Three Students, One Journey

#oneSSoneJOURNEY

Three Students, One Journey Social Studies equips students with knowledge and skills to help them thrive in an evolving world. But what do the students think of their Social Studies journey?

Intriguing lessons on ancient civilisations. Robust discussions about cultural diversity. Critical analysis of Singapore’s place in an ever-changing world. These are just some ways Social Studies lessons in Singapore deliver rich and unique learning experiences to students.

We spoke to Quentin Tseng, 12, Nadiah Mohamaed Khalid, 16, and Mahendra Prasad, 23, to find out about their Social Studies journey and how their experiences have inspired a love for the subject, broadened their worldviews and shaped their perspectives on life.

For instance, Quentin realises that he is able to apply the lessons learnt to his daily life — sometimes in unexpected everyday situations with those closest to him. "My grandparents often forward text messages and emails to me. After learning how to spot fake news in Social Studies class, I now regularly advise them not to trust everything they read, and to avoid clicking on links or replying to the messages to be safe.”

Understanding the world we live in and igniting a love for the Humanities Quentin is a sports enthusiast who dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. He was candid in sharing his initial impressions about his primary school Social Studies lessons.

“Initially, I did not think that Social Studies was that important when compared to the examinable subjects.”

Over time, Quentin changed his mind as he realised that the knowledge gained from Social Studies lessons was valuable beyond tests and exams.

Quentin Tseng, 12 Today, Social Studies is one of Quentin's favourite subjects as it opens the doors to interesting topics in other subject disciplines such as History. He recalls his excitement during Social Studies lessons on ancient civilisations, a topic he has always been interested in.

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To bring these lessons to life, Quentin’s Social Studies teacher facilitated interesting discussions where his class explored the features of ancient civilisations and how these impacted the modern-day societies of today.

Lessons on diversity in Singapore’s society have also helped Quentin become more aware of similarities and differences between cultures, fostering inter-cultural skills — a key aspect of global competence. “During Ramadan, I try not to talk about food to my Muslim friends out of respect,” he cites as an example. Quentin might not realise yet, but this is an example of how Social Studies builds social and cultural capital starting from primary school, which is essential in understanding an increasingly evolving and interconnected world, and in cultivating a lifelong love for learning. “I would like to thank my teachers for educating and inspiring me to learn more!” he adds.

Diving deeper into the complexities of real-world issues Nadiah is a Secondary Four student who is a member of the Red Cross in school, and aspires to be a nurse someday. She loves reading — and Social Studies. Her reason? She finds that Social Studies lessons at the secondary level allow her to explore and examine the complexities of societal issues, and to delve deeper into real-world events and current affairs that are relevant to her everyday life.

Nadiah Mohamaed Khalid, 16 "I find it interesting to learn about how world events can affect us in Singapore.

For example, reading about the RussiaUkraine war and its global implications such as inflation helped me to understand Singapore’s relationship with the world.”

It was also through Social Studies that Nadiah gained a better understanding of her own identity and developed a sense of rootedness to Singapore.

Coming from a mixed-heritage background, she initially struggled with finding her identity. So it was an empowering experience when Nadiah learnt from her Social Studies lessons that she could choose to reflect her mixed heritage in her NRIC. “It may seem like a simple act, but to be able to indicate my mixed heritage accurately gives me a better sense of identity and pride, knowing that it is officially recognised in Singapore.”

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Nadiah is grateful to her Social Studies teachers for opening her mind to the intricacies of real-world issues through insightful classroom discussions. To her, the Social Studies learning experiences have always been eye-opening, as they have taught her to understand issues from multiple perspectives and how the same issue can cause different people to react very differently.

“Social Studies has sparked an interest in me to explore and read up on the latest news and events. I honestly do not have the confidence to say that I have the capability to change the world just like that, but Social Studies has provided me with a sense of confidence that I can make a difference in my own way.”

Applying acquired skills knowledge in adulthood

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23-year-old Mahendra is set to pursue a degree in International Relations at King’s College, London, a field of study where he will gain a deep understanding of global issues and examine the impact they have on society – a decision inspired by his Social Studies journey.

Mahendra Prasad, 23 As a student, Mahendra looked forward to his weekly Social Studies lessons as they opened the windows of his mind to better understand domestic policies and expand his worldview.

A particular topic that stood out and left a lasting impact on Mahendra was the conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. As a Tamilian, the topic struck a chord with him and prompted him to reflect on the vulnerability of the social fabric of our own country. “It served as a reminder to never take our nation’s peace, which we’ve painstakingly forged over the past 57 years, for granted.” Mahendra adds, “Our harmony could easily be tested by insensitivity and intolerance. Therefore, the onus is on all of us to look inwards and address our internal biases.”

While this topic was covered in the previous Social Studies syllabus when Mahendra was in secondary school, the lessons are still relevant today — testament to how the subject imparts timeless principles through the exploration of real-world issues.

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“Social Studies helped me gain an appreciation for what is happening around me, and helped cultivate the joy of learning for me,” he continues.

One key reason why Mahendra enjoyed Social Studies lessons is due to the opportunities created by his Social Studies teachers to discuss issues of concern openly and appreciate the exchange of multiple perspectives. “No answer is wrong as long as one can substantiate it. Because of this, I found myself developing a capacity to think critically and rationally about various issues — and this continues to help me on a daily basis.”

Mahendra is thankful to his Social Studies teachers for creating a conducive environment for him and his classmates to learn and grow. “You created a safe environment for us, one where we did not fear failure, but rather saw it as an opportunity to grow. I loved every minute of your lessons, and I credit you for the success that I’ve enjoyed in recent years!”

Nurturing Globally Competent and Confident Citizens It is evident that the knowledge, skills and values cultivated and reinforced at different phases of the Social Studies journey have prepared Quentin, Nadiah and Mahendra to become locally confident and globally competent youths. From the breadth, depth and far-reaching learning experiences the subject offers, they are able to understand Singapore’s relationship with the region and the world, and are empowered to think critically, understand empathetically, and desire to contribute to Singapore constructively. And for this, we have all our Social Studies educators to thank.

#oneSSoneJOURNEY Do you have interesting stories about Social Studies? We want to hear from you! Share your teaching or learning experiences with us and your story could be featured in our newsletter or in a future article!

go.gov.sg/storiesofourssjourney

The 23-year-old believes strongly in the value of Social Studies education.

“Students will be able to gain a greater appreciation of Singapore and the world around them. After all, it is this understanding that leads to an informed citizenry that can see things from a measured point-of-view.”

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