Sing Education

This photo taken on May 14, 2019 shows
a Singaporean student studying with a tutor in her home in Singapore.

Schoolchildren are paying a heavy price for Singapore's success in global education rankings,
with rising numbers seeking psychiatric help

as they struggle to cope with the relentless pressure for academic excellence. (tiada henti)

Children are reporting symptoms of anxiety and stress related to school as early as primary school,

experts warn, and there have been extreme cases where pupils have been driven to suicide. 

Youths often face long days at school, hours of homework,

and are then pushed by parents to have private tuition,

which is having an impact on mental wellbeing –

a recent report found that

overall the city's pupils reported higher levels of anxiety than average.

Now, in a bid to reduce stress in its schools,

Singapore is embarking on reforms (memulai)

that will scrap some academic tests

and change the rigid streaming process.

"We have to balance the joy of learning and the rigour of education," (kekakuan)

he announced some of the changes in parliament earlier this year.

pupils are being overwhelmed by pressure to perform –

schoolwork among one of the key reasons for teen suicide.

Singapore has placed education at the heart of its development

-- a system dubbed the world cup of education -- for maths, reading, and science. (dijuluki)

despite academic success Singapore's students reported higher levels of anxiety about schoolwork than other nations. 

Too much, too young 

Primary school children are required to take a leaving exam,

regarded by parents and teachers as crucial

because success often means access to prestigious schools and top sets.

"Children are being forced to mature too fast

without the relevant foundation and reasoning power to reassure oneself," .

"Society does not want to allow the luxury of taking it slow,".

Under such heavy pressure, private, after-school tuition has become the norm.

Singaporean students rank third globally on time spent on homework, at 9.4 hours a week,. 

As major exams approach, suicide prevention group typically sees a rise in students contacting them,.

In 2016, an 11-year-old boy jumped to his death on the day

he was supposed to reveal his mid-year exam results to his parents.

He had failed two subjects.

Pushy parents 

Authorities hope the reforms can go some way to ease the pressure.

schools have been "actively engaging parents to explain how the changes will benefit their children in the long run".

But she conceded that (mengakui)

pushing one's children to do well was "deeply rooted" in Singapore culture.