Can through-train school work in kiasu Singapore?

[zac's mum]

So after all the above discussion, the general consensus is, no need new thru train schools, no need scrap PSLE or opt-out, those parents who want less stress can just do like how existing parents have always done, ie to register at one of the following 33 affiliated primary schools during P1 registration. Choose wisely based on what you think your K2 child’s potential PSLE score lies. Is that it?


1. ACS (Junior)
2. ACS (Primary)
3. Catholic High School (Primary)
4. CHIJ (Katong) Primary
5. CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)
6. CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity
7. CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel
8. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School
9. CHIJ (Kellock)
10. CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace
11. Fairfield Methodist School (Primary)
12. Geylang Methodist School (Primary)
13. Holy Innocents’ Primary School
14. Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School
15. Maha Bodhi School
16. Mee Toh School
17. Maris Stella High School (Primary section)
18. Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
19. Montfort Junior School
20. Nanyang Primary School
21. Ngee Ann Primary School
22. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
23. Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School
24. St Andrew’s Junior School
25. Canossa Convent Primary School
26. St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School
27. St Gabriel’s Primary School
28. St Hilda’s Primary School
29. De La Salle School
30. St Anthony’s Primary School
31. St Joseph’s Institution Junior
32. St Stephen’s School
33. St Margaret’s Primary School

[Zeal mummy]

If you look closely. TT schools already exist… and the beauty of it, is that if your child does exceptionally well, he can still join the psle race by forgoing the TT. We can advocate to have more of such schools, if it makes it less stressful for everyone.

[bbbay]

Sometimes my boss take in info “slower” than us. Hypothetically, say one of us suan him, “why you so slow?” I am sure he will reply “I happy or you happy? It’s my business, and I have to take my time to understand the situations. I am the one that have to live with my decision so bloody hell have to understand the problem well!”


So if my child learn better when in “lesser” stream or feel well enough in “lesser” school and someone suan me, I will also reply “I happy or you happy?” :roll:

[bbbay]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2101230\" time=\"1678883369\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2101230 time=1678883369 user_id=53606]
So after all the above discussion, the general consensus is, no need new thru train schools, no need scrap PSLE or opt-out, those parents who want less stress can just do like how existing parents have always done, ie to register at one of the following 33 affiliated primary schools during P1 registration. Choose wisely based on what you think your K2 child’s potential PSLE score lies. Is that it?
[/quote]

This is my view. Would like to hear other parents views:

FSBB is bringing the streams closer and yet still cater to each student learning style. For discussion sake, assuming we can know accurately at K2, our child PSLE potential, and our child learning style is tricky, not going to be suited to express stream’s model, and it will be NT. Must it then be one of those 33 affiliated primary schools? Other primary schools won’t work? Since the advantage these 33 primary schools is the easier path to NT stream in the affiliated Seconday school, but it’s still the same MOE NT stream. A large majority of other secondary schools have the same MOE NT stream too. Culture /religion preference aside, in term of academic learning, isn’t all secondary schools have the same MOE NT stream? So why not any primary schools will do when it comes to academy learning of our child? Lesser parents’ stress.

So “TT” we are looking at here at this stage of the discussion, in already applicable to all schools isn’t it?

Or is it the “TT” parents have in mind, is actually TT to branded schools; TT to schools with better facilities?

If this is the case, parents are seeking for more in their own accord (and for their own reasons), and along come the additional stress?

[zac's mum]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2101269\" time=\"1678924371\" user_id=\"175278:

This is my view. Would like to hear other parents views:

FSBB is bringing the streams closer and yet still cater to each student learning style. For discussion sake, assuming we can know accurately at K2, our child PSLE potential, and our child learning style is tricky, not going to be suited to express stream’s model, and it will be NT. Must it then be one of those 33 affiliated primary schools? Other primary schools won’t work? Since the advantage these 33 primary schools is the easier path to NT stream in the affiliated Seconday school, but it’s still the same MOE NT stream. A large majority of other secondary schools have the same MOE NT stream too. Culture /religion preference aside, in term of academic learning, isn’t all secondary schools have the same MOE NT stream? So why not any primary schools will do when it comes to academy learning of our child?

I agree with you that the FSBB scheme will (eventually down the road) break down the existing walls among the 3 streams. It will take probably another 8-16 years or another generation to see the positive effects on society.

At K2 age 6 years old, most preschool kids are hands-on learners. Can’t really say that all such kids suited for NT? However, I know some boys that age who have trouble with handwriting and seated written work. Those are unlikely to catch up in time for PSLE to go IP stream. I dont know how to gauge about Express or NA potential.

I have a friend’s child who is in a popular primary school without affiliation. The school is very academically pressurizing. Unfortunately the child’s learning ability is Foundation level. Processing speed is slower than normal. Suffering in school from all the demands. Parents know that probably end up in NT stream. They just hope it is not too far from home. I won’t agree with you that a thru train or affiliated school with less pressure will NOT be good for this child. Rather, the opposite would work wonders emotionally.

[phtthp]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2101231\" time=\"1678883660\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2101231 time=1678883660 user_id=58173]
If you look closely. TT schools already exist.. and the beauty of it, is that if your child does exceptionally well, he can still join the psle race by forgoing the TT. We can advocate to have more of such schools, if it makes it less stressful for everyone.[/quote]

Yes, TT already exists, in the form of very low affliation Cut off point. Eg. AL 22
No need to re-invent the wheel.

What MOE ought to do, is

1) to build more \"Pathlight\" schools in other parts of Singapore, to cater to the needs of autistic children living in many other far away areas, apart from current Ang Mo kio.


