DSA Appeal 2011
-
I'm disinclined to believe that all this ruckus was because HCI wouldn't release students. There are pressing national reasons to close this loophole. There could also be personal gains for those who did not get into their dream school.
NATIONAL LONG TERM INTEREST
(1) The Ministry promised that there would be more \"good schools\". We all know that school results (in academics and CCA) result from the quality of intake. Like it or not, RI is seen as the best of the best. Everybody who can get into RI, wants RI. Not surprising then that RI produced 50% of 2010's batch of scholars. HCI produced 25%... and all other JCs produced 25%. This kind of pattern has made many parents cry foul in the past. It seems that the scholarship process was biased towards RI... when actually part of the reason is that RI simply is able to attract top talent year on year (aka PSLE t-scores... aka DSA talent).
The promise to have more good schools can be best seen when future statistics show that scholarships are more evenly distributed across the different JCs. In the past, there have been cases where such scholars were found in a non-RI and non-HCI JC. My friend's DD (from a non top JC) went to Stanford on a prestigious scholarship. However, such cases were rare because the raw potential all ended up in RI. RI got the best of the DSA. RI got the best of the t-scores.
Going forwards therefore, closing this loophole ensures a more even distribution of top talent across schools. In time to come, non RI nor HCI scholars should be more prevalent, and then parents would start to believe that Singapore has more than one top tier school.
(2) One of the largest lacunae in the education of our best and brightest is their lack of exposure to less talented people. Top t-scores hang out with top t-scores. Friendships you make in school last you all your life. It is not a bad thing to distribute our highest t-scores better amongst the schools so that every one of them can build social bridges with those less talented than themselves. From these interactions, they learn patience and humility. You can't practise leadership when interacting with other leaders. You practise leadership by interacting with followers. Some of these followers will follow you for the rest of your life. The boss of KC Dat built his company upon the friendships he forged with the Malay kampong boys he grew up with. The experience of NOT always hanging out with the best t-scores will mean that our best and brightest will really learn the qualities future leaders need to have.
Someone commented that ACSI old boys can still pick up the phone to call classmates. This could be because for a long time, ACS made it a point to educate all boys and not just the best. As such, ACS alumni grew up accepting differences in strengths and weaknesses and knowing they needed to look out for each other, instead of compete. I'm just surmising from someone else's comment. I dunno much about ACS.
PERSONAL INTEREST
The experience of really top talent in a non-top school is that Teachers and Principals bend over backwards for you to make sure you get the opportunities to pip students from RI and HCI. Such individualized coaching and attention will be hard to get when you're part of the masses in RI/HCI. One criticism I heard of a certain top school is that unless you're at the top, you pretty much just exist whilst others get to do fun stuff.
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory. Surely, your 2nd choice school isn't a bad school?
NOT A PAROCHIAL REASON
I seriously doubt that MOE will step in so strongly JUST BECAUSE HCI refused to budge. -
Pen88n:
Fully agree with you. I don't think it has anything to do with any school (HCI or otherwise) causing this. Not everyone sees RI has the dream school. My son scored high enough to qualify for RI but we chose HCI although RI is just nearby from our home. In fact before this year we thought it would have been good if he can go RI. We just feel more comfortable with HCI after attending their open houses.
Vks2010, sorry to say this, but your speculation a little too one-sided and skewed. If it is only HCI stopping the transfer, why are the other schs like NUS High, VS, DHS, ACSI etc. not allowing transfer to RI / HCI then? What about the gals' schs - no DSA CO appeal as well? Cannot be 1 HCI stop the whole DSA CO appeal process right?
I personally think this is a case of MOE stepping in to stop the whole DSA CO appeal process, after seeing the amount of admin work increasing yearly from the multiple DSA applications to DSA offers to DSA appeals. Much as I sympathised with the parents and kids who are affected by this, I also feel this is a long called-for measure given the worsening of the DSA situation, and making a mockery of the DSA system.
DSA is for recognition of talents and acceptance of these talents who will contribute to the school. It is not meant to be a safety net, in case your kid does not perform well in PSLE. As more parents and kids use this as a safety net, there is thus a need to stop this practice and ensure DSA serves its due purpose.
Ultimately, I think stopping the DSA appeal process is fair to students who didn't participate in DSA. If DSA appeals are allowed, just think about those abandoned CO cases resulting in vacancies in schools - those who went through *only* S1 posting will be denied a place. And if they didn't try to appeal they would not have been able to fill the vacancy vacated after the S1 posting exercise. -
Chenonceau:
:rahrah: I fully agree with this! One of my boys would too!
