Core Curricular Activities (CCAs) in schools has always been a large part of the equation system in Singapore, especially when it is compulsory in primary, secondary schools and juniors colleges. There have been many criticisms about how the system has been run, and I would like to just take the opportunity to organize and type up my thoughts on the issue of CCAs.

To start off, if there's anything that I fully agree with the current system, it would be that it should be compulsory for every student in the school to be in a CCA. One of the outcomes that I see from schooling in schools includes things like the ability to speak to people, to handle problems, meet lifelong friends etc. I believe that a CCA can provide that and more. I do strongly believe that CCAs provide a lot, if not, the most potential for children to develop in schools. It is perhaps the introduction to issues of the real world, but softened by the fact that it is all overseen by teachers. That is not something that the learning the sciences or humanities can accomplish, it is what that completes the education of the child. Remember, never confuse education with knowledge.

Moving on, there has also been large amounts of criticisms upon the CCAs seemingly being run like a corporation. Money is given to the CCAs that perform, and those who do not get scrapped. This is something that I had the opportunity to experience myself, when my CCA in BPGHS, Chinese Orchestra was rumoured to close if we did not perform as the other large performing arts in the school, the military band. During the time of course, I was put under much distress, especially as the Sectional Leader of the Woodwind, it seemed that something much was on our shoulders and much was expected. However, after the whole experience, I must admit that even if the CCA had not survived my generation, it would have been a good experience anyways. In the end, it was a portrayal of a fight for our lives, the experience of camaraderie is one that I would be constantly reminded by to this day. I agree that perhaps the scrapping of a CCA altogether might be too harsh a change for children to handle, but I do support the idea of supporting the CCAs that perform more than those that don't. I have the personal belief that no matter if the CCA is supported less or more by the school, it only brings out different experiences for the students.

For CCAs that receive less support, the students will be able to plan frugally, seek for sponsorship, work with seniors to coach them for free and etc. Such are experiences that are less prevalent for students that are in a strongly funded CCA, but still just as important nevertheless. However, the act of supporting only CCAs that perform would also drive the students in weaker CCAs to work towards progression as they would want to leave their successors with more than what they had to work with, and that in itself is cultivating a value that is missing in many people today.

However, there are still parts of the system that irks me, and one of them is the quotas and allocations of students into their choices of CCAs. In some particular schools that I know of, there exists a quota of students that has to join certain CCAs within the school. And thus, a system of balloting or CCAs of their choice was introduced in order for students to get a space in the CCA that they want in order of merit if the space allowed for it. The idea is so that every CCA would be able to meet its quota, and extra people in a overly subscribed CCA can be moved to one that is below its quota. Honestly, I think this is a downright idiotic thing to do. I believe that there should be no quotas to meet for any CCA at all. Let every student be allowed to join any CCA they want, and allow them to enjoy their time in it. If you were interested in the Performing Arts and ended up in a Uniformed Group, just to meet the quota, do you think you'll learn from the experience as much? Why, would you in your right mind, sacrifice a student's potential to learn for something as mindbogglingly brainless as this? If anything, if students are showing such low interest in a CCA in the first place, it should be the CCA that should be looking to shape itself up and attract more people, rather than simply getting a quota to force people into it.

Also, I am not in favour of CCA points as a factor of our Secondary school education, and having it determine the ability to enter a school of choice. Although I think this is a small point as its insanely easy for anyone to get an A so long as you attend enough of the CCAs meetings and go for adequate competitions and such. Its pointless, for the most of the students, but is harsh on the ones that do not join any CCAs at all, or slack in their CCAs. Personally I believe that the loss of experience from not engaging in a CCA is enough punishment for these students, and there is no point in bringing more fury upon them in terms of CCA points. Though I must admit that it could serve as a good push for them to engage in CCAs.