Petition to Review the Singapore Education System
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Edureach:
You talking about me.. :please:Be realistic and moderate your expectations along the way. Whatever system that is up, you survive. Parents want to dsa to RI,HCI,NUS etc wish them well but for your kids, just ignore these noices. Be thankful for gep but if your kids are unable to partake, move on really nothing to lose. For those whose kids were sent for specialised training to gain advantage in the gep screening, you don't have to follow because is rather unwise.
At the end of the day, your kids may score 240, 250 or 260 just be happy and move on. No need to dream of 270, 280 or even 290. PSLE top scorers may not be amongst the tops in A-level, the latter is the exam you should pay attention as it is the mother of all exams, definitely not PSLE, which is relatively unimportant as your kids move up the academic journey. Most importantly, is kids enjoy the journey and continue the next phase of education with confidence and maturity. Even if kids are unable or unsuitable for jcs, just encourage them to excel in poly. Never never show great disappointment as kids are able to pick up the signals.
Wholeness is the most important element in a kid's life. Academic achievement is only a portion of it. At the end of the day, as long as your kids put in their best foot forward, there's nothing to complain about.
Let not the actions of others deter your happiness. Only we as a family unit can determine our own destiny.
:lol:
Kudos Edureach.. :goodpost: -
Edureach, at this rate PSLE is heading there are children who do not even get to ‘A’ levels, it is called ‘game over’ for them after PSLE.
I see the petition concern is a valid one and I would like MOE to study the issue where the root issues are. We need to promote inclusion in our society instead of keep filtering people out. When parents shared their children’s high score but could not hit max score, it is not necessary about kiasuism. If the unfairness is due to difference between tuition n no tuition, the system is wrong. If the difference is due to one can apply n one cannot apply what they hv learnt, then the noise is kiasuism. We cannot try to sum up everything with English words and draw a conclusion. Conduct a proper quantitative n qualitative study to draw the proper conclusion. While we like to hv balanced view in a discussion, it would not be fair to tell parents to be realistic, lower expectation n accept the system. -
I do not think the situation is so bad. The PSLE paper usually only has a few challenging questions. It is still not so difficult to get an ‘A’ or ‘B’ grade in the PSLE. Students who got ‘A’ or ‘B’ grades for the most of the subjects can easily get into the Express stream in the sec sch.
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ksi:
Edureach, at this rate PSLE is heading there are children who do not even get to 'A' levels, it is called 'game over' for them after PSLE.
I see the petition concern is a valid one and I would like MOE to study the issue where the root issues are. We need to promote inclusion in our society instead of keep filtering people out. When parents shared their children's high score but could not hit max score, it is not necessary about kiasuism. If the unfairness is due to difference between tuition n no tuition, the system is wrong. If the difference is due to one can apply n one cannot apply what they hv learnt, then the noise is kiasuism. We cannot try to sum up everything with English words and draw a conclusion. Conduct a proper quantitative n qualitative study to draw the proper conclusion. While we like to hv balanced view in a discussion, it would not be fair to tell parents to be realistic, lower expectation n accept the system.
Understand your point of view and i also not against the objective of this petition. However, the points which i have raised are to highlight the importance of familly support and working together with your kids in an enviroment whereby the well-to-do families are seen to have the advantages thru expensive tuitions.
What i have outlined earlier were what i had done for my two kids. I had ignored all these noises myself and it didn't bother my family at all whereby other kids had gone ahead because of tuition. The existing system is in place where one learns and progress according to his aptitude and hardwork. As mentioned earlier, even if a student failed to make it to jc, can always attend poly and who to stop these students from entering unis? One must not be too obessed with the top schools thinking that they are the most suitable vehicles to excel academically. So what my kids scored btw 250-260 and had to settle for the next best schools. My kids didn't loose anything and they can progress happily without all these hardcore tuitions. The best part is they are attending schools without undue stress because i shall accept whatever results they produce as long as they are determined to do their best. Realistic mah!
In any society, there exists a group with advantages since time memorial. As parents we recognise this but we can also choose to bring out the best from our kids with unconditional love and continue to motivate them. Their academic progress is totally independent of our love and understanding.
Is up to each family how to raise their kids. For me, i shall embrace any system that is up and continues to ignore all the background noises.
You too have a choice! -
ksi:
I see the petition concern is a valid one and I would like MOE to study the issue where the root issues are. We need to promote inclusion in our society instead of keep filtering people out.
