Changes in S'pore Education System

[Chenonceau]

QuiteKSMum:

Chenonceau:

And it is always wise to focus on the blessings we have than the blessings we don't have.

True, only by counting our blessings then we can stay positive...There's too many \"unblessings\" in this world, if we dwell too much on them, we can never be happy with what we have... :love: :celebrate:

:hi5:

[janet88]

It’s a totally different ball game at P5. Parents like myself are struggling with the higher and more difficult standard. Hubby & I scrambled to get help to coach son Maths this year. School teacher cannot manage a class of 40.


P1/2 have maximum 30 in a class. But from P3 onwards, the classes are crammed with 40 or even 42. That is crazy bcos P3 students have Science and it’s not easy to handle or like this subject.

So what if parents are more educated now, it doesn’t mean that they should be teaching the kids. Is he implying that teachers do not have to teach so much and let the parents do the job as what a parent here mentioned ? Or is he implying that parents are earning more and so can afford enrichment centres/tutors ?

Our kids are assessment book smart bcos they have no choice but to score in school. They can even compare what titles of assessment they have, with their classmates bcos of the pathetic school textbooks.

The ‘30 in a class’ should stay up till P4 and then reduce to 20 students in a class at P5. It makes a difference.

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

The '30 in a class' should stay up till P4 and then reduce to 20 students in a class at P5. It makes a difference.

This is such a good idea!

[QuiteKSMum]

Chenonceau:

janet_lee88:

The '30 in a class' should stay up till P4 and then reduce to 20 students in a class at P5. It makes a difference.

This is such a good idea!

Yes, I also believe class size makes a difference (even for grp tuition). Think for the GEP classes & even some sch's BICEP, their class size is kept smaller - think in the 20s... correct me if I'm misinformed...

[I_belive]

Hi all,

I have my 2 cents here. I think our education system is not so bad. So many CCAs to choose, kids have a lof of fun. As for academic pressure, i think it comes from parents not school teachers nor peers, as my dd never bothers how many marks she gets as long as I do not ask her. So it is kiasuparents that pass the stress to kids and make them stressful. no good marks, so what? not the end of world! A very good minister GY is iost, that is not the end of world for Singapore either!
So calm down everyone, enjoy life with your kids. Does 1 mark or 5 marks or 10 marks really mean that much to you parents?

[LOLMum]

I_belive:

Hi all,

I have my 2 cents here. I think our education system is not so bad. So many CCAs to choose, kids have a lof of fun. As for academic pressure, i think it comes from parents not school teachers nor peers, as my dd never bothers how many marks she gets as long as I do not ask her. So it is kiasuparents that pass the stress to kids and make them stressful. no good marks, so what? not the end of world! A very good minister GY is iost, that is not the end of world for Singapore either!
So calm down everyone, enjoy life with your kids. Does 1 mark or 5 marks or 10 marks really mean that much to you parents?

well, it depends on which school the child is attending to determine the source of stress. a few of my friends' kids were from very good/popular primary schools as well as another friend whose daughter is a current teacher at one of these schools. stress do come from school and not parents. but it is like which comes first, egg or chicken situation.

i had the opportunities to talk to some of dd's teachers and ds' teacher tutor and it is usually the principal who is applying alot of pressure on teachers to perform who in turn have no choice but to push the kids harder be it in studies or cca.

yes, it is not the end for singapore now that gy is no longer there but there are other capable people who can fill his shoes. but do you think if you cant find a job, fall sick etc, someone is going to step in to take care of you? maybe the govt in the form of aid but certainly not your friend, your neighbour or even your kins and for how long?

i am sure 1 mark, 5 marks, 10 marks do make a lot of difference to parents whose child is a brderline case cos' it means either the child has to repeat another year of study or promoted to the next level or transfer to another school.

principals are the ones who could make a difference to the education system here in singapore not just the govt.

