Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)

[00skyblue00]

Estéema\" post_id=\"2097187\" time=\"1676042957\" user_id=\"66413:

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THE SUPPER CLUB | RICHARD SEOW

The downside to winning all the time

Richard Seow arrives for the interview with reading material: a speech titled Education Reform which the late DPM Goh Keng Swee gave at an Anglo-Chinese School dinner in 1967, and the book, Twilight Of The Elites: America After Meritocracy by journalist Christopher Hayes. The passion of the 52-year-old, who chairs the boards of governors of Anglo-Chinese School and Republic Polytechnic as well as the Singapore Sports Council, is clear. He talks to Andrea Ong about diversity in top schools and the need for a mindset change in education.

Published on Jun 28, 2014 12:34 AM

Nominated MP Eugene Tan said last month that his alma mater, Raffles Institution (RI), is becoming less diverse. In 2011, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew said more than half the students in brand-name schools have graduate fathers, compared with 10 per cent in neighbourhood schools. What is the situation in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS)?

There's certainly a lot of truth in their statements.

The majority of our students have graduate parents.

Meritocracy, however, comes in from the secondary school level in the form of a single exam, whether it's PSLE, or O or A levels. Currently, shades of grey are coming in, because you've got DSA (Direct Schools Admission), you've got Integrated Programme (IP). We're also starting to get specialised schools. I think these are good.

For primary schools, entry is primarily proximity-based, though they also make allowances for the children of old boys or old girls to come in.

But most schools haven't moved for a long time. As the schools become successful, people want to live nearby. These communities then become successful from going to the schools and doing well.

What is ACS doing to help spread the success to other communities?

One solution we are willing to explore is to open a school in the heartland. We will need to discuss it with the Education Ministry and our stakeholders.

But we were open enough to set up the six schools in the ACS family and now seven: a new special needs school.

Opening in other locations may help with the inclusiveness and the demographics. If more people want to come to ACS, we can't expand our existing schools but we can look at other campuses where you can get the same brand of education.

How do you overcome the social discomfort poor students or those from non-elite schools may feel about applying to top schools like ACS?

We have to do a better job in going down to the schools to market ourselves and talk to the students. But geographic proximity will always be an issue. So you set up schools that are more accessible.

One thing I haven't quite figured out, and maybe others will look into it, is why there are not many more top government schools. If everyone seems to gravitate towards (independent schools like) RI, then there should be RI Central, RI East, RI North and RI West.

Won't that dilute the school identity? How receptive will the old boys be?

It is a risk but we have done it. We've expanded ACS to six schools. To be fair, there was resistance. But now, when ACS(I) plays ACS Barker Road in the rugby final, all the old boys look at me and they go like that (thumbs up). Each school develops its distinctive culture but we keep the same badge and anthem.

We look for platforms where all the schools can come together. That's part of the ethos we have, that this education is not an exclusive but an inclusive education.

You believe there are different pathways in education and one yet-to-open pathway is to let some schools be through-train from primary to secondary. Why?

Why not? It's a fact that some students don't test well. Are we telling them at age 12, your future hinges on the PSLE?

I believe our young should be given all the confidence in the world. Every child should be told he can achieve his dreams.

Take the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) exam at Primary 3. I'm told 1 per cent get into GEP. So the 1 per cent and their families are elated, but what message do the 99 per cent get? \"You're not good enough.\"

PSLE at 12 years old - 10 per cent get into IP. What message do the 90 per cent receive?

We cannot afford to have nine- year-olds and 12-year-olds being told they are not good enough. They are all good. It's a matter of finding their calling and passion. At those ages, we should be instilling confidence in them, so that they are willing to try and willing to fail while trying.

How different is it to chair the boards of ACS and Republic Polytechnic (RP)?

While there are many similarities, there are great contrasts too.

The first thing that comes to mind is age. One is 128 years old and one is 12 years old.

You can see the difference: one is a group of schools with a culture that's evolved for more than a century; the other is a poly starting to evolve a culture but there are always challenges. In the Goh Keng Swee speech, he talks about building on the strengths. That's one of the approaches I subscribe to; that all schools inherently have their strengths.

What are the strengths of Singapore's education system?

I would look at two areas.

