Some students fail to thrive on Integrated Programme scheme

[Zhuge]

tisha:

FanFanX:

Raffles Institution said it was looking into starting an O-level class. Principal Lim Lai Cheng said that if this happens, it will be 'to open up options' for those wanting to go to polytechnics or abroad.

This is ridiculous! You don't go to RI to end up in poly! :siam:
Actually these top notch IP school where every student is academically streched in an accelerated environment should set up some kind of minimum TScore(240? 250? the school can decide based on past experience) for those DSAed. In such an environment, it does not make sense to say that as long as you have a confirmed offer we welcome you with open arms even if u score 201(express eligibility). Aren't the schools being greedy to get these students in just to bring medals and glory to the school at the cost of the child?
From now on I guess parents should approach this DSA thingy with caution.

Remember the Sunday Times article on Dennis Foo this year or last year? His son who went to RI went to Poly. Even during non-IP days, there are still a no of RI/RGS/HCI students who did not do well in O levels. Those who qualified for JC did not end up in RJC/HCJC but in other JCs too.

[rosecy]

tisha:

Aren't the schools being greedy to get these students in just to bring medals and glory to the school at the cost of the child?

if you have friends who are the sports teachers ic, you will know why they take in the top sports talents at all costs. they are under pressure to bring in GOLD medals not just any medals!
it is unethical to sacrifice the child for the gold medals. some have to transfer to other schools when they are unable to cope with the academics. it does happen just that such cases are kept hush hush.
like some of you mentioned, it takes 2 hands to clap. those parents played a role in the failure of their children too. why send the child there knowing that he is unlikely to be able to cope with the academics? how do you expect a child with sub-220 to cope when the majority are 260s & above? most of these parents are just after the prestige of having their child in the top boys school.

[South African]

dovetail:

SAHM_TAN:

I'm wondering what's education all about...


what is primary education about?

what is secondary education about?

what's post-secondary education about?

To me, it's about

1.learning to developing a questioning an exploratory mind
2.learning to learn
3.learning to make decisions
4.developing socio-emotional competencies.
5.learning to compete which should come say upper sec and later.

It's not just about exams and grades.

This requires a lot of trust and faith in our children.

This story from my dd's GEP teacher. His ex-student from GEP was then a photo journalist came back to visit.


Student: Are you proud of me? (meaning I'm not some high flyer that they expect of a GEP kid)

Teacher: Are you happy?

Student: Yes, I love what I'm doing and I'm happy.

Teacher: Then I'm very proud of you.


I think at the end of the day, we hope our kid will find something he love to do for his living. Something that he feel can help him fulfill his purpose. A good education environment should help him to discover his purpose.

Well said. Merry Xmas!

[Snow Crystal]

Zhuge:

Remember the Sunday Times article on Dennis Foo this year or last year? His son who went to RI went to Poly. Even during non-IP days, there are still a no of RI/RGS/HCI students who did not do well in O levels. Those who qualified for JC did not end up in RJC/HCJC but in other JCs too.

Yes since many years ago, some can't cope in these top secondary schools and transferred out to other secondary schools. And quite a number went 2nd/3rd tier JCs. Not all go RJC/HCJC. NJC was very prestigious and some went there by choice due to proximity to home etc. For example non-Chinese in RI/RGS staying along Bukit Timah may prefer not to travel to RJC, and thus choose NJC over HCJC. A handful (very few last time) of students went poly eventually.

[MandyMummy]

Snow Crystal:

Zhuge:

Remember the Sunday Times article on Dennis Foo this year or last year? His son who went to RI went to Poly. Even during non-IP days, there are still a no of RI/RGS/HCI students who did not do well in O levels. Those who qualified for JC did not end up in RJC/HCJC but in other JCs too.

Yes since many years ago, some can't cope in these top secondary schools and transferred out to other secondary schools. And quite a number went 2nd/3rd tier JCs. Not all go RJC/HCJC. NJC was very prestigious and some went there by choice due to proximity to home etc. For example non-Chinese in RI/RGS staying along Bukit Timah may prefer not to travel to RJC, and thus choose NJC over HCJC. A handful (very few last time) of students went poly eventually.

