Can through-train school work in kiasu Singapore?
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lee_yl\" post_id=\"2100946\" time=\"1678754806\" user_id=\"17023:
Hmm…. The education system is relatively sound already. On my part as a parent, this is what I will do: If my child need help with tuition, I would tell them just try their best on what they can control (keep trying to learn) and don’t worry too much about what they cannot control (what others are doing). I choose these focuses. Sounds simple but it takes lots of discipline. And I believe this will be where the fine lines are: separating more sustainable efforts/outcomes/less likely to burn out, from overwhelmed stress from constantly chasing others’ tails
I don’t doubt that we have a good education system. We even have a billion dollar tuition ecosystem! 😂
The key consideration is, this successful education system comes at what cost to the parents and the kids.
One key statistic that is often missing from discussion is the teens/children suicide rate. Compare to 20years ago, what is the trend. Upward? -
kaisuism\" post_id=\"2100960\" time=\"1678762456\" user_id=\"199574:
At the moment, there are already many pathways and PSLE does stop or prevent students from exploring their own journey to the top.
If there is only 1 way to the top, of course majority will choose that. But if there are different ways to reach the top, what will happen then? -
sushi88\" post_id=\"2100959\" time=\"1678762232\" user_id=\"100857:
doing a casual poll is one thing, to sign your preschool kid to it is another. how people click online can be different to what they do.
What is 2CS? I think it is cheaper to do a poll.
We should not create a system when people may feel that it is eventually a stigma for kids taking this route if it is a lesser group.
However, I am ok to see a 70/30 kind of vote in support of this, meaning 70% of people will take this route leaving 30% to dash for the over-the-edge crazy kind of academic competition and rigors like the physical 100. Normalisation is best felt with big numbers. Current NA and NT is nothing normal because the numbers are not saying it, how can they be known as normal? It's like Singapore is full of super-beings.
I find the current common PSLE and a choice of IP and secondary will at least give people a balance in their heart emotionally especially when Express, NA and NT are further removed. 心理平衡. Taking an exam at year 6 for some and year 10 for minority others may possibly tip the balance again :siao: right?
The cost is humongous for the kids who are enrolled for this pilot suggested!! :yikes: That is serious damage control for a group of kids if this pilot system does not do any good for them. OMG...
if 70% take the TT route, then applying to IP and DSA schools will be a walk in the park because less competition = lower COP = higher chance. If TT lead to this, those parents who sign their kids up for 10 years TT program may end up with street protest.
In my view, the easier solution may be to make PSLE optional for everyone, there is no need for through train. All P5 students will need to decide if they opt in or out at the end of P5. Those who opt for PSLE will proceed as the norm in school selection using their PSLE AL score. Those who opt out will still sit for prelim exam, but will not be required to take PSLE. For those who choose NOT to take PSLE, students will be asked to select the choice of 5 secondary schools within 3km of their home address or existing primary school. MOE will then notify their school posting at later date. posting will be based on school choice order and through computer balloting. No merit or grade will be involve in school posting. -
Veyron\" post_id=\"2100961\" time=\"1678762986\" user_id=\"30663:
You know how MOE is, they like to do pilot schemes. If they did the research and studied the proposal, and response from the public is positive, I am sure they will start with maybe 2 to 4 schools first before expanding it to a bigger number of schools.
In terms of take-up rate, I think there are possible 2 scenarios and both will also lead to problems.
Scenario 1
Low take-up rate as most parents will prefer to PSLE path. And after 2 or 3 years, MOE decided to stop this TT pilot program because the school doesn't have enough students to support the program.
Scenario 2
As you suggest, throw in some not affiliated well-known primary schools for TT program. Take up rate overwhelm and shortage of vacancies make TT primary school enrolment become super high-stake for parents. P2A 1km ballot, P2B 1km ballot, P2C 1km ballot. Which means driving up property prices and benefiting the rich and disadvantaging the low-income.
I think all the troubles of turning the entire school system upside down may not achieve the desired outcome (ie, no PSLE stress and yet do well for O-level) and may even make the education system more stressful and confusing.
The current registration phases to popular schools is already super high stake. It does not mean that because of that, we don't consider the idea of TT. And do you think the registration for P1 will always stay the same forever? I am sure there will be changes to this first even before we talk about through train to secondary schools.