Inclusion. Yes. :hi5:
If seen in another perspective, inclusion can also mean to include every child
and not filter out those who under-performs or who don't perform which cud
be due to a variety of reasons. To accept every child with what they can if it
had been their best-est of efforts. Not being academically inclined not
necessarily goes to say they wud be failures in life.ksi:
Really? It isn't? :scratchhead:When parents shared their children's high score but could not hit max score, it is not necessary about kiasuism.
:siam:ksi:
Catch no ball here :skeptical:.If the unfairness is due to difference between tuition n no tuition, the system is wrong. If the difference is due to one can apply n one cannot apply what they hv learnt, then the noise is kiasuism.
ksi:
Agree.. :salute:We cannot try to sum up everything with English words and draw a conclusion.
ksi:
Agree.. if time permits, i might see something by the time chubs due for PSLE.Conduct a proper quantitative n qualitative study to draw the proper conclusion.
Or perhaps no PSLE by then.. :rubhands:ksi:
Yes WE LIKE! :celebrate: And i definitely appreciate his sharings.While we like to hv balanced view in a discussion, it would not be fair to tell parents to be realistic, lower expectation n accept the system.
Likewise too, it wud not be fair either to tell parents to be unrealistic.
To push boundaries where their child just cannot go. I have seen it for
myself.. and the children truly suffer. Wud not be fair to keep having high
expectations when the child is suffering thru' foundation aspects as it is.. and
not to accept the system? But then again, how not to? :scratchhead: This part
of the discussion will see no end IMO but i would love to read other balanced
sharings for sure. I try not to put down perspectives of others even though i
have my own in check. It is just nice to hear from all layers of community..
that's all. :grphug:
I am one who does not have low expectations. I have no expectations.
DDs try to work with the system or around the system.. :evil: and so i
support them by trying to understand the system myself and root for
them up to where they can... whilst observing how collective thinking
can indeed help generate change to what is seen as the race.. hence i
am still reading on to hear as many voices if not all voices from the
ground and consider if i really am gonna sign on that dotted line of
the petition.
Not that i don't think it is a good initiative.. a start.. but it's just that
i do think the system has tweaked a bit cos the ministry did hear us
about the initial cry about the stress that at P1 and 2s they hafta sit
for CA1, CA2, SA1, SA2 and all the mthly topical tests.. so they chucked
exams, put in place a supposedly more holistic learning environment thru
teach less learn more.. parents still unhappy.. So, how many times is changing
a system healthy in this case.. cos we'd then be having to adapt to yet
another system which we may not necessarily know will work.
In the industry that requires the human touch, it is the individual that makes
the difference... it is that many people that'd make the team.. the combined
effort. So as how to make it work for now, is to at least allow for some hovering
from say Principals or perhaps even education officers to monitor how the
current system in place is running and if it's not running, why and troubleshoot
the areas and the people involved. :evil:
Going back to the thread topic, as for the bell curves come PSLE grading,
i just wish that they would just state an A for an A. Chuck T-score.
As for testing of questions out of the syllabus, the school(s) have informed
parents that there will be questions (a handful like 3 - 5) in exam papers tt
are meant for streaming creme of the crop, yes.. and so far in our case, they
are in the syllabus.. still within what's covered & it is intentionally set to
challenge eyes and minds, yes.. but that's about it. But then again, my
observations are based only on humble neighbourhood schools only.:oops:
Perhaps i'm just a simpleton & try to live life within means and for my children
to work to their max potential and abilities. If they can soar ... well go fly as
far as they can, if not we can still fly kite here.. with whatever kites that are
still available for us.
With this post, i will no longer partake in discussions here. I've never truly
believed that any one system can fix or fit all. There isn't one that can (yet)
please all.. Would like to :salute: Chenonceau for having the courage to put
this up and applaud her efforts thus far.I will still be your silent reader
wherever you write. :please:
Pls forgive the :offtopic: posts. :oops:
PS : Psst.. Chenonceau... the Finland styled-education IS available but here,
it is so far only available for preschool level... such warm and open methods
are practiced in a Montessori classroom. :love: -
buds:
:goodpost:ksi:
I see the petition concern is a valid one and I would like MOE to study the issue where the root issues are. We need to promote inclusion in our society instead of keep filtering people out.
