Character education needs real space in education system, says DPM Tharman

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam says success in character education is only possible if real space is created for it in the education system. 

And this will mean a reduced focus on examinations early in life. 

Mr Tharman was speaking at the 40th anniversary of the passing of education philanthropist Tan Lark Sye today.

Mr Tan founded the former Nanyang University in Singapore, the Chinese university known as Nantah. 

And giving the opening address, Mr Tharman spoke about philanthropy, Chinese language and culture, and finally, what he stressed were his personal views, on the Singapore education system. 

Mr Tharman, who previously also held the Education portfolio, said a main refinement should look at how students are differentiated at the primary school leaving examination, or PSLE, which is by exact scores. 

This is finer than at the secondary four examinations, where students are graded by alphabets representing bands of scores.