Doctoral Thesis
Assessing the Role of the Goh Keng Swee Report in Addressing Singapore’s Human Capital Development and Education Wastage
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Murdoch University
2025
Abstract
Singapore’s education system has evolved in response to the nation’s economic development, transitioning from a trading hub in the 1960s to a manufacturing-based economy, and now a knowledge-driven economy. Central to this evolution was the Goh Keng Swee Report (1979), which addressed inefficiencies such as education wastage and education-skill mismatch through the introduction of Ability-Based Streaming (ABS). This policy aimed to enhance student retention and align human capital development with labour market needs during Singapore’s Second Industrial Revolution.
The Goh Report (1979) is widely regarded as a transformative policy, initiating the Efficiency Driven period (1979–1997). While it reduced under-education by increasing access to technical education, it also contributed to over-education in some sectors, highlighting ongoing challenges in aligning educational outcomes with labour market demands. ABS reinforced meritocratic principles but also fostered elitism and social stratification, issues that continue to impact the education system.
This study investigates the impact of ABS on student retention, education-skill mismatches, and its broader implications for meritocracy. By analysing historical statistical data spanning almost 50 years, it assesses the long-term effects of the Goh Report (1979) on Singapore's human capital development and economic transformation. Key findings include ABS’s success in reducing dropout rates and addressing skill mismatches in high-skill jobs, while over-education in low- and medium-skill sectors remains a challenge.
The study offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers, highlighting the need for ongoing reforms to address evolving educational and labour market challenges. Additionally, it proposes potential remedial measures and future research areas related to education wastage, over-education, and the role of meritocracy in Singapore’s education system.
Details
- Title
- Assessing the Role of the Goh Keng Swee Report in Addressing Singapore’s Human Capital Development and Education Wastage
- Authors/Creators
- Ah H Lee
- Contributors
- Wendy Cumming-Potvin (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of EducationPeter Waring (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Identifiers
- 991005807945607891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Education
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
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