All Schools are GOOD Schools

[LOLMum]

but but but…now some pap kindergartens are also offering enrichment (not tutiont okay, the spokeperson said is enrichment) classes to kids after school…and parents didnt even ask for them.


so is kaisi, kaisu or what?

[cimman]

yes, all schools are good schools, but some are better than others…

[Chenonceau]

jenao:

From what I read from the papers, I don't think MOE is going to read much into this thread as Mr Heng himself said \" the problem lay less with the system, than with those who use it.\" So, from MOE point of view, the system does not need fixing but rather the users of the system need to change their mindset!!!!

This riles. We elected a Minister to help us and he turns around to tell us it's our fault.

Straits Times:

And tuition?

Again a matter of perception about what works and what doesn't, said the minister, adding that he recently met a 'lovely couple' whose primary school children didn't take tuition but were still doing very well in school. 'I said, 'What do you do with them?' and they said: 'Well, we spend a lot of time with them, not just on academic work but as loving parents.'

'And I said: 'That's wonderful!''

Hey... my kid has no tuition too, and I also spend a lot of time with him doing non-academic stuff as a loving parent... This is suave condominium launch sales talk - lovely couple and idyllic lifestyle. Will it get real for you and me?

Not if you look at tuition industry turnover. I received a letter from IRAS inviting me to go and attend a seminar on how tutors can file tax returns. I don't earn money from tutoring my son only but I suppose some people think I do... and want their dues. Even IRAS knows how much it can stand to collect from the tuition industry...

Straits Times:

Heartwarming as it was, I doubt that Mr Heng's little anecdote - or his factually based defence of the Singapore system - would soothe the army of anxious parents out there, or any of the MPs they must have vociferously complained to.

So the hell that so many of our children go through in school is not factual? The ads The Learning Lab put up in Business Times boasting that almost half the list of top scorers take tuition with them is not factual? So the fact that half the class in P4 fails CA1 in some schools is not factual? So the fact that such failures push parents to tuition is not factual?

Wow... majorly deluded.

Straits Times:

Not a lot of people know, for example, that over the past five years, every school in Singapore has added 10 teachers on average to its staff, as well as six allied educators.

That is ALL? In 5 years, they only added Teachers? What about textbooks... teaching support databases...? Are these things difficult? These are essential teaching materials that Teachers need to do their job well. Instead, we have textbooks where the whole chapter has a single key word - muscles. And a lot of pictures.

And if they added Teachers, why are classes still at 40?

Straits Times:

How can the ministry and parents stop talking at cross purposes? How can it win them round to its view that 'fixing the system' is more than just a matter of tweaking school structures and rules, but requires a more deep-seated change in how society values education, and how this is conveyed to the young?

This is critical. For Mr Heng surely knows that the real challenge for his ministry is to reach out to parents and make them better understand the import of the changes he is making to the system. Only then will their behaviour start to shift.

We change OUR behavior? What about THEY change THEIRS? Stop testing beyond what they can teach. People respond to the system. Change the system features and behaviors WILL change.

It's OUR behavior when a preschool forces parents to pay for tuition/enrichment without an option to opt out?

Straits Times:

Unless that happens, education policy debates might well continue to be summed up this way: 'good effort, but could do better'.

Good effort? The only good effort at the moment is that MOE is throwing money at the problem: cash awards for character... and grants & such for the really poor.

The mainstream want better quality education, and less stressed out Teachers (who need to write their own resources, mark and TEACH... with the result that they do nothing really well)... and better textbooks ... and that Teachers test what they can adequately teach. We're not asking for handouts or help. It's just basic quality education.

WE used to have good textbooks, and Teachers whom we felt LOVED us, and did not use us for KPIs.

[mother777]

Chenonceau:

Strparent:

[quote=\"CayennePepper\"]

I wonder if anyone from our delusional MOE is reading this?!

http://i42.tinypic.com/29wo67t.gif\">

Oh dear me... gave me a start... that disembodied head.[/quote]yup am also wondering how this was done in the first place :scratchhead: :yikes:

[laughingcat]

I was pondering alot the last few days and especially more so after yesterday parliament.


One of the minister mentioned \"we must stop and educate the public not to use the term neighbourhood school and branded school\".

Another minister pointed out that \"all schools are good, apart from academic\".

Mr Heng mentioned \"all schools are good and we must continue to achieve that\" ......something along this line thought i managed to catch the essence of the meaning but not the exact words.

Hmmmmmm......my thoughts how is he and the educators going to do that? Perhaps setting distance criteria to alumni. This force alumni parents unable to register to the school of choice and hence apply to the nearest \"less popular neighbourhood school\". Because these groups of parent tend to be more committed to ensuring the child to excel, these \"less popular neighbourhood school\" will naturally improve in their overall academic performance over time.

If this is truly the MOE's purpose, i can't wait for the next election to cast my vote.

MIW! You heard me!

2ppaamm:

laughingcat:

Without the parents involvement, i don't think Singapore Education system is where it is today.

I doubt MOE or the education minister are going to revamp the age old system (given today's fast moving technology and thinking) since they know that the system by itself will be able to sustain naturally especially Singapore parents are kiasu who do not want their children to \"fall\" badly.

Wah, so happy to read this. Exactly my views! Yeah, somebody thinks like me! :hi5:

[limlim]

laughingcat:

Hmmmmmm......my thoughts how is he and the educators going to do that? Perhaps setting distance criteria to alumni. This force alumni parents unable to register to the school of choice and hence apply to the nearest \"less popular neighbourhood school\". Because these groups of parent tend to be more committed to ensuring the child to excel, these \"less popular neighbourhood school\" will naturally improve in their overall academic performance over time.

you might have just provided a brilliant solution to him....... :evil:

[laughingcat]

They may have \"brilliant\" ideas. They will have lost subtantial votes from alumni. Bearing in mind how many alumni be there years after years. :evil:

[limlim]

jenao:

From what I read from the papers, I don't think MOE is going to read much into this thread as Mr Heng himself said \" the problem lay less with the system, than with those who use it.\"

Ya.. so? policy makers just sit back and do nothing?

Drugs is bad.. social vice.. what do they do..? BAN it lah......

if \"education\" don't work.. some tough measures have to be taken before the illness deteriorates to a disastrous state..

If you can't \"teach\" teenagers to avoid smoking.. ban the sale of it to below 18.

If you can't \"teach\" youngsters to avoid gambling.. ban them from Singapore pools outlets..

If you can't educate parents to avoid unnecessary tuition..... ban the tuition centers and concentrate all education resources to the schools..

[limlim]

laughingcat:

They may have \"brilliant\" ideas. They will have lost subtantial votes from alumni. Bearing in mind how many alumni be there years after years. :evil:

Don't forget that popular schools are usually a minority.. if not why so many complains....? it is because of limit supply vs excess demand..

They lose 100 votes but gain 1000 votes.. not a bad transaction ar...... :evil:

[LOLMum]

laughingcat:

This force alumni parents unable to register to the school of choice and hence apply to the nearest \"less popular neighbourhood school\".

the nearest school might be an equally or even more popular school.