Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition

[verykiasu2010]

"teach less, learn more"


I think most people have taken it too literally; and the implementor also failed miserably

[Chenonceau]

verykiasu2010:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]retired people like me have no access to anyone high up dare


on municipal issues I email the MP and things get done within a few weeks, typically you see the MP replying (and c.c. to me) and directing the various departments to look into it and invariably, issues get resolved promptly.

for the education issues we talk about here, my guess i that they are not convinced. you got to strategise how to ensure your data and evidence are convincing proofs and make them uncomfortable not to do anything.

Thanks for the advice. The proofs were convincing. I'm not sure how to make people UNCOMFORTABLE, apart from writing in here (which obviously cheeses you off). I would much rather sit down and discuss. Many others aren't sure either how to make people UNCOMFORTABLE apart from writing to the forum pages. If you have any ideas that will help... or any contacts...

Seriously, I admire your judgment and intellect... and don't wish to cheese you off, but you cannot take away our stories of pain so I only ask that you understand that there are people in Singapore who are suffering through this system... even if you and yours did not.

agree there are pain, suffering, etc but at most they take these internet forum as ranting

what happen after the meeting with the curriculum people ?

reduce weightage ? :rotflmao: [/quote] :snuggles: Oh good... My Grumpy Bear is smiling again. If we have a chance to chat on the phone, I will fill you in. I dun wanna wash too much dirty linen in public. In fact, one would prefer to wash all linen privately... but if that fails... then wash a little bit.

But not all of it.

[verykiasu2010]

a lot of time, we only look at the problem and issue at our local / micro level whereas those who make the decision are looking at bigger / overall picture and they have only a set number of parameters that could be adjusted, and have been adjusting whatever that could be adjusted.


when one parameter is adjusted, it satisfies one group but upset another group

no one adjustment or decision can please everyone. be it corporate management or government. such is nature of politics - when it involves people

we can gripe / complain / criticise / condemn for all we want, but there are always constraints

if we were in their shoes, then we would appreciate the constraints they faced from many fronts in the business of government, not for the lack of will nor money.

[BeContented]

verykiasu2010:

a lot of time, we only look at the problem and issue at our local / micro level whereas those who make the decision are looking at bigger / overall picture and they have only a set number of parameters that could be adjusted, and have been adjusting whatever that could be adjusted.


when one parameter is adjusted, it satisfies one group but upset another group

no one adjustment or decision can please everyone. be it corporate management or government. such is nature of politics - when it involves people

we can gripe / complain / criticise / condemn for all we want, but there are always constraints

if we were in their shoes, then we would appreciate the constraints they faced from many fronts in the business of government, not for the lack of will nor money.

:goodpost: :goodpost: :salute:

[Chenonceau]

verykiasu2010:

a lot of time, we only look at the problem and issue at our local / micro level whereas those who make the decision are looking at bigger / overall picture and they have only a set number of parameters that could be adjusted, and have been adjusting whatever that could be adjusted.


when one parameter is adjusted, it satisfies one group but upset another group

no one adjustment or decision can please everyone. be it corporate management or government. such is nature of politics - when it involves people

we can gripe / complain / criticise / condemn for all we want, but there are always constraints

if we were in their shoes, then we would appreciate the constraints they faced from many fronts in the business of government, not for the lack of will nor money.

Yup... constraints... constraints... constraints. I wonder what LKY would have done if all he saw were constraints. I think \"condemn\" is too strong a word... just as \"hopeless\" is too strong a word...

There are very specific things wrong...
(1) inconsistent quality across schools
(2) lousy textbooks (some schools only teach from textbooks)
(3) lack of clarity into how much tuition plays a part in student performance (just collect the data and gain visibility... are there constraints there too?)

[Chenonceau]

D*** scary VKS2010

http://i46.tinypic.com/j8cjmb.jpg\">

Much nicer VKS2010
http://i50.tinypic.com/a5gwo6.png\">

:siam:

[dorisp]

The black bear very cute.......... :hugs:

[verykiasu2010]

Chenonceau:

D*** scary VKS2010


Much nicer VKS2010

:siam:

:rotflmao: :stompfeet: :rotflmao: :stompfeet: :faint:

for text books, it is really a school decision

\"my pals are here\" is hopeless compared with \"iScience\" series

as for CL and HCL, the person involved with the syllabus says that everything the exam papers cover is in the textbook.

[verykiasu2010]

Chenonceau:

(3) lack of clarity into how much tuition plays a part in student performance (just collect the data and gain visibility... are there constraints there too?)

from MOE point of view, why would they want to be involved in tuition survey ? will parents tell the truth ? you will, but how about the other 99 ? mind you, some parents will undermine the survey by providing fictitious data hoping to skew the result to what they want to see.

[Chenonceau]

verykiasu2010:

Chenonceau:

(3) lack of clarity into how much tuition plays a part in student performance (just collect the data and gain visibility... are there constraints there too?)

from MOE point of view, why would they want to be involved in tuition survey ? will parents tell the truth ? you will, but how about the other 99 ? mind you, some parents will undermine the survey by providing fictitious data hoping to skew the result to what they want to see.

There are ways to deal with biases... some are statistical... others are built into the intrument. People well-versed in social science research have a basket of strategies for this. There are people with this expertise in MOE. I know that because I was told. It's not an insurmountable constraint. As long as there is no data, then there is no clarity... and then people can say 90%... and then a bear will get mad.