Hard truths time… Whenever a kid fails their exams, the script is already written.
The parents sigh, the teachers point to the syllabus, and everyone looks at the kid like they’re some kind of broken biological machine that forgot how to “output” results. We call them lazy. We say they lack “grit.” We tell them they just need to “focus.” For those who have the financial capability, these kids get sent to even more “tuition”.
But here’s the crux: If a student is “checked out,” it’s usually because the product they’re being sold is absolute irrelevant or maybe even utter rubbish in their minds, they just don’t say it. We’ve spent decades blaming the “customer” (the student) for not liking a “product” (the institutionalised education system) that hasn’t had a meaningful user experience update since the industrial revolution. Maybe it’s time to seriously explore who is actually responsible for the FUs (Fails / Ungraded) on that report card knowing very well that the kids will bear the outcome for the rest of their lives. And not to discount kids with learning difficulties like dyslexia, which I write about 12 years ago when my Clié 12 then and facing her big PSLE exam at Primary 6.
The Responsibility Gap: Narratives vs. Reality
We sometimes treat education like a one-way street where the teacher is just a mailman delivering “knowledge” and the student is a faulty mailbox. I don’t think so. Education is a co-production. If the Michelin Star chef cooks something the customer don’t appreciate, the meal sucks.
1. The Teacher’s Job: Selling the “Why”
In 2026, information is a commodity. You can learn anything from your phone and from a charismatic YouTuber in a 10-minute video that feels like a Marvel movie.
So, if a teacher stands in front of a class and says, “Open to page 42 because it’s on the mid-year exams,” they have officially failed. Their real job isn’t to read the textbook; it’s to market the relevancy. If you can’t tell a 12-year-old why Geometry or Algebra matters to their future paycheck or their Minecraft build, you haven’t done your job. You’re just a narrator for a very boring irrelevant book that somehow everyone will be tested on.
2. The Student’s Job: The “Sweat Equity”
Look, the kids aren’t totally innocent. The student is responsible for the labor. You can’t download a muscular bicep; you have to do the reps. They own the focus, the effort, the late nights, and the discipline.
But here’s the catch: Humans are biologically wired not to exert effort on things that seem useless. If the teacher fails at the “Why,” the student’s brain literally shuts down which makes all the effort go to waste.
The Power Trip: Who Actually Pays?
The stakes are totally lopsided.
- If the Teacher Fails: They get a mediocre performance review. Maybe a stern talking-to. They still have their degree, their salary, and their career.
- If the Student Fails: They carry those FUs (Fail / Ungraded) for life. It’s a permanent stain on their transcript. It shuts doors to options the very next immediate year and options to higher education before they even know what they want to be.
The teacher owns the process, but the student bears the life-long cost. #HardTruths
Let’s Fix the Vibes: Thought Starters for a Better System
We can’t just keep pointing fingers. We need a better “contract” between the adults and the kids. I don’t have all the answers and in my other posts about Singapore’s education system in the past, I’ve said I can see our education system trying new things with great intentions, I especially like the subject-based banding approach which my youngest daughter Clara is benefiting from now.
Here are some thoughts on my mind just this weekend.
The “Shark Tank” Lesson Pitch (For Teachers)
Teachers to “pitch” every new topic.
- The Move: Before the class starts, the teacher has 5 minutes to convince the class why this topic isn’t a waste of their time. They can use Youtube videos if they like, show chemistry in daily life, how algebra can make them a better gamer, etc.
- The Goal: If the kids aren’t “buying,” the teacher needs to pivot. No buy-in = No homework. It forces the teacher to be a curator, not just a lecturer.
The “Relevancy Consultant” (For Parents)
Parents, stop being the “Homework Police”, sentencing your child to “Tuition Prison” which could be counter productive and might be where passions goes to die. It’s a losing battle and it makes you the villain.
- The Move: Instead of asking “Is your homework done?”, ask “How does this topic actually apply to the real world?”. Explore it together.
- The Hack: If your kid says it’s useless, find a bridge. If they’re learning ratios and they love baking, show them how ratios are super important to their cookie recipe. Be the “Connector” who helps them see the point of the grind. You might just turn a confusing hated subject into their new passion.
The “Effort Audit” (For Students)
We need to teach kids that “studying” isn’t a personality trait, it’s a life skill.
- The Move: Have kids track their “Focused effort” hours instead of just their grades.
- The Goal: Shift the focus from “Am I smart?” to “Am I leveling up?” It gives the student back their control and confidence.
Bottom line: We’re quick to call kids “lazy” because it’s easier than admitting the system is uninspiring. But when the “Why” is clear, the “How” usually follows. If anyone from MOE is seeing this and want to invite me for coffee, I do like a nice hot latte.
Update on Clié who struggled with Dyslexia in Primary school and failing almost every exam even in Secondary school is now doing a Degree in Criminology and Psychology at the University of Melbourne and acing it.
Update on Cleo who also struggles with Dyslexia in Primary school and also failing many exams, went to ITE and is now graduating in Communication Design at Temasek Polytechnic and I’m really proud of her final year project which is Industry standard.
Both of them benefited from learning strategies that they learn from DAS.
Update on Clara, she is very into Volleyball now and has a passion taking sport photography.