Controversies surrounding lower COPs for affiliation
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but SNG’s cut off of 225 for their affiliated primary school students has been in effect for a long time. MGS’s cut off for affiliated students of 220 was introduced a couple of years ago, and SCGS’ cut off point still stands at 200 although that is about to change.
Given that the cut off point for SNGS’ affliated primary school is higher than MGS and SCGS, this could be a factor in why their girls do well for the O levels.
But if you look back at the O level results for 6-8 years, you will see that SCGS and MGS have featured among the top performing schools in the O levels, even in the days when RGS/RI/NYGH/HCI were still taking the O levels. So based on the calibre of the students SCGS and MGS took in (with COP of 200), the girls did very well at the O levels.
Personally, I think a mark of a good school is one where an average performing child at PSLE is able to do improve himself and do well at the O levels. -
I totally agree with you jtoh.
SCGS has always done well in o levels despite the 200 cop. That’s is why why most of us s don’t understand the need to adjust the cop to 210 this year and 220 the following year. Thus, I don’t buy SJI argumentthat if it continues to admit their feeder boys with lower scores, there is a danger that SJI would be left behind. The right thing to do is to re-evaluate its curriculum on how best to add value to its students. That’s a hallmark of a truly good school. -
oh, but don't forget that SCGS, SNG & MGS have students who had scored very well in PSLE too! E.g. the upper PSLE score for SCGS is 268 (non-affiliation) & 263 (affiliation); MSG is 261 & 270; and SNG is 266 & 264.
So I'm not surprised that there were top 'O' level students from these schools too!
Also, the mean COP of both non-affiliation & affiliation of the schools were: SNG= 252 & 237; MGS is 254 & 242; SCGS is 254 & 234, respectively, so all these good schools already have a relatively good \"pool\" of students to begin withOf course, I also believe that all these schools have a very holistic focus in their education, which is laudable!
However, I think the point the author (from SJI) is making is that quite a substantial number of students from feeder schools made up the bottom classes and felt a tinge disappointment. So what happens if the board decides to lower the COP from feeder school? Then probably more of these students will make up the bottom classes. At the same time, more academically bright students will be denied a space in the school. And then the average academic quality of the students may decline. That's their worry, IMO.
I didn't do more homework, but one way to look at it is to examine the schools' overall \"O\" level results, rather than just how many top students it produced and how low the COP for affiliation. Then again, this might be an overly focus on academics and did not take into account the other achievement (or value-add) of the school, which is difficult to measure. -
I’m impressed with the mean scores of the affliated students from MGS, SCGS and SNGS, ranging from 234-242. Especially so for SCGS as their COP was 200. This goes to show that the Primary Schools are doing their job in raising the standards of their students regardless of the low affliation COP needed to get into their secondary schools. Affliation shouldn’t breed complancency.
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For SJI, it may not be a bad thing to permit entry based on lower COP because boys blossom later. If most of them with the SJI spirit are weeded out too early, the school may lose the kids with the right spirit to take the school to another level of standard, as the author rightfully noticed, the better graded PSLE score kids from SJI junior will opt to go to the likes of RI, HCI etc…abandoning the SJI spirit.
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education is not just getting a string of A1s
SJI should stay true to their founding fathers’ spirit of education = 学做人
Top students have many choices of secondary schools to choose from -
had a conversation with a primary school principal recently
the lamentation is that the values and spirit of the primary school is lost once they go to Sec 1 because they do not have affiliated secondary school -
verykiasu2010:
I believe spirit and values takes a long journey but chasing the academic in comparison is a piece of cake.had a conversation with a primary school principal recently
the lamentation is that the values and spirit of the primary school is lost once they go to Sec 1 because they do not have affiliated secondary school
Here's an article from a true-blue Rafflesian on the flipside of the coin, I share her views...academic is only as good as one's values. I can empathise with her views... Another example I would like to bring out is the Romanian diplomat. I am sure he is selected partly based on his academic excellence but see his value system???
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20100405-208438.html -
@mummyNg
I am curious how you got to know the mean score of SCGS. This is something we parents have always wanted to find out but with little success. -
mrschan:
All the info's available on the MOE site.@mummyNg
I am curious how you got to know the mean score of SCGS. This is something we parents have always wanted to find out but with little success.