The first is skill sets. Our education system has done a terrific job in building up skill sets. Whether it's the Pisa rankings, tests, IB (International Baccalaureate) scores or A levels, those numbers are really high. We've shown that we're very good at taking exams and at assimilating and applying knowledge.

The second area is a bit more challenging and that's mindset.

I used to do global recruiting when I was a banker. I had to deliver a message to the graduates: Sorry, I don't have a job for you.

Generally, the Singapore graduate would stand up, shake my hand, say thank you, and leave. But the foreign graduate would say: \"Is that just for your department? How about for next year? What if I work for free? What if you just give me an internship, I will show you that I'm worth it. Will you hire me then?\"

There is a certain hunger and resilience. There's a mindset that says, I really want that job, I will do whatever it takes to get it.

That was actually part of Goh Keng Swee's speech - it's not just exam smarts, you need the creative imagination, as he puts it.

Why don't local graduates have that drive?

Innately, I think they do. But the preoccupation is with getting the grades and focusing on what it is that will get them to the next level. I was quite amused to find that some of Singapore's top schools actually compile 10-year series of interview questions for law school and medical school, so that students can prepare and have the right answers at the interview.

The question is whether that's authentic learning and whether there is authenticity in the desire to be a lawyer, doctor or whatever career they pursue.

RP is young, so how do you encourage the ethos of giving back?

Take the example of sports. People tend to support teams that win. If you go around Singapore, the majority will support Manchester United, Liverpool and more recently Chelsea and Manchester City. Similarly with educational institutions, you want to find areas of success.

RP has a school of hospitality and a school of sports health and leisure that are doing well. So, play up those successes and show people there are peaks of excellence even though it's a new poly.

Another RP success is its internship programme. As of last year, 100 per cent of all RP students had internships.

The end objective of tertiary education is to get people jobs. But as RP doesn't have the reputation yet, what do you do? You send the students out for long internships. We discovered that post-national service, RP actually has the highest employment rate of all the polys. And in the last two years, three students have been accepted into the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. These successes give the board, the staff and the students immense pride.

What is your view of meritocracy in Singapore?

The tenets are admirable but I don't think they are necessarily absolutes. I had a discussion with a politician, a civil servant and a student. I asked each the same question: Everyone talks about meritocracy, can you help me understand what you think it means?

The politician said: Equal access to all, everyone gets a chance. The civil servant said: Only the best get in. I asked the 14-year-old boy: \"Do you know what meritocracy means?\" \"Yes, sir, I know. Sir, meritocracy means I win, he loses.\"

All three definitions are correct. What does that tell you? Misplaced meritocracy is selfish. It means that for me to move up, I have to stand on his head. Whereas what we are trying to do is I move up, then I help lift him as well.

Which is why I love NS, because to get over a wall, you stand on your buddy's shoulders and get over first, then you reach over and pull him over it. If not, the last man will never get over.

There was a father who came to me. He was an old boy of another primary school. His son went there but came to ACS (Independent). I asked: \"Why?\"

He said: \"Because ACS (I) is the best secondary school. But after O levels, I sent him to another JC because that is the best JC.\"

He wants what's best for his child. But what values is he teaching his son? When you run into a problem, the moment you find something better, you go for it? What does that teach you about belonging to Singapore when we hit an economic speed bump?

Winning all the time, that's not life. The problem is if you have too many wins - you went to the gifted programme, scored straight As, then went to university without having any setbacks - what happens when your girlfriend breaks up with you in your first year? We need a bit more resilience.

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Thanks for sharing

[zac's mum]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2097198\" time=\"1676071582\" user_id=\"143605:

I have a friend living in Jurong West. Her p3 boy got into the GEP program last year. They are travelling from Jurong West to Catholic high now. Pity the boy, but i heard the boy does enjoy the sch and program.

If we put the factor of ACS aside, having a good GEP centre in the west will help such cases. It is a win win, sch and MOE.

Nan Hua Pri would have been nearer for them, but I can understand if he wanted an all-boys school hence chose Cat High.

ACSP in Tengah as a GEP centre versus NHPS: the distinguishing factors would be (i) non-SAP and (ii) Christian school.

[zac's mum]

CNA is having a “documentary” series on meritocracy coming up soon. If keen do have a watch.


