8 Junior Colleges are Merging? Rumors or Reality?
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I think the closure/merger of 4 JCs definitively has something to do with the demographic changes, from DH's era of 100K+ live birth a year till only 30K+ live births a year. Balestier Hill Sec and Henderson and other secondary schools have already been \"merged\" so it just a matter of time before the JCs merge. Even for GEP, 3 classes had to shut down in 2016 and another 2 classes were shut down in 2017 due to the shrinking pupil cohort. So who knows, govt might just shut down another 2 JCs next year.
However, the govt planning could be better improved? Tampines is the biggest estate in Singapore and they will be left with 1 JC after this merger excercise. Whereas Bishan, with a smaller population, will have two JCs there. :scratchhead:
Or maybe the govt now wants to promote STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Maths) education and trying to shepherd more to poly? I wonder if we will see a merger of the polys and opening of new JCs when another new educational minister takes over. :rotflmao:
Some asked why open EJC when within a few years, 4 JCs will be \"merged\"? Let's not forget EJC was planned under the previous educational minister hor, so \"change minister must change policy\".
To put it crudely, even when a NTUC store changes its manager, the new manager will re-arrange the shelves until I can't find my canned food. :siam: -
lee_yl:
I don't think it's a case of promoting STEM education given that STEM education is the only thing that Singapore has been promoting since independence. Is anyone expecting liberal arts education? :rotflmao:
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Or maybe the govt now wants to promote STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Maths) education and trying to shepherd more to poly? I wonder if we will see a merger of the polys and opening of new JCs when another new educational minister takes over. :rotflmao:
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The migration of students towards Poly and away from JCs have been happening for sometime and I don't think anyone higher up actually actively planned for it (maybe that's why we got caught flatfooted with having to close 4 JCs). Every action has an equal, opposite reaction. When IP and additional JCs were introduced, there are bound to have some changes to the way things go.
From a student's POV today, the appeal of a Poly education is real - a diploma that is work-force ready, as well as easy and welcoming entry to overseas universities and, lately, increased access to local universities vs the hard slog of Air Level. If you are good enough, you enter local U (like your equally good A Level peers). If you are not good enough, you work (and earn more than your not good enough A Level peers). If you work hard enough, you can pay your way into an overseas U (and do it at a faster rate than the other trying to pay their way into overseas U A Level peers). If you are rich enough, it doesn't really matter - so why bother with the A Level slog since the outcome (a degree) is going to be the same. What's not to like?
A smaller cohort of A level candidates is probably more in tune with the cohort's demand for A Level education in current times. -
ammonite:
I think jcs and polys are quite different in terms of content and delivery style. Though the cop put them into a ranking system, i will be supportive if my child has to or decide to go to poly. In fact i think a poly may suit some learning styles better.
JC and Poly paths are totally different.
after 2 weeks plus in MI, son couldn't cope with GP and MT...half the time he was lost and felt depressed.
he is very fortunate to be accepted in SP.
GP is very tough. i have 2 cousins who went to RJC and they really struggled.
with the closing down of JCs, where will those students who score 12-15 points for O levels go (if they want to take the JC path)? -
12 points : can still enter mission JCs like SAJC (st Andrew Junior College), Catholic JC, etc.
O level students from the respective Affliated mission Secondary schools, have bonus minus 2 points, to enter (SAJC, CJC, ACJC).
Good for girls, from Affliated (St Hilda, St Margaret, CHIJ family, MGS) Secondary schools.
Good for boys, from Affliated (St Andrew, Catholic High, St Gabriel, Maris Stella High, St Patrick, St Joseph, other Catholic Boys schools, ACS Barker) Secondary schools.
Chung Cheng High students : have -2 bonus affliation points, to enter Nanyang JC.
With the closing down of low-performing JCs :-
One of the last few JCs to admit JAE (O level) students, is Yishun JC, with COP 16 points.
Those with 17 to 20 points :-
"Forced" to go either Polytechnic, or end up in Millenium Institute (3 years’ A level)
Between Poly and MI :-
If still can get admitted into your desired faculty of choice to study in the Poly, is better, than going to MI. Why ? Because u graduate with a ready skill set, to enter work force directly relevant to the industry involved, after studying 3 years full-time Diploma at the Poly and via useful, relevant industrial attachment projects. The industry training exposure, is very good.
But what if armed with (17 to 20 points), fail to enter yr desired faculty of choice in Poly, because entry into Poly is also very competitive, and neither do u want to go MI. Then, what choice do u still have ?
Repeat O level as a private candidate, hope to achieve better results, next round ?
Sg education system : is getting even more stressful
How difficult is it, to score 15 points and below, at O level ?
To score 12 points :
On average, per subject must be at least A2.
If on average per O level subject score B3, with 5 subjects (5 x 3 = 15), u hit 15 points, v fast
With this recent MOE move : more P6 PSLE students will be targeting towards the IP track, instead of the traditional O level route. Another issue : not every student, is suitable for IP. -
There are kids who get above 12-15 points at o levels…based on L1R5, don’t want to enter JCs which are unpopular. Poly courses available to them are not of their interest. Bcos of face value, don’t want to repeat O levels.
RI would have to take in more students to cope with the closure… but will it dilute the high standards?
If the child knows what he/she wants to do, then going to poly would have more value-added compared to MI. Hopefully NUS/NTU will open up more vacancies to these poly students. -
don’t think RI will absorb more students. Per A level batch, RI have around 1200 students.
As it is currently, RI have some students who are "drop-out" of IP track, by opening an "on-demand" O level class, for those students who cannot cope with IP, foresee they have problem moving up to A level. Some of them graduated with more than 20 points, don’t qualify for JC entry. -
phtthp:
It is written in the Straits Times, Friday, 21 April 2017, page A8 that MOE will ask RI and other JCs to take in more students.don't think RI will absorb more students.
As it is currently, RI have some students who are \"drop-out\" of IP track, by opening an \"on-demand\" O level class, for those students who cannot cope with IP. Some of them graduated with more than 20 points, don't qualify for JC entry.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/ri-and-other-jcs-may-take-in-more-students-next-year -
RI would be asked to increase intake…but the quality of students also plays a part so that RI quality will not dilute. What is the level RI is willing to decrease if asked to take in more students?
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ngl2010:
Interesting that MOE \"will ask\", instead of \"instructs\".
It is written in the Straits Times, Friday, 21 April 2017, page A8 that MOE will ask RI and other JCs to take in more students.phtthp:
don't think RI will absorb more students.
As it is currently, RI have some students who are \"drop-out\" of IP track, by opening an \"on-demand\" O level class, for those students who cannot cope with IP. Some of them graduated with more than 20 points, don't qualify for JC entry.
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/ri-and-other-jcs-may-take-in-more-students-next-year -
Jennifer:
because MOE is dealing with RI which is one of the top JC. strangely, why would MOE be asking RI and not other JCs like st andrew's/CJC to increase the intake instead?
Interesting that MOE \"will ask\", instead of \"instructs\".
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