All About SAP Schools

[caroline3sg]

Thank you Lizawa,


Yes, I have given a copy of the exam paper to TienHsia teacher before sch holiday. Haven’t got a chance to talk to her. I have also reminded my girl today to inform her higher chinese to call me.

Indeed, she maintained her normal chinese standard since P2. So in a way, higher chinese did help. She is just an average student and does things rather slowly. Of all subjects, she likes chinese best, so not struggling. TienHsia teacher said her ''inner motivation to push herself forward" is not strong and evident. If she fully develops it, she can achieve better results.

Thank you.

[tamarind]

caroline3sg:

Hi all

On one hand, seems no tuition cannot survice coz nowadays we know schs don't really teach or even they teach, is not enough to tackle exams.
Thank you

Hi caroline,
I am quite concerned when I see this statement.

Is this typical of all schools in Singapore now ? Or only the top schools ?

[caroline3sg]

tamarind

it is widespread phenomenum that generallly top schools teachers don't teach. They just quickly touch & go. They assumed many have attended tuition / enrichment outside. That's why you can read many news from the papers why tuition centres flourish......something wrong with education system.....publish PSLE questions.......

As for neighbourhood sch, I can't comment. But I have heard their papers are generally easier. Perhaps they teach basic. If this is the case, then the pupils might lose out during PSLE time. Even though neightbourhood produce bright students, it is not the sch's effort, but the individual and the tuition centre.

I always do not buy the idea that XXX neighbourhood sch produce top student with ??? points. They blow the issue big to draw attention. Rather, I look at the NUMBER of students with good results instead.

[tamarind]

Caroline,

I agree with you that it is the number of students with good results that count.

I am quite sad to hear about the way of teaching at top schools. I was previously from the top girl's school, 25 years ago. That time the teachers do teach, and the exam papers were set to reasonable standard.

I feel that whether it is the top school or neighbourhood school, it boils down to individual effort and the parents' attention. If we are lucky, we get good teachers, if not, we just have to depend on ourselves.

[caroline3sg]

Tamarind

It seems the current trend is that, not only examinations board, but also sch teachers set questions outside the box, stressing the kids and parents under the disguise of identifying the brightest cream of the crop. And more and more of this difficult questions appear. Even I do not know how to attempt unless some expert explain to me.

Just today, I saw one headnews, someone’s kids know to read menu at 3 yrs old.

[tamarind]

I really don't understand the need to set such difficult questions. I don't believe that it will make students work harder.


I am teaching now. During exams, I have seen students who put their heads on the table right at the beginning of the paper. Then at the end of the paper, they hand up an empty paper. Some students will just simply give up. Not every student is afraid of failing.

I know other 3 year old kids who can read better than that kid in the news today Perhaps soon there will be reports of 3 year old kids who can read Harry Potter. Such reports will only make parents push their kids even harder.

[MMM]

Just sharing that my girl is in P1 SAP school and the chinese focus is really strong. She had streaming during her SA1 and now she is supposed in the best class. In our case, she has been exposed to the language since young and she enjoys those channel 8 drama so she appears to like the language. Also, I had to attribute her performance to Molin. She attended Molin only in K2 and has since shown tremendous improvement. In fact, her school mate in Molin is also in the best chinese class as well.


But definitely I found it pretty stressful even for the parents. We had to make sure that she continues to do well. At P1, the teacher is now exposing them to P2 chinese and also the spelling list is really getting difficult.

One observation was she told me the spelling list varies between those who goes to best, average or below average. But i just feel puzzled becoz at the end of the day, they all sit for the same SA paper. So wouldn’t those child who goes to average or below average be disadvantaged by it? If the good is coping well, most likely they will continue to be good. I have a big concern becoz my 2nd child is gg to P1 next year and he is not of the same calibre at this moment.

[ChiefKiasu]

MMM:

Just sharing that my girl is in P1 SAP school and the chinese focus is really strong...

Hmm... that school sounds suspiciously like Tao Nan

[MMM]

Actually it’s MBS

[ChiefKiasu]

MMM:

Actually it's MBS

Really?... that's surprising. Didn't realize Maha Bodhi run its academics so tightly. Luckily didn't send my kid there :).