2) perhaps, introduce some more existing primary schools, for affliation.

[bbbay]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2101270\" time=\"1678925733\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2101270 time=1678925733 user_id=53606]
I agree with you that the FSBB scheme will (eventually down the road) break down the existing walls among the 3 streams. It will take probably another 8-16 years or another generation to see the positive effects on society.

At K2 age 6 years old, most preschool kids are hands-on learners. Can’t really say that all such kids suited for NT? However, I know some boys that age who have trouble with handwriting and seated written work. Those are unlikely to catch up in time for PSLE to go IP stream. I dont know how to gauge about Express or NA potential.

I have a friend’s child who is in a popular primary school without affiliation. The school is very academically pressurizing. Unfortunately the child’s learning ability is Foundation level. Processing speed is slower than normal. Suffering in school from all the demands. Parents know that probably end up in NT stream. They just hope it is not too far from home. I won’t agree with you that a thru train or affiliated school with less pressure will NOT be good for this child. Rather, the opposite would work wonders emotionally.[/quote]

Have added 3 more paragraphs after your reply. Appreciate if you can offer your views too.

[zac's mum]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2101272\" time=\"1678926376\" user_id=\"175278:

Have added 3 more paragraphs after your reply. Appreciate if you can offer your views too.

In my cited example, the parents are not aiming for any branded school with NT stream. Just the nearest or next nearest neighborhood school for ease of travelling.

The stress they are experiencing comes from the school culture and teachers, where grades and PSLE are hyped up to be so important and high stakes. The parents know it is not high stakes for them, they are not wanting to compete in the rat race, but the child suffers because cannot cope with the workload and hates school. If can skip PSLE for these folks, would be ideal. They already know which stream they will end up and happy to accept that.

[Veyron]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2101230\" time=\"1678883369\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2101230 time=1678883369 user_id=53606]
So after all the above discussion, the general consensus is, no need new thru train schools, no need scrap PSLE or opt-out, those parents who want less stress can just do like how existing parents have always done, ie to register at one of the following 33 affiliated primary schools during P1 registration. Choose wisely based on what you think your K2 child’s potential PSLE score lies. Is that it?

1. ACS (Junior)
2. ACS (Primary)
3. Catholic High School (Primary)
4. CHIJ (Katong) Primary
5. CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)
6. CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity
7. CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel
8. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School
9. CHIJ (Kellock)
10. CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace
11. Fairfield Methodist School (Primary)
12. Geylang Methodist School (Primary)
13. Holy Innocents' Primary School
14. Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School
15. Maha Bodhi School
16. Mee Toh School
17. Maris Stella High School (Primary section)
18. Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
19. Montfort Junior School
20. Nanyang Primary School
21. Ngee Ann Primary School
22. Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary)
23. Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School
24. St Andrew's Junior School
25. Canossa Convent Primary School
26. St Anthony's Canossian Primary School
27. St Gabriel's Primary School
28. St Hilda's Primary School
29. De La Salle School
30. St Anthony's Primary School
31. St Joseph's Institution Junior
32. St Stephen's School
33. St Margaret's Primary School[/quote]

Many of the affiliated schools in the list are nonsecular or Chinese schools, which may not suit some Singaporean families. In Singapore, there are around 180 primary schools at the moment,, which means around 150 primary schools are still nonaffiliated. Getting into schools with affiliation may not be easy due to location. high demand and balloting.

Hence for the vast majority of Singaporean families, affiliation schools are out of reach and even if everyone try harder, there will still be insufficient vacancies to accommodate any increase in demand since most of these schools are already filled.

This means around 70% of P1 students every year will be admitted to nonaffiliated schools and among the other 30%, maybe 70% of the students may not need the affiliation route, they are just there for quality education and brand sake. This means these so-called \"TT\" school pathways are not benefiting the people who need them and are confined to a small group only. (Perhaps those who are more privileged)

In my view, any policy design to benefit Singaporeans will have to be made accessible to everyone, not confined to a certain group oonly.

As for knowing your child's ability and potential before P1. I believe not all preschool children in Singapore have the privilege of attending fancy enrichment before they start school, and realistically it's also difficult for parents to know precisely what education pathway is best suited for their child. What is their interest, and what CCA suit them? Some may be late bloomers, some discover their interests later, and some may have an underlying learning disability that is not detected.

I do agree that the demand for students to skip PSLE will be small, but they are still an important group that MOE will need to address. Although the affiliation pathway is akin to TT, there is still a small but contrasting difference between making PSLE compulsory for S1 promotion or not. Some parents just don't wish their child to be tested and compared at an early age.

For the nay sayer, PSLE is outdated PSLE is cruel,PSLE doesnt serve any purpose
MOE : We will make them optional

For the yea sayer, PSLE is an important checkpoint, PSLE is meritocratic and important for school posting.
MOE: We will continue to use PSLE for S1 posting

[bbbay]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2101284\" time=\"1678927833\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2101284 time=1678927833 user_id=53606]
In my cited example, the parents are not aiming for any branded school with NT stream. Just the nearest or next nearest neighborhood school for ease of travelling.

The stress they are experiencing comes from the school culture and teachers, where grades and PSLE are hyped up to be so important and high stakes. The parents know it is not high stakes for them, they are not wanting to compete in the rat race, but the child suffers because cannot cope with the workload and hates school. If can skip PSLE for these folks, would be ideal. They already know which stream they will end up and happy to accept that.[/quote]

My opinion is, it is better to teach the child how to cope - other kancheong you don’t have to kancheong :xedfingers:. Skipping PSLE may bring on new set of problem- not sorted/identifying the child learning style.