I am a student in a top girls' school in Singapore, and I agree that, even though co-curricular activities (CCAs) are no longer known as extra-curricular activities (ECAs), many still treat them as less important than academic subjects, as something 'extra'. However, I feel the problem does not lie in schools not offering ample opportunity, but in the mindsets of many Singaporeans.

Many schools, including mine, emphasise the importance of CCAs and have a wide variety of CCAs ranging from sports to performing arts and clubs. My school emphasises that CCAs are as important as academic subjects. Also, many schools offer electives that include dance and arts and crafts, and they place more emphasis on these subjects. Although these subjects are not graded yet, it must be noted that schools have already begun to make changes to the system, by giving students more opportunities. I believe the system will continue to improve.

However, I feel a change must be made to the mindsets of the public, and more specifically, the mindsets of parents. Even with the emphasis by schools, many members of the older generation continue to hold the mindset that nothing is more important than academic subjects. Many of these people feel all academic activities, whether proper lessons or other optional activities, must be more important than CCAs, even though CCAs are now compulsory to a large extent. My friends have said the main obstacle in their CCAs is the objection of their parents, who believe CCAs are not as important as school work. I believe not all parents are like this, but most of them are. As Mr Huang mentioned that this may be due to the pragmatism of Singaporeans, as academic results are now the main criterion for advancement, and CCAs are not taken into account. There may also be some students who do not believe CCAs should be as important as academic subjects, but I believe if these students have the encouragement of their parents, their mindsets could change. Thus, I believe this mindset needs to change before CCAs care truly on par with academic subjects.

A factor that contributes to the pragmatism of Singaporeans could be the fact that few people can see a future with high pay in their child's CCAs, so there is no point in trying hard in CCAs. In sports, for example, few people excel well enough to make the national team, and they face many challenges along the way. In the arts, it also takes a lot of talent to become an outstanding artist or musician, so one has a profitable career.

However, it is easier for students to see themselves becoming doctors or lawyers, and many believe these jobs would yield higher pay. Thus students and parents alike believe there is a better chance of a future with high pay via academic results rather than CCAs. This problem could be solved if schools showed possible routes students could take in CCAs.

Samantha Seah Yu Fen (Miss)