Building a democratic society: exploring Singapore students ' understandings of democracy. Issue 1 (4th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sim, Jasmine B.-Y.; Krishnasamy, Malathy
• Editors: Timothy Wai Wa Yuen and Dr Yan Wing Leung, Dr
• Is Part Of: Asian education and development studies. Volume 5:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2016-01-04
• Subjects: Singapore -- Democracy -- Students; Education -- Social aspects -- Asia -- Periodicals; Education -- Economic aspects -- Asia -- Periodicals; Education -- Asia -- Periodicals; 370.95
• DOI: 10.1108/AEDS-07-2015-0033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-3162

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: – One would not commonly associate democracy with Singapore, instead scholars have often described Singapore as an illiberal democracy and an authoritarian state. At the same time, all Singaporean school students recite the national pledge of allegiance in school every morning, in which they pledge "to build a democratic society based on justice and equality". What do students know about democracy? Are they able to distinguish the characteristics of democratic systems from non-democratic ones? The purpose of this paper is to report on Singapore students' understandings of democracy. Design/methodology/approach: – Using a qualitative instrumental case study design, 64 students from three secondary schools were interviewed and the social studies curriculum was analysed. Findings: – Overall, students had poor knowledge of democracy. Consistent with a lack of knowledge of democracy, most students also showed a relatively uncritical acceptance of hierarchy and deference to authority, and held a superficial understanding of citizenship. Civics lessons through social studies, and the school environment did little to promote students' engagement with democracy. Research limitations/implications: – The authors argue that it is important that students be given the opportunities to develop a basic conceptual knowledge of democracy, as they are not capable of discriminating democratic characteristics from non-democratic ones without it. At the very least, students should know the relevance of what they pledge relative to their nation's model of democracy, or in the absence of a clear model, be encouraged to struggle with the various existing models of democracies so that, as the future of Singapore, they might determine and adapt the ideals that they deem best for the nation. Originality/value: – This paper is an original study of Singapore students' understandings of democracy.