Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[hquek]

I’m very slow here, but what I gather is that there are some who aren’t happy at the lack of transparency on the PV process - ie how parents are selected. One query: during job interviews, also the same thing. It’s the perogative of the ‘ones who decide’ who to get the job. How come I don’t see people calling for transparency in the process - ie explanation on why A got the job and B didn’t? So why must schools account to parents why they weren’t selected to be PVs?


I personally feel that having PVs around will lessen burden on schools and allow them to tap on ‘free labour’. If not a PV to be the lollipop man and make sure cars and pedestrians are kept safe, then who? The stressed security guards? the Teachers? or worse, a prefect (aka student)? Yes, a professional probably makes a lot more for the time ‘wasted’ - but then, if a professional can get away with paying for ‘specialised’ labour, then won’t there be a greater divide. I’m glad and happy that PV work can only be undertaken by parents (No grandparents, no maids allowed).

I did PV and so am probably classed under one with ‘vested interests’. But I’m glad I did PV. Not all schools have open days. I’m not the socially active type that can go around the neighbourhood obtaining information about the school I’m interested in. PV work allowed me to get INTO the school and see for myself what the school is like. During the days on duty, I could walk around and look at the noticeboard; chat with the teachers etc. How to do that if I’m not allowed into the school?

My 2 cents (then again, it seems a long post - so my 20cents)

[dorisp]

hquek:

I'm very slow here, but what I gather is that there are some who aren't happy at the lack of transparency on the PV process - ie how parents are selected. One query: during job interviews, also the same thing. It's the perogative of the 'ones who decide' who to get the job. How come I don't see people calling for transparency in the process - ie explanation on why A got the job and B didn't? So why must schools account to parents why they weren't selected to be PVs?...

:goodpost:

I give you 30 cents! :celebrate:

[preciousmoments]

Have we ever been brought up to believe that the world is fair? Nothing is fair, even from birth, some are borned into rich families while others not. Why then do we insist that policies have to be fair? There will always be groups of people who cannot benefit from any policy implemented.


I think most of us grow up with our parents telling us to study hard for a better future. Who then can we blame if we do not turn out to be professionals sought after as PVs now? Do we blame those professionals who have strived hard to be where they are now, easing into the system of PVs?

I am no professional, just a plain working class mother. My PV application has been rejected before. I have been balloted out of a school before. I regret not working hard enough during my school days. I have nobody to blame but myself.

I am not so naive as to believe that the world and all the policies and systems in any country can be fair. I accept this fact. There is no way any system can be fair. I am no pro-government. I have many complaints to make on the government sector, especially the grassroot leaders. But I am grateful and content that we have a safe and prosperous country with a sound government to live in. Think Thailand, think Egypt.

[3Boys]

hquek:

I'm very slow here, but what I gather is that there are some who aren't happy at the lack of transparency on the PV process - ie how parents are selected. One query: during job interviews, also the same thing. It's the perogative of the 'ones who decide' who to get the job. How come I don't see people calling for transparency in the process - ie explanation on why A got the job and B didn't? So why must schools account to parents why they weren't selected to be PVs?...

I don't agree with this conventional thinking about PV. Of course, you have your view, and I had already stated the reasons behind mine. I have given this a lot of thought, and the 'face value' explanation you have put above does not cut it for me.

[hquek]

3Boys:

I don't agree with this conventional thinking about PV. Of course, you have your view, and I had already stated the reasons behind mine. I have given this a lot of thought, and the 'face value' explanation you have put above does not cut it for me.

Yup, we all are entitled to our own way of thoughts and we maintain our rights to disagree. You may call it conventional thinking - but what I shared was my personal experience and observation.

I rather go to work knowing that there are volunteers who tag along with my kid on his school outing and making sure that the kids all stay together and are kept safe; than say, for there to be no PV and that 40 kids are wandering in Bt Timah Hill with only a couple of teachers around. And certainly, when I fail at a job interview, I certainly don't call up the interviewer and demand to know how I didn't measure up.

[absolut_vodka]

dorisp:

If I may share, when I read it, it gives me the feeling that the difference between \"popular\" and neighbourhood schools are a world apart........... :shock:

Not worlds apart but how many ministers do u know have children who attends (or attended) 'neighborhood' pri schs (after they become ministers and thus have somewhat a 'privilege' of admitting their children in these so-called elite schs) ? Not many, I suspect. I wonder why... Are they ALL alumni of these 'so-called' elite schools? Some maybe... But definitely not 100%!

On the other hand, I think many of their children are already in sec sch at least by the time they become a full cabinet minister.

[hquek]

absolut_vodka:

Not worlds apart but how many ministers do u know have children who attends (or attended) 'neighborhood' pri schs (after they become ministers and thus have somewhat a 'privilege' of admitting their children in these so-called elite schs) ? Not many, I suspect. I wonder why... Are they ALL alumni of these 'so-called' elite schools? Some maybe... But definitely not 100%!

In the first place, I honestly don't know what schools their kids go to - so cannot say have or don't have. This is not a matter of public knowledge - those that I know (ie MM's grandkids) - they would have been able to get in by virtue of their parents being alumni. So what's wrong with that?

[dorisp]

absolut_vodka:

Not worlds apart but how many ministers do u know have children who attends (or attended) 'neighborhood' pri schs (after they become ministers and thus have somewhat a 'privilege' of admitting their children in these so-called elite schs) ? Not many, I suspect. I wonder why... Are they ALL alumni of these 'so-called' elite schools? Some maybe... But definitely not 100%!


On the other hand, I think many of their children are already in sec sch at least by the time they become a full cabinet minister.

:? ........sorry and your point is..............

[absolut_vodka]

If they are in fact the same and as good, why wouldn’t the minister themselves send their kids to a neighborhood sch and instead a so-called elite school?


U are prob in denial if u think that the standards are the same because they are not. Obviously, one may not necessarily do badly in a neighborhood sch (if they themselves work hard) or do well in a so-called elite school but an ave. student in a so called elite school will definitely perform better than the ave. student from a neighborhood school.

Just as an e.g., I was doing a levels GP paper when I was in upper sec to prepare for o levels.

And my sis from a neighborhood sec sch was not able to perform at the entrance test when my mom tried to transfer her to my sch. She is a brilliant student in case you are wondering, graduated with honors from NTU. The prob was that her sch didn’t teach as much compared to mine. My mom recognized that and that was why she tried to get my sister into my school.

And I am obviously not talking abt the lee family. Everyone knows that the sons went to CHS.

[Busymom]

hquek:

I did PV and so am probably classed under one with 'vested interests'. But I'm glad I did PV. Not all schools have open days. I'm not the socially active type that can go around the neighbourhood obtaining information about the school I'm interested in. PV work allowed me to get INTO the school and see for myself what the school is like. During the days on duty, I could walk around and look at the noticeboard; chat with the teachers etc. How to do that if I'm not allowed into the school?

The way I read it (and I do apologise in case I have gotten it wrong), is that you are classified as one with 'vested interest' not because you have done PV, but that you have a #2 who will get into the school under phase 1.

If parents have to go through the torture of school balloting for each child, I, for one, would definitely not have #3...