Are All Primary Schools The Same?

[floppy]

Revival of a 9yo thread :rotflmao:


Not all primary schools are equal; and not all primary schools are the same. The difference starts with the apex and then filters downwards.

Strictly speaking, the https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/speeches/speech-for-mr-ong-ye-kung--minister-for-education--at-the-singapore-hokkien-huay-kuan-affiliated-schools-teachers-day-appreciation-dinner-and-leap-award-presentation-ceremony in Singapore :scared: :yikes: :shock: Schools with powerful backers may be better funded and / or are able to call on more resources to carry out enrichment programmes or similar for their students, if they think it's worthwhile. Also, schools with a richer / longer history will naturally have a bigger pool of former alumni to call upon. Both are valuable networks and support to have.

FWIW, the government will only build 'standard' facilities for the schools. Government aided schools can choose to build non-standard facilities (such as gymnasium) but they will have to raise 100% of the building fund for these facilities. Many such schools did in fact utilise the opportunity provided during PRIME to build / include these 'non-standard' facilities. Guess here's an area where the two groups mentioned in the para above will come in handy :evil:

When you put that combination of better funding / resources, motivated teachers (see zac's mum comments about teachers wanting to join the school - as opposed to, you know, being 'posted'), and highly involved PSG (because kiasu parents exist, in real-life, not just on the net), the schools end up not being equal and not being the same.

[KiasuAhTan]

I would imagine the min standard is the same.


There are those that go beyond the min standard because they can afford the monies, time, interest, aspirations, energy etc.

[senthil303]

If better facilities and/or affiliation to secondary are the carrots, lack of enriching diverse environment due to lack of multi-gender, multi-racial, multilingual or multicultural are the potential trade trade-offs?

floppy\" post_id=\"1978306\" time=\"1590689114\" user_id=\"97579:

Revival of a 9yo thread :rotflmao:

Not all primary schools are equal; and not all primary schools are the same. The difference starts with the apex and then filters downwards.

Strictly speaking, the https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/speeches/speech-for-mr-ong-ye-kung--minister-for-education--at-the-singapore-hokkien-huay-kuan-affiliated-schools-teachers-day-appreciation-dinner-and-leap-award-presentation-ceremony in Singapore :scared: :yikes: :shock: Schools with powerful backers may be better funded and / or are able to call on more resources to carry out enrichment programmes or similar for their students, if they think it's worthwhile. Also, schools with a richer / longer history will naturally have a bigger pool of former alumni to call upon. Both are valuable networks and support to have.

FWIW, the government will only build 'standard' facilities for the schools. Government aided schools can choose to build non-standard facilities (such as gymnasium) but they will have to raise 100% of the building fund for these facilities. Many such schools did in fact utilise the opportunity provided during PRIME to build / include these 'non-standard' facilities. Guess here's an area where the two groups mentioned in the para above will come in handy :evil:

When you put that combination of better funding / resources, motivated teachers (see zac's mum comments about teachers wanting to join the school - as opposed to, you know, being 'posted'), and highly involved PSG (because kiasu parents exist, in real-life, not just on the net), the schools end up not being equal and not being the same.

[peasants]

Hendon\" post_id=\"1978277\" time=\"1590674246\" user_id=\"142376:

KiasuKingandQueen\" post_id=\"1978274\" time=\"1590673760\" user_id=\"132004:

All primary schools are equally good or bad as class sizes are about the same and the teachers don't get to choose their postings. Ultimately, if the kid is precocious, he or she will do well irrespective of the school.

this kind of mindset does not explain why this forum exists.

Obviously not, which is good in a way, it helps fuel my kids motivation.

[Not_Kiasu]

This is a sensitive topic that many will try not to answer if given a chance.

[ChiefKiasu]

Just like not every parent is the same, not every school is the same. If every school is the same there will be no need for balloting during P1 registration for particular schools EVERY year.


While it is true that most teachers have little say where they get posted to, a school is a combination of different administrators, teachers, students, parents… Everything everyone does will have some impact on the well being of the school. Just like Qifa Primary. In 2009, some kid from Qifa was the top PSLE scorer. Immediately, from 2010 onwards, the school is ALWAYS filled up by the end Phase 2C, and rarely, Phase 2CS. Prior to 2010, it never had to ballot at all.