Inclusion. Yes. :hi5:
If seen in another perspective, inclusion can also mean to include every child
and not filter out those who under-performs or who don't perform which cud
be due to a variety of reasons. To accept every child with what they can if it
had been their best-est of efforts. Not being academically inclined not
necessarily goes to say they wud be failures in life.ksi:
Really? It isn't? :scratchhead:When parents shared their children's high score but could not hit max score, it is not necessary about kiasuism.
:siam:ksi:
Catch no ball here :skeptical:.If the unfairness is due to difference between tuition n no tuition, the system is wrong. If the difference is due to one can apply n one cannot apply what they hv learnt, then the noise is kiasuism.
ksi:
Agree.. :salute:We cannot try to sum up everything with English words and draw a conclusion.
ksi:
Agree.. if time permits, i might see something by the time chubs due for PSLE.Conduct a proper quantitative n qualitative study to draw the proper conclusion.
Or perhaps no PSLE by then.. :rubhands:ksi:
Yes WE LIKE! :celebrate: And i definitely appreciate his sharings.While we like to hv balanced view in a discussion, it would not be fair to tell parents to be realistic, lower expectation n accept the system.
Likewise too, it wud not be fair either to tell parents to be unrealistic.
To push boundaries where their child just cannot go. I have seen it for
myself.. and the children truly suffer. Wud not be fair to keep having high
expectations when the child is suffering thru' foundation aspects as it is.. and
not to accept the system? But then again, how not to? :scratchhead: This part
of the discussion will see no end IMO but i would love to read other balanced
sharings for sure. I try not to put down perspectives of others even though i
have my own in check. It is just nice to hear from all layers of community..
that's all. :grphug:
I am one who does not have low expectations. I have no expectations.
DDs try to work with the system or around the system.. :evil: and so i
support them by trying to understand the system myself and root for
them up to where they can... whilst observing how collective thinking
can indeed help generate change to what is seen as the race.. hence i
am still reading on to hear as many voices if not all voices from the
ground and consider if i really am gonna sign on that dotted line of
the petition.
Not that i don't think it is a good initiative.. a start.. but it's just that
i do think the system has tweaked a bit cos the ministry did hear us
about the initial cry about the stress that at P1 and 2s they hafta sit
for CA1, CA2, SA1, SA2 and all the mthly topical tests.. so they chucked
exams, put in place a supposedly more holistic learning environment thru
teach less learn more.. parents still unhappy.. So, how many times is changing
a system healthy in this case.. cos we'd then be having to adapt to yet
another system which we may not necessarily know will work.
In the industry that requires the human touch, it is the individual that makes
the difference... it is that many people that'd make the team.. the combined
effort. So as how to make it work for now, is to at least allow for some hovering
from say Principals or perhaps even education officers to monitor how the
current system in place is running and if it's not running, why and troubleshoot
the areas and the people involved. :evil:
Going back to the thread topic, as for the bell curves come PSLE grading,
i just wish that they would just state an A for an A. Chuck T-score.
As for testing of questions out of the syllabus, the school(s) have informed
parents that there will be questions (a handful like 3 - 5) in exam papers tt
are meant for streaming creme of the crop, yes.. and so far in our case, they
are in the syllabus.. still within what's covered & it is intentionally set to
challenge eyes and minds, yes.. but that's about it. But then again, my
observations are based only on humble neighbourhood schools only.:oops:
Perhaps i'm just a simpleton & try to live life within means and for my children
to work to their max potential and abilities. If they can soar ... well go fly as
far as they can, if not we can still fly kite here.. with whatever kites that are
still available for us. -
PiggyLalala:
buds:
[quote=\"ksi\"]I see the petition concern is a valid one and I would like MOE to study the issue where the root issues are. We need to promote inclusion in our society instead of keep filtering people out.
Inclusion. Yes. :hi5:
If seen in another perspective, inclusion can also mean to include every child
and not filter out those who under-performs or who don't perform which cud
be due to a variety of reasons. To accept every child with what they can if it
had been their best-est of efforts. Not being academically inclined not
necessarily goes to say they wud be failures in life.ksi:
Really? It isn't? :scratchhead:When parents shared their children's high score but could not hit max score, it is not necessary about kiasuism.
:siam:ksi:
Catch no ball here :skeptical:.If the unfairness is due to difference between tuition n no tuition, the system is wrong. If the difference is due to one can apply n one cannot apply what they hv learnt, then the noise is kiasuism.
ksi:
Agree.. :salute:We cannot try to sum up everything with English words and draw a conclusion.
ksi:
Agree.. if time permits, i might see something by the time chubs due for PSLE.Conduct a proper quantitative n qualitative study to draw the proper conclusion.
