Express or Normal stream

[rains]

Honestly, I haven’t heard of a ‘good Normal stream class’ yet. Perhaps there is, but I haven’t come across.


You don’t have much control over the classmates your child is going to have. I thought it wiser to make a decision based on the academics.

As I understood, Normal stream uses a simplified version of Express textbooks. I’m not sure about now, but 20 years ago, my Normal stream friends’ Chinese textbooks have less chapters, and their English textbooks are different.

[schellen]

rains:

As I understood, Normal stream uses a simplified version of Express textbooks. I'm not sure about now, but 20 years ago, my Normal stream friends' Chinese textbooks have less chapters, and their English textbooks are different.

It is still true. Sometimes, they buy different books but sometimes, Normal students may still have to buy the same book (at the same cost) but certain sections may be marked out for Express only or a simplified version (of the concept or sub-chapter) may be included for Normal.

[janice_koh]

its a big ego issue hor…?

[hashroop]

When asked, are schools willing to reveal the aggregrate they are looking to accept express students?

[MMM]

I know as a parent, we hope that our kids do well in school, etc…


But sometimes, it’s rather beyond our control. I personally think the education system classify our children too early into "good" or "bad". During my era, it was just normal stream and they don’t even split by technical or academic.

It is horrifying to learn of the new split and if the child goes to normal (technical), this means his options are limited??? What happens to kids who are late bloomer?

I went to the normal stream after PSLE. It was only in Sec 3 that I realised the fun and importance of studying. It was too late for me to go to express but at least I get to do my "O" and subsequently completed my degree,etc… I considered myself a late bloomer and probably beyond my parent’s "control" though they engaged tutors,etc… for me in my primary school days. I just wasn’t motivated and my parents were happy if I passed and didn’t xpect much.

In the papers, we’ve also read of people who went to normal stream and subsequently poly, uni etc… and top the school.

[rains]

hashroop:

When asked, are schools willing to reveal the aggregrate they are looking to accept express students?

If I understand correctly, the P6s are given a booklet on sec sch admission that advises them on the cut off points.

[rains]

janice_koh:

its a big ego issue hor...?

Sometimes I feel that it's how you want to see it. A nice word for 'ego' is 'pride'.

I remember when I was a student, and lining up to buy my bus stamp, there was this guy in a jc uniform 'confessing' to his schoolmate in the same uniform that he's from the normal stream. The nice girl looked ludicrous and said, almost shouting,\"What's the big deal that you're from normal stream?!! What's the big deal?\"

A friend also told me she had a classmate in poly who felt inferior that he's from the normal stream. I'm not sure how many of them feel inferior that they are from normal stream tho.

Like what MMM said, I'm also a late bloomer. I'm even later. I only realised the importance of studies when I had my first kid and needed to support her. I always just scraped thro: my psle, O level and A level. But eventually, I did well for my degree and got a 2nd upper hons. My husband used to laugh at my previous results, reminding me of his 266 points for psle and his dunno how many points for O level and how many As for A level on a constant basis, but he only got merit for his degree. So after years of him laughing at me, it's my turn to laugh at him lor.

[jedamum]

MMM:

During my era, it was just normal stream and they don't even split by technical or academic.


It is horrifying to learn of the new split and if the child goes to normal (technical), this means his options are limited???? What happens to kids who are late bloomer?
.

MMM,
guess we are from a different era then? heehee...
my bro went to a normal technical stream after his PSLE, topped his class (cos he really liked the subjects taught; more hands-on i guess) and went onto normal academic stream thereafter. somehow, academic route did not suit him and he didn't do well for his O-level to qualify for polytechnic. he went private route and although he did not get his degree, he is holding a decent job and is a decent young adult. the society will have place for late bloomers, so long they are willing to be flexible and take on whichever job that comes along, or actively search for opportunities. what is important is not the academic part, but rather the peer influence and the foundation of the kid's moral that will determine how turbulent the teenage years will be.

[jedamum]

rains:

My husband used to laugh at my previous results, reminding me of his 266 points for psle and his dunno how many points for O level and how many As for A level on a constant basis, but he only got merit for his degree. So after years of him laughing at me, it's my turn to laugh at him lor.

On the contrary, i always laugh at myself, joking with my husband that although his psle score, o-level points and the degree class are 'lower' than mine, his pay is higher (when i was a FTWM) and now he supports me.

[MMM]

jedamum:

the society will have place for late bloomers, so long they are willing to be flexible and take on whichever job that comes along, or actively search for opportunities. what is important is not the academic part, but rather the peer influence and the foundation of the kid's moral that will determine how turbulent the teenage years will be.

Hi, I fully agree with this. It's just that iso of the smooth route, it's more trying and winding as compared to those who are good academically. All thanks to FB, we had a gathering with my sec school friends few months back after 20 yrs. All of us agreed that we have taken a long way to be where we are today.

Though this may sound lame. I also realised that alot depends on one's fate. I am not advocating that we should leave everything to fate. But to a certain extent, maybe it's fate that enables us to be where we are???

In my case, though I am a late bloomer, didn't go through the local uni route. But I think I was lucky. I am now paid higher than my primary classmate who is a scholar. Or those mates who have always been good academically went to top school and local uni. So I think I've not lost out in that sense. But probably I was lucky to have been given the opportunity to meet good bosses along my career path.