* Nanyang JC (NYJC)
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The society today is still very fixated on grades and rankings. Think it will still be same many years down the road. Anyway we have to remember that being in a brand name school doesn’t mean I will be fantastic by default. Similar, being in a neighborhood school also doesn’t mean that I cannot be fantastic either.
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Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2098632\" time=\"1677045576\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2098632 time=1677045576 user_id=195250]
Thank you for your kind words. I'm not a parent, working now and I'm in my thirties. I can only contribute by speaking from my prior schooling experience, which won't be very relevant actually; those recent and ex-students over at Reddit are way more qualified than I and are doing a much better job in sharing their personal school experience/culture.
Please don't leave us.
There are many helpful parents here.[/quote]
Another thing I want to add is the general attitude of young students nowadays is different from the old Boomer/Millennial generations and even my generation. Ours we keep emphasizing lots on brand name, but the new generation focuses much on pursuing life satisfaction and passion; the current young generation would like to grow in a caring and diverse environment more than us do. Back during my time 10-20 years ago I used to hear people making nasty generalizations like poly and local uni non-science/tech programs (eg NUS FASS) are dumping grounds for non-academically inclined. Nowadays we see more good students choosing poly and arts/humanities routes (resulting in better COP in these courses over the years), instead of traditional med/law/engineering etc, because more students want to do what they love instead of what makes the most $$$. The SG education landscape has evolved greatly after I left SG with more new interdisciplinary uni courses set up like what other western countries are emphasizing, and I hope more parents can understand the change we are seeing here. -
thirtyplusperson\" post_id=\"2098635\" time=\"1677047755\" user_id=\"200880:
That is the reason why you have to stay with us and share with us more on your thinking.
.......
The SG education landscape has evolved greatly after I left SG with more new interdisciplinary uni courses set up like what other western countries are emphasizing, and I hope more parents can understand the change we are seeing here. -
This is my personal view only.
There is nothing wrong to ask once or twice for something. But it is rude to force something out of someone. If the sch has choose to keep mum, we should respect the school’s decision. Can only guess this is a way to care for the teaching staff and students.
Tried reading from RV and ACJC websites. No stats were provided this year, only profile of selected students.
To the defenders, there are many types of readers and most of us can discern. -
I always find SG being small, has very limited choices esp come to JCs.
Know kids at 13yo, already got their individual book published for charity. Can guess which top sch they ended up in.
Next, for kids into chinese, sap sch gives the impression of too much rules abiding but through community spirit is also a way to produce good results.
How wonderful if there is an alternative to the traditional top jc. For kids who are none if the above types. -
00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2098641\" time=\"1677049214\" user_id=\"143605:
Bring this to a more general chat? It's a good topic to think about.
How wonderful if there is an alternative to the traditional top jc. For kids who are none if the above types.
But really, compared to my time (40 yrs ago), the Singapore education system offers much more scope and variety now. And while some of the changes have not been that good (in my opinion), some are being rectified. So while we can always try to improve things, don't forget the improvements that have already taken place. -
Sir\" post_id=\"2098630\" time=\"1677045053\" user_id=\"200897:
Yes, Nyjc is no.3 JC
How did you come to this conclusion?
NYJC is 3rd ahead of VJC, EJC, DHS …..
I am trying not to use my F22 here as China has spoken.
https://postimg.cc/xJ3rxV6L -
lassie girl\" post_id=\"2098443\" time=\"1676910043\" user_id=\"35383:[quote=\"lassie girl\" post_id=2098443 time=1676910043 user_id=35383]
When I posted this article, I thought it was self explanatory but realised different readers take away different messages.
Happen to see this article that was published in ST yesterday. Looks like the school must have done something right and hopefully it encourages other schools to learn from their best practices. Going forward let’s share more factual and uplifting stories for a more productive discussion. No point dwelling on ranking because when our children’s welfare is being taken of, they will achieve their full potential. :boogie:
Copying it here
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/school-spotlight-how-neighbourhood-nanyang-junior-college-goes-from-mid-tier-to-top
SINGAPORE – When 16-year-old Lim Yu Xi got a net score of three points in her O-level examinations and could have had her pick of more established schools, she chose Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) instead.
She had her heart set on the school in Serangoon since the end of Secondary 2 as she liked that it offers a wide range of subjects without fixed subject combinations. “I would be able to choose subjects based on my interests without having to worry about whether there would be such a combination available,” says the former Xinmin Secondary School student, citing subjects such as computing and translation.
Another plus point is the culture of the school that was set up in 1978. “NYJC is known for people with good grades and a social life,” says Yu Xi, now a first-year JC student who is studying computing, chemistry, mathematics and economics.
She is not alone among students who did well in their O levels in opting for NYJC, whose enrolment in 2023 is 1,400-strong.
