Traditionally, grades have been the primary measurement of success within the educational system. As parents and educators, we’ve gone through the system which lays a strong emphasis on scores achieved in school as a measure to gauge future success. While grades are an important way to track a student's progress, it’s time to take another look at these success criteria for 21st-century students because high scores or achievements inside the classroom do not necessarily guarantee success or happiness in the long term.
In a rapidly changing world, it's important for educators and parents to focus on holistic development in addition to academic success. Your child may demonstrate excellence in visual arts or sports while their friends may excel in Mathematics or Science. The key is to allow them to thrive in their area of interest to maximise their strengths. This will help them be driven by their passion, and not just qualification.
While selecting their secondary school subjects, students should pick subjects that align with their interests. But they shouldn’t limit themselves to studying only those subject areas as in today’s world, it’s best if students have skills in different areas. With a holistic approach to education, your child will develop 21st-century competencies that they can use to drive their success and discover career possibilities that align with their passions.
In addition, they will learn that they are more than just the scores they earn — they will begin to recognise that their grades do not represent their total knowledge, and they will know that their personal happiness will not be directly tied to their results. Adolescents and adults alike are quickly learning that success in the modern world is an individual, subjective goal — and true success is often defined by their happiness that may not be directly linked to their achievements and academic scores.
It is not surprising that students, especially secondary students, feel pressured to perform well in school and get good grades. However, the need for results is driven by forces much bigger than them. Not only do parents expect good grades from them in the hopes that they will earn the credentials needed for future employment, but often student results are seen as benchmarks of progress by schools and educators. Beyond that, governments also want their youngest citizens to do well in school as an effort to produce a highly skilled workforce.
Your child likely feels that they need to score high on tests and exams to embark on a lucrative career path, and they may be under the impression that their career is necessary to find happiness or fulfillment. However, your child needs to understand early on that happiness is a journey and not a destination. They can only understand that if they receive a holistic education that emphasises the importance of happiness.
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To some degree, grades are important, and as a parent, you should be monitoring your child's test scores during their schooling. However, keep in mind that their results represent their efforts, not the knowledge acquired. These marks should be seen as yardsticks that showcase growth, but happiness has to be factored in as well. Happiness should never be underrated. After all, it is happiness that will fuel the critical thinking skills and creativity that are required for in-depth, long-term learning.
If you find yourself feeling too caught up with the grades that your child is receiving, remember that there are many incredibly successful people who did not excel in the classroom. Steve Jobs, Sachin Tendulkar and Mark Zuckerberg are a few modern-day inspirations who realised their success because of their passion — not because of their grades.
For so long, success has been measured by the power a person holds or the amount of money that a person makes. Materialism and consumerism have led people to believe that large houses, luxury cars and designer products signal true success.
But, the modern world is evolving quickly. Success is no longer measured solely by salaries, titles, awards and accolades. Instead, success is defined on a personal level. People feel most successful when they are fulfilled by their work and when they are able to build a balanced life where their passions are a priority.
A holistic approach to education helps students decide what success means to them and how they will measure it. They learn that success is not just measured by grades or the potential to earn; instead, success at school involves lifelong love for learning that can bring happiness.
As a parent, you are a key player in your child's holistic development. One of the most important ways to nurture their overall growth is to treat your child as an individual. Resist the urge to compare your child because no two children are alike.
In addition, you need to prioritise your relationship with your child and show them that success extends beyond status and scores. You can do this by taking an interest in their favourite subjects, sharing your passions and making time to enjoy experiences together.
For example, when you take your child for a hike and commit to learning how to use a map together, you are not only bonding with your child but also teaching them the essential 21st-century skills of communication and resilience.
While you will want to send your child to a school that will provide a solid academic foundation for your child, you will also want to make sure that the educators at the school will be evaluating your child against their individual strengths. Your child's educational journey should be a personal experience — one that combines their personal strengths with their passions and leads them toward a lifetime of happiness.
With so many options for schooling in Singapore, it's essential that you find a school that is anchored by a rigorous academic curriculum and prioritises holistic development. Your child should enjoy a well-rounded educational experience and finish school with a sense of well-being and confidence in who they are.
Also read: Your child’s development in these 9 areas holds the key to future success
At GIIS, while we offer multiple international curricula and an Indian curriculum (IB curriculum, CBSE, IGCSE curriculum) to suit your child’s learning style, we use the innovative 9Gems holistic educational framework to encourage our students to become well-rounded young people. Over 40 skills-based studios allow our students to explore their interest areas like radio jockeying, culinary skills, ceramics etc. Your child’s success in academics is rewarded and celebrated as much as their excellence in sports, music, visual arts, entrepreneurship, leadership skills and so on.
Schedule a campus tour today to see our holistic approach to education in action.
This blog is a summarised version of GSF SMART Webinar Series - SMART Ways to Student Development
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Shubhdarshani has over 10 years of experience in content creation, curation and editing. She has worked for Indian newspapers, school magazines and international news websites where she worked closely with the leadership on the execution and communication of the content strategy. Aside from work, she’s a passionate B&W photographer and storyteller.