This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
As I watched my five-year-old son graduate from Pre-Primary 1, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for my own school days. Growing up in a different era, I remember closing day as a simple affair, with just my class teacher and the report form.
Fast forward to the present, and I was struck by the grandeur of the graduation ceremony. The event was a full-blown affair, with fashion shows, career-themed plays, and poetry performances. It was like a mini-festival, with parents and guests cheering on the young graduates.
But what struck me most was the contrast between the elaborate ceremony and the simplicity of my own school days. In my time, we didn't have all the frills and pomp, and we certainly didn't have parents attending closing ceremonies. It was a more straightforward affair, with just the report form and a simple note from the head teacher.
As I watched my son and his classmates walk onto the podium, dressed in their matching purple graduation gowns, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. But I also couldn't help but wonder if all this fuss was really necessary. Was it just a showbiz affair, or did it truly instil a sense of pride and achievement in the young graduates?
