CIP hours at Secondary School

[lizawa]

Zann:

Hi Lizawa, kind to share what CIP work has your son initiated, and how they engaged the party? Also, do you know whether they any fix list of organization which could grant CIP hours? Can the party be ones primary school?

It was initiated by his friend. His friend's mother called up a few welfare homes etc to see if they are interested to let the young boys go and do some work for them.In the end, they settle for a day care center for the elderly. The school gave them an extra holiday on the 3rd day of CNY, so they turned up at this center on that day to help out, after discussing with the in charge of the day care center. The in-charge there knows how to assign them tasks and also fill up the forms for them. So guess, they must have done it for some other students before.

Am not sure if primary school is alright. Maybe can check with the primary school, am sure they will know. Guess it should be alright as well. Sorry, I don't know any fix list of organizations. And I don't think you can just turn up like that to do CIP, need to check with them first.

But there are some school initiated CIP also, like flag day etc.

[ApronMama]

lizawa:

My son told me that they have to clock 40 hours in 4 years, ie. 10 hours per year. But the school told them that in order to get scholarships, awards etc. you need 100 hours in 4 years. So they plan to do 25 hours this year.

I feel quite upset that students nowadays are \"driven\"/\"forced\" to do volunteer work just for sick of clocking enough CIP hours just to fulfill the requirement under the education system. It should be make a good learning process and experience in school thru civil education. Sincerity is more important.

[csc]

It sounds like the school is endorsing the reasons below for doing community work : to clock hours for scholarship, awards and CCA points.


It's quite sad if community work is done just to fulfill those purposes.

Well, hopefully, through the students' involvment in such projects and their interaction with the underprivileded, they will develop a genuine compassion and passion to want to continue to touch the lives of the unfortunate and underpriviledged around us.

[lizawa]

csc:

It sounds like the school is endorsing the reasons below for doing community work : to clock hours for scholarship, awards and CCA points.


It's quite sad if community work is done just to fulfill those purposes.

Well, hopefully, through the students' involvment in such projects and their interaction with the underprivileded, they will develop a genuine compassion and passion to want to continue to touch the lives of the unfortunate and underpriviledged around us.

l agree with you. This is probably one way to get the kids to start involving in community work. How else, would our young, protected generation nowadays spare some thoughts or time for those who are in need ? There are so many TV programmes that show the plight of the less fortunate, but not many can feel for them at this young age, unless you really interact with them.

The one thing that my son told me after his CIP last month. \"The old folks are really poor thing, no one to listen and talk to them, so we just talk and listen to them.\" And he finds it meaningful.

I secretly hope that after this experience, he will not send me to the old folks home when I grow old one day

[csc]

lizawa:

I secretly hope that after this experience, he will not send me to the old folks home when I grow old one day

Ha!Ha! Me too... my son is going for his community service project this Thursday. He's so excited about it and even stops his sister from opening a new box of \"loveletters\" and \"kueh bahru\" cos he wants to bring them to the old folks' home.

I also take comfort in the fact that he loves his 70 year-old grandma more than me.... I am quite jealous at times ... hope he'll love me the same way when i'm 70.

[Zann]

Dear parents,


I’m not sure if majority choose to visit old folks’ home?

Any of your child tried these two community work and any feedback/thoughts ?
(1) provide tuition to needy students at student care centre
(2) reading to children at community library?

Thanks.

[csc]

My P6 daughter is involved in a peer-tutoring program where she tutors another pupil who is weaker in Maths on 3 mornings weekly before school starts. Her contribution is recorded under CIP. (may come in helpful in DSA application)


Materials(worksheets with answer key) are provided and a teacher is present to supervise the process.

Well, she has no complaints as she enjoys \"playing teacher\" since pre-school days, especially the marking part. :lol:

[sand]

I’m not sure what’s the min requirement for Pri Sch, but I do know for Sec Sch, the min requirement by MOE is a compulsory of 20 hr of CIP per year.


In my school, 15hr will be planned activities eg classroom cleaning, collection of old newspapers. The other 5hr will be planned by students’ CCA. so definitely will meet the min requirements, unless of cos, the student doesn’t turn up for the activities at all.

[schellen]

sand:

In my school, 15hr will be planned activities eg classroom cleaning, collection of old newspapers. The other 5hr will be planned by students' CCA. so definitely will meet the min requirements, unless of cos, the student doesn't turn up for the activities at all.

Yup, that is the case for most schools. So it is rare to see a school that entrusts the entire 100hrs (over the years) to the students.

Like you said, schools themselves do provide in-school activities like charity bazaars, chances to clean up the school premises (not as punishment but voluntarily), and check if the school has any existing \"contracts\" with external organisations.

I was actually wondering about childcare centres (CCs). If students can help out in old folks' home, why not CCs? Of course, the actual supervision and teaching and care of children there are the trained teachers' responsibilities so I was thinking along the lines of support activities. See suggestions below:
1. CCs usually operate on themes so this means deco work. Materials provided by CCs. Students can help to brainstorm and put up decos/re-do learning corners, etc.
2. Teachers need worksheets/activities. They plan them but need materials. Students can help in the preparation, e.g., photocopying, binding, cutting up, stuff that young children can't do, etc.
3. Help to clean up!

These can be done after school is over in the afternoon. CCs usually have naptime from 1-3 p.m. just after lunch and bathtime. Drop by during this time to help out. Spend about 2-3 hours there and leave soon after the children wake up or after teatime. This way, you can minimise the disruption you cause at the CCs.

I know that CC teachers would love to have some help, especially since lunch time is usually spent having a rushed lunch after making sure all the children are settled and asleep. Then, quickly preparing materials and cleaning and decorating, etc.

Now, what we need to find out is are CCs willing to accept students to help them? Paperwork for validating CIP hours is a small matter so ultimately, it is the mindset of the CC operator/supervisor. After all, you get free help in exchange for doing a little paperwork.

[SX4]

[Editor's note: Topic selected for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/what-cip.]


CIP is actually part of a CCA grading system called LEAPS. It awards points in 5 categories, namely Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service.

CIP comes under Service, where each student is required to perform minimum 6 hours of community service per year.

Over a period of 4 years, points are awarded as follows:
100 or more hours - 5 points
80-99 hours - 4 points
60-79 hours - 3 points
40-59 hours - 2 points
24-39 hours - 1 point

These points will go towards the CCA grade (25 and above to get an A1 grade and therefore -2 points for JC admission).

Generally schools will try to help the students fulfil as many CIP hours as possible. Or for example, some church going students go on mission trips to help teach the less fortunate, or build a new school for them etc - all this can be taken into account.