Networking Group - JCs General

[sharonkhoo]

zbear:

A levels are getting tougher n not popular unless you are in the top 5% of the cohort. The swing is towards Poly. Ultimately, you still can get a degree even if you go via Poly.


So it's not surprising that the mid/lower tier JCs are merging.

I would dispute that - if that were the case, then why are the grades constantly improving even with more and more students getting A's at A levels? I cannot believe that entire cohorts of kids are getting smarter. Maybe better-drilled.

[zbear]

slmkhoo:

zbear:

A levels are getting tougher n not popular unless you are in the top 5% of the cohort. The swing is towards Poly. Ultimately, you still can get a degree even if you go via Poly.


So it's not surprising that the mid/lower tier JCs are merging.

I would dispute that - if that were the case, then why are the grades constantly improving even with more and more students taking A levels? I cannot believe that entire cohorts of kids are getting smarter. Maybe better-drilled.

As I already said - unless you are in top 5% in the cohort, A levels will be manageable. Do remember that NOT many students from mid/low tier JCs (non IP JCs) can score 6As/7As/8As let alone 9As. I don't be surprised the total no of students from these JCs who score 7A is probably the same no coming just from 2 JCs - RI/HC.

Also if more and more students are taking A levels (as what you say), why is MOE merging the less popular ones? Pls do give credit to the younger generation of students. For sure, they are smarter than our generation.

[sharonkhoo]

zbear:

slmkhoo:

[quote=\"zbear\"]A levels are getting tougher n not popular unless you are in the top 5% of the cohort. The swing is towards Poly. Ultimately, you still can get a degree even if you go via Poly.


So it's not surprising that the mid/lower tier JCs are merging.

I would dispute that - if that were the case, then why are the grades constantly improving even with more and more students [edited: getting A's at] A levels? I cannot believe that entire cohorts of kids are getting smarter. Maybe better-drilled.

As I already said - unless you are in top 5% in the cohort, A levels will be manageable. Do remember that NOT many students from mid/low tier JCs (non IP JCs) can score 6As/7As/8As let alone 9As. I don't be surprised the total no of students from these JCs who score 7A is probably the same no coming just from 2 JCs - RI/HC.

Also if more and more students are taking A levels (as what you say), why is MOE merging the less popular ones? Pls do give credit to the younger generation of students. For sure, they are smarter than our generation.[/quote]Sorry - fingers too fast for my brain! I meant that more students are getting A's at A levels. And certainly more are taking A levels than in \"my time\" (early '80s), though the numbers are falling now (as evidenced by the merger of JCs and increasing popularity of polys).

I have to differ with you on this issue. I won't go on with it now as I know that many don't agree.

[anxious.01501dad]

I would define A level as manageable when a student is able to achive grades good enough for entry to a local uni. I read somewhere in this forum that it would roughly translate to a UAP of at least 75,. I also believe that the local uni admit more than 20% of each cohort.

The A level exams is getting more challenging compared to years ago in terms of answering technique requirement but probably not in terms of breath as i think the syllabus has been modifed. The students are definitely getting more prepared/ drilled for the exams. There are definitely more students scoring A now as compared to the eighties. In the early eighties, if i remembered correctly there are probably less than 200 students with 4As for the A level subjects nationwide. Nowadays, either HCI or RI will each produce more than 200 students with 4As for the H2. This is, however, necessary as the min grade for entry to popular faculties in local uni is to have many As if not all As which is definitely not the case in the eighties.

[Sieg]

"As to why new JCs such as Eunoia were still being opened if enrolment was dwindling, MOE said that Eunoia JC was opened not to increase capacity but to give students more options, and for a more varied educational landscape".


This is vague. Can someone please elaborate on the "give more options and varied educational landscape".

[Sieg]

-duplicate-

[sharonkhoo]

anxious.dad:

There are definitely more students scoring A now as compared to the eighties. In the early eighties, if i remembered correctly there are probably less than 200 students with 4As for the A level subjects nationwide. Nowadays, either HCI or RI will each produce more than 200 students with 4As for the H2. This is, however, necessary as the min grade for entry to popular faculties in local uni is to have many As if not all As which is definitely not the case in the eighties.

This argument may be back-to-front? The min. grades are set by the applicants, not the university. If enough applicants have 4A's to fill the vacancies, then the min. grades will be 4A's (with a no. of \"special cases\" taken in for other reasons). If there are fewer students with 4A's, then the min. grades will be lower.

[floppy]

Sieg:

\"As to why new JCs such as Eunoia were still being opened if enrolment was dwindling, MOE said that Eunoia JC was opened not to increase capacity but to give students more options, and for a more varied educational landscape\".


This is vague. Can someone please elaborate on the \"give more options and varied educational landscape\".

Because someone, somewhere screws up.
If you cannot convince them, confuse them - and the best way of confusing people is to lump together a few comprehensible, but totally meaning phrases.

Correction: should read \"meaningless\".

[mindays]

This merger of schools will definitely lead to massive uproar. Read through some of the forums that MJC students were quite upset that they have to merge with TPJC, especially when these 2 JCs see each other as "competitors" within the region. I can feel the disappointment in those alumni associations of these affected JCs.

[zbear]

My interpretation of MOE’s move is a signal to O level students who score more than 10 pointers to choose Poly route instead of JC as I see that the partnership of the merged JCs - low tier JC stops intake n gets absorbed into mid tier JC.


Eventually those who score more than 10 points will have a lesser choice of JCs and more Polys to choose.