All About SAP Schools

[Vanilla Cake]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi CK & All,

Below is a list of SAP Primary Schools that I know :

Ai Tong School
Catholic High School
CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School
Holy Innocents' Primary School
Hong Wen School
Kong Hwa School
Maha Bodhi School
Maris Stella High School
Nan Hua Primary School
Nanyang Primary School
Pei Chun Public School
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School
Poi Ching School
Red Swastika School
Tao Nan School

Could you share your views and thoughts for studying in these schools ? My younger sister will be taking PSLE 2011 and my Mum would like to know whether studying in a SAP school will help her to score in PSLE aggregate T-Score.

Thank you.

[kiasuson]

My boys are in one of them. It will definitely help in their MT. I believe all SAP schools offer only Chinese. They have passes and A/A* above national averages. My son school has about 89% scored A and A* this year.

[FlameFighter]

yes, SAP schools are stronger in their mother tongue which is Chinese. My son is in one of the SAP schools and they put in more emphasis in Chinese compared to other non-SAP schools. Also, most of their children are chinese. There may be very little or even no malays, indians and eurasians. This helps as children from SAP schools usually find PSLE chinese easy, as they spent their 6 yrs of education in a place where there is a strong Chinese foundation.

[Imp75]

does it make sense to send a child who is weak in Chinese to a SAP primary school?

[csc]

Imp75:

does it make sense to send a child who is weak in Chinese to a SAP primary school?

It all depends. What is your definition of \"weak\" ? Is it weak in ability or weak in interest?

Frankly speaking, my children speak only English until they are in K2, I think. They have never been greatly interested in the language though they do not lack the ability to do it.

I choose to send them to a neighourhood school with a strong emphasis in Chinese rather than to another mission school (known to have a lower standard in Chinese) nearby.

The school environment does help to create some interest and my son proceeds to score distinctions in both Higher Chinese and Chinese in the recent PSLE.

However, you may want to know that in some SAP schools, Higher Chinese is compulsory from Primary 1 to 5 with the option to drop to Normal Chinese in Pr 6.

[veraclari]

Hi,


I think besides "Academic" concerns like Higher chinese, there are other considerations - do u agree with the culture/image the school is projecting?

Frankly, where i stay, i have 2 good options - a "Chinese" SAp school [chinese as it has those chinese roots and promotes traditional virtues/values] another missionary school. I was torn between my choice as i like missionary schools - they promote upbringing as an "all rounder" "training to be a lady" etc. But in the end, i sent my gal to the SAP chinese school - as personally, i think Chinese traditional values are being "lost" in today’s society - unlike years back during my time. And also, i do want time to grow up in a school with people from all families - Not just mainly [80-90%] "well-to-do" families as in the case of some missionary schools…

So there’s always other important concerns other than Academic…

[FlameFighter]

well, SAP schools are just like any other skools, in a nutshell, they just place more emphasis in Chinese compared to non SAP skools

my son too, did not speak Chinese at all when he is at home but he still can cope with higher chinese in an SAP schools. your child will naturally adjust to it. dun worry:)

[veraclari]

Thanks Flamefighter.


It's assuring to hear that ur kid to do well in school as my kids hardly speak any chinese at all back home too and it can be worrying... Hope my kid will do as well as yours... Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!

[Imp75]

yes my 4 yr old gal does not like chinese and refuse to speak the language although it was until recently I tried to speak Mandarin to her. I was worried that she may not be able to cope if sent to SAP primary school. I personally like Chinese schools for its values but hubby likes MGS (hiyah! headache!)

[veraclari]

Hi IMP75,


I like MGS too as they train them to be \"ladies\" - but not necessarily ladies who sit properly as a lot of missionary school gals i know doesn't; and being an all-rounder. And the few years i was there, they have encouraged me to be more outspoken - it's the culture that really helped and i greatly appreciate it.

However, my concern has been the \"family-background\" - wealth of the girls in these schools. It's not uncommon to see the rich clicking together, or looking down on some of the few less well-off students. It has been like hat before my time, during my time, and i believe it's still imminent now. Sad to say. But of course, not all are like that. But black sheeps are quite a handful i believe.