All About SAP Schools

[phankao]

nmhmum:

I am still very puzzled about SAP schools. My understanding of SAP school is they are more chinese focus and offer higher chinese, but now there are alot of neighbourhood schools also offer higher chinese.So what is the difference? Also, why do majority of SAP schools can perform much better than those neighbourhood schools? Is it because SAP schools have the gifted program conducted in their schools?

SAP schools being historically chinese schools - all students are required to take Higher Chinese from Pri 1, without discrimination. It only becomes an option at Pri 5 & Pri 6.

In non-sap schools, some may offer Higher chinese at lower primary, but only to whom they determine as high-performing students in that subject.

[nmhmum]

Hi Phankao,


Thanks for your view. But of what I know, some of the neighbourhood schools are having higher chinese from pri 1 too. They can only opt out to normal chinese when they are in Pri 4.

[phankao]

nmhmum:

Hi Phankao,


Thanks for your view. But of what I know, some of the neighbourhood schools are having higher chinese from pri 1 too. They can only opt out to normal chinese when they are in Pri 4.

Really? I've only heard of them doing chinese streaming in P1. Usually they stream into foundation level, average level, higher-ability level. Sorry, i don't know the actual \"names\" they give to those \"streams\". But this is what I've heard.

Why would they give the option in P4? Even in SAP schools, the option starts at P5.

[nmhmum]

Sorry, I can't remember is Pri 4 or 5, but I know that if your chinese are not good, the school will ask you to opt out and learn normal chinese instead. Thats why I am puzzle. If those neighbourhood schools are offering higher chinese like SAP schools, then what is their differences? :?

[phankao]

nmhmum:

Sorry, I can't remember is Pri 4 or 5, but I know that if your chinese are not good, the school will ask you to opt out and learn normal chinese instead. Thats why I am puzzle. If those neighbourhood schools are offering higher chinese like SAP schools, then what is their differences? :?

Anyway, what's the big deal. I don't select schools for my children just bc they are or are not SAP.

Our major criteria is still distance...and my dh's criteria was for \"mission school\". Both satisfied, we happy liao. The fact that they are SAP is just a coincidence.

[nmhmum]

I agree with you. Distance is infact one of my criteria in choosing a school too.

[daisyt]

kanghu:

I heard stories that SAP school teachers push parents to have kids go for tuition for many subjects.
Thanks.

hi kanghu, I just want to comment on this part, might not relate to Poi Ching. Teachers might comment or push kids to go for tuition but ultimately it is the parents' decision to send or not. Just to share in Ai Tong, during P5, a teacher suggested me to send my girl for Math tuition but I still choose not to. In P6, the principal told the parents, do not give anymore extra worksheets to the P6 kids because the school had provided enough. So far, I felt that the school had done their job enough, so no need for me to send her for extra. She never had tuition before and not now too.

[titank]

So SAP School & normal Primary school what are the differences?

[daisyt]

titank:

So SAP School & normal Primary school what are the differences?

So far, from the observations, the differences are
1) SAP - more chinese culture oriented. Eg. they would say the chinese and english pledge during assembly. Many chinese cultural programes in school.
2) SAP - rarely other races in the schools, mostly, 98% are Chinese.

Anybody wants to add on ?

[titank]

Oh in that case how about River Valley Primary? 3/4 SAP Standard?

If there is a GEP near my place I do not mind putting my chikd in there.
Distance still a important issue when come to pri sch selection.