River Valley High School [*IP]

[sall]

daisyt:

Today, at the prize presentation ceremony, the Chairman of School Advisory Commitee mentioned something in his speech. RV had achieved SAI (SAP, Autonomous and IP) over the years. The next step is to be another I, which is Independent school, a government independent school. Not sure if government independent is similar to HCI and NYGH? If this is so, my first thought would be the school fees.

Yes, Daisyt, I was there too, and I was quite shocked to hear that the next step is another 'I'. If all IP sch have another 'I' added, then how are the students from lower-income families going to handle the sch fees?

[WeiHan]

Actually, becoming an independent school isn’t a new idea in RV. The founding principal of RV had urged the school to seize the opportunity when independent school concept was first introduced many years ago.

[daisyt]

Then i do hope it is still under conceptual stage until many years later.

[WeiHan]

I don’t understand why the parents are worry about the school fees. If the child exceeds certain score, they will receive the EESIS scholarship from MOE. Most of NYGH’s students will be qualify to receive this scholarship. Furthermore, I think they will consider the fact that most RV’s students don’t come from rich background. Many are from not so well-off families and that is why the alumni has raised a fund to help such students. I’ll imagine that the school will discuss with MOE about this and fund will be raised with further top up from MOE to assist this group of students and they will assess from present situation that probably 95% of Rv’s students qualifies for this kind of scholarship-bursaries assistance. I don’t think they will rush in the idea without detail consideration.


BTW, do you believe that independent schools provide better education? probably, it is a consideration to further upgrade RV?

[sall]

Even with the EESIS scholarship, students still need to pay a much higher sch fee compared to govt. sch, right? I hope this will only happen 6 years later.

Looking at the excellent RV prog and the recent 'A' level results, why is there a need to go independent. The sch is already doing very well.

[daisyt]

WeiHan:

BTW, do you believe that independent schools provide better education?

If the answer is \"yes\", then what is the defination of better education? And does that mean without being an independent school, the school cannot provide a better education? I am just puzzle... :?

[WeiHan]

daisyt:

WeiHan:

BTW, do you believe that independent schools provide better education?

If the answer is \"yes\", then what is the defination of better education? And does that mean without being an independent school, the school cannot provide a better education? I am just puzzle... :?

Better means better programmes that develop the child. I believe an independent school has more freedom in developing some of its own programmes. Thus, for schools that have its own resources and know what to do with it, independent status is better off.

[daisyt]

So the concept is, government aided schools are no better of independent schools? BTW, MOE always say that there is no need to squeeze into top schools, neighbourhood schools can also provide the best education for our children. So what is what now? I agree with sall, RV is already doing very well in results.


And when the school turns to independent, many things that cannot be measured, would never be the same. Not just school fees.

[WeiHan]

I guess what MOE was refering to was primary schools-don’t need to squeeze to top schools. But there are differences for secondary schools and JCs.


Indeed, if the school becomes independent, many intangibles will be different. The school stake holders will have more control of the schools and that is a key factor in preserving many intangibles such as school culture etc…

I have to clarify…I am neither for nor against indpendence…just trying to figure out what are the pros and cons like you all.

[sall]

I feel that there are not enough periods for Maths and Science. Maybe they should take away Aesthetics and Malay, and have more Maths and Science lessons, or Geography or History lessons. Afterall, a lot of students already have their own private music lessons, they don’t need another 2 periods/week of music in school. As for those without music background, 2 periods/wk of music is not going to help much.

As for conversational Malay, if they don’t practise, they will never remember.
The students never practise or use it anyway.