Petition to Review the Singapore Education System
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MummyThreeStreams:
I think it depends on the school. DS1's school doesn't expect the boys to write a journal. They don't have homework either (he's in P1). They have show and tell but I don't know when these are. So I didn't prepare my son for it (and I'm a SAHM). He seems to be doing OK in school. I hear it will be a lot more stressful from P3. So I'm using this extra free time he has now to let him do other stuff like music, sports etc. rather than to go for tuition. We can slowly ramp up on the academic stuff later.Fairy:
[quote=\"partime-mum\"]I think it is ridiculous to expect a P1 kid write a Journal during the 1st week of school. Does MOE expect that all P1 kids have been taught Grammar and Vocabulary prior to start of P1? Does our government expect all mothers to be SAHM and coach the kids personally before our kids start P1? Or does the government that all kids has been tuitioned before they start P1? I hope MOE can review the standard that it has set for the students, as well as for us, working parents.
A friend of mine has been writing the scripts for 'show-&-tell' for her son since last year when he joined MSH at P1! I understand many parents there did that for their child as the marks awarded count towards the overall results for the year.
[/quote]I agree with MummyThreeStreams on the point that it depends on the school. I don't think my DD's school was expecting the P1 students to be able to write journal in the first week or even the first semester. I think they focus a lot on penmanship instead. For math, they were taught to spell one to ten in the first term, something which my DD proudly declared to me she already learnt in K2 in a play-based preschool. So, no... it is not necessary to teach our 2-yo P1 math.
What I thought might be an issue is that P1 and P2 is too slow or relaxed now, and when the kids get to P3, it is a big jump that many then can't cope. Can't they even out the pace throughout the first 3 years instead of cramping everthing into 1 year?
And yes, MCYS or MOE should make it compulsory for all childrent to attend school from age 4-6. -
Busymom:
At the secondary school level, I would expect more of them to be matured and independent enough to put in the amount of efforts that they want to and are able to. I think we are nowhere near China, Japan or South Korea's level in terms of pressure to do well. Recently spoke to some of my colleagues who are French, their 2-year prep school is a lot worse too.[/quote]So why is everybody complaining? Look at other countries. The kids are even more stressed than ours. Look at other poorer countries. Those kids study in a shed with some broken wooden tables and chairs, no computer ,just a broken blackboard, that's all. Our kids are so fortunate, they have a well-equipped sch with good facilities, some even have air-con classrooms. Some schools even have an impressive gym and swimming pool, and the list goes on. So, why are parents complaining when they are the ones pushing the children to learn this and that?
Students put in a lot of time and effort, but they learned a lot during this process, and as long as they enjoy it, it is worth the sacrifice. IP schools also prepare them for the working world.sall:
[quote=\"ksi\"]
Just wondering if they are doing this with normal efforts or sacrificing a lot to achieve this? I know many kids are able to pull out stellar results but at what price? If the price is nothing, then I would say there is no issue at all, case closed.
Of course, they have a price to pay, that is, there is more stress on them. We cannot compare our childhood to theirs, the world is changing very fast, we just can't slow down, just appreciate what we have and do the best. Give them emotional support, encouragement , help them with their work, don't pile more enrichment activities on them if they don't enjoy it, eg, music lessons, ballet,...
No sch system is perfect, no education system in this world is perfect. Even in the best sch, we may encounter some bad teachers, and in the worst sch, there are also very good teachers.
Don't demand so much, life is more pleasant that way. -
sall:
So why is everybody complaining? Look at other countries. The kids are even more stressed than ours. Look at other poorer countries. Those kids study in a shed with some broken wooden tables and chairs, no computer ,just a broken blackboard, that's all. Our kids are so fortunate, they have a well-equipped sch with good facilities, some even have air-con classrooms. Some schools even have an impressive gym and swimming pool, and the list goes on. So, why are parents complaining when they are the ones pushing the children to learn this and that?Busymom:
[quote=\"sall\"]Students put in a lot of time and effort, but they learned a lot during this process, and as long as they enjoy it, it is worth the sacrifice. IP schools also prepare them for the working world.
