<p>*Ummm ... European schools are not a very good example of promoting social mobility. Yes, there are "elite schools" in Europe, but if you look at the university system in France for example, it is almost entirely permeated by class lines -- especially when you look at the demographics of the students going into the Grandes Ecoles. Then look at HYPS, etc. and you see that the old classes that used to characterise schools of that sort have faded into the minority. *</p>
<p>i don't see how social mobility ever became an issue here (red herring, anyone?). points for trying.</p>
<p>*Umm, except they are such a small collection of schools. Take a look at the University of California system for example .... the big names are supported with a whole host of collection of "smaller-name" schools. Now of course I realise California has a bit more population than Singapore, but I am talking in terms of scaling the system. "Far better than most of the US' state university systems"?? Sure, it's just like UK's Oxbridge does better than most of the US' state university systems too. But at least in the UK, Oxbridge is not the only universities .... but in Singapore, a "community college" is unheard of. *</p>
<p>let's see. in singapore, you have 2 very globally well-regarded comprehensive universities, 1 up-and-coming smaller professional school (ick), 1 still ill-defined university in the pipeline to meet future demand, an extremely diverse field of opportunities for less academically-inclined and mature learners, the presence of very varied foreign universities including world-class specialist graduate schools like UofC GSB, INSEAD, Tisch... and a level below, a quality and well-respected vocational education system which in many cases actually unnecessary renders the need for degrees. sure, this system can be improved, and is continually being so, but their own inflated expectations aside, i don't see how singaporeans can have many complaints.</p>
<p>now, a look at your example. the UC system, which purportedly caters to the top 10% of the cal high school population, has one world-class institution (Cal), one very good school (UCLA), a few others which are alright, at best, by other standards (UCSD, etc), and a whole bunch of crap schools which are diluting the brand in order to meet popular demands for expansion. the CSU system, which is supposed to cater to the top 11-25% (!!!) is, compared to singapore's system, is of a quality that is better left unexpounded.</p>
<p>And as a last thing, I'll say that libertarianism and the Austrian School of Economics are the way to go.</p>
<p>congratulations, you've read the road to serfdom.</p>
<p>I'm not out to "hate" Singapore -- but it makes no sense to preach to the choir. There are elements of the education system that do work -- and this is the part where I also criticise the US education system in front of Americans and cite the strength of the Singaporean system. Does "don't preach to the choir" mean nothing to you guys??</p>
<p>nobody's forcing you to "preach to the choir". the nature of any education system, anywhere in the world, is such that they're always in need of constructive criticism. screwitlah makes reasoned arguments against the singaporean system, nadash (occasionally, heh) makes reasoned arguments against the singaporean system; you spew irrational vitriolic akin to what i expect to see on the hardwarezone forums.</p>
<p>Zomg, I got 5s on all the AP exams I took, including AP Economics except AP physics. (I didn't want to boast, but )</p>
<p>considering your purported brilliance, i'm trying very hard to refrain from wondering aloud why you only managed to attend a school like... oops.</p>