Any Updates As To When PSLE T-Scores Will Be Scrapped?

[dimsum]

zulu:

I have asked this question before but have not really received any definitive answer......will the less privileged kids benefit from the revamp or do they stand a better chance of making the top schools with the current T- score system?

According to Sandra Davie of ST, less privileged kids stand a better chance from the revamp
http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/a-not-so-tidy-psle-system-maybe-but-consider-the-gains-too
.................
But there was also a worry over how the new grading system will be used in the secondary school posting exercise.

The concern is that if schools are allowed to pick students from a wider pool of applicants through less tangible measures such as character, community work and how they do in interviews, then it could lead to a more subjective and less transparent admission system.

However, it is unlikely that the ministry will leave it to schools to choose from a wider pool of applicants.

It is more likely to use a computerised balloting system to sort students. It already uses computerised balloting when two or more students with exactly the same grades vie for a place in a secondary school or junior college. It also uses computerised balloting for Primary 1 registration when there are more applicants than places in a school.

There will be those who will rail against a system that depends on simple luck, and those who believe that it is an efficient and far less subjective system. But are we missing out on a good opportunity to inject more diversity into the top secondary schools here?

I am not calling for top schools to lower entry scores or not base their admissions on merit.

Just that with a wider pool of applicants to choose from - all with the same grades, say 4As - schools can choose students from different races and socio-economic backgrounds.

There has been much discussion in recent years on the urgent need to fix the social stratification happening in some elite schools.

As sociologists have warned, students in these schools form exclusive circles and hoard opportunities. They can grow up unable to empathise with those who are different or less fortunate.

Here is an opportunity to give more children access to top schools, and let those schools become more diverse. Yes, we may end up with a not-so-tidy and less transparent system. But we should consider the gains. Our children, and society as a whole, will be better for it.

[Pen88n]

dimsum:

iRabbit:

[quote=\"dimsum\"]
ya. until PM Lee had to hold a press conference with NEH and protest was held at Hong Lim Park.
L1R2 isnt directly targeted at MT so dont think it will cause uproar. i think it is quite absurb to hv L1R2 when there are only 4 examinable subjects in pr sch. But if dont use L1R2 , i wonder how to compare results against those with MT exemption for sec sch admission purpose?

My son takes 5. How about HMT? :evil:

Oops, forgot HMT.[/quote]I think GEPpers takes 6 subjects, including SS which is exam-able for them. Will that then count for extra ballot ticket in future, I wonder?? :scratchhead: :evil:

[zulu]

iRabbit:

zulu:

I have asked this question before but have not really received any definitive answer......will the less privileged kids benefit from the revamp or do they stand a better chance of making the top schools with the current T- score system?

The idea is to put more ingredients (aka students) into a melting pot (aka banding). Then distribute the dish randomly to serve more people (aka schs).

Like I said, mixing them together, the really choice ingredients would get diluted by the other 'lesser' ingredients, but this achieves the objective of serving more people.

Whether you like the new system or not depends on which side of the fence you sit.

But once you add CCA , Leadership etc , what happens?

[iRabbit]

Pen88n:

I think GEPpers takes 6 subjects, including SS which is exam-able for them. Will that then count for extra ballot ticket in future, I wonder?? :scratchhead: :evil:

Oh yah hor, ds got this 2 inch thick stack of notes which he needs to study before thurs test.

Seriously, I think moe is really adamant about distributing top students across a wider band of schs and geppers won't be able to escape.

In time to come, I foresee that only the truly gifted will dare to take up the offer in that yellow envelop. :nailbite:

[iRabbit]

zulu:

iRabbit:

[quote=\"zulu\"]I have asked this question before but have not really received any definitive answer......will the less privileged kids benefit from the revamp or do they stand a better chance of making the top schools with the current T- score system?

The idea is to put more ingredients (aka students) into a melting pot (aka banding). Then distribute the dish randomly to serve more people (aka schs).

Like I said, mixing them together, the really choice ingredients would get diluted by the other 'lesser' ingredients, but this achieves the objective of serving more people.

Whether you like the new system or not depends on which side of the fence you sit.

But once you add CCA , Leadership etc , what happens?[/quote]Diarrhea lor!

[Pen88n]

iRabbit:

Pen88n:

I think GEPpers takes 6 subjects, including SS which is exam-able for them. Will that then count for extra ballot ticket in future, I wonder?? :scratchhead: :evil:

Oh yah hor, ds got this 2 inch thick stack of notes which he needs to study before thurs test.

Seriously, I think moe is really adamant about distributing top students across a wider band of schs and geppers won't be able to escape.

In time to come, I foresee that only the truly gifted will dare to take up the offer in that yellow envelop. :nailbite:

Why bother to take up the offer in that yellow envelop? What difference does it make when afterall it is in a mix pot in secondary school? :scratchhead:

Actually think about it, life may be easier in the mix pot - n without GEP and all the stress

[sushi88]

I think by design, the SAP schools are already non-diverse environment. I do not think the schools want to have a choice to choose from a wider range of students unless they remove SAP status. SAP schools have a history behind them so I believe they would be left alone…so not much diversity for such schools by design. Making the broader band changes is not going to affect the SAP schools much compared to the non-SAP schools in terms of diversity.

[pirated]

I think after 6 to 10 years, they will revert to the T-score ranking for secondary school admission again

[pirated]

sushi88:

I think by design, the SAP schools are already non-diverse environment. I do not think the schools want to have a choice to choose from a wider range of students unless they remove SAP status. SAP schools have a history behind them so I believe they would be left alone...so not much diversity for such schools by design. Making the broader band changes is not going to affect the SAP schools much compared to the non-SAP schools in terms of diversity.

SAP schools do accept students from other ethnic groups. It is whether other ethnic groups want to send their children there or not.

No lack of Indians and angmo kids studying chinese language

In a truly mixed pot, one would expect the parents to not only sending their kids for MT, but also MT of other ethnic groups

Aren't they doing french malay german spanish japanese in sec schools ?

I am sure the non Chinese kids will be able to cope with mandarin if they were to start from Pri 1

Seen that in real life too. We need paradigm shift in terms of diversity

[Sun_2010]

zulu:

I have asked this question before but have not really received any definitive answer......will the less privileged kids benefit from the revamp or do they stand a better chance of making the top schools with the current T- score system?

The details of the new system is not known. What has been revealed is the the academic part is by banding - but how wide the band, besides how will Hmt/affiliation/MT exemption be treated we dont know. And the big question - what are the other criteria that will play a role, how much of a role ?

Without even an outline how can a comparison be made?

It is evident that in the top schools the representation of the low income group is far lesser than the national average. So the current system is not doing the under privileged kids justice. The question is will the revamped system do any better?