Cultivating creativity in a high-performing education system: The example of Singapore

Abstract

Focusing on the cultivation of twenty-first century competencies in a high-performing education system, this article examines the teaching and learning of creativity in Singapore. It is argued that “everyday creativity” and creativity as innovation are privileged by educators in Singapore. Creativity is promoted through a harmonized approach that is manifested in two main ways. First, novelty and usefulness are integrated with the help of design thinking for the sake of social good. Secondly, the advancement of creativity co-exists with and supports the high-stakes examination system by infusing creative thinking into the teaching of school subjects. The example of Singapore adds to the existing research by demonstrating a cultural approach to the teaching and learning of creativity as well as the potential of design thinking to developing creative thinking in students.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Charlene Tan

Dr Charlene Tan has nearly two decades of teaching experience as a high school teacher and teacher educator in Singapore. She has been a visiting professor at East China Normal University, Sungkyunkwan University and Brock University. She is the author of Comparing High-performing Education Systems: Understanding Singapore, Shanghai, and Hong Kong (Routledge).

Connie S. L. Ng

Prior to joining Nanyang Technological University, Dr Connie Ng taught Science at secondary level, as well as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Educational Psychology courses in various programs both at pre-service and in-service levels. She also worked for several years in the Ministry of Education where she was actively involved in major initiatives and programs advancing the innovative use of ICT in education.