DSA 2024

[Nanzzlim]

@zac-s-mum
Am a silent reader of the forum but decided to share this experience…

Last year, one day, my DD actually came home and complained to me about why she had to study so hard. DD’s friend in track CCA told DD that she can relax a bit as she WILL be going via DSA to one of the IP schools (DXX) which was mentioned in the latest basketball DSA case in other forums. As long as she score better than AL15 for P5 year end. Seems like the track coaches in their primary school are the same coaches in the IP school and this friend also attends private training with the same running club the coaches are in.

My DD even suggested we do that too. I told her we do not have this kind of resources so she should just study hard. At that time, I didn’t think much and treated it like an innocent chit chat between children.

However, after reading the DSA case in the news this week, it really seemed like some sports trials are quite fishy. I think DD’s friend was called up for trials at that IP school a few weeks ago before the case came out in the news.

Sadly like most cases, it is hard to gather evidence. Can only hope that these coaches will honestly declare the conflict of interest required by MOE, and declare that they know the DSA candidates. Maybe even the PE teachers involved in the selection should declare. And hopefully the school does not allow these coaches to have so much power from shortlisting to conducting trials to recommending. Honestly, even if there is no money involved, it is hard for the coach to not choose the child whom they trained for years and go choose someone else.

And it will be very unfair to the kids who are really talented but just don’t happen to be in a primary school with the DSA schools’ coaches.

[Kopi123]

@Poohwei heard from DD’s classmate (whose sister went for rgs sco trial 2 years ago) that there is no second round for rgs science. They are asked some questions during the trial and teacher scribe down their answers and observations during the performance task. We were glad to hear this becos speaking to people is not one of DD’s forte.

Anyone knows roughly when RGS will starting handing out offers / rejections?

[Bopian123]

@Nanzzlim absolutely.

There are also many cases where some parents purposefully seek out private coaches who coach the teams of dream schools, for years of private classes. There is definitely a conflict of interest here, when the coach has had business from these kids for years, and might continue to.

I think MOE really needs to look at this to deconflict interest.

[yffets 0]

@Zoemum Hi, my daughter attended SNGS stem interview yesterday. Session 2

[Answertruth]

@yffets-0
Hihi… all the best to you!
Can share what kind of questions they ask and how is the environment like? Thanks

[Iceavalanche]

@Rachel1234
May i know which sch? This new page is very difficult to navigate for me not sure if anyone finds it hard too…

[cindycsm]

@Iceavalanche said in DSA 2024:

@Rachel1234
May i know which sch? This new page is very difficult to navigate for me not sure if anyone finds it hard too…

NJC

[Rachel1234]

@Iceavalanche
NJC. Are u waiting for the music program outcome too?

[Dingdong29]

@Iceavalanche said in DSA 2024:

@Rachel1234
May i know which sch? This new page is very difficult to navigate for me not sure if anyone finds it hard too…

Yes it is really hard to navigate…hard to track back e responses.

[zac's mum]

@Nanzzlim actually the way the sports trials are conducted are really quite strange. Logically it should be a proper match or competition where they pick the top 3 scorers/winners. Isn’t that how sports (including Olympics) works?

It’s weird how the PSLE is a one-off chance for the kids to enter schools via S1 posting. But DSA sports trials are not objectively selecting the top 3 winners (but rather, deferring to the coaches’ subjective judgement on who is a “better” overall long-term player that has “potential” to win C div for the school). Hearsay some badminton trials are like just coach walking around while the kids spar with the senior players. Not even a full match with points.