Or perhaps no PSLE by then.. :rubhands:ksi:
Yes WE LIKE! :celebrate: And i definitely appreciate his sharings.While we like to hv balanced view in a discussion, it would not be fair to tell parents to be realistic, lower expectation n accept the system.
Likewise too, it wud not be fair either to tell parents to be unrealistic.
To push boundaries where their child just cannot go. I have seen it for
myself.. and the children truly suffer. Wud not be fair to keep having high
expectations when the child is suffering thru' foundation aspects as it is.. and
not to accept the system? But then again, how not to? :scratchhead: This part
of the discussion will see no end IMO but i would love to read other balanced
sharings for sure. I try not to put down perspectives of others even though i
have my own in check. It is just nice to hear from all layers of community..
that's all. :grphug:
I am one who does not have low expectations. I have no expectations.
DDs try to work with the system or around the system.. :evil: and so i
support them by trying to understand the system myself and root for
them up to where they can... whilst observing how collective thinking
can indeed help generate change to what is seen as the race.. hence i
am still reading on to hear as many voices if not all voices from the
ground and consider if i really am gonna sign on that dotted line of
the petition.
Not that i don't think it is a good initiative.. a start.. but it's just that
i do think the system has tweaked a bit cos the ministry did hear us
about the initial cry about the stress that at P1 and 2s they hafta sit
for CA1, CA2, SA1, SA2 and all the mthly topical tests.. so they chucked
exams, put in place a supposedly more holistic learning environment thru
teach less learn more.. parents still unhappy.. So, how many times is changing
a system healthy in this case.. cos we'd then be having to adapt to yet
another system which we may not necessarily know will work.
In the industry that requires the human touch, it is the individual that makes
the difference... it is that many people that'd make the team.. the combined
effort. So as how to make it work for now, is to at least allow for some hovering
from say Principals or perhaps even education officers to monitor how the
current system in place is running and if it's not running, why and troubleshoot
the areas and the people involved. :evil:
Going back to the thread topic, as for the bell curves come PSLE grading,
i just wish that they would just state an A for an A. Chuck T-score.
As for testing of questions out of the syllabus, the school(s) have informed
parents that there will be questions (a handful like 3 - 5) in exam papers tt
are meant for streaming creme of the crop, yes.. and so far in our case, they
are in the syllabus.. still within what's covered & it is intentionally set to
challenge eyes and minds, yes.. but that's about it. But then again, my
observations are based only on humble neighbourhood schools only.:oops:
Perhaps i'm just a simpleton & try to live life within means and for my children
to work to their max potential and abilities. If they can soar ... well go fly as
far as they can, if not we can still fly kite here.. with whatever kites that are
still available for us.
:goodpost:[/quote]
Like this one. Agreed, just give their best in whatever the situation and circumstances. -
Today, just out of curiosity and since the bunch of K2s at my centre were getting a bit restless, I threw them some math problems that you will see in primary schools.
Things like * + * = 2 so what is *. They enthusiastically went to work and surprisingly, even without being shown how to do, a few of them managed to solve a series of such sums. The rest, after explaining, completing the rest of the sums was no biggie.
So I went a step further and gave then the dreaded chicken and cow legs problem. And again the few who were able to solve the 1st type of sums were able to figure out how to solve this question after some trial and errors. As for the rest of the class, after explaining, a few of them got it, 2 or 3 still catch no ball. Haha.
Thereafter, the kids pestered me for more of such problems to try out. Love their enthusiasm.
But no, don’t worry, I am not going to add this as part of their curriculum though some of my parents will be ecstatic if I do.
MOE’s preschool curriculum for math recommends that we need not cover beyond 20, they would prefer that we do not start teaching HYPY and also not give spelling and tingxie.
Parents however, start asking us when are we teaching HYPY, why cannot start at N2, why for math we cover only up to 20, their kids already know how to count up to the hundreds, what about multiplication and bodmas, why such simple tingxie and spelling for the kids, what about dictation, and when are we going to teach creative writing? The best question, ‘what am I sending my kids to your school for if you are not teaching them anything new?’
I believe to a certain extent, we parents have, in our bid to try to make life easier for our kids, created this viscious cycle. Pre-prep our kids, curriculum becomes too easy, some authority somewhere up the standard and again we pre-prep our kids accordingly and the cycle repeats.
