictures of Singapore Singapore and its Education SystemII. The Four Paradoxes Paradox 1: Timely Change, Timeless Constants Paradox 2: Compassionate Meritocracy Paradox 3: Centralised Decentralisation Paradox 4: Teach Less, Learn MoreIII. The Four Dreams Dream 1: Every School, a Good School Dream 2: Every Student, an Engaged Learner Dream 3: Every Teacher, a Caring Educator Dream 4: Every Parent, a Supportive PartnerIV. Conclusion Lessons from SingaporeReferencesIndex

"This informed, authentic and easy-to-read book analyses the paradoxes in the incredible story of education in Singapore. It is by far the best account on the subject that I have ever come across. Even those who come from very different education systems will find it fascinating." – Steve Munby, CEO, Education Development Trust."Singapore is young and small but the story of its education system is told worldwide. This book tells that fascinating story through paradoxes and dreams that make the features of Singapore’s educational success easily understandable. Whether you are researcher, policy-maker, educator or student my message to you this: Read this book!" – Pasi Sahlberg, author of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in FinlandAs Pak Tee writes, "In Singapore, educational change is not just about what to do, but how to be." If only that wisdom could guide the relentless pursuit for education improvement in the US and around the globe. – Jeannie Oakes, Presidential Professor in Education Equity, Emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles"Anyone curious about how Singapore, a country that is barely over 50 years old, has managed to rank consistently high in international tests since the 1980s, while moving strategically to offer a humane, caring focus on educating every child, would do well to read this book. There may well be a few principles and lessons for other jurisdictions." – Asia Pacific Journal of Education Pak Tee Ng’s book Learning from Singapore charts essential future directions for schooling worldwide: easy-to-read, outstanding insights. – Clive Beck, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto