“Why do you want to study at Harvard when Singapore already has one of the best education systems in the world?”

That was one of question asked during scholarship interviews that stayed with me.

At first glance, the question appears straightforward, almost practical.

And yet, the older I grow, the more philosophical it begins to feel.

The truth is, Singapore does possess one of the strongest education systems globally. This is not merely national pride speaking, but something consistently reflected in international benchmarks such as OECD PISA, where Singapore continues to rank among the world’s top performers in Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

What makes this even more remarkable is that Singapore is not only recognised for its education system, but also for being one of the world’s most successful and developed nations despite its small size and lack of natural resources. A country that transformed itself through vision, governance, stability, and an unwavering belief in human capital.

Even globally respected universities such as National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) consistently rank among the top universities in the world today. Sometimes I think Singaporeans themselves underestimate how extraordinary this truly is.

As someone who was entirely raised within this system, I often think about how extraordinarily blessed I am.

Sometimes, what we grow up around so naturally are the very things others across the world pray for.

Blessed to grow up in a country where education was never treated casually.
Blessed to have access to opportunities many children around the world still struggle to obtain.
Blessed to be shaped by teachers who carried not only academic responsibility, but the burden of nation-building itself.

And perhaps what humbles me most today is this: The fact I am working within the very institution that once nurtured me.

There is something profoundly meaningful about being raised by a system, only to one day become part of the collective effort sustaining it. To stand not only as a former student of Singapore’s education system, but now as an educator within the Ministry of Education itself.

Sometimes I wonder if Singaporeans have become so accustomed to excellence that we no longer fully see it.

We grew up assuming safe schools, competent teachers, structured curricula, educational resources, technological integration, student support systems, bilingual education, getting straight As, distinctions, outstanding achievements, opportunities for advancement were simply seen as ‘Normal.’

But globally, these things are not normal.
They are privileges.

And perhaps that is why the question about studying abroad deserves a more nuanced answer because pursuing education overseas is not necessarily an indictment of one’s own country.

Sometimes, it is precisely because one has been given such a strong foundation that one develops the courage to step beyond familiar borders.

Singapore’s education system excels at building intellectual discipline, resilience, rigour, and strong academic grounding. But institutions such as Harvard University or University of Cambridge offer something different alongside academic excellence: exposure to diverse schools of thought, proximity to global research ecosystems, intellectual exchange across cultures, and conversations shaped by people from vastly different realities.

Education, after all, is not merely about acquiring information.

It is about expanding the architecture of one’s thinking.

Perhaps the real purpose of studying abroad is not to escape one’s country, but to better understand the world and eventually return home with broader perspectives, deeper wisdom, and renewed appreciation for what one already had.

Ironically, many Singaporeans are able to thrive internationally precisely because Singapore first cultivated them so well.

Alhamdulillah. I am forever grateful Allah blessed me with the ni‘mah of being raised in a country that values education so deeply, for allowing me to learn within one of the world’s leading education systems, and for granting me the honour of now contributing back through the system itself.

And maybe that is the deeper answer to the interview question.

A world-class education system does not confine people within its borders.

It prepares them to engage confidently above and beyond.