In the 2022 and 2023 Joint Admissions Exercise, NYJC’s cut-off score was six for arts and five for science, putting it in almost the same league as top schools like Raffles Institution (RI) and Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), which both have a cut-off point of five for arts and four for science.
The cut-off point is the score of the last student admitted to a JC during the annual exercise where O-level graduates apply for post-secondary institutions. The score is calculated using a student’s L1R5 – first language and five relevant subjects.
NYJC, whose cut-off scores have been improving in the last decade, is now the top JC that does not offer the integrated programme (IP).
There are eight such JCs. In IP schools, students bypass the O levels and take the A levels after six years.
In 2005, NYJC was a mid-tier JC, with a cut-off score of 12 points for both the science and arts courses.
This improved to six points for science and seven for arts in 2016. At that time, several JCs, including Victoria and National, had a better cut-off score.
It was not until 2022 that its cut-off scores put it second to RI and HCI, among the JCs offering the A-level exams.
NYJC principal Low Chun Meng, who has been heading the school since 2017, says a good cut-off point is one measure of how popular a school is, but not necessarily a gauge of how good it is.
“I don’t think we do anything special to bring down the cut-off point. That is not on our table at any point of time,” he adds.
Instead, he focuses on the learning experience of his students, by continuing and enhancing the work of his predecessor, retired principal Kwek Hiok Chuang.
“When we treat our students like young adults and they know they need to take ownership of their own learning; when they make a good number of friends and support one another; they will be happy and somehow the good word will spread,” says Mr Low.
NYJC’s A-level results have seen a corresponding improvement in the last 10 years.
In 2013, two in 10 students scored 85 rank points or better, and 15 per cent scored distinctions in at least three H2 subjects.
In 2022, six in 10 scored at least 85 rank points, and half the students obtained distinctions in at least three H2 subjects.
An H2 subject is an A-level subject.
Putting students first
In 2006 when Mr Kwek became NYJC principal, he introduced changes that prioritised the students.
“I asked myself what I would hope to achieve if I were studying in a JC and how I would want to be treated,” says Mr Kwek, who retired in 2016 and is now 68 years old.
With those questions as a guiding post, one of the first things he did was to reduce the number of school rules.
Among the rules that were removed was one that stated that students had to be in full school uniform to enter the library.
“We had a good library, but students were not using it because of the rule,” Mr Kwek recalls.
He also scrapped rules on the lengths of school skirts and hair.
“I just told them they must look like a student. And the majority of them are very ‘guai’,” he said, using the Chinese word for well-behaved.
Other changes include a school start time of 8.30am instead of 7.30am, four “dress-down” days in a week when the students can wear school or class T-shirts rather than the uniform, and keeping the school open seven days a week, even on public holidays, to ensure students have a conducive space to study.
Mr Kwek also introduced a flexible subject combination option, which gave students autonomy to pick the subjects they liked. On average, the college offers 90 to 100 subject combinations each year.
Apart from students, Mr Kwek focused on his teachers, by trusting them to do their job well, keeping meetings short and asking them from time to time how he could help them do their job better.
“Little things matter; how you are treated matters. When students and teachers are happy, they will want to do more,” he says.
Mr Kwek encouraged students to take charge of their own learning by seeking advice from their teachers.
“I told my teachers, ‘Let’s have a culture of consultation.’ I told my students, ‘If you cannot find your teacher, look for me, I’ll find another teacher to help you. You don’t have to seek consultation from your own tutor,’” he says.
He believes that success breeds success.
“When you are in a place where you feel good, have positive relationships with friends and teachers, and teachers are guiding you properly, results will naturally go up,” he adds.
But for the former maths teacher, his most important move was perhaps to speak to a wide range of secondary schools.
“Some JCs talk only to a few good schools. I talk to everybody, because there are gems in all schools. If I can get the gems from all the schools, my school will flourish,” he says.
He and his teachers went to these schools to give talks.
Today, NYJC students come from some 85 secondary schools around Singapore.
“The improvement in the cut-off score is the unintended consequence of all that we put in place. We plan and hope that things will improve. How it improves is beyond us,” he adds.
Ensuring school continues to flourish
In 2023, NYJC will launch a science research programme, a collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and three secondary schools, where students will get to work with scientists on projects.
Not only will NYJC students have the exposure, but secondary students involved may also be able to apply to the college via Direct School Admission (DSA), hence building a future pool of students, says current principal Mr Low.
Under the DSA scheme, students seek admission to schools based on their talent in sports, co-curricular activities or specific academic areas.
“Many students are keen and research is something we can do for Singapore and provide our students with opportunities that will benefit them,” he adds.
The school has also been contacting former students and inviting them to share their experiences with their juniors.
“Hearing from someone who has walked the steps before you is powerful. There is a sense of connectedness and the sharing serves as inspiration for our students,” he says.
