8 Junior Colleges are Merging? Rumors or Reality?

[jetsetter]

floppy:

mum_sugoku:

Since the affected JCs will cease admitting students from next year, we shall see if, come 2018, max COP of least popular JC remains unchanged at 20pts. Else, we'll have ground to suspect that MOE is indeed downsizing JCs to force borderline scorers to go poly instead.

COP is based on supply and demand. COP will probably change with an increase in places, but +2 at best. It's unlikely to fall drastically unless the supply (availability of places) is ramped up significantly.

To offer a max COP of 20, it would have to be a deliberate decision to artificially maintain it at 20 given the reduction in available places.

In last night's clarification, MOE said AJC and SRJC's COPs may see a slight drop after the merger. The rest probably still stays around the same range. YJC and IJC will still be in the lowest tier I think.

If I'm not wrong, 20 had been the JC COP for the longest time. 20-30 years ago that is.

[Jennifer]

I find it disturbing that some people still think Poly route is inferior to JC route.


These days Poly is so happening.

[jetsetter]

lee_yl:

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:

MOE already attributed to declining live births in the press release.

https://s21.postimg.org/3nrdf77af/170420_moe_falling-births_online.jpg\">

Joint IP of SCGS, CHS and SNGS was conceptualised not during the 'previous' Ed Min's (HSK) term, but NEH's.

[Yngmng]

Jennifer:

I find it disturbing that some people still think Poly route is inferior to JC route.


These days Poly is so happening.

In 2015, about 34% of poly graduates made it to local Uni. That is not too bad!

[phtthp]

Jennifer:

I find it disturbing that some people still think Poly route is inferior to JC route.


These days Poly is so happening.

Employers value Poly Diploma holders more than JC students, because of ready skills Poly students can offer

[jetsetter]

Jennifer:

I find it disturbing that some people still think Poly route is inferior to JC route.


These days Poly is so happening.

The public service sets the wage benchmarks, and other employers in the private sectors follow. Previously, poly grads' starting pay was lower than uni grads', as such older generation parents preferred their kids to pursue uni education to earn higher income. Hence, the stigma's formed.

Poly is suitable for certain groups of learners. I don't understand why parents die die want to impose on their DC to fulfil their own unfulfilled dreams to enter the uni also. You cannot force a hands-on individual to study high literature, write profound academic articles or complex Math concepts. A lot of poly people are good in ICT, M/C/E Engg, Sales / Consumer / Event Marketing, Accountancy.

[jetsetter]

floppy:

lee_yl:

...
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:
...

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:

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).

A smaller cohort of A level candidates is probably more in tune with the cohort's demand for A Level education in current times.

STEM is just the buzzword of today...We've always favoured technocrats over artists! Most govt scholars during LKY's era were sent overseas to study Engg/Econs/Math/Comp Sci. SP and NP were founded to groom vocational talents to join burgeoning sectors like semi-con, mfg, ICT, engg, etc. Notice GEP was also designed to identify talents based on Math (and Eng, the working lang) who may one day become leaders of the future? You can never appoint a musical talent or Olympian to be our future Minister as the economy will collapse and budget will go bust, but you can instead co-opt an NMP from the arts sector to give his/her 2 cents in terms of policy formulation. All these music/sports DSA domains are BS designed for the G to appear inclusive.

[phtthp]

Yes, the new government JC (Eunoia) planning started way back , under Education minister (Ng Eng Hen), not under HSK.


can refer (Sep 2010) Moe press

https://www.pressreader.com/singapore/today/20100902/281487862666717

[jetsetter]

zbear:

lee_yl:

Actually many Singaporeans are very rational. Just provide some facts and figures and explain the rationale why all these established old name JCs have to go. Government has forgotten about the need for effective communications with the public.

Perhaps some parents should start questioning the MOE Minister, BTW, which Minister is responsible?

Seriously, I am surprised that such big decisions were not communicated before implementation. Reading the news yesterday, it's obvious the affected teachers are unhappy n worried for their rice bowls (especially the older ones ) even though MOE kept assuring that they will not lose their jobs, Full of BS, I will say!!!

And NCM is conspicuously absent too!

The affected JC teachers will be retrained to teach either pri or sec school students, or be redeployed to MOEHQ for admin work, it clarified last night. Wonder if they are paid the same after their redeployment to teach bawling notti lower pri kids? What a culture shock!

[phtthp]

with fewer JCs left available now, after 4 shut down, COP standard go up, border-line O level results’ students hop over to Polytechnic, complicated …