DSA 2011

[OrangeJuice]

cestmoi:

soda:

[quote=\"cestmoi\"]
:salute: Hi Maisu & Lenny08
I am new here...hope u dun mind me interrupting. I wld like to know what are roughly being tested in the Science domain actually? My sister's kid who will be in P6 next year is keen to try under the Science domain & wld like to know what are being tested.

Thanks Cestmoi for sharing. May I know how many girls were there in the Eng selection test today? My girl attended the earlier one.

Hi Soda, Sry I din find out the exact nbr for today's turnout but I can safely say that the queue for English domain was the longest, followed by Math and then Science & MT. English domain applicants were then sent to 2 classrooms and in each classroom, they are then spilt up to 2 groups. DD said that her grp made up of many elite primary sch students who were very expressive and outspoken! Competition is indeed very keen! I understand that quite a nbr of them were postponed from ur DD's batch cos it clashed with NYGH GAT test. My DD is the same case too. DD just mentioned that there are 10 ppl in her grp. Total estimate for the day abt 40...[/quote]My DD went for Englsig domain test at RGS on 23/7, she told me groups are big and difficult to talk much. she said for poem appreciation, there were 18 of them so if you respond too slow, then you hv nothing to say because your ideas may be commented by girls who spoke up sooner...DD came home and told me she thinks she didnt do well for the poem appreciation section...now keeping my fingers crossed she did well in the other 2 sections

[Alchemist]

Good balanced post. Given I came here as a scholarship holder - so FT? - 21 years ago, but have lived in Singapore ever since - contributing to its economy - and now I am a mother of 2 Singaporean children - I always feel a little uncomfortable when this issue is raised. Nice to hear voices like yours. Many of us do stay and become very much a part of this country, the SG flag hangs outside our flat - and though my husband and I were not born in SG - we are staunch defenders of Singapore (of Singapore, the country, not of Singapore government blindly- as many FT are accused of being )


But I do understand how many locals feel about perhaps not being able to find university or school positions in their own country. It is not an easy issue.

verykiasu2010:

DVL:

[quote=\"breanne\"]I feel sad hearing that we are adopting FT from such a young age knowing that many are merely using Singapore as a stepping stone. In fact today's Sunday Times interviewed a boy studying in local school (father award winning newscaster or something) who said US is better for making money. 20% of enrolment -- combining RI, HCI and NUSH year 1 enrolment, 20% means 150 spaces given to foreigners ?

I understand how most people feel about FT depriving our kids of a place in good schools. However, is it a fact? Perhaps I could raise the example of NUSH to show that it may not be the case. NUSH planned to take in 170 Year 1 students for 2011 intake. However, even with the high number of so called FTs (even though these FT kids had done their primary education here), NUSH took in only 140 kids, including S1 postings. For those Singaporeans who failed to get a place in NUSH, is it a case of FT depriving them a place or is it a case of NUSH felt that they were not suitable? I believe the number speaks for itself.

During my time in the uni, many of my classmates were from Malaysia. But guess what? Most of them found jobs & spouse here and 90% have settled down and helped our economy. I believe many of these so called FTs will eventually settle down in Singapore.

I am prepared to be stoned for saying this :

1. the number of foreign students do not even make up for the short fall of babies born each year in singapore to replace the aging and dying each year

2. many of them do localise and become citizens, those that return to their home countries will still be part of the network of your kids - when they become decision makers in their countries or their biz at home countries --- at least they understand S'pore better & how we work; and who knows, your kids become minister and they become minister in their countries and lo, it makes international relation better, and easier to manage, they can always call each other.....look at the larger picture please....

3. in any case talented people move freely around the world, whatever their nationalities, that is the nature of thing; & talented singapore citizens are all over the world too, and NOT coming back ! and we need more to replace these too !

