DSA 2017

[mn_1704]

Yngmng:

DD2 is entering P1 in 2019 and is now mulling over which school is suitable in view of the recent changes. I have 2 choices. One is a Neighbourhood school within walking distance or a gep school abt 20 mins bus journey. DD1 DSAed via subject domain to her current secondary school. My experience is that the school requires her to demonstrate excellence and passion in a subject domain. This means that the child need to participate and win awards in competitions. Correct me if I am wrong but generally, I noticed that Neighbourhood schools tend to be less active in taking part in such competitions. Will this make branded schools more attractive? I also noticed that in gep schools, most of the academic related awards are won by geppers (correct me if I am wrong). So if the child is not a gepper, sending them to branded gep school does not really increase their chances of winning awards and therefore DSA. Personally, I also feel that with the review, gep becomes less attractive. This is considering the amount of time that they spent on their project works. So even if DD 2 does qualify for gep, will really think twice about joining gep. I would rather she focus on her core academic work. I will also be less enthusiastic abt DSA. From my experience last year, it is really stressful on both parents and child.

Hi, I understand what you had mentioned above.
I can only speak from my personal experience with my DS. My DS is now in Sec 1 in IP a boys school (sorry...not the top IP School... )

My DS's learning journey with GEP - he has learnt a lot (academically and definitely outside of academics) in his 3 years. He is now doing well in his Sec 1 IP programme. As an involved dad from day 1 of his learning journey since he was a baby/toddler, I must say that our DS greatly benefited from the GEP experience.

We did not prepare him with any extra MO classes or special enrichment classes with the hope of getting into GEP when he was in Pri school. He only had CL tuition since we do not speak mandarin at home. He just did it when he went for the selection tests in P3. And now he is in Sec 1 IP, and I can only say that he has gain a whole new learning experience and landscape during his GEP days which benefits him in his Secondary IP.

My conclusion - only able to comment with the experience of my DS. Let nature takes its course. If the child is able to get into GEP with his or her own ability (without all the extra classes and enrichment), then it will be great for the child. The child will be exposed to a totally different aspect of learning and knowledge inquiry.
If the child is able to thrive in a non-GEP school, than so be it. Parents can do more to encourage, facilitate and support the child to explore his non-academic interests, passion and knowledge exploration. I believe as parents, we just do our best to support our children in their learning journey, be it in GEP or non-Gep. I always believe that Parents are always and will always be the main educators and partners of our DCs learning journey.

[coast]

jetsetter:

Updated yesterday oredi.

https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/speeches/moe-fy-2017-committee-of-supply-debate-speech-by-minister-of-education-schools-ng-chee-meng

Hi jetsetter, thanks for sharing the link and your insight.

I read the speech and will share important points with my DS. I encourage parents to do so with their kids.

I strongly feel that MOE is moving in the right direction. I am pleased with many of the changes Minister Ng has announced.

Back to DSA, I do appreciate the changes in context. Many more students will benefit from DSA henceforth.

[sleepy]

Yngmng:

I also noticed that in gep schools, most of the academic related awards are won by geppers (correct me if I am wrong). So if the child is not a gepper, sending them to branded gep school does not really increase their chances of winning awards

I agree. My take is transfer to a gep school if your child is selected for gep. Otherwise might be comparatively better off in a non-gep school especially if you know your child is top in cohort caliber, more opportunities to shine.

Again, merely my 2 cents

[sleepy]

Nebbermind:

for IP schools DSA, the basket of kids with the ability to cope with the rigour of IP isn't that big and so, unless they reduce the number of DSA slots, I think those who would have gone in without this change would not be affected.

True. For the top few schools say if each school were to receive 2000 applications and only selecting <200, these schools would have a buffet of students to pick and choose.

Back to my earlier 葱花 analogy It is simply a renaming exercise for these top schools. Whether general academic domain or subject specific domain won't change these schools' selection criteria.

Once again, merely my 2 cents hor :siam:

[Imp75]

Well…hopefully the new DSA process will weed out you lah tsk tsk tsk …buying insurance ahead of PSLE…

that’s not the intent of DSA lah…both schools and pupils to chope each other before marriage…

[sleepy]

Imp75:

Well....hopefully the new DSA process will weed out you lah tsk tsk tsk ...buying insurance ahead of PSLE....

that's not the intent of DSA lah........both schools and pupils to chope each other before marriage.....

I thought your dd is via dsa too :scratchhead:

[darwinkoh]

coast:

Except for Maths, there aren't a lot of subject-specific competitions (nationwide). The students going for these competitions are usually sent by schools and not all schools participate in them. IP schools have their own assessment (internal tests, HAST/GAT, interviews, ...). MOE has said no to GAT for the new system (note that NUSH and HCI already not using GAT, RI gave some mainstream students GAT exemption last year). So I think schools will likely conduct subject tests to identify the subject-specific talent.

Sorry if I am wrong... but I thought the new ruling dun apply to IP schools. i.e. IP schools still can continue with their DSA academic, GAT if they want to....

[Imp75]

sleepy:

Imp75:

Well....hopefully the new DSA process will weed out you lah tsk tsk tsk ...buying insurance ahead of PSLE....

that's not the intent of DSA lah........both schools and pupils to chope each other before marriage.....

I thought your dd is via dsa too :scratchhead:

lol.......but but but she really got talent :p.......

[Imp75]

Imp75:

sleepy:

[quote=\"Imp75\"]Well....hopefully the new DSA process will weed out you lah tsk tsk tsk ...buying insurance ahead of PSLE....

that's not the intent of DSA lah........both schools and pupils to chope each other before marriage.....

I thought your dd is via dsa too :scratchhead:

lol.......but but but she really got talent :p.......[/quote]No offense Sleepy....not talking about you lah but generally parents' mentality about buying insurance before PSLE.

[BlueBells]

Is general academic ability the same as general ability?


Removal of former will mean DSA via academic route is out? What about GAT since it tests the student’s capacity for learning in general regardless of any specific skill in a certain subject or topic. These two are different?

I agree that DSA via academic route should be out; but am quite divided over if GAT should be out too.

I am concern how a child DSA via non-academic talents might be struggling in his academic learning, and hence, resulting in more tuition to plug the gap, and therefore leading to higher stress factors all round. The need for more tuition to plug the gap is another hotly discussed subject.