At the secondary school level, I would expect more of them to be matured and independent enough to put in the amount of efforts that they want to and are able to. I think we are nowhere near China, Japan or South Korea's level in terms of pressure to do well. Recently spoke to some of my colleagues who are French, their 2-year prep school is a lot worse too.
Of course, they have a price to pay, that is, there is more stress on them. We cannot compare our childhood to theirs, the world is changing very fast, we just can't slow down, just appreciate what we have and do the best. Give them emotional support, encouragement , help them with their work, don't pile more enrichment activities on them if they don't enjoy it, eg, music lessons, ballet,...
No sch system is perfect, no education system in this world is perfect. Even in the best sch, we may encounter some bad teachers, and in the worst sch, there are also very good teachers.
Don't demand so much, life is more pleasant that way.[/quote]Hmm... I think the point is about primary school and PSLE being too stressful and maybe it is too early to classify kids this early in life? Those examples that I stated are more for university entrance. -
Is the point just about primary sch and psle? There’re discussions about IP sch too. psle has been around all these years, it is the best tool to pick the best. Even though my dd took it last yr and we were really stressed, but I feel that psle is really necessary. The students can have a very good and long rest after psle, provided parents don’t go and buy Sec 1 assessment bks for them to start doing.
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meinteel:
How do we define \"the class\"? The more vocal ones? I believe there are always quieter students in the class. I know of a student who was ostracised by her classmates (and teacher!!!) because her mum had feedback that the teacher should slow down her pace of teaching.Suz855:
\"I think it is necessary for teachers to teach, whether the students have tuition or not.\"
I totally agree.... it seem now it is a norm that most students have tuition & they go to school knowing most of the stuff & they are not shy to tell the teacher that they already know but what about the small minority that do not go for tuition (my gal is an example) & are keen & attend school to learn ............The teacher or at least, my gal teacher or puting it correctly in our case, a trainee teacher choose to listen to the mass and do minimum teaching or teaching at 'light speed' ... like covering (not even teaching) 3 Maths topics in 3 wks... she came home more confused than enlightened :frustrated: so what to do .... have to take up the teaching job ourselves ....
Well, I am crossing my fingers :xedfingers: that now we have a new Education Minister & with the petition, some change will be underway and she can still benefit in our world class education system.
Hihi! I suggest that your gal or yourself bring it up with the teacher. It is the teacher's responsibility to everything within the syllabus. However, we tend to skip or just summarise the the topics when the class claim that they have learnt and understand the topic. The reasoning is that we don't want to bore the students and allow them to lose interest.
However, should a few or even one student bring it up then we will still teach the topic as planned. Usually before doing so, we would have asked the class repeatedly.
Hence I'm of the opinion that teacher should teach as if the students do not know the subject. And to cater to those who already know, more challenging worksheets can be given to them. Or they can be given additional research to do, etc to stimulate the students' interest.
Until all teachers are given the directive to teach everything in detail, the tuition industry will continue to bloom unnecessarily.
And why are parents voicing displeasure about the high cost of raising a kid? It's the amt of $ that has to be pumped into education, tuition, enrichment, etc just so that the kid can keep up with the masses.
I'm quite concerned about this issue, because it is not just ONE teacher whom i've come across that is using tuition as an excuse to teach less or teach the minimal. Even if there are just 3 or 4 of such teachers, i have cause to be alarmed. :yikes: -
All teachers are supposed to teach everything in detail.
Even as a relief teacher, I have been instructed and reminded as Im doing my lesson planning.
Teachers tend to go along with the class in general meaning, by the standards of the average or 50th percentile of the class. Those who cannot catch up or think they require help should always know that they are entitled to help from their subject teachers after school - for free. As school teachers, we cannot reject a students request for help. That is of course to be conducted before or after school. -
Wow, so many posts within the few hours.
If there is a smaller class size, and teachers teach in detail, then students should be able to understand and do well. My son needs Math tuition bcos he is not able to cope and failing as a result.