Mr Low has continued Mr Kwek’s legacy of a culture of care.
When masks were compulsory in schools during the pandemic, NYJC installed an air cooler in each classroom for the teachers, as they were further away from the ceiling fans.
At the height of the pandemic, when the number of infections was high, Mr Low decided to keep the school open on weekends so that students who had nowhere to go for revision could return to study. And some 200 to 300 students did.
While teachers are now unable to work from home, unlike other professions, the school has tried to cater to the needs of those who need to leave earlier or arrive later.
Beyond creating a conducive environment, Mr Low also challenges students to think about the bigger society.
“I ask them what is the purpose of getting good results or getting a good university course. Is it just about a good job or is there more to life? We don’t want our students to be intelligent but self-centred people,” he says.
To encourage students to do more for others, the JC invites social service agencies to speak to them, such as those helping the elderly, mentoring younger children or championing animal welfare.
Then students pick a cause they are interested in so that there is a greater sense of ownership.
“Youths are still figuring out what their role in life is. Giving them a choice is critical,” he notes.
While the school has helped many students graduate with top results, Mr Low is proud of the fact that even students from the Normal stream who entered did well in the A-level exams.
“There were students who didn’t do so well before they came to NYJC. They came here, enjoyed their learning, blossomed and did well.
“This is an important mission of the school – to prepare all students well for life, so that they can contribute to the community,” he says.
Word of mouth, culture of care
The school’s location and accessibility might have a part to play in its increase in popularity.
It is sited next to the Lorong Chuan Circle Line station which started operations in 2009.
But students interviewed also listed various reasons for picking the school.
Word-of-mouth recommendations were key for students like Nixon Tan, 17. The second-year student heard from his Nan Chiau High seniors who had good experiences in the college.
Other students accessed online forums where students discussed their times in schools.
Michelle Toh, 17, who was formerly from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, likes the late start time and dress-down days.
“It shows that the school prioritises student welfare which is important to me,” says the second-year student.
Some first-year students, like Yeh Zhe Kai, 16, and Kyaw Naing Htet, 17, were drawn by the fact that NYJC is a non-IP school, which means everyone would be entering after O levels and they felt it would be easier to make friends.
A former student, Mr Than Zheng Yu, 21, picked the school because he wanted to take chemistry, mathematics, economics and geography at the H2 level. But the care and support he received extended beyond academic learning, especially because he was in the first graduating cohort affected by Covid-19 in 2020.
“My chemistry teacher emphasised a lot on taking care of ourselves and making sure we were not stressed just because we were cooped up at home,” says Mr Than, who has completed his national service and is waiting to enter NUS to study psychology.
First-year student En Teo, 16, who got five points for her O-level exams in Bendemeer Secondary, was asked by relatives why she did not choose a “better” JC.
She says: “I think people of the older generation are still stuck with the misconception that NYJC is not as good and competitive as the so-called top JCs of the past.”
An education research scientist from the National Institute of Education, Dr Lee Shu Shing says NYJC’s improvement in cut-off scores is a long-term development that did not happen overnight.
“It is the work of generations of principals, teachers and students that is bearing fruit today. They focused on student needs and holistic growth, not just academics,” she adds.
She notes that student-centredness is not just about doing everything the students like.
“It is also nudging them in areas of growth when necessary, and providing the necessary support to help them. For example, opening up the school is one way to support students, rather than just telling them to study,” says Dr Lee.
“Students feel cared for when they can do what they like, are able to develop in their niche area, and the school provides the guidance they need.”
School Spotlight is a new series which takes an in-depth look at how some schools are doing things differently.[/quote]
The P outlines what drives the school, and I thought the takeaway is in bold - NYJC principal Low Chun Meng, who has been heading the school since 2017, says a good cut-off point is one measure of how popular a school is, but not necessarily a gauge of how good it is.
“I don’t think we do anything special to bring down the cut-off point. That is not on our table at any point of time,” he adds.
Instead, he focuses on the learning experience of his students, by continuing and enhancing the work of his predecessor, retired principal Kwek Hiok Chuang.
“When we treat our students like young adults and they know they need to take ownership of their own learning; when they make a good number of friends and support one another; they will be happy and somehow the good word will spread,” says Mr Low.
The above should explain why publishing their A level results is not their priority.
Sharing another ST forum letter here too from their alumni: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-chatgpt-is-no-threat-to-this-teacher
I am glad the school has produced a teacher like her, who has since influenced and nurtured many minds under her care. Hopefully more schools will make “culture of care” as their main KPI. :rahrah: -
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TCYM\" post_id=\"2098707\" time=\"1677116824\" user_id=\"196223:
TCYM,
https://postimg.cc/LJG1t2MD
You took the above snapshot,
from the original Reddit source here :-
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/comments/11551sg/a_level_results_2023_compilation/
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