Overseas Kids are better?
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Pam, thanks for the comment
my kids and their friends could be going together … these few days are like having conferences of families liddat … debating on which school is better, what are the options on which uni to go and which course …
the main thinking has been along the line of whether can get into the desire courses in local u…if not then why go through the pain and then eventually end up with the same path 2 years later …
probably will make a trip there to see the places and see how ready they are to go … one at a time, the younger one won’t be going so soon but all these discussions have opened up their options . -
overseas or local studies, i think parents make the difference la. my PIL hands off all decision right after PSLE, so my husband planned his own education route. he skipped one O-level paper to focus on the rest and went non-main stream route after O-levels. i asked him why he think gahman (supposedly red tape people) want to employ him he said cos sometimes they want someone to think out of the box to improve work processes....whether they adopt suggestions is another matter. i find him very creative ...the way he hang laundry using half the number of clothes pegs and clothes hangers....very inspiring :rotflmao:
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Fellow parents…why worry? Look at yourselves(when I read all your debates), aren’t we all brought up in the same system? Is our thinking boxed up? I believe we were all suppressed but our natural self will precede no matter what…so take heart, no need to be so worried. I used to think like all of us, then I realised I swam in the ink daily for so many years but the ink did not stick on me. Independent thinking is all it takes.
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ksi:
Fellow parents...why worry? Look at yourselves(when I read all your debates), aren't we all brought up in the same system? Is our thinking boxed up? I believe we were all suppressed but our natural self will precede no matter what....so take heart, no need to be so worried. I used to think like all of us, then I realised I swam in the ink daily for so many years but the ink did not stick on me. Independent thinking is all it takes.
You know, very good reminder that overseas is NOT the only path. I went overseas because there was no more sensible/logical path for me here in Singapore. So when do you go overseas, let's brainstorm:
1. The child cannot find fulfillment (even with us planning external activities) in the local system.
2. No more path for advancement in the area he/she is interested in.
3. Other kids are going, good support system in place.
4. Children's psychological state is affected by the local system
5. Parents are working overseas.
6. New opportunities for student there, e.g. scholarships.
7. Yep, indeed if there's little chance or if it takes so much less effort academically (and therefore can spend more time focus on other aspects of life) to get into the same course, might as well go earlier if support is in place.
I call my case 'right side move', because a lot of people go overseas because they cannot make it in Singapore's system. We go because we want a different kind of education, not because my kids cannot make it. They certainly would have made it in Singapore as well. But for us, going overseas made it so much harder for me, but I believe it is for the better of the children, not because they won't survive here (3 of my kids go to very, very good secondary schools), but because we choose a better lifestyle and want to work on other things (like social stuff, sports, independence thinking etc). The 'left side move' is quite different, many went overseas because there were no more opportunities in Singapore for the kids' education.
So yes, staying in Singapore does not necessary mean we all get 'inked', but if the opportunity presents, then I'd prefer to go overseas albeit with some sacrifices. It does not mean those who stay behind on the system are necessarily inferior, I was brought up in this system, so were you. I can agree that both of us really think out of the box.
But all my life, I thought I was stupid even though I went to the best schools. Because my teachers made me feel this way everyday. I thought how my life would have been different just if I knew I was not stupid. But it was too late. I discovered I was just at least normal at 40 years old. -
why are most of the gov’t scholars headed overseas ?
what does that imply ?
risks of going overseas : the kids won’t come back to SG after graduating …
they find their niche overseas and become very mobile with a global perspective which is of course good but … -
verykiasu2010:
That has been an observation for so long, I just find it interesting that our 'common kids' are fighting to get into the local universities but then all our best scholars and 90% of our political leaders are from overseas. Think about it: when you look at the resumes of the person, won't you be more impressed to see some quality overseas universities than local ones?why are most of the gov't scholars headed overseas ?
what does that imply ?
risks of going overseas : the kids won't come back to SG after graduating .....
they find their niche overseas and become very mobile with a global perspective which is of course good but ........