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory. -
Hi everyone,
I'm a new user
I know RI and HCI are really popular choices, but there are many other good schools around too, maybe just not too focussed on publicising their good work.
I live in the East. And if you're hunting for a good Chinese Orchestra for your daughter to join, I can suggest Dunman High (6-year IP) and Temasek JC (they are currently offering 4-year IP and will start their 6-year IP in 2013). Both schools have done consistently well in the SYF competitions.
If I remember correctly, TJC on their main page, did state that about 4 or 5 of their students were top winners in the National Arts Council's National Chinese Music Competition last year? That is quite remarkable!
Both DHS and TJC also offer the Music Elective Programme. So, I guess, they are good schools to develop your child's music potential.
Hope this helps -
phankao:
I know a school Principal whose DS could make the RI cut off. He went instead to a no name JC who gave him SO MANY opportunities to shine that he went on to get an EDB scholarship and is now in Harvard. I was shocked at her unconventional decision. The Principal explained that her son might get lost in RI amongst all the smarties as smart as him or smarter... and she made a decision to put him in No Name JC instead.
:rahrah: I fully agree with this! One of my boys would too!Chenonceau:
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory.
This was the decision of someone who knows the system from inside.
A place in Harvard is almost impossible to get. Only TWO Singaporeans every year get picked. So hey... RI is not the end of the road... and it isn't even the best means to get to the end of the road depending on where your end happens to be. Harvard doesn't give 2 hoots that you're from RI. They get valedictorians from top US institutions applying. They dunno the various rankings of our JCs, and they dun care. They wanna see what your child has done. For that, your child needs the opportunities that they're more likely to get when they stand out amongst the crowd. -
Chenonceau:
Fully agree. Most parents would agree with the above but not many children will have the wisdom and maturity to understand this or they understand but they still think that friends are more important.
PERSONAL INTEREST
The experience of really top talent in a non-top school is that Teachers and Principals bend over backwards for you to make sure you get the opportunities to pip students from RI and HCI. Such individualized coaching and attention will be hard to get when you're part of the masses in RI/HCI. One criticism I heard of a certain top school is that unless you're at the top, you pretty much just exist whilst others get to do fun stuff.
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory. Surely, your 2nd choice school isn't a bad school?
-
PiggyLalala:
It is hard for the child. It is. :snuggles: :snuggles: But in life, Grandparents die... beloved Helpers leave to go home... dogs get run over... favorite toys get lost. Not the end of the road.
Fully agree. Most parents would agree with the above but not many children will have the wisdom and maturity to understand this or they understand but they still think that friends are more important.Chenonceau:
PERSONAL INTEREST
The experience of really top talent in a non-top school is that Teachers and Principals bend over backwards for you to make sure you get the opportunities to pip students from RI and HCI. Such individualized coaching and attention will be hard to get when you're part of the masses in RI/HCI. One criticism I heard of a certain top school is that unless you're at the top, you pretty much just exist whilst others get to do fun stuff.
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory. Surely, your 2nd choice school isn't a bad school? -
Chenonceau:
I know a school Principal whose DS could make the RI cut off. He went instead to a no name JC who gave him SO MANY opportunities to shine that he went on to get an EDB scholarship and is now in Harvard. I was shocked at her unconventional decision. The Principal explained that her son might get lost in RI amongst all the smarties as smart as him or smarter... and she made a decision to put him in No Name JC instead.
:rahrah: I fully agree with this! One of my boys would too!phankao:
[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
It MIGHT be a good thing to be in a 2nd choice school with access to the same opportunities but more attention from the Teachers and Principals who see in you the hope for glory.
This was the decision of someone who knows the system from inside.
A place in Harvard is almost impossible to get. Only TWO Singaporeans every year get picked. So hey... RI is not the end of the road... and it isn't even the best means to get to the end of the road depending on where your end happens to be. Harvard doesn't give 2 hoots that you're from RI. They get valedictorians from top US institutions applying. They dunno the various rankings of our JCs, and they dun care. They wanna see what your child has done. For that, your child needs the opportunities that they're more likely to get when they stand out amongst the crowd.[/quote]
Very well written and excellent sharing! :thankyou:
-
samontheway:
I double checked the moe website on dsa: http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/dsa-sec/
no info like \"unallowed appeal\" at all. It just mentioned that the dsaer cannot participate S1.
