DSA 2024

[koudayao27]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2128659\" time=\"1707358961\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2128659 time=1707358961 user_id=53606]
I disagree with your 2nd para. In the atas domains, it is also extremely competitive, just that for those 1-2 spots there are hundreds instead of thousands of applicants. It is not exactly a “pay to win” type of game, even if u have to pay to train. I’ve seen fencing competitions (the turnout is more shocking than u think); everybody is fighting to be the gold medallist in order to DSA. Backdoor implies that the DSA panel selects even the worst scorer.

But the CNA article is about perceived unfairness in the coaches selecting their pet choices, which is non-transparent. Maybe the selection panel should include at least 2 coaches from different private training schools.[/quote]

Okay, forgive my ignorance. I hadn't heard of any authoritative kids‘ fencing competitions in Singapore before.

For competitive sports-related DSAs, intentionally selecting a low-scoring student would indeed be unfair and quite conspicuous. It would also be rather stupid to do so in Singapore. I feel that arts and music-related DSAs are easier to manipulate. The more difficult to quantify, the more they rely on subjective judgments of the judges.

[phtthp]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2128603\" time=\"1707285574\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2128603 time=1707285574 user_id=53606]
“MOE will thoroughly investigate any allegations of unfair practices in the direct school admission (DSA) exercise”

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/direct-school-admission-moe-investigate-any-allegations-unfair-practices-dsa-4105961?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_07022024_cna[/quote]

This unfairness
apply more to students, who applied under Sports / Performance Arts DSA category.

For Sports coach(es), if you are his (her) pet, then,

the coach will definitely recommend you, put in good strong words for you in front of the DSA Selection interview panel, of that particular DSA Secondary school that u applied for.

But, if you are not the pet of the coach, Sorry.

[lucid]

Agree with above posts - all have credence. The chosen has both competence and connection/network; but not necessarily best in talent.

This is because the “in the know” parents have already identified which sports coaches are advising and/or connected to the IP schools they are aiming for. If kid is showing some performance, they seek the particular coach out to take their child in as disciple. Even if the coach is already the primary school coach, the parents will pay for EXTRA training lessons, holiday sports training or overseas training camps. Plus the better trained are selected for school/national team etc. The others with much talent just need so much more talent to mayxh up with the resourced competent.

One of my friends even built a pool at home to ensure child can do daily laps - that was useful during Covid lockdowns.

With proper practice and of course, hard work, the kid is coached under the respective coaches who then recommend them to their secondary selection teachers.

A colleague with a kindergarten child once asked a group of us how to get sports DSA and one mother of DSA athlete replied that if you have to ask for a child already in upper primary school sports , then you are not likely to get it. The sport coach the child is under will already have recommended him and the teacher in charge of the IP sports team will have already approached by p4-5 to “sell” the parent and child the benefits of the potential school team they are looking to build.

One caveat parents hv to note on DSA is the child has to commit to the sport throughout. Unless the kid lives breathes it, then it will be cruel to force him/her into this cca for full 6 yrs when the child could have explored and expanded other interests. This includes math/science domains… as the child may then find out that he/she is interested in journalism or debate but have no time left if expected to train and compete only in Math Olympiads. This will also apply to SOTA too as you will have to commit to the art domains- visual , performance etc. Perhaps, parents should check on the commitment requirements/restrictions. Say if a child goes in the DSA school on Math but decides he/she likes Biology better? Or goes in on Badminton but decides they prefer Tennis? Only school I know that uses math/science DSA and then no commitment on the child to do ONLY math or science is NUSHigh. I am sure parents with experience can share more on their respective schools.

[skii]

backdoor or "pay to get in" method,


When the child is AL 20 (prelim) and child / parents want to go RI via the above methods,
the parents want to child to die meh?

rubbing shoulders with the better kids only works to a certain extent.

[phtthp]

Yes, totally agree with u, lucid.


That’s why no matter what, children from rich, privileged families, are always at an advantage, over kids from poor families.
Why ?

Because parents loaded $ will start training their kid, from as young as kindergarten K1 / K2 five or six years old onwards, to train for tennis, golf, whatever other exiting or exotic games / Sports, that will land them a high chance to DSA into Top schools by the time their child reaches Upper primary level.

On the other hand, of course if a child after training so much but no talent in that Sports or lost interest along the way, then, that’s a separate story.

[bbbay]

We have been talking unfair advantage: “Born rich”. We think those get into good school because they are born into rich family. The family can afford to send them to extra sport coaching since young. Maybe can even afford to build a stadium for the child to train. How about those “born smart”? No need tuition, can score AL4 in PSLE and get into RI. Why we never complain it’s not fair these students are born smart, whereas other students are not as “lucky”?

[phtthp]

If u are born smart, from poor family, u still can DSA under Academic. Even if u don’t wish to DSA, u still can use your PSLE good score, to enter.

[Dino]

The idea and intention of DSA was never fair in the 1st place when admission is pegged at academic merit for the general masses. How do you assess fairness when a school cop is for example 6 and the hurdle for DSA is not more than 20 for the same school. Unless the whole masses can be convinced that 1 unit of whatever talent used to DSA has the same value as 1 unit of academic excellence. Since not everyone will be convinced, this fairness debate will forever exist.

[lucid]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2128668\" time=\"1707368019\" user_id=\"35251:

Yes, totally agree with u, lucid.

That's why no matter what, children from rich, privileged families, are always at an advantage, over kids from poor families.
Why ?

Because parents loaded $ will start training their kid, from as young as kindergarten K1 / K2 five or six years old onwards, to train for tennis, golf, whatever other exiting or exotic games / Sports, that will land them a high chance to DSA into Top schools by the time their child reaches Upper primary level.

On the other hand, of course if a child after training so much but no talent in that Sports or lost interest along the way, then, that's a separate story.

I agree with you entirely on this. It’s trade offs and opportunity costs. And the rest is up to talent, luck and even timing. You may be very good but there was just 2 more even better born in your year.

I have a friend whose child was national gymnastics champion but was adamant NOT to DSA as he told the parents that he could not imagine training like that next 6 years ! So he went into the IP school on PSLE results, did join the gymnastic team but to contribute and not burdened that he was locked to it without being able to explore other things.
And I have seen a relative groom their two children in a competitive sport since kindergarten and go on to train with the “right” coaches affiliated to the top 2 boys IP schools. Both boys admitted through DSA and have graduated , they represented school team and went for the holiday and overseas trainings but never made it to the national team. So the sports excellence was not adequate for admissions to competitive courses at Uni. Anyhow, they are in local universities doing general type degrees. Seem happy enough though we all wonder if they had the opportunity to explore and round up their formative years with other interests etc. It was a narrow and straight path and we always will wonder what could have been otherwise.

[koudayao27]

Dino\" post_id=\"2128678\" time=\"1707373520\" user_id=\"6726:

The idea and intention of DSA was never fair in the 1st place when admission is pegged at academic merit for the general masses. How do you assess fairness when a school cop is for example 6 and the hurdle for DSA is not more than 20 for the same school. Unless the whole masses can be convinced that 1 unit of whatever talent used to DSA has the same value as 1 unit of academic excellence. Since not everyone will be convinced, this fairness debate will forever exist.

Cannot agree more