SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology Paulin Straughan shared her views on Singapore’s education landscape and the shift towards new ways of learning. Prof Straughan said the direct school admission scheme "has shifted sentiments a little, but not as significantly as we hoped".
She added that "the current system with its over-reliance on exams as the primary evaluation tool has discouraged many from taking risks. Most would prefer to focus their energies on conventional preparation, and would not risk engaging in non-academic activities". However, Prof Straughan noted that there is more variation at the university level, and undergraduates take part in out-of-classroom activities in entrepreneurship, for instance, which encourage more innovation.