Any Updates As To When PSLE T-Scores Will Be Scrapped?
-
superkiasudad:
Changes to PSLE grading: What could be in store?
PUBLISHED APR 3, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
Last year, then Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said that changes to how the Primary School Leaving Examination is graded may be revealed this year. This could happen as early as this week, when the ministry presents its budget and plans for 2016. The Sunday Times looks at what these changes could be and what they mean.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/changes-to-psle-grading-what-could-be-in-store
Now I won't aim for 4 A* but I aim for 4 A1s. Any difference? If it's still about cohort ranking to get into one's choice of secondary schools, with or without the aggregate score, the competitive pressure will still be there.
The article mentioned that to differentiate between students with the same grade, one possible way is to look at the leadership position in CCAs or other achievements like public-speaking, piano/violin/art achievements, community work etc. To me, these sound like adding more stress to a child preparing for PSLE? While preparing for PSLE, they must now make sure they prepare a thick portfolio on non-academic achievements.
I am keen to know how they differentiate children with high and low 4A1s when it comes to selecting top schools like RI. How MOE explain why one group of 4A1s gets selected and not the other group. If your neighbor's child scored 4A1s and got into RI/HCI but yours with 4A1s got posted to a 2nd tier secondary school, how many parents can swallow it? Will the selection process be less transparent?
\"Educators agree there is no perfect system\" if the new system is not better than the current one, then why change? So that that next MOE minister has something in the pipeline to do? -
Same feel n sentiments as leeyl
I get confused.dun make a 11/ 12 yo child to go thru so much assessments.
enjoy life long learning should be introduced. Dun chg if the new system is not
Transparent to most .
Wish us better luck till Mdm MOE reveals β¦ -
lee_yl:
Agreed that the academic pressure to get our children into the top schools will still be prevalent. However, i believe this is the right step to go as rather than aiming to procure a 1 mark advantage over the next student through endless tuition, the child should instead strive for content mastery over his own subject matter and get the A* or A1!superkiasudad:
Changes to PSLE grading: What could be in store?
PUBLISHED APR 3, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
Last year, then Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said that changes to how the Primary School Leaving Examination is graded may be revealed this year. This could happen as early as this week, when the ministry presents its budget and plans for 2016. The Sunday Times looks at what these changes could be and what they mean.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/changes-to-psle-grading-what-could-be-in-store
Now I won't aim for 4 A* but I aim for 4 A1s. Any difference? If it's still about cohort ranking to get into one's choice of secondary schools, with or without the aggregate score, the competitive pressure will still be there.
The article mentioned that to differentiate between students with the same grade, one possible way is to look at the leadership position in CCAs or other achievements like public-speaking, piano/violin/art achievements, community work etc. To me, these sound like adding more stress to a child preparing for PSLE? While preparing for PSLE, they must now make sure they prepare a thick portfolio on non-academic achievements.
I am keen to know how they differentiate children with high and low 4A1s when it comes to selecting top schools like RI. How MOE explain why one group of 4A1s gets selected and not the other group. If your neighbor's child scored 4A1s and got into RI/HCI but yours with 4A1s got posted to a 2nd tier secondary school, how many parents can swallow it? Will the selection process be less transparent?
\"Educators agree there is no perfect system\" if the new system is not better than the current one, then why change? So that that next MOE minister has something in the pipeline to do?
Perhaps MOE will have numerical subject grades instead (with 1 being the best and 10 being the worst) and use a point system to determine entry into the child's preferred secondary school? And i think DSA should be scrapped and instead there should be CCA/Leadership/Community Service points issued for all students that can be offset against their final PSLE grades.
That way, we can finally acknowledge that all students have their own strengths that should be recognized rather than have the DSA that is just serving a narrow segment of the population who can afford all the enrichment classes, personal sports coaches and DSA workshops. -
Community service ? Do we want our young ones to do community service for a 'reward' - gain points?
Should we inculcate community service as something our young ones do with passion instead?
Leadership - Some mothers may go all ways to fight for a leadership role for their kids.
CCA - Rich parents have means to engage professional coaches to improve their children's skill and hence be selected to represent their school.
So ultimately we may still go back to square 1.
Remove DSA totally then.
Top schools can have quota placement, i.e. 25% base on PSLE score, 10% - affiliation, 25% sports, 30% special talent and balance 10% for appeal cases/other cases.
-
lee_yl:
what you've written : so true and valid
Now I won't aim for 4 A* but I aim for 4 A1s. Any difference? If it's still about cohort ranking to get into one's choice of secondary schools, with or without the aggregate score, the competitive pressure will still be there.
The article mentioned that to differentiate between students with the same grade, one possible way is to look at the leadership position in CCAs or other achievements like public-speaking, piano/violin/art achievements, community work etc. To me, these sound like adding more stress to a child preparing for PSLE? While preparing for PSLE, they must now make sure they prepare a thick portfolio on non-academic achievements.
I am keen to know how they differentiate children with high and low 4A1s when it comes to selecting top schools like RI. How MOE explain why one group of 4A1s gets selected and not the other group. If your neighbor's child scored 4A1s and got into RI/HCI but yours with 4A1s got posted to a 2nd tier secondary school, how many parents can swallow it? Will the selection process be less transparent?
\"Educators agree there is no perfect system\" if the new system is not better than the current one, then why change? So that that next MOE minister has something in the pipeline to do?
what happen next ?
we'll start to see parents queue up & ring up RI asking, how come their son fail to get in with 4A1s, whereas another friend or classmate of their son can enter RI ?
