8 Junior Colleges are Merging? Rumors or Reality?
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jetsetter:
Frankly, I dunno who the people making noises are. Some are parents with kids in JCs attended by Ministers' kids, i.e. they are from top JCs like VJC or NJC. They themselves were non-alumni of any of the 28 affected schools, unless they otherwise admit in this forum. As far as I know, only 2 KGMs have mentioned they were from AJC and while they lamented about the merger and possible slide in COP, they aren't going to petition or do anything at all. Other noisemakers aren't teachers or staff from the affected schools it seems.
Should be NCM.lee_yl:
[quote=\"zbear\"]
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!!!
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.
The hardcopy ST covers a lot more stories on the mergers. Most netizens jumped at the dribs and drabs because they obtained snippets from forums (sometimes backdated ST links or blocked links because you're limited to 15 ST online articles per month!) but actually I get a better picture and more balanced perspective after reading the hardcopy news articles like Zaobao and ST. For instance, I didn't get the impression the teachers were disgruntled. Perhaps they were but were muted by media. But at least from ST report, I know the Singapore Teachers' Union is already working in concert with affected teachers on the transition.
Likewise, from ST hardcopy, I learnt that while JJC alumni were sad that their 30yo JC is going to go down in history, they have come to terms with the merger and will be engaging alumni on the merger at a meeting next month and has already started collecting feedback from them, including asking for ideas on how the new JC’s identity can be shaped.
I'm also baffled why some altruistic champions of lower income/late bloomers aren't sticking their necks out for those affected primary and secondary schools, but only those 8 JCs.
Some of the affected primary schools have a longer history （Shuqun Pri School 1925; Da Qiao Pri Sch 1936; ) than the new and under-subscribed JCs. I found out from Zaobao article that Macpherson Primary School was Chan Chun Sing's alma mater. Even the Minister's alma mater wasn't spared in this mass merger.
http://origin-www.channel8news.sg/news8/singapore/20170421-sg-schools-merger/3695934.html
Why aren't the noisemakers kicking up a big fuss over these heritage pri schools? Why take aim at EJC whose brandnew campus was already agreed upon during the JIP negotiations among stakeholders and alumni, and cast in stone/rubber-stamped in the blueprint some 8-10 years ago, i.e. before this current rookie minister decided to merge the 8 non-IP JCs? I think it's unfair to take aim at EJC because the students have already been sensible and magnanimous enough to occupy the temp campus in Mount Sinai for 2 years after the outcry in 2015.
If the parents of those 8 JCs are so upset (or some crusaders with no vested interests in any of the 28 schools), they should muster their courage to write in to the Minister, start a petition or Meet their MP to express their grievances, like the parents of those 3 heritage schools of EJC. MOE sat up to engage the stakeholders, because the immediate stakeholders cared enough to take ownership of their case to voice out their concerns through proper channels.
However, I don't see any alumni of those affected JCs taking ownership to start any petition or write to MOE at all. They seem ok that their / DC's lower-tier JCs are being merged and shut down. Why? Either they have no pride of, no affinity to those under-subscribed govt JCs and secondary schools or they are just 'empty vessels' in a public forum, unlike those EJC indept/govt-aided school stakeholders 2 years ago. Who's going to bother with you if you are too ashamed to fight for your alma mater? :slapshead:[/quote]Jetsetter, I rarely ventured out of my IJC den but this post caught my attention in the jc general networking thread.
It is particularly impudent to make such negative general comments for whatever reasons.
Please explain and I demand an apology from you on behalf of IJC alumni! -
Great! So glad my post has drawn vocal folks from one of the merged JCs out from their dens!
What are you waiting for? Rally your alumni, past and present Ps and VPs, Exec Advisory Committee and BOD, parents, current students to start a petition and fight for IJC's brand to be retained.
Why should I apologise? I'm offering you guys a suggestion, which is to fight for your alma mater. :roll: -
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Actually, why bother speaking up when the decision is made. The best to show your displeasure is at the ballot box
The Ministry has already set out the rationale why these schools are chosen:
[quote]MOE had studied the different potential merger partners carefully. In considering the compatibility of merger partners, we generally prefer to pair Government schools. The mergers would be far more complex and challenging if we paired a Government school with a Government-Aided school, as their legal and governance structures are different and difficult to integrate.
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Integrated Programme (IP) JCs and non-IP JCs are not compatible merger partners because they offer different programmes to suit their students’ needs. On the other hand, we found that we could retain a reasonably good geographical distribution by merging the existing eight Government JCs.[/quote]In short, merging other schools will cause enough more displeasure. The 8 schools have a smaller number of stakeholders to deal with whereas the other schools have feeder schools, clan associations or religious organizations to deal with. MOE just isn't prepared to start a fight on so many fronts. -
jetsetter:
Actually, your tone don't have to be so condescending.Great! So glad my post has drawn vocal folks from one of the merged JCs out from their dens!
What are you waiting for? Rally your alumni, past and present Ps and VPs, Exec Advisory Committee and BOD, parents, current students to start a petition and fight for IJC's brand to be retained.
Why should I apologise? I'm offering you guys a suggestion, which is to fight for your alma mater. :roll:
We all know petitioning work. Afterall, the former unnamed IPJC (EJC) holding location at Mt Sinai was changed to Mt Sinai after listening to parents' feedback. On a slightly unrelated topic, I also heard that the increase in water charges was reduced from 30% to 30% after the huge uproar.