I’m glad some higher-ups are doing their part to change our world for the better.

[00skyblue00]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2097200\" time=\"1676073646\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2097200 time=1676073646 user_id=53606]
Nan Hua Pri would have been nearer for them, but I can understand if he wanted an all-boys school hence chose Cat High.

ACSP in Tengah as a GEP centre versus NHPS: the distinguishing factors would be (i) non-SAP and (ii) Christian school.[/quote]

Didn't get in NH too. Yes to many, chinese may be a concern. A few other considerations.

[00skyblue00]

The setting up of special needs school is commendable. Many are only looking at getting top kids, this move comes very timely…

Reminded me of the toh yi twins case, more and more we read abt such cases on the news, so heartening to know the higher ups are looking into them.

[00skyblue00]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2097203\" time=\"1676074713\" user_id=\"143605:

Didn't get in NH too. Yes to many, chinese may be a concern. A few other considerations.

Just speculation, no evidence, but by pure mathematics, if west population is significantly higher than other regions, the demand for GEP, special needs and everything else will increase too.

Friend son got posted to sch, not even in their 3 choices.

[Hendon]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2097200\" time=\"1676073646\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2097200 time=1676073646 user_id=53606]
Nan Hua Pri would have been nearer for them, but I can understand if he wanted an all-boys school hence chose Cat High.

ACSP in Tengah as a GEP centre versus NHPS: the distinguishing factors would be (i) non-SAP and (ii) Christian school.[/quote]

If you are offered GEP, I doubt distance is a factor, and even if it is really a factor, I doubt the govt is going to all that trouble to make things convenient for the westies.

[Veyron]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2097201\" time=\"1676073999\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2097201 time=1676073999 user_id=53606]
CNA is having a “documentary” series on meritocracy coming up soon. If keen do have a watch.

I’m glad some higher-ups are doing their part to change our world for the better.[/quote]

Moving ACS to Tengah doesn't change anything because parents with means will still have the advantage over others when it comes to primary school admission, logistics, enrichment etc.

Having an elite school in the west may also add pressure on those HDB dwellers living in Tengah. Imagine the stream of luxury vehicles coming to school during drop-off and pick-up. (a common sight for ACS Barker or Bukit Timah belt primary school).

If the goal here is meritocracy then the best thing to do is to do away with affiliation for ACS boys.

[Veyron]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2097205\" time=\"1676075886\" user_id=\"143605:

Just speculation, no evidence, but by pure mathematics, if west population is significantly higher than other regions, the demand for GEP, special needs and everything else will increase too.

Friend son got posted to sch, not even in their 3 choices.

I think better to look at birthrate, demographic distribution & density of BTO instead of raw population.
BTO = young family = young children.
Matured estate = old people

In the west, there are NH and Henry Park, so I am just curious why your friend's son couldnt get into them

Perhaps your friend wasted their choice selection by choosing far away popular GEP schools like ACS and NYPS?
If so, then it's not because there is an insufficient supply of GEP schools in the West, but rather, poor choice of school selection.

[00skyblue00]

Veyron\" post_id=\"2097228\" time=\"1676092257\" user_id=\"30663:

I think better to look at birthrate, demographic distribution & density of BTO instead of raw population.
BTO = young family = young children.
Matured estate = old people

In the west, there are NH and Henry Park, so I am just curious why your friend's son couldnt get into them

Perhaps your friend wasted their choice selection by choosing far away popular GEP schools like ACS and NYPS?
If so, then it's not because there is an insufficient supply of GEP schools in the West, but rather, poor choice of school selection.

Did i write they put AC?? Ny?? :?
Let me recall, there were a few considerations yes. Also didn't get in NH. Like what another parent rightly point out, its preferences, thats why parents are given 3 choices, instead of direct posting.

The need for primary school places, yes, population of younger families of course. You are right!!!

The new housing and innovation hub/district, of course gov is not just responding to one case. They study future trend through careful planning of course.

East has Tao Nan, St Hilda.
NH is not really considered near for west west. If you driving, not much diff to go NH or CHS.
It seem West and North are under a little \"underprovided\". Jurong region line will make travel from north to Tengah shorter in under 30 mins.