Outrage over kindergarten's 'tuition' classes

[buds]

Swinging back to thread topic..


There is no cause for outrage in this case. The report has stated that the issue has spiraled to this due to the misinformation indicated in the circular. As many have determined, the term tuition is used for children with weak foundation of concepts and NEED help... and the term enrichment is well... to enrich the already rich and strong in concepts. ie. foundation more or less quite solid already.

Some sharings..

PAP kindergartens are priced for the masses. For the people who do believe in early education and may not be able to afford pricey private centres. For some parents, it can also be the sole reason of proximity due to alternative caregiving reasons since they have to work. Older people cannot walk too far to send children for daily classes or helpers are not encouraged to travel too far with young children in tow. Many different scenarios. It does not mean that being priced for the masses that they lack in quality and quantity of resources. PAP has evolved with the times within the industry and i personally know of some strong hands within the industry who care to be there to make the difference. Because different centres vary in what they offer and the (sufficient) manpower to ensure they CAN deliver what they offered, the quality varies. Every human-reliant industry depends on the individual person's capacity to execute the tasks.

Some centres are equipped with Phonics trained teachers and they ship in materials from overseas to facilitate this with the budget they are given. The head of the centre usually is (or ideally should also be) one who is trained in the same so she has the wisdom to trouble shoot in the event of teachers going on leave or resigning and being able to explain to parents the nature of these sessions offered. As these sessions are to be incorporated within curriculum time in some centres, the kindergarten sessions may be longer and the fees may be higher to justify the extra time taken and also the expertise of the trained teachers within the centre.

In some other centres who may not have these \"enrichment\" programmes within the curriculum, they gradually upgrade their staff to attend external sessions so they can also include these extras into the curriculum. However, because they started out the kindergarten as certain set hours.. it is quite daunting to change the whole timetable to include these extras with extra curriculum time for all three sessions throughout the day. So they offer such extras as add-ons at relatively affordable fees for the neighbourhood children and families.

There may also be centres who totally outsource to a trained person/company to teach the children at all levels maybe because they lack manpower or professionally trained staff to run the programmes.

Next... different centres may prefer to adopt different methodologies. While some centres prefer to teach using the Jolly Phonics way... some others like the Letterland ways for their fun songs and stories... (etc). There are many many different and very interesting methodologies and resources to capture the early interest of our evolving young children who are becoming smarter by the day to stimuli from home care and environment plus intelligent interactions with older family members throughout the hours they are not engaged in school.

The centre in mention (in the report) may have miscommunicated their intentions and yes while extras (enrichment) are offered, there should always be an opt-out option for those who do not need them.

Regular/standard textbook curriculum/lessons are in place in all centres and apart from the regular daily thematic lessons and projects... the rest are really extras. Teachers while now are better paid than before, are still handling big class size.. some with two teachers and some others just go solo. Teaching children especially the young ones isn't just about pumping in the academics. Academics is always but only one of the many many things children learn in their growing years. There are soft skills, values, fine and gross motor to look into while we nurture our future leaders into a whole person.

All the whack from parents who do not fully understand the ground can result in misunderstanding the whys and the how comes of this situation that had caused a supposed outrage. Centres do teach. The teaching quality however... varies. As with all other industries apart from teaching... quality varies btwn people within the same office/company/industry. Hence the disparity about who is and who is not being prepared for P1 education. So, in my opinion... there is actually a lack of clear information of what goes on behind the scenes (report).

[buds]

LOLMum:

I wonder who is taking the lead now.


Is tuition centre trying to catch up with school or school trying to catch up with tuition centre.

Errr... Everyone is trying to keep up with the times.

Some not knowing what \"times\" they are in.

Not everyone is discerning enough to read between the lines.
Not everyone is discerning enough to filter what is written in
reports, media & cyberspace to know what's \"truly\" best for
their children and hence may get sucked into believing what
they think the \"system\" stands for.

[iRabbit]

buds:

So like my sista autumn, with baby in arms now snuggled for his nap,
on only my iPhone and one hand I just had to drop a quick note...

You guys... (all three of you) :grphug: GREAT POSTS! :celebrate:
 

Thanks buds. But I must say, that's one dexterous hand you got there. Typing so much with one hand.

Chenonceau:

We mock the system itself, and in so doing, we hope to tell the Minister that parents are only half at fault. Unless MOE stops testing beyond at every level, even P1, then parents like me won't have to teach... and you won't feel that tuition is necessary.

Apologies if you felt targeted.

I've no quarrel with you, Chen. Peace :xedfingers:

Btw, sending my ds for enrichment is not solely motivated by marks alone. The fact that I'm getting my son to learn things that will never, ever be tested in exams tells me that part of my motivation is to expose him to the joy of learning itself.

