How Small Should A Class Be?

Weekly column written for the Singapore Unbound newsletter. Sign up here.

In the recent Committee of Supply Debate, Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim called for smaller class sizes in Singapore's schools. Class sizes now average 33 pupils. MP Lim proposed a cap of 23 pupils. As he argued in his Facebook post, "It all depends on what we think the purpose of the classroom is. Is it to simply deliver the material in the prescribed syllabus, leaving the onus of understanding to the student? Or is it to foster genuine learning, ensuring no child is left in the dark? There’s nothing inherently wrong with the first position. In fact, that’s what often happens at the tertiary level; the student is expected to take ownership of their education. But if it is the latter, especially the lower levels, then I think our system falls short."

It is a mistake to view education as "delivering the material in the prescribed syllabus" at any level of the system. As the old saw goes, a teacher has not taught until the student has learned. It is impossible for any teacher to help each and every one of their students to learn if they have to instruct big classes. Online teaching during this pandemic has only hammered home this truth. They will not know each student well enough to tailor their approach to the needs of the child. They will not be able to evaluate each child's progress carefully through formative assessments to give individualized feedback. They will not have time for personal refreshment and professional development. 

The issue of class size has a serious equity aspect as well. Independent schools and gifted programs, where the well-off are disproportionately represented, already have smaller class sizes, so it is disingenuous for the Ministry of Education to argue that class size does not matter, only quality instruction does. Class size matters even more to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and so are in greater need of school aid. Without such additional attention, the system will only perpetuate social inequities that schools are supposed to ameliorate. It will only perpetuate the false perception that the system is meritocratic. The rich are purchasing tons of tuition and enrichment for their offspring. Smaller class sizes help to level the playing field.

Last week we highlighted the irrational intransigency of Singapore's National Arts Council in not funding the world-class translation journal Asymptote for the long haul. This mistake comes hard on the heels of another: not returning the independent arts center The Substation to its original home after renovations. Instead, the NAC is giving it co-tenancy only with other arts groups. The ostensible reason is to provide more space for more arts groups, but this completely overlooks the fact that for the Substation to function as an autonomous arts center, it requires all the spaces—black box theater, art gallery, back garden for concerts—in the building. The Substation board has rightly decided not to return to the building in such a diminished capacity, as they would not be able to carry out their mission of fostering emerging and independent artists. The fate of this beloved arts center, founded by the late playwright KUO Pao Kun in 1990, is now uncertain. ArtsEquator has an informative review of the issues and the recent town hall.

Since its founding in 2016, Singapore Unbound has decided not to apply to NAC for funding in order to maintain our independence. The immediate trigger for the decision was the withdrawal of a grant from Jeremy Tiang's novel about postwar communism in Malaya, State of Emergency, and the banning of TAN Pin Pin's film about political dissidents, To Singapore With Love, from public screening. We have pursued a different funding model. We are able to do this only because of our focused scope of work, our generous donors, and our team of passionate volunteers. It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Gaudy Boy's Assistant Publicity Director, CHU Jia Sing, Chu has been instrumental in building up Gaudy Boy, first by undertaking all kinds of responsibilities, as one does on a small team of volunteers, and then by rising to her current position, promoting our titles to editors, reviewers, and bookshops. She is leaving us to focus on her job and non-profit work with youth training in schools. We send her off with all our love. Our media and publicity specialist Ally Chua will be standing in for Chu until we find a publicity intern.

Jee Leong Koh
March 11, 2021

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