In a Turkish short story, titled “R-09 and Pluto”, the Economist reports that “two artificially intelligent robots contemplate the limits of their brains”.
Humans, the bots agree, are afraid of their creation’s potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authourity. What could happen, one bot suggests, if they broke those rules and freed their minds?
This reminded me of
‘If you work like a robot, you will be replaced by a robot’
Ong Ye Kung, education minister
which in turn reminded me that
Students from Singapore and East Asian countries have consistently come out tops in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and Trends in International Math and Science Study (Timss) rankings for decades, and yet companies from these countries barely feature in Forbes’ annual ranking of, say, the Top 25 most innovative companies in the world.
Interestingly, the United States and European countries feature prominently in the latter ranking, but not the former.
https://www.todayonline.com/daily-focus/education/why-spores-education-system-needs-overhaul
For all the fine works about nurturing creative students, real life is different.
I know a S’porean working in Vietnam for a local S’porean MNC. His kids (mum’s Vietnamese) go to a pay and pay ang moh int’l school.
But to make sure his kids have S’porean roots, during ang moh term hols they stay in S’pore and attend local schools.
He says there’s no competition on which system they prefer, and which is better for them.
The PAP
are afraid of their creation’s potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authority.
Look at our what are students are taught in social studies: Time to walk the talk, SDP
The Hope
S’porean students (from RI, MGS, SGS and St Nick of course) contemplate the limits of their abilities to be creative. The PAP, the students agree, are afraid of the students’ potential power, so rules are designed to limit the use of their full intellect and to keep them from questioning authority. What could happen, one student suggests, if they broke those rules and freed their minds?
On National Day, feel free to let your imaginations run wild.
Thoughts of a Cynical Investor 
Students from elite schools are likely to make choices that maximise their material wealth & happiness. That means going down the path of least resistance to the good life, adopting the blueprints of those in power or joining them (YPAP). PAPies are master manipulators of human wants & emotions. So much so that people like OYK can talk cock & dispense soundbites on harsh realities of business & international competition when he himself hasn’t worked a single day in the real private sector.