A gift of a programme

Today's library, tomorrow's 'googlary'?

Ever since computers were invented, the demand for the internet and computers has greatly increased over the past decade. As people enter the digital era, more conventional things have been often neglected due to the access of the internet. And one of the most common website one would turn to for information would be Google. Google is simply a search engine which would try to find the website with the content you want. It has become so common and easy to use such that the word “Google” has been used as a verb, and when people want to research on a topic on the internet, he will simply say “google it”.

While Google did bring a lot of convenience to people, the use of encyclopedia and research papers to the average person has dropped drastically. One would prefer to “Google” their research topic online rather than searching high and low for books which might be of use. Google leads us to a database of any kind of information we want, research, news, games, and practically everything else. However, the information Google is capable of leading us to is not totally credible and sufficient. Additionally, the experience one encounter would be totally different when compared if we read a book. Although the content might be the same, the method in which we acquire the information would have different impacts and consequences. Reading on the computer does not grant a lasting impact on the reader and would tire one’s eyes for staring in front of the computer screen for long hours. Even though it does brings convenience, the joy of searching for books one need can never be found while using Google. As mentioned in the article, researching in a library there is “always the shocked sense” and always too much information for one to read. Also, Google have changed the meaning of browsing. Browsing refers to looking through things, and in a library context, books which one might be interested in without any prior intention, while Google have no ability to meet that. Hence, we can see that Google can hardly replace a conventional library in every aspect.

While Google’s replacement for conventional libraries might be inevitable, there are always still positive sides about it. Millions of trees can be saved every year from being cut down, and might even help solve to a small extent the current problem of deforestation. And while more books are constantly being written and printed, libraries have to constantly expand as well to fill in more shelves for more recently published books, which might cause problems as well.

Get a JC diploma

I do believe that a JC diploma is a good way to differentiate the top amongst the best. It is given to the top 250 scorers of the year’s cohort amongst the thousand students in the school. A student can be smart, but neglects his health and physical self in order to score well for the exams, yet another excels in sports and did just as well. Who would be a better choice for top Universities? Or a student scrapes an A and another scored perfect. Who would be a better choice? A student could also have fantastic results, yet with a bad holistic record and does not contribute to the school or the society and might have a bad character. The JC diploma thus is able to reward those who excel in both academic and non-academic, or differentiate those with higher EQ and AQ then others. It would help motivate students to not only focus on their academics, but also to concentrate on their co-curriculum activities or other leadership skills to help others. It would indeed help top universities select students who might have scored equally well, and remove some competition over the limited spaces in top international universities, and also help them to select students, instead of creating another entrance test.

I do not believe that a replacement of diplomas for the A levels is a good idea. It might not be recognized in all top international universities and if different schools have different examinations, it would be hard for the universities to differ the intellectual abilities of the students. The very first school in Singapore which has started this system is the NUS high school of math and science. The students are awarded a diploma if they successfully completed the 6 year course and it prepares them to enter Singaporean Universities, mainly the NUS. However, it is not recognized by the world and would certainly reduce the student’s choices of overseas universities if they plan to study overseas. Also, what concerns the students and their parents is: what if the student does not pass the final year examinations? How would the student’s future be affected? Also, one must always think of those students who are unable to even cope with the curriculum, let alone ace it. It could have a disastrous effect on students who are unable to handle all their commitments at the same time, and might struggle to adapt to their changing school life.

However, it could also put on less stress on the students since they are always studying for the A levels and might neglect other aspects. The replacement would free up some time to build up their holistic and character development, which would be highly favourable to top universities.