(when the Banding entry selection criteria become not Transparent, anymore to P6 parents & students)
although they call it a more holistic assessment -
parents however, in a frenzy to give their children a head start in non-academic achievement, will start sending their kindergarten kids early for public-speaking, ballet, music violin/cello/piano, Art drawing competition, Junior Sports (gymnastics, badminton, swimming, tennis, table-tennis, etc) Championship competition, what-not, etc
back to square 1 ...
rat race begin in kindergarten at K1/K2 level training, for those who can afford. Just merely change the terminology, call it a different name. Instead of calling it DSA (old word), new buz word is \"more holistic\" assessment, but mean the same -
Ikid:
currently, what are the Cca in primary schools that offer or let students get involved in community service work ?Community service ? Do we want our young ones to do community service for a 'reward' - gain points?
Should we inculcate community service as something our young ones do with passion instead?
Leadership - Some mothers may go all ways to fight for a leadership role for their kids.
CCA - Rich parents have means to engage professional coaches to improve their children's skill and hence be selected to represent their school.
So ultimately we may still go back to square 1.
Remove DSA totally then.
Top schools can have quota placement, i.e. 25% base on PSLE score, 10% - affiliation, 25% sports, 30% special talent and balance 10% for appeal cases/other cases.
Brownie ?
Boys brigade, Girls brigade ?
Catholic club ?
how about NPCC, Red Cross ? -
Ikid:
I won't be surprised that CIP hours might be taken into account. They've been drumming up on volunteerism and community service in recent years.Community service ? Do we want our young ones to do community service for a 'reward' - gain points?
Should we inculcate community service as something our young ones do with passion instead?
Leadership - Some mothers may go all ways to fight for a leadership role for their kids.
CCA - Rich parents have means to engage professional coaches to improve their children's skill and hence be selected to represent their school.
So ultimately we may still go back to square 1.
Remove DSA totally then.
Top schools can have quota placement, i.e. 25% base on PSLE score, 10% - affiliation, 25% sports, 30% special talent and balance 10% for appeal cases/other cases.
I can foresee some 'blood bath' ahead. Those with strong guanxi will try to ensure kids get into leadership positions, if leadership position can yield a higher 'score' or some form of discount like HMT for overall computation, hypothetically speaking. Will we see a surge in PSG volunteers, all trying to get into the P/teachers' good books?
I agree with you that DSA of any domain should be totally removed. It's ok to reverse whatever former MOE minister Tharman had brought in, dear Minister Ng Chee Meng! No loss of political or Govt face. Just do it!
Hmm, maybe I should draft a forum letter to get MOE to remove this DSA. -
[*]
phtthp:
These are CCAs, not community service programme. Not sure how they're going to administer this in pri sch.
currently, what are the Cca in primary schools that offer or let students get involved in community service work ?Ikid:
Community service ? Do we want our young ones to do community service for a 'reward' - gain points?
Should we inculcate community service as something our young ones do with passion instead?
Leadership - Some mothers may go all ways to fight for a leadership role for their kids.
CCA - Rich parents have means to engage professional coaches to improve their children's skill and hence be selected to represent their school.
So ultimately we may still go back to square 1.
Remove DSA totally then.
Top schools can have quota placement, i.e. 25% base on PSLE score, 10% - affiliation, 25% sports, 30% special talent and balance 10% for appeal cases/other cases.
Brownie ?
Boys brigade, Girls brigade ?
Catholic club ?
how about NPCC, Red Cross ?
CCA might be graded, who knows? Maybe leadership positions get x points, awards/trophies/medals won get y points, participation in SYF/NDP/Chingay get z points, % attendance, etc? δΈζ’ζ³θ±‘γγγ :skeptical:
-
My kids are not prefects, not in competitive sports/CCA/performing arts, non-uniform groups... So will they be out of the game?
:scared:
Can I turn back the clock
I want to make sure I choose the right CCA 
-
Ikid:
Community work? I recall watching a Korean drama where the mother was asking her son (in school uniform) to pose with an orphan holding a big bar of chocolate at an orphanage. After the photoshot, which I assume was to prepare for the son's portfolio, the mum went forward to snatch back the bar of chocolate. Please lah, don't link community work with reward system.Community service ? Do we want our young ones to do community service for a 'reward' - gain points?
Should we inculcate community service as something our young ones do with passion instead?
Leadership - Some mothers may go all ways to fight for a leadership role for their kids.
CCA - Rich parents have means to engage professional coaches to improve their children's skill and hence be selected to represent their school.
So ultimately we may still go back to square 1.
Remove DSA totally then.
Top schools can have quota placement, i.e. 25% base on PSLE score, 10% - affiliation, 25% sports, 30% special talent and balance 10% for appeal cases/other cases.
What if everyone is doing the same community work? Hmmm.... To stand out, I will fly my DD to Cambodia to help to refurbish some schools. Can one tell who is sincere and who is fake?
Outstanding CCA / leadership role? Make sure your CCA teacher is not someone who plays favourite.
Should the child blame his poor parents who did not groom him in a particular sport when he was 2yo?
Now everything (psle t-score) is transparent, parents are asking for something more subjective. Given the extremely competitive environment, any well-intended policies will soon be subverted and the pressure on the children continues to mount!
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better π
Register Login