Chapter 9: Motivation in the Context of Project Work: The Self-Determination Perspective

From its humble start with a handful of mission schools in the days of British colonial rule, Education in Singapore has evolved into a multi-faceted and effective enterprise. However, towards the last two decades of the 20th century, there were intensified efforts for further expansion and refinements in education, with the aim of enabling Singapore to retain its competitive edge in view of the changing economic landscape. By then, the waves of improvements in the means of communication and transport have gradually obliterated the barriers between nations and the effects of globalization were well under way.

As political leaders and economic experts throughout the world were grappling with the shift towards new trends, those in Singapore were convinced that with self-determination, good governance and investment in human capital we should not only reap the benefits of a fast-emerging knowledge-based economy, but also contribute significantly to it at a regional and international level.