[PSLE MT] PSLE less weightage in Chinese / Mother Tongue
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To understand the issue, one needs to differentiate the dog from the tail and see which is wagging what.
What is the end result we seek and by what means are we trying to achieve it by?
The prevailing opinion is that somehow raising the bar in terms of weightage somehow translates into greater proficiency in the language.
Really?? Please show me how that works…
Over the many years when the weightage for CL2 have held steady, have the standards held steady or improved?
Clearly, the correlate to higher standards in Chinese is not whether the weightage is high or low, but the standard of instruction.
For folk who are encumbered by a lack of ability in Chinese, this is no longer an incentive to perform better, but rather a punitive measure by which further academic progression is inhibited.
To those who scream ‘UNFAIR’, the motivation for opposing this measure is then very clear. It is not about promoting the standards of Chinese, but rather, preserving your competitive advantage over other students.
I support this measure fully. Its not about lowering the standards of Chinese, for which the solution is increasing the standard of instruction, but levelling the playing field and focussing on the relevant subjects that will deliver for society a productive adult at the end of schooling. -
wondering whether school will allocate less time to MT lessons if cut is significant...
there are too many ripple effects....
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3Boys:
Actually I do not think there is anything wrong with the statement in bold. For parents who did an excellent job to create that competitive edge, why not? I am not one of those parents as my kid's level of Chinese is not competent, however I give kudos to parents who are able to do so. What is wrong in giving credit where it is due? I do not think my child is born inherent with the lack of ability to learn the language, what I do know is that I have not done the right thing enough resulting in this. Should I feel that since I did not do as well as those parents who did better, I should pro this motion to help my child gain back some advantage? Maybe you think that I am dumb, but I am willing to admit that I did not develop my child well enough in learning the Chinese language as a mother tongue. I am willing to make amends and work towards it, but not at the expense of others.
To those who scream 'UNFAIR', the motivation for opposing this measure is then very clear. It is not about promoting the standards of Chinese, but rather, preserving your competitive advantage over other students. -
I agreed. :celebrate:
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3Boys:
Hmmm.. lowering the weightage is \"levelling the playing field\"??
I support this measure fully. Its not about lowering the standards of Chinese, for which the solution is increasing the standard of instruction, but levelling the playing field and focussing on the relevant subjects that will deliver for society a productive adult at the end of schooling. -
3Boys:
the statement is \"UNFAIR\"
For folk who are encumbered by a lack of ability in Chinese, this is no longer an incentive to perform better, but rather a punitive measure by which further academic progression is inhibited.
To those who scream 'UNFAIR', the motivation for opposing this measure is then very clear. It is not about promoting the standards of Chinese, but rather, preserving your competitive advantage over other students.
Losers cry foul. But those who cry foul might not be losers.
If you read through the posts in this forum or discussion board in Straitstime, you will find quite a number English-speaking parents are saying NO to this move. For those who say Yes to move, >90% are those weak in Chinese (0-10% are those who has no vested interest in PSLE)[/b] -
dimsum:
perhaps 3Boys think MT weightage is currently > that of any other subjects....
Hmmm.. lowering the weightage is \"levelling the playing field\"??3Boys:
I support this measure fully. Its not about lowering the standards of Chinese, for which the solution is increasing the standard of instruction, but levelling the playing field and focussing on the relevant subjects that will deliver for society a productive adult at the end of schooling.
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ksi:
:goodpost: My DS is only 3.5YO, I won't know if his chinese will be good or poor next time. So, I am screaming UNFAIR not because of the reason 3Boys mentioned but because I disagree with tweaking the weightage to create an unfair competitive advantage for this group who are good in EMS but very weak in chinese so that they can enter top sec. schools. That's NOT levelling the playing field.
Actually I do not think there is anything wrong with the statement in bold. For parents who did an excellent job to create that competitive edge, why not? I am not one of those parents as my kid's level of Chinese is not competent, however I give kudos to parents who are able to do so. What is wrong in giving credit where it is due? I do not think my child is born inherent with the lack of ability to learn the language, what I do know is that I have not done the right thing enough resulting in this. Should I feel that since I did not do as well as those parents who did better, I should pro this motion to help my child gain back some advantage? Maybe you think that I am dumb, but I am willing to admit that I did not develop my child well enough in learning the Chinese language as a mother tongue. But I am willing to make amends and work towards it, but not at the expense of others.3Boys:
To those who scream 'UNFAIR', the motivation for opposing this measure is then very clear. It is not about promoting the standards of Chinese, but rather, preserving your competitive advantage over other students. -
dimsum:
perhaps 3Boys think MT weightage is currently > that of any other subjects....
Hmmm.. lowering the weightage is \"levelling the playing field\"??3Boys:
I support this measure fully. Its not about lowering the standards of Chinese, for which the solution is increasing the standard of instruction, but levelling the playing field and focussing on the relevant subjects that will deliver for society a productive adult at the end of schooling.
-
3Boys:
the statement is \"UNFAIR\"
For folk who are encumbered by a lack of ability in Chinese, this is no longer an incentive to perform better, but rather a punitive measure by which further academic progression is inhibited.
To those who scream 'UNFAIR', the motivation for opposing this measure is then very clear. It is not about promoting the standards of Chinese, but rather, preserving your competitive advantage over other students.
Losers cry foul. But those who cry foul might not be losers.
If you read through the posts in this forum or discussion board in Straitstime, you will find quite a number English-speaking parents are saying NO to this move. For those who say Yes to move, >90% are those weak in Chinese (0-10% are those who has no vested interest in PSLE)
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