All About SAP Schools

[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.

[carebear]

My kids are in one of the SAP primary schools.

The option to take higher chinese is there when you are in SAP pri school and the points in higher chinese will only be taken into account if you apply for a SAP sec school, otherwise can’t use the marks.

I find that the emphasis and format of learning for higher chinese is different from the CL2 chinese. So if your child has no aptitude for mother tongue, then it may be wiser to drop the higher mother tongue and concentrate on the 2nd language which is to be counted in the PSLE.

[Vanilla Cake]

Hi,


My neighourhood primary school conducted Higher Chinese from P5 onwards. At P6 level (this year), we had 4.5 hours for Chinese and 1.5 hours for Higher Chinese. The teacher that taught us Higher Chinese and Chinese happened to be the same person.

The main reason as to why I chose Higher Chinese was because I thought that Higher Chinese might improve my Chinese to gain a decent PSLE aggregate T-Score. I didn't intend to use Higher Chinese as a route to score bonus points when applying for SAP secondary schools.

Most students and parents think it is easily to score in Chinese based on past PSLE statistical figures :

National Average (A* & A)
2008 - 81.4 %
2007 - 81.1 %
2006 - 81.0 %
2005 - 80.9 %
2004 - 79.4 %

To some extent, this mindset is true depending on whether you had achieved A* or A in PSLE Chinese. In actual fact, my teacher told us that it was tough to score A* in PSLE Chinese and this A* will greatly helped the student to improve his/her PSLE T-score. Personally, I felt this truly applied to PSLE 2008.My classmates that had scored A* in Chinese were better in aggregate PSLE T-scores than those that had scored A* in the other three subjects.

IMHO, this may substantiate the core reason as to why most students appeared to have scored better in SAP schools than neighbourhood schools for aggregate PSLE T-scores.

[Imp75]

Hi Vanilla Cake


Did u come from a neighbourhood SAP primary school? I am confused as I thought only SAP primary schools offer higher chinese? If not so, then what is the definition of a SAP primary school?

[Vanilla Cake]

Imp75:

Hi Vanilla Cake


Did u come from a neighbourhood SAP primary school? I am confused as I thought only SAP primary schools offer higher chinese? If not so, then what is the definition of a SAP primary school?

Hi Imp75,

I came from a neighbourhood non-SAP primary school.From P1 to P4, I took Normal Chinese.I only studied Higher Chinese at P5 and P6.4.5 hours for Normal Chinese & 1.5 hours for Higher Chinese per week in school.

Sorry, I am not sure what is the definition of a SAP primary school. Perhaps our Kiasu Chief can explain as he has kids in Kong Hwa or other parents that have kids in SAP schools.

Warmest regards.

[csc]

Imp75:

Hi Vanilla Cake


Did u come from a neighbourhood SAP primary school? I am confused as I thought only SAP primary schools offer higher chinese? If not so, then what is the definition of a SAP primary school?

Extracted from one website :

\"If your child is taking Chinese language, you may also wish to consider the 15 SAP primary schools which offer Higher Chinese from Primary 1. These schools aim to promote the Chinese language and culture in students from a young age. The schools are:

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 Publis School
Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary Poi Ching School
Red Swastika School
Tao Nan School

Students of the Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools can look forward to more opportunities to deepen their learning of the Chinese Language (CL) and culture as the SAP schools will be introducing enhancements to their programmes.

SAP schools were first established in 1979 to preserve the ethos of the Chinese medium schools and to promote the learning of Chinese Language and culture. \"

NON-SAP schools also offer Higher Chinese for students in pr 5 & 6 who score Band 1 for Chinese in P4 Exams.

However, I understand that some students in SAP schools can opt out of the Higher Chinese programme in Pr 6 if they cannot cope with it. My friend's son is one example.

Hope it helps.