Recent information released by Singapore’s The School of The Arts has caused something of an uproar in the nation. Called Sota for short, the academy enrolls students around the age of 12 and lasts for six years, guaranteeing an in-depth artistic education. The institution revealed that of the students it educates and graduates, a majority do not go into art-related careers. This has opened a sometimes contentious debate on the purpose of art-focused schools and education, with both people supportive of the work schools like Sota do and critical of the resources that goes into such experiences.
First of all, it takes time, money, and considerable resources to adapt curriculum to adhere to a true artistic educational experience. Teachers must be adept at both art and teaching, and must approach all classroom instruction from a creative standpoint. The training necessary to ensure quality teachers is probably intensive and expensive. If a majority of students graduating from such institutions with such a strong artistic background aren’t pursuing art careers, perhaps time and resources would be better spent on other programs.
However, it is difficult for students at such a young age — 12 — to be able to commit to eventually getting a job in the art field. As young children, likes and dislikes are still prone to change the more they grow. It would be perfectly natural for a 12-year-old to want to be an artist or work in a museum, and an 18-year-old to instead want to be a lawyer simply based on shifting perspectives and the educational process. But does that mean that six years in an institution like Sota was a waste? According to one of the school officials there, no. People with backgrounds in art education bring unique perspectives to their workplaces. They might be more creative than their peers in solving problems and completing projects, meaning they might be able to contribute valuable assessments and insights to their workplaces. Their creativity will also be off the charts, meaning that employers can be all but guaranteed excellent workers with skill sets that others might not have — all thanks to their specific education.
There isn’t a ready solution to reconcile those who find Sota and institutions like it to be wasteful if they’re not producing graduates ready to emerge into art careers with those who don’t have a problem with it. Perhaps one place to start is to change how one measures success — instead of the quantity of graduates who enter art careers, the quality of graduates Sota and art institutions produce.
Even if you’ve never had any instruction in art before, it’s never to late to start. Visit SGArtClass.com today to browse a wide selection of art classes in all kinds of genres that you can enroll in and fit easily into your schedule.
To read more about the opinions on The School of The Arts and its place in Singapore’s education system, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/debate-over-arts-schools-purpose.