Blog prompt: Letter to the Minister of Education

I am writing to express my opinion on how to improve the current History syllabus for secondary students. I feel that the current syllabus they are studying is not interesting and engaging enough as they only read about historical events in the past. As a result, they feel that History is dull and boring and only study History to score well in their examinations and tests. Also, they only have knowledge gained from textbooks and not know first-hand how the past events they are studying about took place. They should be allowed to progress beyond mere textbook studying in the classroom, if they are to study History truly because they find it interesting.

Thus, the Ministry of Education (MOE) could implement a scheme whereby secondary schools organize various field trips for students during History lessons or workshops to places of historical importance, like placetype Fort Canning at Sentosa Island or the Kranji War Memorial. I believe that by executing this idea, students will be more immersed in history as they will be able to actually look at go to these historic places. Also, students could visit heritage museums to look at the items there that were used in the past and, at the same time, understand what the past citizens of Singapore were like, their way of life, their culture and tradition, etcetera. Finally, there could also be chit-chat sessions for students and their History teachers or even invite renowned historians to schools to answer any queries students might have concerning History. This would surely incorporate and cultivate their interest for History and encourage them to take the initiative to study History on their own. Implementing these measures would undoubtedly make learning History an enjoyable as well as enriching experience for students.

Yours Faithfully,
Lee Dao Ming (Mr.)

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