In a video that’s probably a long-overdue watch for local kiasu parents, an Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduate has spoken out against the overwhelming stereotype Singaporeans usually place on students who didn’t score enough points in their O-Level examinations to qualify for polytechnics and pre-university institutions.
Now a polytechnic student, 21-year-old Choo Hong Xuan took to YouTube to address the long-established social stigma against ITE students, as well as the inherent faults within Singapore’s education system.
“I want to firmly tell all the parents and the students who scored badly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in (ITE),” he affirms. Cue the dramatic music before he calls out all the unsupportive parents afraid of losing face with relatives over their children’s academic performances.
“You’re just mentally killing your own children and you don’t even know it”, Choo goes on, adding that he went through a period of depression during his formative years when he did badly in primary school and secondary school. But his decision to enroll in ITE proved to be the right choice for him, as he slowly worked his way up in his studies with the help of dedicated teachers, before eventually scoring gold at the WorldSkills Singapore competition.
In his message to students disappointed with their O-Level results released last Friday, Choo assures that there will be many more opportunities for them to prove themselves — they just need to continue working hard towards their goal. Fine words, really.