If the education system is not so demanding, I believe life will be more pleasant.
No school is perfect…there will always be black sheep. Even some top schools have lousy teachers. -
sall:
Is the point just about primary sch and psle? There're discussions about IP sch too. psle has been around all these years, it is the best tool to pick the best. Even though my dd took it last yr and we were really stressed, but I feel that psle is really necessary. The students can have a very good and long rest after psle, provided parents don't go and buy Sec 1 assessment bks for them to start doing.
Even if PSLE is best tool to divide children into ability groups. Why is it necessary to pick the best, and set them apart?
Does setting the best apart from others really develop their heart and their skills for leadership?
For 6 years, my DD has been told that she is \"the best\". I attend parent-teacher get togethers where other parents point at their daughters and say \"My daughter is the future leader of Singapore, and therefore she must be allowed to go on such and such an overseas trip\".
Later, in the car, I have to make sure I remind my daughter that she is the best at NOTHING as yet, except selfish studying. I make sure I bring her back down to earth. We have a system where PSLE divides people into strata. You are the best. You are 2nd best. You are 3rd best. You are the dregs. Each strata socializes and evolves within itself. The \"best\" are good friends for life with \"the best\". As a result, they think everyone else has as cushy a life as they do... and if others don't it's their own fault because they did not study hard.
I know many many young scholars. Children of friends... clients etc... My foster daughter is a scholar. More often than not, there comes a point when I have to explain that even though they worked hard all their life and did well at school, the working world is still waiting for concrete contribution. That they must not demand recognition because they are well educated. Would you believe that one young man now studying in an Ivy League institution (non-scholar) honestly believed that HDB flats should be distributed by educational qualifications? Those with higher qualifications should get higher privileges because they worked hard during their school days and deserve the privilege.
Wow... wow... wow... it took me a while to explain that even though he had worked hard, his education (from primary to 'A' levels) is a gift from the nation of taxpayers (including the toilet cleaner who past GST), and entitles him to NOTHING, until he has given back to the society that educated him.
The result of setting apart the best is what? MPs and Ministers, many who are scholars, have a sense of entitlement groomed into them by the educational system. Hey... they are the best. They deserve special treatment. Is that a good way to groom leaders? What did the electorate say in the 2011 elections?
Certainly, setting children apart allows teachers to more easily stretch them academically. But only academically. We have many who graduate from Ivy League, do they come back and care for the 2nd and 3rd best? No, they are offered international money to stay abroad, and many do.
We have a marvellous system of triage for academic excellence (the PSLE), but in the past 5 decades, we seem to have identified and groomed an academic elite who are mostly brain, with little heart. We have the Vivian Balakrishnan who would rather spend billions on YOG than increase allowances for the elderly.
The PSLE is a tool that picks out the best, certainly... but... is that all that is important in an educational system? If it is, then yes... we should worship the PSLE. It it isn't, then what can be done to bring some balance back into the system? -
meinteel:
All teachers are supposed to teach everything in detail.
Even as a relief teacher, I have been instructed and reminded as Im doing my lesson planning.
Thanks for sharing your experience as a relief teacher. It is an important perspective.
However, until you experience your own child, NOT being taught what he/she needs to know (which many parents here have first hand experience of), then your knowledge of the system remains a theoretical one. Practically, teachers don't teach everything in detail. And because parents here have real life experience with teachers who DON'T teach everything in detail, your assertion that they are supposed to... seems a little weak.
Between theory, and practice, I would say that the practical is what delivers results (or lack thereof), not the theoretical. Who cares whether the dish I ordered is supposed to look like the picture in the newspaper ad? The fact is, it does not. -
meinteel:
As school teachers, we cannot reject a students request for help. That is of course to be conducted before or after school.
My son's English teacher marks compos with a few ticks. She says she has no time to comment, nor give a mark. If we do extra compos and ask for feedback from her, she takes THREE weeks to revert. They don't reject... but man, they can sure hold you up.
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