Since some friends here talks alot about \"immoral, disloyal or unfair\", what about S1 appeal? any difference between them in terms of immoral or disloyalty or unfairness? sorry, no offence to the S1 appealers who are already successful. congrat! I wish i was one of you.
As to the unallowed appeal to DSA, no school released this info during my visits to any of their open-houses; even for NYGH,(1 English auditorium and 1 Chinese auditorium), i took the first session of Chinese one but i was not informed. but somebody said both HCI and NYGH did so, i am wondering \"is his or her kid girl or boy\"? why did this guy took part in the said two school?
You talking about me huh? Sorry for the late reply, have not check KSP for a few days. Fyi, my son did not take part in both schools, he is not qualify for NYGH.
HCI orgainised a parent symposium for all WL and CO students on 22 Oct, a few days before the P6 students exercise their DSA offers. HCI invited two speakers, parents whose sons are currently in HCI, to share with us how did their sons cope in HCI. One of the parent was Mdm Heng, P of NYGH. It was during this informative and well organised symposium that both the P from NYGH and HCI informed us of the MOE's directive. They reminded us that the DSA exercise is an opportunity for us to teach our children on moral value - honour their commitment! I was grateful that HCI made an effort to organise the symposium and am glad that I attended it.
My personal opinion is if RI δΈεθ΅·ζ₯ε and organise such useful and informative talk/symposium for parents, like what HCI did, all this DSA appealing (between RI and HCI) will not happen. Aiyo, this forum is flooded with RI supporters, I better :siam:
Sometime I wonder is it the child who feel sad that they cannot get into their dream schools or is it the parents who feel 沑ι’ε? -
Snow Crystal:
Of course there are exceptions to the DSA appeal and I had made a general comment initially.Having one hand in each cookie jar is wrong but what if in this scenario; MY Ds told me his friend chose ACS(I) through DSA.He got in but now regrets.Only when he went for the registration that he was told that there will be Bible studies half an hour every day. The fact is this kid is not a Christian and he detests it-frantically searching for another school to take him in. In this scenario-it was an honest mistake to accept CO and I think he has every right to appeal to another school on religious grounds.His fundamental rights on freedom of religion had been infringed because the school did not reveal that compulsory bible studies was part of the program. So I do agree in this situation that an appeal to transfer to another school should be granted by all means as provided for in the childs basic constitutional right.I also do understand non-Christians with very low T-scores (206)are accepted in to ACSI and some Christians with higher scores are rejected.Its obvious even to the dumb what the agenda is! So the crap of casting the first stone is just rubbish, rhetoric of the stone age to hide dubious motives.If those who have similar issues as the above Kid has a valid reason and it should be supported but not otherwise. I volunteer my services FOC on grounds of technicality as provided for in the constitution in this scenario. I am certain MOE hates seeing my face and would sort it out before I appear before them.Ha!Ha! :rotflmao:
I have no p6 kid this year. For those with older kids, we know that the schs have been allowing transfers in recent years. That is the fact. Things have panned out differently this year and being a parent with no p6 kid, we do not know what has been told or not told to the DSA CO parents on adhering to CO with no transfer this year. And which parent doesn't know all should try to honor commitments and impart good values to our kids. But when you are in those parent' shoes then it may turn out different feeling and action especially when you see the schools have been ok with such transfers in the past. Please don't make these parents sound like immoral parents. They are like you and me - full of love for their kids. My frens in such situations are not selfish people. Let those who do not sin cast the first stone.Dr.K:
The respective school selects a student and honors its commitment to take in the student irrespective of the T-score ,as long as he/she is qualified for the express stream in PSLE.
For those who want to challenge the MOE after getting better results than expected need to read the rules again and abide by it.
Don't be unreasonable that the whole system need to change because of a few who are practically very shortsighted and dishonorable.Please impart good values to children.Parents were given the opportunity to pull out before the PSLE results.Parents should teach children that when a commitment is made one must see to it is fulfilled. Otherwise it is shifting goalpost to suit oneself when the situation warrants it.Its considered bullying and cheating is it not? A parallel to this type of thinking is what communist leadership does in real life situation-always trying to extend their territories at others cost-not playing by the rules always creating chaos.No offense meant as some may be blurred by the anxiety to provide the best for their children could have erred in their judgement.It could happen to the best of us. :celebrate:
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better π
Register Login