In P1, he preferred to play the piano in the sch's foyer with his friends, rather than play in the field with his other friends during recess. In P2, he prefers to join his friends in the library to read books, rather than play in the field. In other words, he's more studious than sporty.

So as a parent, I take it upon myself to support him in his area of interest.

buds:

It is a sweeping statement to say that parents should all spend time with the children to teach them everything they need to know at home. Just because some of us can, it doesn't mean everyone can. Plus i have to say, not all who can stay home can teach well. Some parents who think they know how to teach end up doing more harm by teaching the wrong things.

And sometimes, even when one has the time and know-how, the patience part is lacking. I've a friend who's a qualified piano teacher but she sent her dd to be taught by another. She said that familarity breeds contempt; for both parties. She doesn't want every night to be a banshee vs harpy contest of will.

[Chenonceau]

FQW:

I've no quarrel with you, Chen. Peace :xedfingers:

Btw, sending my ds for enrichment is not solely motivated by marks alone. The fact that I'm getting my son to learn things that will never, ever be tested in exams tells me that part of my motivation is to expose him to the joy of learning itself.

In P1, he preferred to play the piano in the sch's foyer with his friends, rather than play in the field with his other friends during recess. In P2, he prefers to join his friends in the library to read books, rather than play in the field. In other words, he's more studious than sporty.

So as a parent, I take it upon myself to support him in his area of interest.

Yes... I understand. I am also enriching DS in English Literature. He is now exploring symbolism in The Great Gatsby with an online high school. This might even jeopardise his PSLE but he is really very keen and is a way for him to let off steam. When he was little, we enriched him at home in Science because he liked and I liked... we didn't expect that all this would anchor him well in P5 and P6.

Mine is studious too but with a bit of prodding, he has found a sport that he enjoys.

[autumnbronze]

buds:

autumnbronze:

ps: erhem, erhem, if I may just MIS-quote Yeats' Poem \"The Second Coming\"

Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the depts/school ......

Okie, just trying to be cheeky here :siam:

Gosh, i dunno if it's just me cause i've just caught up on a notti version just by
looking at the ehem... poem.

Kekekekeke ....

You mean the TITLE of the poem sista

[Nebbermind]

firefly38:

If you have been following other ''rather similar'' threads (which i believe you have), you would have noticed, by now, that it has always been the very same ''righteous'' & ''noble'' few, who are ever cynical, critical and anti-everything about the s'pore's education system (GEP, SAP, PSLE, IP etc.. you name it, they ''anti-'' it)! And many of them do write extremely well too, which explains why they could coach their kids themselves, and hence do not understand why other parents could not do so!

Now I understand why I was specifically highlighted somewhere else. :evil:

[BeContented]

buds:

BeContented:

[quote=\"buds\"]Because at present, i suppose i am just contented. :please:

Because i'm contented, i'm happy with what i have or can have.
(And so i guess i bitch less about a lotta stuff..)

While the almost-seemingly-Utopian task of revamping or change takes place, i make do with what i can and like the positive thinking others here, make the best of it... how i can.

PS. I didn't dare step into your good schools thread.. :nailbite: As you have already iterated, our bridges are a wee bit far apart.

Just a short note to share that i believe all schools are good schools... built to provide/offer education to our children with spanking facilities if compared to other less-privileged countries.. BUT it is the people facilitating the schools that makes the difference.

Every single one of them. :love:

I like. I like!!! :rahrah:
must show you how much I like mah ... kekeke.

You my idol mah.. :please:
BeContented is a good mantra to live by.
So we are always grounded in our ways of life.
Not to say that we are not ambitious or not bothered to strive for better.
But when we are contented can we then at least be happy. Life's just too short.[/quote] :love: Yap, life is just too short......learn to accept and be contented so that we can be happier 傻人有傻福。 平凡也是福。 知足常乐。

[limlim]

LOLMum:

I wonder who is taking the lead now.


Is tuition centre trying to catch up with school or school trying to catch up with tuition centre.

The school is expecting the tuition centers to do the school's job..

[laughingcat]

At the end of the day…who cares. Only parents care and responsibilities just fall back on parents. Might as well make do with the system. Accept it and move on. At least makes life simplier and less stress. Keep complianing on the system won’t even help current situation. Afterall should the policy do change, it will takes yeeeeeaaarrsssssss.

[Chenonceau]

laughingcat:

At the end of the day.....who cares. Only parents care and responsibilities just fall back on parents. Might as well make do with the system. Accept it and move on. At least makes life simplier and less stress. Keep complianing on the system won't even help current situation. Afterall should the policy do change, it will takes yeeeeeaaarrsssssss.

Yeah lor.... :sad: Sianzzzzzzzz