Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[janet88]

zbear,

thank you for your advice…appreciate it.
the perception that JC is one class higher than poly needs to be changed because many students who can make it to JCs go to poly…leading to keen competition for popular courses.

[STRESSFUL DADDY]

As I am planning to move house due to the expansion of the family. Since I need to move, my 3 and 1 yrs old kid school become my key consideration. Not sure any mummy is kind enough to have a coffee with my wife to share with us on the registration process and how to pick a school. We both are not born and educated in Singapore, that’s why feel difficult to understand the system here. PM me if you don’t mind…


Thank you in advance.

[lee_yl]

Janet,


When choosing between Poly or JC route, it really depends if the child is academically inclined. If the child has been strong academically, then ok to opt for JC route. If not, I don't find anything bad about getting a diploma first.

I have two cousins who went through A'levels but did not do well enough to earn them a place in the local Uni so they went back to the Poly route after 2 years. Cousin A has since grad from Uni and cousin B is now in NTU Accountancy.

There are many routes that lead to Rome.

[janet88]

lee_yl:

Janet,


When choosing between Poly or JC route, it really depends if the child is academically inclined. If the child has been strong academically, then ok to opt for JC route. If not, I don't find anything bad about getting a diploma first.

i am definitely OK if son wants to take the poly route...it's clear my son is not the type who will fit into JC. it's my hubby who wants him to take a 2 year route because he took the poly route and found himself behind his peers in terms of studies & work.

education is so tough now...if son is willing to study, i am more than grateful.

[lee_yl]

janet88:

lee_yl:

Janet,


When choosing between Poly or JC route, it really depends if the child is academically inclined. If the child has been strong academically, then ok to opt for JC route. If not, I don't find anything bad about getting a diploma first.

i am definitely OK if son wants to take the poly route...it's clear my son is not the type who will fit into JC. it's my hubby who wants him to take a 2 year route because he took the poly route and found himself behind his peers in terms of studies & work.

education is so tough now...if son is willing to study, i am more than grateful.

I think one critical difference is GP. As Poly students do not take GP, their English training is restricted to 'O'-level English and they are not exposed to critical thinking and analysis taught in GP. If they cannot write or speak well in English compared to 'A'level students, they will be at a disadvantage when selling their ideas or themselves in front of management.

However, on the other hand, in terms of market value, a Poly diploma definitely ranks higher than an 'A'-level cert.

I believe life in JC is very tough now. Encourage your son to do his best and go with his interest.

[lee_yl]

STRESSFUL DADDY:

As I am planning to move house due to the expansion of the family. Since I need to move, my 3 and 1 yrs old kid school become my key consideration. Not sure any mummy is kind enough to have a coffee with my wife to share with us on the registration process and how to pick a school. We both are not born and educated in Singapore, that's why feel difficult to understand the system here. PM me if you don't mind...


Thank you in advance.

If you and your children are still non-Singaporeans or PRs, there are very limited choices for foreigners. You can only register under phase 3 for schools with vacancies then.

If you or your children are already Singaporean or PRs, you may wish to
1). relocate to within 1km of your school of choice.
2). apply to do Parent Volunteer work in your school of choice (eligible for phase 2B)
3). Join grassroot as a volunteer for min 2yrs (eligible for phase 2B)

As you can see, being a Singapore Citizen or PR, has advantages in Primary one registration. You may wish to consider applying to be PR or citizenship to enhance your chance.

[STRESSFUL DADDY]

Thanks for the advice. We have converted to be Singaporean. Since my child is born and educated here, there is no reason for them not to convert. Here is their home.


I am born in a rural area of Malaysia. My primary education is very simple and my parent has never bother my education by telling me that whether I study or not, I need to beat the consequential. But time has changed, I can't use the same approach. Life is too easy for the current generation.

Anyway, I do intend to move within 1 km and prepare to do PV and grass root.

The difficult part for me is which school to go for? I worry that I aim for particular school but fail to get in...



quote=\"lee_yl\"]

STRESSFUL DADDY:

As I am planning to move house due to the expansion of the family. Since I need to move, my 3 and 1 yrs old kid school become my key consideration. Not sure any mummy is kind enough to have a coffee with my wife to share with us on the registration process and how to pick a school. We both are not born and educated in Singapore, that's why feel difficult to understand the system here. PM me if you don't mind...

Thank you in advance.

If you and your children are still non-Singaporeans or PRs, there are very limited choices for foreigners. You can only register under phase 3 for schools with vacancies then.

If you or your children are already Singaporean or PRs, you may wish to
1). relocate to within 1km of your school of choice.
2). apply to do Parent Volunteer work in your school of choice (eligible for phase 2B)
3). Join grassroot as a volunteer for min 2yrs (eligible for phase 2B)

As you can see, being a Singapore Citizen or PR, has advantages in Primary one registration. You may wish to consider applying to be PR or citizenship to enhance your chance.[/quote]

[lee_yl]

STRESSFUL DADDY:

Anyway, I do intend to move within 1 km and prepare to do PV and grass root.

The difficult part for me is which school to go for? I worry that I aim for particular school but fail to get in...

You can take a look at the past P1 registration data of the schools you are interested in to have a rough gauge for your chance in phase 2B.

For good schools, there will be intense competition and all parents with school-going children went through it.

[floppy]

lee_yl:

Janet,


When choosing between Poly or JC route, it really depends if the child is academically inclined. If the child has been strong academically, then ok to opt for JC route. If not, I don't find anything bad about getting a diploma first.

I have two cousins who went through A'levels but did not do well enough to earn them a place in the local Uni so they went back to the Poly route after 2 years. Cousin A has since grad from Uni and cousin B is now in NTU Accountancy.

There are many routes that lead to Rome.

When I was in secondary school eons ago, I was taught/ told/ brainwashed (take your pick) by my teachers not to think too much of polytechnic or JC, start focusing at the university and the course we want instead. Hence, any guidance or briefings for post O levels were geared towards university degrees rather than true post O levels. Polytechnic or JC, both are just a short pit stop in our march towards a university degree.

[janet88]

Sorry…I know this thread is for choosing primary schools.


With govt now telling people to work hard and that degree is not that crucial, I am afraid the requirements to get into U after poly will be more difficult. But knowing my son, he is not cut out for JC.
I hope he will be able to enter U after his poly, get the degree and then go out to work without having that ‘something not accomplished’.