Networking Group - JCs General

[jetsetter]

Sieg:

Hey Jetsetter, please delete my username from that particular post of yours as it wasn't me who wrote this:

\"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.\"
It was Floppy!

done

[Sieg]

slmkhoo:

Sieg:

[quote=\"zbear\"]Just thinking aloud - it's an irony that MOE build a new JC (Euonia) to cater to the demand for more IP JCs n shrinking the no of lower JCs (non IP). isn't this creating more stress amongst the Primary kids (PSLE) and parents who don't want to go to Poly but JC and for those who are determined to try n not give up just becos you are lesser capable than the high ability ones?


Is this another way of creating elitism when MOE die die says All Schools Are Good??? Is this motto still good????

I share your sentiment. Creating more stress and maybe more IMH cases in our society.

But they have said that existing JCs will increase their intake, so the number of students in JCs shouldn't reduce?[/quote]I agree that on the whole, everyone who is eligible and wish to go JC will be granted a place 'at the moment'. However, the way MOE handled those lower tier JCs while creating prestigious one such as EJC shows its favourism towards elitism.
To further explain, all parents want the best for their kids and some (if not most) will stretch their young kids to the limit so as survive this rat race.

[floppy]

Sieg:

I agree that on the whole, everyone who is eligible and wish to go JC will be granted a place 'at the moment'. However, the way MOE handled those lower tier JCs while creating prestigious one such as EJC shows its favourism towards elitism.
To further explain, all parents want the best for their kids and some (if not most) will stretch their young kids to the limit so as survive this rat race.

This is the COP for JC last year:
http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2016/01/29/st_20160129_amcutoff29_2027059.pdf

Effectively, they have removed all the JCs with COP higher than 10 (the bottom rung of 7 JCs). Sadly, the unintended (?) message is if you score higher than 10 points for L1R5, don't bother with the JC route as you probably can't get in, or you probably can't make it (to U) even if you do.

[stetan]

slmkhoo:

stetan:

None of the 5 polys is being merged. I guess they are channeling the lower ability students to polys.

I think it's the other way round - based on what I see/hear among many of the averagely-performing students I know, quite a large proportion prefer to choose poly rather than JC, which would seem to indicate that JCs are falling in popularity. There are students who know that the poly style of more hands-on education is not for them, and those who prefer the depth of A levels/IB and are sure they will go on to university, but I think quite a lot are attracted to polys. Polys give the option of a clearly work-ready diploma plus the possibility of continuing to university; A levels, if the student doesn't go on to university, aren't so useful in landing a job.

A good post i read in another forum:

Another factor to consider is that thanks to poly's marketing, now it's a rather attractive option for youngsters. They are in that stage where \"wah, I don't want JC, go poly, get hands on experience, no need wear uniform.\"

Then if their GPA CMI, they realize that most of our local unis don't want them and their 2+ GPA and regret. You need almost perfect GPA from poly to go to our local U. Still much harder to go U via poly route

Also, another reason could be that because of the perceived difficulty of A levels, those with L1R5 scores of 15-20 may not want to enter a JC since they feel they are not capable of scoring for the A levels also contributing to falling enrollment in the lower tier JC's.

[floppy]

stetan:

...

Then if their GPA CMI, they realize that most of our local unis don't want them and their 2+ GPA and regret. You need almost perfect GPA to go to our local U

...

I don't see the validity of this argument.

You will also need near perfect A level results to make it to our local U (unless you are willing to take whatever course they offer).

[stetan]

floppy:

stetan:

...

Then if their GPA CMI, they realize that most of our local unis don't want them and their 2+ GPA and regret. You need almost perfect GPA to go to our local U

...

I don't see the validity of this argument.

You will also need near perfect A level results to make it to our local U (unless you are willing to take whatever course they offer).

I think he is comparing the ease to get to U via JC or Poly route irregardless of course. Certainly dont need near perfect A level result to get to courses like Arts

[Imp75]

floppy:

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.

Yes, could well be the case.

However, it's not really a case of low tier JCs being absorbed into mid tier JCs given that the only mid tier JC is AJC (in the headline). The rest are the 7 JCs with the worst off COP.

Anyone wonder why do they touch AJC and not some other JCs like CJC,NYJC, ACJC. Is it b/c of affiliation and therefore more uproar? I just felt AJC got short-changed....

[floppy]

Imp75:

floppy:

[quote=\"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.

Yes, could well be the case.

However, it's not really a case of low tier JCs being absorbed into mid tier JCs given that the only mid tier JC is AJC (in the headline). The rest are the 7 JCs with the worst off COP.

Anyone wonder why do they touch AJC and not some other JCs like CJC,NYJC, ACJC. Is it b/c of affiliation and therefore more uproar? I just felt AJC got short-changed....[/quote]CJC / ACJC / NYJC - affiliation.

Next nearest alternative: AJC. No affiliation. That's one less group of stakeholders to worry about.

[sharonkhoo]

floppy:

Sieg:

I agree that on the whole, everyone who is eligible and wish to go JC will be granted a place 'at the moment'. However, the way MOE handled those lower tier JCs while creating prestigious one such as EJC shows its favourism towards elitism.
To further explain, all parents want the best for their kids and some (if not most) will stretch their young kids to the limit so as survive this rat race.

This is the COP for JC last year:
http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2016/01/29/st_20160129_amcutoff29_2027059.pdf

Effectively, they have removed all the JCs with COP higher than 10 (the bottom rung of 7 JCs). Sadly, the unintended (?) message is if you score higher than 10 points for L1R5, don't bother with the JC route as you probably can't get in, or you probably can't make it (to U) even if you do.

The way I see it, all that has happened is that the JC places have been moved around. If existing JCs expand their intake, they will have space to take in students with higher points, and COPs will fall. The JCs cannot keep their COPs unchanged if they still have vacancies.

And I expect that one of the main factors for selecting which JCs to close is whether student nos. are falling. Those with falling enrolments are likely to be the least popular (ie. highest COP figures?)

And it is true that a good no. of A level students will not make it to university; that is the case now and this closure of JCs will not change that. Students (and their parents) should understand this at the outset, surely?

[candyfan]

slmkhoo:

The way I see it, all that has happened is that the JC places have been moved around. If existing JCs expand their intake, they will have space to take in students with higher points, and COPs will fall. The JCs cannot keep their COPs unchanged if they still have vacancies.

And I expect that one of the main factors for selecting which JCs to close is whether student nos. are falling. Those with falling enrolments are likely to be the least popular (ie. highest COP figures?)

And it is true that a good no. of A level students will not make it to university; that is the case now and this closure of JCs will not change that. Students (and their parents) should understand this at the outset, surely?

Have you heard of SIM GE, Kaplan, JCU, MDIS, PSB? These are local private universities offering degree courses for those A level students who can't secure a place or a choice course in local uni. Though most will require a minimum of 3H2 passes and a pass in O level Eng for the A level students, it's not exactly unachievable for most. Our latest stats shows 92.6% of our A level students has obtained at least 3H2 passes with a pass in GP.