8 Junior Colleges are Merging? Rumors or Reality?

[starlight1968sg]

Tks, slmkhoo

I am thinking so as this shld be the case ie can receive U tuition grant even after poly tuition grant for citizens

[sharonkhoo]

ngl2010:

In the yesterday's newspaper, it is written that \"For example, Anderson JC may take in 800 to 850 students, instead of the current 750 or so.\" If the remaining 19 schools are to absorb 50-100 students, that would mean 950-1900 students. It is about the right number of students from the 4 closed down schools. An increase of 50-100 students per school for just 1 year could cause disruption. The problem is how to get teachers just for 1 year for the remaining 19 schools that will absorb more students? Relief teachers? If relief teachers, most likely the quality of schools will go down. The teachers from the closed down JCs are unlikely able to be distributed to other schools because they still have JC2 to teach at the closed down JCs. What is MOE's plan to tackle this problem?


Remember, the problem is for 1 year only before the 4 merged schools start receiving new students from the closed down schools in 2019.

I don't understand the \"just 1 year\" issue? Starting from next year, the remaining JCs will start taking in larger nos. and their staff size will have to increase, but this increased no. of students will be the new level from then on. So the teachers will be needed from next year onwards. By 2019, the current JC1s will have graduated, so there won't be a large influx from the 4 \"disappearing\" JCs into other JCs (except the retainees, I suppose).

The 4 \"disappearing\" JCs can reduce their staff strength next year as they only need teachers for the JC2s, so some teachers can be moved in 2018, the remaining teachers in 2019.

[ngl2010]

slmkhoo:

ngl2010:

In the yesterday's newspaper, it is written that \"For example, Anderson JC may take in 800 to 850 students, instead of the current 750 or so.\" If the remaining 19 schools are to absorb 50-100 students, that would mean 950-1900 students. It is about the right number of students from the 4 closed down schools. An increase of 50-100 students per school for just 1 year could cause disruption. The problem is how to get teachers just for 1 year for the remaining 19 schools that will absorb more students? Relief teachers? If relief teachers, most likely the quality of schools will go down. The teachers from the closed down JCs are unlikely able to be distributed to other schools because they still have JC2 to teach at the closed down JCs. What is MOE's plan to tackle this problem?


Remember, the problem is for 1 year only before the 4 merged schools start receiving new students from the closed down schools in 2019.

I don't understand the \"just 1 year\" issue? Starting from next year, the remaining JCs will start taking in larger nos. and their staff size will have to increase, but this increased no. of students will be the new level from then on. So the teachers will be needed from next year onwards. By 2019, the current JC1s will have graduated, so there won't be a large influx from the 4 \"disappearing\" JCs into other JCs (except the retainees, I suppose).

The 4 \"disappearing\" JCs can reduce their staff strength next year as they only need teachers for the JC2s, so some teachers can be moved in 2018, the remaining teachers in 2019.

Based on this article http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/ri-and-other-jcs-may-take-in-more-students-next-year, my understanding is only for next year when the 4 closed down JCs will not be accepting new students. The article didn't say \"starting from next year\". It only said \"next year\". Is my understanding incorrect? :?

[Nebbermind]

phtthp:

Serangoon JC students can say they are from Anderson.


Instead of calling it Yishun JC, maybe rename it to Innoshun JC

You mean I-no-shun JC?

[Nebbermind]

starlight1968sg:

Tks, slmkhoo

I am thinking so as this shld be the case ie can receive U tuition grant even after poly tuition grant for citizens

I believe tuition grants were never an issue for sg citizen except that in the old days, the govt expected the poly grads to 'pay back' the investment by joining the workforce and not moving on immediately to the local unis.

[Nebbermind]

50~100 increase means each class increase by 2 or 3 if the number of classes remains the same…no?

Big impact?

[phtthp]

Example


Suppose the increase is : 100.
(after MOE \"ask\" Independent JCs like RI and Hwa Chong, to expand their intake of students, for A level)

Currently, roughly, how many students per class, at 2017 batch of JC1(Year 5) students, in (RI, Hwa Chong) ?

Is it roughy 30 students, or 40 students, per class ?
(at JC level : do they call it as a class, or Civics group ?)

If say, around 30 :
In Year 2019, perhaps RI expand her intake, by opening 3 more classes ?

The Cut-off-point for 2017 JC1 batch of students for (RI, Hwa Chong) was -

4 for Science, also 4 for Arts.

if say, in 2019, open 3 more additional classes in these 2 Top JCs, probably, COP can fall slightly to either 5 or 6 : depending on how many additional classes the expansion extra intake is.
(in Year 2019 JC1 batch)

unlikely for their COP to fall to 7.

For O level students who manage to achieve 5 or 6 points academically, they are very good !

Even if these 2 JCs were to expand intake : the quality of additional intake students for them, still very good.


list of 2017 COP, for various JCs -

http://www.learnerslodge.com.sg/news/jc-cut-off-points-2017/

[janet88]

starlight1968sg:

Tks, slmkhoo

I am thinking so as this shld be the case ie can receive U tuition grant even after poly tuition grant for citizens

thanks for the reply slmkhoo. so even if the child has received tuition grant for poly once, it doesn't mean that citizens will be seen as having lesser chance to get a place in local U.

[phtthp]

Nebbermind:

phtthp:

Serangoon JC students can say they are from Anderson.


Instead of calling it Yishun JC, maybe rename it to Innoshun JC

You mean I-no-shun JC?

haha

now that u break down into \"I-no-shun\" Phonics, means \"I not smooth\" : better don't call it Innoshun.

How about rename to \"Yinova\", or \"Yishun-nova\" JC?

[lee_yl]

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!!!

Should be NCM.

Not surprising, nowadays, for many policies, the government doesn't think they need to get the buy in from the various stake holders. Echoes of the recent 30% increase in water charges which was only announced during the Budget Speech.

The decision to close/merge so many JCs at one go is operationally efficient (almost like a surgical strike in military terms) but there are ramifications in many other areas such as the morale of the teachers and students (and their parents) and misgivings from the general public. Speculation on MOE's motives is rife because MOE did not properly communicate and engage the public about their plans in the first place.