So, it’s difficult to say that every school is the same, because we know that is not true. What we can say though, is that MOE has given pretty much the same for all schools, or at least the minimum given by MOE to any primary school is still pretty high. So at the minimum, every school is a good school.

[phtthp]

Not_Kiasu\" post_id=\"2116158\" time=\"1691900784\" user_id=\"202508:

This is a sensitive topic that many will try not to answer if given a chance.

Politics wise, the politicians have to sing the same tune, the slogan that
\"every school, is a good school\".

However, in truth and in reality, we all know that ... every school's standard, is different. Some schools are good, while others not so good.

[lassie girl]

ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2116167\" time=\"1691912966\" user_id=\"3:

Just like not every parent is the same, not every school is the same. If every school is the same there will be no need for balloting during P1 registration for particular schools EVERY year.

While it is true that most teachers have little say where they get posted to, a school is a combination of different administrators, teachers, students, parents... Everything everyone does will have some impact on the well being of the school. Just like Qifa Primary. In 2009, some kid from Qifa was the top PSLE scorer. Immediately, from 2010 onwards, the school is ALWAYS filled up by the end Phase 2C, and rarely, Phase 2CS. Prior to 2010, it never had to ballot at all.

So, it's difficult to say that every school is the same, because we know that is not true. What we can say though, is that MOE has given pretty much the same for all schools, or at least the minimum given by MOE to any primary school is still pretty high. So at the minimum, every school is a good school.

A lot of people underestimate the role parents play in the education landscape. In every school, the “parent support group” synergy can be a powerful source of strength for further improvements.

A school with a better track record attracts parents who want the same for their children. Higher expectations will also lead to higher demands on the school teachers. In some schools, it is not uncommon for parents to voice their concerns to the school leaders, even to the ministry if teachers or exam prep are not up to expectations. A strong collective voice can be a major force in their quest for a better learning environment for their children. Interested parents might also be more likely to provide enrichment classes (be it paid tuition or taught by parents at home). This raises the bar for peers in the same school/class and increases the intensity (or pressure) of academic progress.

So I say, all primary schools are not the same, because their difference (whether real or perceived) will attract different kind of parents.

But parents, let’s not forget that, not all children are born the same. Especially at primary school, they don’t learn the same way and u likely won’t see the same results at the same time for all of them (some late bloomers or some might not bloom the way u want). Putting them in a pressure cooker too early might take away the joy of learning. Just pick the one most convenient for daily commute and is reasonably well run, because u and your child will thank u for this decision every morning. A well rested child will learn better in any school he/she goes to. :siam:

[bbbay]

Once a colleague told me reason he is putting his girl into a competitive Seconday school: that it is going to be a competitive working life next time, so why not let her girl get use to it early. Personally I disagree with this view. I don’t pretend there is no competitions. But I also see there are rooms for cooperation and compromise too. Seeing only competitions, is missing out a big part of reality.


But it is also true many parents themselves work in competitive environment. It is understandable why they have the view of subjecting their children to early “competitive training”, just like my colleague.

Parenting style is closely related to parents’ personal life experiences. To me, it is important we parents have to invest time on ourselves, to care for ourselves , to try to have a balance mind. We will be in a better position to make wiser education decisions for our children.

[zac's mum]

Regarding competition/the competitive workplace out there, no doubt there is, but teamwork is also required if a company/organization/country is to progress as a whole entity. Pls allow me to share an illustration…


I had always thought my child was simply not “into” team sports. From my observations, he never liked chionging for the ball (soccer/basketball) along with other players, in fact he’d run in the opposite direction just to stay away from their kicks/elbows. So i enrolled him in those individual sports where he could progress at his own pace & meet his own targets.

But who knew, the other day he told me that he enjoys softball, precisely because it is a team sport and he enjoys the camaraderie from the team coordination & everyone having their specific role to play. The feeling of being able to contribute at what he’s good at, the feeling of the whole team working together to bring home the points, that is what sparks joy in him. It is the competition against other teams (not within his own team) which he thrives on.

Something which i have been mulling upon. So…what I meant to say is, competition is not necessarily bad, but it not necessarily works for every child/adult in the same way. My child probably won’t survive in top school but is thriving in the middle.