Forum: Give students more time to rest and recover
I recently read an article about how some parents in China are so worried their children will fall behind that they pressure teachers to hold lessons even on rest days. As a result, many final-year students rarely get a proper break as they prepare for the 'gaokao', China's national college entrance exams.
This may not be a widespread issue in Singapore, but our students also face mounting stress and exhaustion. When students are constantly tired or overwhelmed, it affects not just their well-being but also how well they perform in class and exams.
In secondary school, the day often ends around 4pm, or even 6pm for those with remedial classes or co-curricular activities (CCAs). There's still homework to complete and some students end up sleeping as late as 11pm or midnight to get everything done. They return to school the next day exhausted.
Schools could consider shortening lesson durations slightly, perhaps from 35 minutes to 30 minutes. This small change could free up time for more breaks throughout the day. Even just two short breaks between lessons could give students a much-needed breather to recharge .
Another suggestion is to give students more time to complete their assignments, especially if they are complex. This would reduce the pressure to rush through work and help students focus on doing their best instead of just finishing on time.
Lastly, it may help to reduce the number of days students are required to stay back for remedial lessons or CCAs. Letting students go home earlier gives them more time to rest and manage their homework.
These adjustments can help reduce stress and boost student performance.
Janelle Koh Xin, 15
Secondary 3
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