Secondary School Selection 2012

[LOLMum]

Found the letter.



Letter in st forum published on apr 17 2012


Implications of IP Students Tuition ‘crutch’


I WAS always under the impression that private or extra tuition is for those who do badly or fail at school, to help them pass their examinations.

Now, the trend is to have tuition to continue to achieve excellent results. Former Integrated Programme (IP) student Rachel Eng (‘Nothing wrong with IP students having private tuition’; last Saturday) claims that tuition is prevalent among IP students because it is far harder to achieve exceptional grades in the programme. Such over-reliance on tuition is a cause for concern and suggests a shortfall in the education system.

If Miss Eng is right, it shows that the best students cannot solve problems independently and need to be hand-held by tutors to help them maintain their A grades.

Are such students truly A-quality brains?

Courses get harder as one progresses to university. Will such IP students continue to have tuition to help them achieve exceptional grades?

Will they still need hand-holding when they start work?

Dr Goh Phuay Yee

 
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Nothing wrong With ip students Having private tuition

published in st in apr 14 2012

MADAM Phyllis Cheong’s contention (‘The problem with IP’; Wednesday) that private tuition casts doubt on the independent learning ability of Integrated Programme (IP) students is not valid.

Whether an IP student resorts to private tuition or not is inconsequential to the programme’s effectiveness. And Madam Cheong’s suggestion of a survey to determine the number of IP students who have private tuition would not help.

Tuition is a mainstay of the education system here; a resource the Singaporean psyche deems necessary to continue obtaining good grades.

Tuition is prevalent among IP students because it is far harder to achieve exceptional grades in the programme.

When being interviewed for the IP, grades are not the only factor; so tuition does not come into play. The Primary School Leaving Examination may not be a complete measure of a student’s eligibility for the IP, but it is when judged together with his performance during the interview.

IP students are well-rounded, as they have more time to pursue their interests. They are encouraged to learn independently, the consequence of which is that they are far more self-determining and self-confident than those who stay on the O-level track.

The programme considers every student equally, and those who are eligible will certainly obtain a place, regardless of family background, low-income or otherwise.

It is a life-changing experience that exposes one to many new discoveries and makes one a better person. It was the best four years of my life.

Rachel Eng

[mummy so kiasu]

janet_lee88:

A friend has 2 sons in SJI independent. She told me she doesn't have to pay anymore tuition fees...amount she pays for a year for one kid is equivalent to tuition fee. Life is more relaxed. School starts at 810am and ends like 3.

A neighbour's son who is in HCI independent sec 1 is also very relaxed according to grandmother...$20K a year.

I don't have this amt of money. My son will take the O level route.

You can consider Catholic High, Dunman High, NJC, Bukit Panjang Govt High, River Valley High & Victoria School. These schools offer IP route & they are non independent schools. I also don't have so much money.

[jedamum]

mummy so kiasu:

janet_lee88:

A friend has 2 sons in SJI independent. She told me she doesn't have to pay anymore tuition fees...amount she pays for a year for one kid is equivalent to tuition fee. Life is more relaxed. School starts at 810am and ends like 3.

A neighbour's son who is in HCI independent sec 1 is also very relaxed according to grandmother...$20K a year.

I don't have this amt of money. My son will take the O level route.

You can consider Catholic High, Dunman High, NJC, Bukit Panjang Govt High, River Valley High & Victoria School. These schools offer IP route & they are non independent schools. I also don't have so much money.

Bukit panj govt high have ip.?

[janet88]

But I don’t want IP. I prefer O level.

My son is no independent learner. Take PSLE, followed by O levels.

[Nebbermind]

janet_lee88:

But I don't want IP. I prefer O level.

My son is no independent learner. Take PSLE, followed by O levels.

Donch restrict yourself. Some kids perform better in a no textbk or modular system.

[Flowermonaster]

Nebbermind:

janet_lee88:

But I don't want IP. I prefer O level.

My son is no independent learner. Take PSLE, followed by O levels.

Donch restrict yourself. Some kids perform better in a no textbk or modular system.

How we know What type of system our kids r suitable? Sorry for asking if it's a stupid question. I really have no clue on which system is best for my DS. :?

[Nebbermind]

Flowermonaster:

How we know What type of system our kids r suitable? Sorry for asking if it's a stupid question. I really have no clue on which system is best for my DS. :?

I only know for my case, my boy was well aware of what he's getting into and try (not work!) hard to get his DSA. He's definitely not the self motivated or top scholar/scorer type of kid, but he's much happier than he was in pr school and despite not a hardworker, still get pretty decent results for his 1st yr. Personally, I think the kid MUST be happy in THAT school and having the right mix of friends and classmates will provide the necessary push factor.

So, we'll never know until we are there....so why confine ourselves, unless the kid himself doesn't want to.

[Flowermonaster]

Nebbermind:

Flowermonaster:

How we know What type of system our kids r suitable? Sorry for asking if it's a stupid question. I really have no clue on which system is best for my DS. :?

I only know for my case, my boy was well aware of what he's getting into and try (not work!) hard to get his DSA. He's definitely not the self motivated or top scholar/scorer type of kid, but he's much happier than he was in pr school and despite not a hardworker, still get pretty decent results for his 1st yr. Personally, I think the kid MUST be happy in THAT school and having the right mix of friends and classmates will provide the necessary push factor.

So, we'll never know until we are there....so why confine ourselves, unless the kid himself doesn't want to.

Thanks for sharing. I think I will have a difficult time as my DS has no clue which school he really wants to go. I know I must bring him to school open house but not possible for us to go everyone. I will need to work with him to narrow down to just a few schools but it won't b easy.

[janet88]

1) I cannot afford to pay $16K or $20k a year for 6 years. so that means IB is out. Right?


2) DSA also out bcos son not fantastic in his sports or studies...I'm still nagging every day :frustrated:

3) IP is really for independent learners...afraid my son doesn't have this quality.

So the safe route :xedfingers: is still O levels.
Have a dream school, work towards it. If results do not qualify, then have to look at schools avail for 220, 230 and 240 accordingly.

[jtoh]

janet_lee88:

1) I cannot afford to pay $16K or $20k a year for 6 years. so that means IB is out. Right?


2) DSA also out bcos son not fantastic in his sports or studies...I'm still nagging every day :frustrated:

3) IP is really for independent learners...afraid my son doesn't have this quality.

So the safe route :xedfingers: is still O levels.
Have a dream school, work towards it. If results do not qualify, then have to look at schools avail for 220, 230 and 240 accordingly.

I think you've given the matter a lot of thought and are very realistic. Good for you. I think sometimes parents want the best for their kids without realizing that the best may not be suitable for their kids. So many parents these days just want the IP route for their kids or want DSA for their kids without thinking through if that is the best route for them. We should all remember to be realistic. I have to remind myself too.