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education - Coggle Diagram
education
intellectual ability vs practical ability
intellectual ability
+ve
scholarships from around the world are granted to people who score good marks in academics = further backs the claim that intellectual abilities are more impt
many companies prefer hiring graduates from top tier universities
thus, it can be said that bright job opportunities and improvement in social status lead to people to place more emphasis on intellectual ability rather than practical skills
good grades open doors to reputed universities = boosts resume = leads them to get good job in companies
-ve
more and more jobs today require the candidate to have practical skills rather than formal college degree or diploma
eg. Apple, IBM, Google offer freshers jobs based on skills rather than academic credentials
service based industries like Starbucks or Amazon also do not place emphasis on college degrees
therefore, practical competence is just as important as intellectual skills
not all scholars / those with immense academic talent go on to perform well on the job
eg. Desmond Kuek, a scholar and former military general, oversaw the country's rail operator SMRT while it suffered a spike in breakdowns, tunnel flooding, collision
eg. Ng Yat Chung, another scholar and former general, was CEO of state owned shipping liner Neptune Orient Lines = racked up $1 billion+ in losses until it was sold to a Fresh firm
is SG a true meritocracy of practical skills or just a hierarchy of grades?
college degree becomes so common in SG as to become commoditized
more than half of the people in their 20s and 30s have a degree while growth in professional, managerial and executive jobs has not kept up
eg. recent survey found that about 1/5 of fresh graduates from even highly rated state universities could not find a full time job after 6 months
more people are beginning to understand that one must possess the aptitudes, know-how, problem solving abilities needed to navigate an increasingly complex, volatile, interconnected world
practical ability
with changing times people are placing importance on practical abilities as well
eg. there are many self taught chefs that have received accolades worldwide without any proven intellectual skills / prestigious academic records
SG: success of chef Chan Hon Meng and chef Lee Meng Li who have gained Michelin stars
sportspeople like swimmers, etc do not need academic skills. but require practical skills and techniques to play their respective sports
SG society is evolving to accept and embrace a wider diversity of talents and paths to success than the traditional yellow brick road of academic excellence
eg. Chan Hong Meng, a humble hawker received a Michelin Star for his $3 chicken rice and noodles = achievement celebrated virtually by the entire country