If the powers that be are interested in feedback, they would have asked or consulted prior to any announcements. It's a done deal. Live with it (and vote wisely :rotflmao: ). -
floppy:
In short, merging other schools will cause enough more displeasure. The 8 schools have a smaller number of stakeholders to deal with whereas the other schools have feeder schools, clan associations or religious organizations to deal with. MOE just isn't prepared to start a fight on so many fronts.[/quote]I remember vividly 2 years ago, an EJC parent used the classic phrase 吃死猫. I'm puzzled why the affected schools' alumni and students are so silent. Maybe they have aired their grievances elsewhere in EDMW and FB confessions pages.Actually, why bother speaking up when the decision is made. The best to show your displeasure is at the ballot box
The Ministry has already set out the rationale why these schools are chosen:
[quote]MOE had studied the different potential merger partners carefully. In considering the compatibility of merger partners, we generally prefer to pair Government schools. The mergers would be far more complex and challenging if we paired a Government school with a Government-Aided school, as their legal and governance structures are different and difficult to integrate.
....
Integrated Programme (IP) JCs and non-IP JCs are not compatible merger partners because they offer different programmes to suit their students’ needs. On the other hand, we found that we could retain a reasonably good geographical distribution by merging the existing eight Government JCs.
It's still quite saddening isn't it? Did you click on the Channel 8 link I posted? The video played 邂逅 by 巫启贤... JJC was the cradle of Xinyao and it's not a new JC you know...I'm not from JJC but I've friends from JJC. Feel sorry for them.
As for alumni like that luvpsalm, I reckon she's an undergrad or young employee as IJC is very young. Have they started to engage MOE, like JJCA, on how to preserve their college identity? Any impact on future job search and scholarship applications? AJC's standing is quite high in the market. -
floppy:
Actually, your tone don't have to be so condescending.jetsetter:
Great! So glad my post has drawn vocal folks from one of the merged JCs out from their dens!
What are you waiting for? Rally your alumni, past and present Ps and VPs, Exec Advisory Committee and BOD, parents, current students to start a petition and fight for IJC's brand to be retained.
Why should I apologise? I'm offering you guys a suggestion, which is to fight for your alma mater. :roll:
We all know petitioning work. Afterall, the former unnamed IPJC (EJC) holding location at Mt Sinai was changed to Mt Sinai after listening to parents' feedback. On a slightly unrelated topic, I also heard that the increase in water charges was reduced from 30% to 30% after the huge uproar.
If the powers that be are interested in feedback, they would have asked or consulted prior to any announcements. It's a done deal. Live with it (and vote wisely :rotflmao: ).
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jetsetter:
So this is how an EJC parent behaves? I am speechless.Great! So glad my post has drawn vocal folks from one of the merged JCs out from their dens!
What are you waiting for? Rally your alumni, past and present Ps and VPs, Exec Advisory Committee and BOD, parents, current students to start a petition and fight for IJC's brand to be retained.
Why should I apologise? I'm offering you guys a suggestion, which is to fight for your alma mater. :roll:
Your kid is suffering in the old RJC campus and you are feeling very sore and also worried that the 'ivory tower', as someone put it, may disappear from EJC too? EJC parents don't have the means to provide their kids with nice environment so die die must rely on school campus to give them that small piece of luxury is it? Pathetic yah?
You guys still didn't get SJI (Independent) holding premises after all the dogfights, did you? Why suggest the same ineffective formula to us? You better look elsewhere for new inspirations.
There's a much easier way to fight for our rights. We are taking the calm and patient path.
Still owe us an apology.... -
Oh yes Jetsetter, our private pool in the backyard hasn’t been touched for months. DS in NS, you see. If you apologise, I will consider inviting your kid and her EJC friends over for some enjoyment. Someone lamented that EJC don’t even have a pool like RI’s.
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luvpsalm:
You should post that in EJC thread. It's not my alma mater (edited) :roll:
So this is how an EJC parent behaves? I am speechless.jetsetter:
Great! So glad my post has drawn vocal folks from one of the merged JCs out from their dens!
What are you waiting for? Rally your alumni, past and present Ps and VPs, Exec Advisory Committee and BOD, parents, current students to start a petition and fight for IJC's brand to be retained.
Why should I apologise? I'm offering you guys a suggestion, which is to fight for your alma mater. :roll:
Your kid is suffering in the old RJC campus and you are feeling very sore and also worried that the 'ivory tower', as someone put it, may disappear from EJC too? EJC parents don't have the means to provide their kids with nice environment so die die must rely on school campus to give them that small piece of luxury is it? Pathetic yah?
You guys still didn't get SJI (Independent) holding premises after all the dogfights, did you? Why suggest the same ineffective formula to us? You better look elsewhere for new inspirations.
There's a much easier way to fight for our rights. We are taking the calm and patient path.
Still owe us an apology....
No apology from me. Only heartfelt sympathies for you guys...
Take a leaf from the very brave OVA? :salute:
http://www.ova.org.sg/2009/09/in-the-news-vjcs-ip-plan-upset-alumni-write-to-minister/
Good luck!
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