The fact is, they still go ahead with FSBB even though it is \"troublesomne\" for students to switch classes throughout the day, they still go ahead with IP schools even though it makes the education system more competitive, plus other like creating SAP schools, DSA and Independent schools. -
kaisuism\" post_id=\"2100967\" time=\"1678764494\" user_id=\"199574:
A pilot scheme will be easy if it doesn't require parents to commit their preschool children to 10 years education test program because if the outcome is unfavorable, ie poor O-level result after 10 years, or unhappy students or parents etc. MOE will likely be blamed and critics will say MOE could have done this or that better. (as if we know how this is going to turn out)
You know how MOE is, they like to do pilot schemes. If they did the research and studied the proposal, and response from the public is positive, I am sure they will start with maybe 2 to 4 schools first before expanding it to a bigger number of schools.
The current registration phases to popular schools is already super high stake. It does not mean that because of that, we don't consider the idea of TT. And do you think the registration for P1 will always stay the same forever? I am sure there will be changes to this first even before we talk about through train to secondary schools.
The fact is, they still go ahead with FSBB even though it is \"troublesomne\" for students to switch classes throughout the day, they still go ahead with IP schools even though it makes the education system more competitive, plus other like creating SAP schools, DSA and Independent schools.
P1 enrolment for some schools is indeed overwhelming however the motivation behind is still good education which ultimately leads to good secondary school posting. With PSLE route, everyone is still given a fair chance regardless of which primary schools, and students have 6 years to develop themselves before school selection. For TT program, it will be 2 in 1 combo and certainly, the stake and risk will be much higher. -
Singapore, as a small country, we need to understand what is competition. Shielding is not helping. Competition is real in the world!
As for the PSLE, it can be as stressful as we want it to be.
If we choose to compete at PSLE, then accept the stress.
If we know the education journey has many paths to arrive at Rome, then take our time to get there through the various alternatives offered to get there. Then take PSLE as a mock exam and lessen the stress on ourselves but look forward to the next milestone.
As parents, the most important is to understand our kids’ abilities and needs. Changing the menu frequently and not making sure the kids learn how to appreciate food is not going to change anything. -
Veyron\" post_id=\"2100973\" time=\"1678765918\" user_id=\"30663:
Maybe I am a little harsh on MOE saying they are lazy. With FSBB still new, this TT will not happen so soon because it takes time to even think it is feasible, let alone implementing it. But at least, think about it first. Don't just dismiss it because of current condition.
A pilot scheme will be easy if it doesn't require parents to commit their preschool children to 10 years education test program because if the outcome is unfavorable, ie poor O-level result after 10 years, or unhappy students or parents etc. MOE will likely be blamed and critics will say MOE could have done this or that better. (as if we know how this is going to turn out)
P1 enrolment for some schools is indeed overwhelming however the motivation behind is still good education which ultimately leads to good secondary school posting. With PSLE route, everyone is still given a fair chance regardless of which primary schools, and students have 6 years to develop themselves before school selection. For TT program, it will be 2 in 1 combo and certainly, the stake and risk will be much higher. -
kaisuism\" post_id=\"2100978\" time=\"1678767450\" user_id=\"199574:
This TT idea has been floating around for a while and no one at MOE dares to say no as it will go against the spirit of making primary school less stressful.
Maybe I am a little harsh on MOE saying they are lazy. With FSBB still new, this TT will not happen so soon because it takes time to even think it is feasible, let alone implementing it. But at least, think about it first. Don't just dismiss it because of current condition.
MOE is under tremendous pressure to abolish PSLE, while at the same time confronted by decades of school selection data to suggest that abolishing PSLE will lead to other issues which may even be harder to address. To be fair, MOE didn't say no but raised concerns about the implementation. What worries me most is after going through all the effort of trying TT program, parents and students are still stressed and unhappy, and parents are blaming TT program when students don't do well or are overly stressed at the o-level.
Then what's next? kick the can down the road again to have thru-train JC. -
How about this. Drawing suggestions from discussions thus far. Remove PSLE and make all pri Sch TT to a cluster of schools nearby that pri Sch. Make it optional to take PSLE and pass certain hurdles if kids want to get into IP school otherwise progress to TT sec Sch and take O level at year 10. For those affiliated schools, continue to take in affiliated students and leave 20% for dsa. All students who don’t want take PSLE can take a shot at dsa to enter the IP schools or those affiliated Sch that they were not affiliated to. Like that everyone happy?
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Hmm… the answer to whether TT will work, according to MOE’s measures, probably lies in the statistics generated from all the DSA students.
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