(370) upbringing 37

Private school education

Recently in our life group, it was mentioned that Cyrus' son switched to a private school at Grade nine. Titus' son is there too. Apparently they play futsal together weekly. Sebastian's daughter is there too. All these are present or past Life group members. It does seem that private school education is quite a norm now.

All these parents, Cyrus, Titus and Sebastian are in their mid or late forties. When they were in High School, all of them went to Government schools. Only those who failed Public examinations went to private schools then. In a short thirty year time span, the trend has reversed. Granted now that the economy has grown by leaps and bounds. Most folks in the city who have good jobs possess high disposable income. Perhaps the government school system is no longer as good as thirty years ago.

Thirty years ago many ethnic Chinese children were sent to English and National language Government schools. Now most  ethnic Chinese children are sent to Chinese language semi Government schools. After primary education, most parents feel that six years of education in Chinese is enough. These children then transfer to English and National language Government Secondary schools. Here is where a lot of them find the adjustment difficult. Titus' son and Sebastian's daughter fall neatly into this category. At Grade eight or nine parents look at the problems they face and decided to dole out thousands of dollars yearly to give them a chance to study for the O levels in English.

At this point, let us look at another point of view. We all agree that in the twenty first century China is the dynamo that drives world economics. So it will be advantageous to speak and read Mandarin. But would it be possible for a graduate with a first degree to spend one year in Beijing to study Mandarin? The answer is yes, we have seen on satelite TV that both Whites and Blacks could speak fluent Mandarin after intensive language study in China. Personally, I would prefer that my children learn English and our national language in Primary and Secondary Schools, perhaps work on learning Mandarin as an adult if the need arises. But I see my friends' children suffer through six years of Chinese education, scoring strings of distinctions but as soon as they walk out of the Chinese schools, they hate all things Chinese (that includes language, culture, custom, history, literature ...). Sad, isn't it?