[Chenonceau]

LOLMum:

I_belive:

Hi all,

I have my 2 cents here. I think our education system is not so bad. So many CCAs to choose, kids have a lof of fun. As for academic pressure, i think it comes from parents not school teachers nor peers, as my dd never bothers how many marks she gets as long as I do not ask her. So it is kiasuparents that pass the stress to kids and make them stressful. no good marks, so what? not the end of world! A very good minister GY is iost, that is not the end of world for Singapore either!
So calm down everyone, enjoy life with your kids. Does 1 mark or 5 marks or 10 marks really mean that much to you parents?

well, it depends on which school the child is attending to determine the source of stress. a few of my friends' kids were from very good/popular primary schools as well as another friend whose daughter is a current teacher at one of these schools. stress do come from school and not parents. but it is like which comes first, egg or chicken situation.

i had the opportunities to talk to some of dd's teachers and ds' teacher tutor and it is usually the principal who is applying alot of pressure on teachers to perform who in turn have no choice but to push the kids harder be it in studies or cca.

yes, it is not the end for singapore now that gy is no longer there but there are other capable people who can fill his shoes. but do you think if you cant find a job, fall sick etc, someone is going to step in to take care of you? maybe the govt in the form of aid but certainly not your friend, your neighbour or even your kins and for how long?

i am sure 1 mark, 5 marks, 10 marks do make a lot of difference to parents whose child is a brderline case cos' it means either the child has to repeat another year of study or promoted to the next level or transfer to another school.

principals are the ones who could make a difference to the education system here in singapore not just the govt.

:goodpost:

[zeemimi]

QuiteKSMum:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]The '30 in a class' should stay up till P4 and then reduce to 20 students in a class at P5. It makes a difference.

This is such a good idea!

Yes, I also believe class size makes a difference (even for grp tuition). Think for the GEP classes & even some sch's BICEP, their class size is kept smaller - think in the 20s... correct me if I'm misinformed...[/quote]this has always been my grouse. I would be happy if they had maintained at 30 per class after P2. We are all paying the same school fees at Pri level. Why only small class size for the GEP? Aren't they recruiting more and more teachers? Space constraints?

[zeemimi]

I_belive:

Hi all,

I have my 2 cents here. I think our education system is not so bad. So many CCAs to choose, kids have a lof of fun. As for academic pressure, i think it comes from parents not school teachers nor peers, as my dd never bothers how many marks she gets as long as I do not ask her. So it is kiasuparents that pass the stress to kids and make them stressful. no good marks, so what? not the end of world! A very good minister GY is iost, that is not the end of world for Singapore either!
So calm down everyone, enjoy life with your kids. Does 1 mark or 5 marks or 10 marks really mean that much to you parents?

Our educational system is crazy. :siao: Many kids are drowning. :imdrowning: The system is cramming more and more things down to the primary level. Maths and Science are good examples. Was told by a Science HOD to look through some O level MCQ questions because some of the science PSLE questions are taken from O level books. I remember having to go to Popular to browse through some Biology O level text to help my DD find the answer to her science question. And she is just from mainstream.

But we all learn to adapt cos we have not much of a choice. Cannot migrate. But the quality of life for our kids is really lousy in Spore. I try to give my kids a life, let them enjoy whatever non-academic activities as much as they like, but i also push them academically. Cos that is what survival is all about.

[Chenonceau]

zeemimi:

I_belive:

Hi all,

I have my 2 cents here. I think our education system is not so bad. So many CCAs to choose, kids have a lof of fun. As for academic pressure, i think it comes from parents not school teachers nor peers, as my dd never bothers how many marks she gets as long as I do not ask her. So it is kiasuparents that pass the stress to kids and make them stressful. no good marks, so what? not the end of world! A very good minister GY is iost, that is not the end of world for Singapore either!
So calm down everyone, enjoy life with your kids. Does 1 mark or 5 marks or 10 marks really mean that much to you parents?

Our educational system is crazy. :siao: Many kids are drowning. :imdrowning: The system is cramming more and more things down to the primary level. Maths and Science are good examples. Was told by a Science HOD to look through some O level MCQ questions because some of the science PSLE questions are taken from O level books. I remember having to go to Popular to browse through some Biology O level text to help my DD find the answer to her science question. And she is just from mainstream.

But we all learn to adapt cos we have not much of a choice. Cannot migrate. But the quality of life for our kids is really lousy in Spore. I try to give my kids a life, let them enjoy whatever non-academic activities as much as they like, but i also push them academically. Cos that is what survival is all about.

zeemimi... :snuggles: I know EXACTLY how you feel. On the one hand, survival and thriving depends on education. On the other hand, my DS' childhood is less than half as fun as his sister's (7 years older). I pity him and am considering...

(1) taking him overseas for secondary
(2) a sensible non-branded secondary school (this is a big change for me who had always been intent on a branded secondary school - thanks to my girl's positive experience. I realise that her positive experience may not be my son's positive experience)

... in order to adapt to the system and still maintain a balanced lifestyle.