4. too much inbreeding is not helpful

when I go to meetings in London & NY, bound to meet Singaporeans working there among the bankers and lawyers.......and scientists in France and Germany .... alongside the Hongkongers and PRC & Taiwanese Chinese in those major cities

it is hoped that the younger students coming here would stay longer with us as they grow up here living the Singaporean way of life, compared to just coming for uni or post-grad.....sure got leakage, just like talented Singaporeans going away

(S'pore not that attractive as a post-grad destination)...give u an idea of talent grooming : NYU has a full campus in Shanghai and Mid East but not S'pore

another way to look at it : singapore got it cheap because these people come as adults /almost adults --- it would otherwise cost Singapore much much more tax payers' money to produce and groom that many bright students (scholars/talent or not) in short notice ... someone else have done the hard work of rearing them....


okay, let the stones fly ..... :siam: :siam: [/quote]

[ngbrdad]

The foreign students we are talking about in NUSH’s case is those who flew in directly to take the selection test and camp .

They even make provision to these students that they can bring a dictionary to the first round test and they can appear in street clothes for the camp.

Just like to know is there any stat on how many are these students every year ?

[Nebbermind]

for NUSH, I remember vaguely that the P said abt 10% are foreigners. maybe this figure excludes those who are already in SG doing their pr school.

[Blur Dad]

ngbrdad:

The foreign students we are talking about in NUSH's case is those who flew in directly to take the selection test and camp .

They even make provision to these students that they can bring a dictionary to the first round test and they can appear in street clothes for the camp.

Just like to know is there any stat on how many are these students every year ?

Another question, does this group of students stand the same chance as local Signapore students. Anyone can share?

[Otah]

Among them there could be SG citizen who followed their parents on oversea job posting. Usually they will try the few top schools including NUSH via DSA to come back here for high school education as these schools provide boarding school facility and they have relatives here easily while the parents continue to work oversea. Some of them studied one grade ahead compared to kids here as they are allow to jump grade in other country. They would have learnt those Science and Maths topics which benefit them in the selection.

[DVL]

Nebbermind:

for NUSH, I remember vaguely that the P said abt 10% are foreigners. maybe this figure excludes those who are already in SG doing their pr school.

From my understanding, all schools, including NUSH, have to cap their intake of foreign students at 20% of their total enrollment. This figure excludes those who had done their primary education in Singapore. Most schools choose to take these foreign students at Year 3 level. I think for NUSH, 10% does sound right. For every batch, NUSH would increase its enrollment in Year 3 by 20%- 25% and I believe half of them would be foreign scholars.

[Nebbermind]

Blur Dad:

Another question, does this group of students stand the same chance as local Signapore students. Anyone can share?

Think some of these have really extreme HA and can skip several yrs for selected subjects....

[DVL]

ngbrdad:

The foreign students we are talking about in NUSH's case is those who flew in directly to take the selection test and camp .

They even make provision to these students that they can bring a dictionary to the first round test and they can appear in street clothes for the camp.

Just like to know is there any stat on how many are these students every year ?

Don't have the stats but during the matriculation at NUSH in Dec 2010, I recalled seeing only 2-3 kids in home clothes. DS is in NUSH Year 1, more than 30% of his classmates were not born in Singapore but all of them had their primary education here. Anyway, the number is not important, the crux of the matter is if these FTs are depriving our kids of a place and I believe the answer is no.

[cestmoi]

cestmoi:

OrangeJuice:

My DD went for Englsig domain test at RGS on 23/7, she told me groups are big and difficult to talk much. she said for poem appreciation, there were 18 of them so if you respond too slow, then you hv nothing to say because your ideas may be commented by girls who spoke up sooner...DD came home and told me she thinks she didnt do well for the poem appreciation section...now keeping my fingers crossed she did well in the other 2 sections

Hi Orange Juice
A few parents chatted after DD short break & this was what I heard :

A DD told that her grp was delayed in releasing for break maybe becos no one cld contribute very much in the poem & teacher had to wait very long for ppl to speak up.
Another DD said that her grp teacher had to stop one girl & told her that she was hogging the discussion.
My DD grp had 5 active ones during the poem discussion.

So dun worry too much as I am sure the other components can help ur DD.

I was also told that probably by next week (1st week of Aug) shortlisted applicants will be informed for interview which will likely be held on 2nd week of August.
Btw, did ur DD DSA other schs too?
In the meantime, lets all cross our fingers together & hope for the best!