DD’s tchr told me DD can be outstanding if pushed a little. She is now very comfortably cruising along. The prideful parent in me was thinking, wow, ‘outstanding’, that sounds so good. Then practicality took over, nope, not gonna stress her or myself over ‘outstanding’, ‘normal’ will do. -
PiggyLalala:
I do not think the situation is so bad. The PSLE paper usually only has a few challenging questions. It is still not so difficult to get an 'A' or 'B' grade in the PSLE. Students who got 'A' or 'B' grades for the most of the subjects can easily get into the Express stream in the sec sch.
As it is now, I am asking for statistics to understand the situation better. Based on school statistics, I know from a school that the Math cohort average for both P3 and P5 was 50+ this year. Is that bad enough to be of concern?
School is supposed to be simulating PSLE standard, no? Even if it is a \"no\", this is drastic.
-
Funz:
:goodpost:Today, just out of curiosity and since the bunch of K2s at my centre were getting a bit restless, I threw them some math problems that you will see in primary schools.
Things like * + * = 2 so what is *. They enthusiastically went to work and surprisingly, even without being shown how to do, a few of them managed to solve a series of such sums. The rest, after explaining, completing the rest of the sums was no biggie.
So I went a step further and gave then the dreaded chicken and cow legs problem. And again the few who were able to solve the 1st type of sums were able to figure out how to solve this question after some trial and errors. As for the rest of the class, after explaining, a few of them got it, 2 or 3 still catch no ball. Haha.
Thereafter, the kids pestered me for more of such problems to try out. Love their enthusiasm.
But no, don't worry, I am not going to add this as part of their curriculum though some of my parents will be ecstatic if I do.
MOE's preschool curriculum for math recommends that we need not cover beyond 20, they would prefer that we do not start teaching HYPY and also not give spelling and tingxie.
Parents however, start asking us when are we teaching HYPY, why cannot start at N2, why for math we cover only up to 20, their kids already know how to count up to the hundreds, what about multiplication and bodmas, why such simple tingxie and spelling for the kids, what about dictation, and when are we going to teach creative writing? The best question, 'what am I sending my kids to your school for if you are not teaching them anything new?'
I believe to a certain extent, we parents have, in our bid to try to make life easier for our kids, created this viscious cycle. Pre-prep our kids, curriculum becomes too easy, some authority somewhere up the standard and again we pre-prep our kids accordingly and the cycle repeats.
DD's tchr told me DD can be outstanding if pushed a little. She is now very comfortably cruising along. The prideful parent in me was thinking, wow, 'outstanding', that sounds so good. Then practicality took over, nope, not gonna stress her or myself over 'outstanding', 'normal' will do.
From my observation, young kids are generally fast learners.
My ds's kindergarten also practised (in 2010) \"need not cover beyond 20, no HYPY\" but they had weekly spelling and tingxie.
I agree with most of the things you said here
We did not \"pre-prep\" our ds, in fact we did not even know what his kindergarten covered (except during PTM twice a year) or when ds told us something about the school happenings. Except revising with my ds once or twice on his weekly spelling and tingxie, I did not even look at most of his materials (sometimes he would take out something to read, write or draw and I would spend some time on those things as family bonding).
But I just want to point out something, as you have said \"Thereafter, the kids pestered me for more of such problems to try out. Love their enthusiasm.\"
Every child is different and each likes different things. As parents, maybe we do not need to separate \"academics\" and \"non-academics\"?
I realised this earlier this year, when we were at Popular with my ds (we were buying stickers and sticker booklets for him), he saw a small Maths booklet at the cashier counter and after browsing it for a while, asked if he could buy it. I bought it. He started reading it on his own ... and sometimes would ask me questions on say, percentage, fractions... Recently, he has asked to buy higher level assessment books and started doing on his own. Oh, btw, he spends much more time (at least a few times more) on non-academics (sports, music, computer games, tv, playtime, draws, ... etc) than academics (incl. school homework). He likes to read too ... not sure if it is \"academics\" and \"non-academics\" .. but what is important to me is that he enjoys doing all these activities He has asked for Maths enrichment too (he said 3 hours a week) ... I do not mind sending my ds .. but his schedule is very tight with all those things I mentioned above and I would also want him to have enough rest time. But it made me realised enrichments (at least for my ds) should not just be sports, music, arts ... but something \"academics\" too ... my main criteria? --> He enjoys it.
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