Some years back, there were some big storm about overseas scholars who refused to return to Singapore. I don't think I have that problem with my children even though they left young. If we have grounded our children with the right perspectives and values, then I think they will always love their country. In fact, some of my kids were given opportunities to be in the national team of another country, but they are reluctant to renounce their citizenships for personal glory. If the child decides to leave, then he is not worth keeping. It also reflects the effectiveness of our national education. :sad: It is sad that the gahmen seem to associate all who disagree with them to be 'opponents'. Fortunately, the 'broadmindedness' in us believes that though we disagree with a thing or two, we still respect and support our leaders. Think how much they would have gained if they are able to digest this fact and choose to seek counsel of those who have different views. -
verykiasu2010:
You know, if you have a bunch of kids going together, you have so much more options. Your younger kids can 'tag along' and go to high school, or private schools overseas, and the costs is quickly lowered. With a few families, the parents can take turns to 'watch over' the children. (I am assuming all parents are equally accountable and responsible.) That way, the effort is quickly lessened and support is in place.Pam, thanks for the comment
my kids and their friends could be going together ..... these few days are like having conferences of families liddat .... debating on which school is better, what are the options on which uni to go and which course .....
the main thinking has been along the line of whether can get into the desire courses in local u....if not then why go through the pain and then eventually end up with the same path 2 years later ......
probably will make a trip there to see the places and see how ready they are to go .... one at a time, the younger one won't be going so soon but all these discussions have opened up their options .
I didn't have that kind of support. I pretty much solo everything. You are really blessed. Have a thought. Overseas options are not that difficult to achieve, as long as we are willing to put in the effort and take those few steps. Again, weigh in the pros and cons. THERE ARE CONS, just like every system, make sure the pros outweigh them and then handle each possible disadvantage and mitigate that. Remember 孟母三迁? I always remind myself the story... seeking the best for our children if we want the best for them. -
2ppaamm, I agree with your brainstorming points. My key point is if a family have the means to support a different education approach that suits the child better then by all means, go and experience it and this would be by choice as 2ppaamm termed it ‘right side move’. It is always good exposure to experience more to make ourselves more global. However for parents without the choice, don’t worry too much because ultimately what is impt is to develop good indept thinking in yr child and continue to swim in the system. This ability can still help your child differentiates himself or herself without being cloned to be cookie-cutter product of our system. It is harder but definitely an option which most people have to rely on.
Vks2010, with our very short history of our tertiary institutions, it is tough to claim we produce the brightest people in the world. So for the leaders of the country they need to be taught by more experienced and established unis to lend more credibility to their training process to become future leaders. Having said this our local unis will eventually be the production ground of some future leaders… Eg would be Teo ser luck from ntu and probably Tay ping hui in next GE from NUS… -
ksi:
Yes, I agree that if a family is not able to send the kids overseas, then it is not end of the world. Interestingly, it is the kids from poorer families that impress me more. At least, they have 'fire in their bellies'. A few of my students from the poorer families surprise me with their tenacity and can-do attitude.2ppaamm, I agree with your brainstorming points. My key point is if a family have the means to support a different education approach that suits the child better then by all means, go and experience it and this would be by choice as 2ppaamm termed it 'right side move'. It is always good exposure to experience more to make ourselves more global. However for parents without the choice, don't worry too much because ultimately what is impt is to develop good indept thinking in yr child and continue to swim in the system. This ability can still help your child differentiates himself or herself without being cloned to be cookie-cutter product of our system. It is harder but definitely an option which most people have to rely on.
Vks2010, with our very short history of our tertiary institutions, it is tough to claim we produce the brightest people in the world. So for the leaders of the country they need to be taught by more experienced and established unis to lend more credibility to their training process to become future leaders. Having said this our local unis will eventually be the production ground of some future leaders.... Eg would be Teo ser luck from ntu and probably Tay ping hui in next GE from NUS......
I hope that more leaders will be from local unis one day, or perhaps provide local scholarships to high achievers instead of foreign universities. If is not easy to raise the standard of the university. O, I don't want to say too much, just suffice to say it is a long, long way. -
2ppaamm:
I hope that more leaders will be from local unis one day, or perhaps provide local scholarships to high achievers instead of foreign universities. If is not easy to raise the standard of the university. O, I don't want to say too much, just suffice to say it is a long, long way.
Just like to add that there are plenty of scholarships offered by the local universities, on top of the ones offered by governmental and private bodies.
I agree that it's going to be difficult to raise the standards of our local universities. We're competing with universities worldwide for talent, many of whom command far more prestige and resources than our local universities can offer (admittedly, this disparity is largely through no fault of our own). That said, it is a worthy aspiration (though with all honesty, I don't foresee any of the local universities reaching a status that rivals the top in the world like Oxbridge, the Ivies, Stanford, MIT etc, at least in the near future).
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