Intellect or Age Peer?

[jtoh]

Hi 2ppaamm, you were saying that gifted boys will find it especially hard to get approval to go to international schools. In your case do you think it was because your son would have skipped grades if he had gone to an international school and MOE frowns upon grade skipping?


I wasn’t aware that MOE approval was required for local students to attend SJI International and ACS International and that there was a quota on it. Quite a few of my friends have enrolled their kids in SJI International. They said they went for a test and interview at the school and were given offers conditional on their PSLE performance.

[cnimed]

It's because MOE wants to keep gifted kids in the local school system.


From MOE website:
The Ministry of Education (MOE) formally identifies the academically gifted and caters to the top 1% of the national cohort through the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), beginning at Primary 4. It also caters for the exceptionally gifted.

In meeting the needs of the exceptionally gifted, MOE is guided by the following principles. First, these children should be in our Singapore school system. Second, they should receive a well-rounded education. Cognitive development should not be achieved at the expense of the development in the moral, social, physical and aesthetic domains. Third, the recommended interventions would be made within the constraints of existing resources.

[corneyAmber]

jtoh:

Hi 2ppaamm, you were saying that gifted boys will find it especially hard to get approval to go to international schools. In your case do you think it was because your son would have skipped grades if he had gone to an international school and MOE frowns upon grade skipping?


I wasn't aware that MOE approval was required for local students to attend SJI International and ACS International and that there was a quota on it. Quite a few of my friends have enrolled their kids in SJI International. They said they went for a test and interview at the school and were given offers conditional on their PSLE performance.

2ppaamm, Yes this is the same experience of my friends and they got in after PSLE but they are girls, is that the difference? :?

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

What is 'subscribe to any MOE school'? I thought once you are in the international schools, you are out of the MOE system? Were your friend's kids overseas for 2 or more years? :?


.

Maybe I confuse you, what I mean is exactly what you think. Once they go international school, they are out of MOE system forever. And these children went to local primary school but switched to international school for secondary education.

[cnimed]

Sorry, getting confused. I thought we are talking about primary school-aged kids entering international schools? For that, MOE’s approval is required. In 2ppaamm’s son’s case, he is below 12 years old right? Is this also the case for the boy who returned from overseas?


I do think MOE is getting smarter at crafting their rules. A lot of hedging so that they can continue to have a gatekeeping role.

(Ahh, just saw above post. cross-post)

[corneyAmber]

deminc:

Sorry, getting confused. I thought we are talking about primary school-aged kids entering international schools. For that, MOE's approval is required. In 2ppaamm's son's case, he is below 12 years old right? Is this also the case for the boy who returned from overseas?


I do think MOE is getting smarter at crafting their rules. A lot of hedging so that they can continue to have a gatekeeping role.

No deminc, the discussion started because 2ppaamm's DS1's friend went to get doctor's letter to transfer to international at SECONDARY level. So I was asking why needed to do that since by secondary ALL kids with enough MOOLARS could go international school but 2ppaamm said not so easy....that is our discussion.

However, the control at PRIMARY level is VERY TIGHT to go international schools.

[cnimed]

Thanks ksi! I "catch the ball" now, haha! So 2ppaamm is saying that actually all applicants require approval, but for most, the approval is automatic. In this case, MOE exercised its gatekeeper role to keep the child in local education system, which I personally think is due to their very open stance that as far as possible, gifted children should be kept within MOE system.


Or did the ball roll away from me again??

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

jtoh:

Hi 2ppaamm, you were saying that gifted boys will find it especially hard to get approval to go to international schools. In your case do you think it was because your son would have skipped grades if he had gone to an international school and MOE frowns upon grade skipping?


I wasn't aware that MOE approval was required for local students to attend SJI International and ACS International and that there was a quota on it. Quite a few of my friends have enrolled their kids in SJI International. They said they went for a test and interview at the school and were given offers conditional on their PSLE performance.

2ppaamm, Yes this is the same experience of my friends and they got in after PSLE but they are girls, is that the difference? :?

I only know from what the international schools tell me. At the point I asked a local-international school, their quota was up for Singaporean students, and they were waiting for MOE to increase the quota, secondly, they cannot admit anyone below 12 years old because MOE does not allow it.

The gifted boy part is from the international-international schools. They told me that it is virtually impossible to admit my son, but they will try. From their experience, MOE will almost never approve gifted boys going to an international school.

For acceleration within the local-international schools, once you make the 12 year old mark, you can be accelerated within the school, MOE only regulates that they take in >12 years old. That's as far as I was told.

[corneyAmber]

deminc:

Thanks ksi! I \"catch the ball\" now, haha! So 2ppaamm is saying that actually all applicants require approval, but for most, the approval is automatic. In this case, MOE exercised its gatekeeper role to keep the child in local education system, which I personally think is due to their very open stance that as far as possible, gifted children should be kept within MOE system.


Or did the ball roll away from me again??

No..the ball did not roll this time... I am also beginning to find out from 2ppaamm that at SECONDARY, they also try to control...maybe for gifted kids. Those I am aware are just normal kids from local primary school switching to international at secondary because firstly parents are rich enough, secondly, hate the exam system in local schools.

[cnimed]

phew!! kekeke…