Before IP was started in RI, only 60% of RI boys succeeded in getting a place in RJC based on O level results. The rest went to other colleges or polys.

[dovetail]

MandyMummy:

Snow Crystal:

[quote=\"Zhuge\"]
Remember the Sunday Times article on Dennis Foo this year or last year? His son who went to RI went to Poly. Even during non-IP days, there are still a no of RI/RGS/HCI students who did not do well in O levels. Those who qualified for JC did not end up in RJC/HCJC but in other JCs too.

Yes since many years ago, some can't cope in these top secondary schools and transferred out to other secondary schools. And quite a number went 2nd/3rd tier JCs. Not all go RJC/HCJC. NJC was very prestigious and some went there by choice due to proximity to home etc. For example non-Chinese in RI/RGS staying along Bukit Timah may prefer not to travel to RJC, and thus choose NJC over HCJC. A handful (very few last time) of students went poly eventually.

Before IP was started in RI, only 60% of RI boys succeeded in getting a place in RJC based on O level results. The rest went to other colleges or polys.[/quote]Yeah, it's always easier to stay in then getting in. Hence, parents die die want a foot in first. If kid's cannot cope still can stay in.

[dovetail]

rosecy:

tisha:

Aren't the schools being greedy to get these students in just to bring medals and glory to the school at the cost of the child?

if you have friends who are the sports teachers ic, you will know why they take in the top sports talents at all costs. they are under pressure to bring in GOLD medals not just any medals!
it is unethical to sacrifice the child for the gold medals. some have to transfer to other schools when they are unable to cope with the academics. it does happen just that such cases are kept hush hush.
like some of you mentioned, it takes 2 hands to clap. those parents played a role in the failure of their children too. why send the child there knowing that he is unlikely to be able to cope with the academics? how do you expect a child with sub-220 to cope when the majority are 260s & above? most of these parents are just after the prestige of having their child in the
top boys school.

This is very true. My friend made his son go to VS even though his T score only 21something. He DSA thru soccer. It's very tough for the boy as he is not the academic type. Another friend's son DSA to Hwa Chong via cross country, also very tough. He wants to quit the sport as he finds the training too tough for him and his passion for running was questionable but he cannot quit.

These top schools want to win in everything. They run it like football clubs, just 'buy' players using the school name. At the end of the day, parents must have the kid's interest at heart, not their face.

[Snow Crystal]

MandyMummy:

Before IP was started in RI, only 60% of RI boys succeeded in getting a place in RJC based on O level results. The rest went to other colleges or polys.

Yup. But of the remaining %, a large number went to HCJC or NJC by choice ie they could have made it to RJC but chose HCJC or NJC instead. Then, followed by other JCs etc.

[corneyAmber]

jtoh:

I don't find the information in this article surprising. Not everyone is suited for the IP style of learning, which emphasizes self-directed and independent learning. Top PSLE scorers do not necessarily thrive in an IP setting. Someone who studies very very hard and memorizes facts well can do very well in PSLE.


Secondary school, especially secondary school in an IP setting is a very different ballgame. I've seen top students with scores of 270s flounder in a top IP school. They might have been pushed very hard in primary school, sent to all kinds of tuition centres and forced to study by their parents. When they get to secondary school, they're burnt out. And faced with classmates who are just as bright or even brighter than them, and that they're no longer number one, they lose their confidence and stop trying. Of course such cases are few, but they do exist.

That's why I do not think that having so many new IPs is a good thing. Parents are clamoring to get their kids into IP schools without thinking through if their kids are able to thrive in one. Just like how parents are sending their kids to GEP-grooming classes in the hope that they'll get in without thinking if the programme is suitable for them.

IP is a good programme... for the right kind of students.

I agree with this and which is why in round 2 IP schools all of them are offering double tracks and the round 1 IP schools without this are considering an alternative 'O' track. When we deal with people, it is hard to categorise absolutely.....people evolve with time. I suppose with the new changes, everyone should be happier... to a happier 2012! :celebrate:

[Belle2011]

I am just curious if there are sufficient vacancies in the top JCs (eg RJC, VJC, TJC, HCI etc) for those who enter after taking O levels, given the current IP setting.