Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition

[janet88]

BeContented:

janet_lee88:

To impress WHO? Sure we are superb, but who can truly claim the credit when kids do well?

Why the need to claim credit? :?
If I really have to justify, will tell my children
- be thankful they are born in Singapore
- be thankful that we have govt that provide reasonable study opportunities
- be thankful to the teachers who have taught them (没功劳也有苦劳）
- be thankful they are born healthy & normal
- be thankful that the parents can provide enough for him to go school comfortably & conducive environment & support
- give me credit for willing to stay home to take care of them & chauffeur them around & the daddy to give up car to take MRT from one end to the other so that they can travel in comfort
- give some credit to their tutors for enlightening them when in doubt
- most of all, give themselves credit & a pad on their own shoulder (or back arh??) for willing to adopt the right attitude & study hard !!!

Did I forget anyone else??

No you have not...your thank you speech for the Golden Horse award has included everyone.

[buds]

beanbear:

There are systemic issues that can only be addressed by MOE.


Specialist teachers for each subject. The policy is for teachers to teach up to 3 subjects except MT. This policy is flawed.

This definitely is not substantiated, or else many schools that have separate teachers teaching each subject are blatantly defying policy.. like the two schools my children have/are attended/attending... ... including the schools my nieces & nephews are attending. :skeptical:

The only time i recall one form teacher who teaches all except MT is at P1 level. In some schools, the same form teacher follow up with the same class in P2 and still continue to have the teacher teach EMS. Subsequent years, a different teacher for every subject.

beanbear:

There are many real cases of teachers who CANNOT teach 2 out of 3 subjects yet they are forced by the system to do so. So many teachers themselves admit Maths is their worst subject, yet they are asked to teach it. Some teachers speak atrociously, cannot spell, don't know grammar rules yet they are teaching English. Some only had Secondary school science as their only qualification in science but they teach primary school science.

Many!?! :yikes:

As far as i know, my children's teachers are required to attend courses by MOE and some are area specific to guide teachers with any changes to curriculum and new ways or methods of study so as to effectively in turn guide the students... apart from the training during NIE days.

beanbear:

I've had to turn to tuition to get Specialized Teaching for each subject.

I wouldn't say Teachers are not teaching at schools. But they are not adequately equipped or trained to teach in subjects they themselves are academically weak in. You get patchy learning from someone who is not very confident in that subject. I could always tell which is the subject my DS form teacher is probably well-trained or educated in because it's evident by the way he/she has delivered the subject and how DS can playback what he learnt from that teacher, the way he/she marks the work.

For this kind of teachers that we too have had experience with, we have raised concern with the teachers themselves followed by a word with the Principal who promised to look into it. We work with the teacher hand in hand with all the feedback collated from parents. There are many different kinds of teachers and instead of having to always point to MOE to come solve this and that.. we can help by tackling from ground up via feedback to HODs and Principal who can best look into the issues. Even if one sends a note to MOE, it'll go round robin back to the school again to investigate and follow up with MOE.

We have had many successful partnerships with Principals and teachers from both the schools my girls have attended/is currently still attending.

Subject HODs hold in-house workshops for parents to understand the skills/concepts children will be learning in school and have notified parents that the teachers undergo regular workshops lead by themselves (HODs) and are appraised that lessons are carried out effectively in class. Principal and at times together with HODs; schedule practicum appraisal to observe lessons, in the move to improve. Other times, my girls have come home bearing news that the Principal and another teacher came in unannounced and sat at the back of the class. This means that the teachers are also appraised as and when, not just during scheduled sit-ins which they can better prepare for.

Both schools have informed parents that the children will learn everything they need from the teachers.. in school. Tuition is not necessary or encouraged, unless the parents themselves really see the need to. The schools have advised parents that children should also have time to rest and play. Children are encouraged to come forward in the event of any doubt and to date no teachers have turned down my children's request for extra clarification on concepts they have trouble grasping or on some new methods that need more practice with.

In fact, a few teachers have come forward to inform students (who come by school bus and are the earliest to arrive) to come to them for recap of lessons (should they need it) while waiting for the rest of the students to arrive rather than waste time playing and getting sweaty.

Parents are welcome to write to the specific teachers or even meet up with them to discuss school or lesson issues at a time where it is more convenient. So many avenues to reach them too. Email, pupil diary and even via sms. These days, some of my girls' teachers also turn to whatsapp.

Going back to the topic of the real reason behind our nation's obsession with tuition? Geee... what do i know? My children do not have tuition.

....... yet.



:xedfingers:

PS. A good preschool foundation prior to attending formal primary education is a definite advantage, though not compulsory. My girls are Montessorians. They learnt skills beyond primary education.

[buds]

BeContented:

Why the need to claim credit? :?

If I really have to justify, will tell my children
- be thankful they are born in Singapore
- be thankful that we have govt that provide reasonable study opportunities
- be thankful to the teachers who have taught them (没功劳也有苦劳）
- be thankful they are born healthy & normal
- be thankful that the parents can provide enough for them to go school comfortably & conducive environment & support
- give me credit for willing to stay home to take care of them & chauffeur them around & the daddy to give up car to take MRT from one end to the other so that they can travel in comfort
- give some credit to their tutors for enlightening them when in doubt
- most of all, give themselves credit & a pad on their own shoulder (or back arh??) for willing to adopt the right attitude & study hard !!!

Did I forget anyone else??
Maybe Need to give ksp some credit for all the tips & venue to rant & keep my sanity too

:goodpost:

Psst, just a pat will do.

[BeContented]

buds:

BeContented:

Why the need to claim credit? :?

If I really have to justify, will tell my children
- be thankful they are born in Singapore
- be thankful that we have govt that provide reasonable study opportunities
- be thankful to the teachers who have taught them (没功劳也有苦劳）
- be thankful they are born healthy & normal
- be thankful that the parents can provide enough for them to go school comfortably & conducive environment & support
- give me credit for willing to stay home to take care of them & chauffeur them around & the daddy to give up car to take MRT from one end to the other so that they can travel in comfort
- give some credit to their tutors for enlightening them when in doubt
- most of all, give themselves credit & a pad on their own shoulder (or back arh??) for willing to adopt the right attitude & study hard !!!

Did I forget anyone else??
Maybe Need to give ksp some credit for all the tips & venue to rant & keep my sanity too

:goodpost:

Psst, just a pat will do.

oops :oops: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
how come your eye so sharp?? :oops:

[Chenonceau]

Intermezzo:

verykiasu2010:

saying it is forced by the system or policy is total bullshit

don't tell me those schools / principals who manage to get individual teachers for each subject are running afoul of MOE policy ?

bullsh!t!

have enuf friends who are teachers / HOD / principals / master teacher / directors in MOE to say it is never a policy

and when vks2010 starts to substitute the i in important keywords with an exclamation mark, we can be pretty sure he means what he says.. :rotflmao:

I am a bit disappointed that we have descended to vulgarity. And Intermezzo (this may stimulate another long emotive post from you which I won't know how to respond to), I had not expected that you would ride on the coat tails of vulgarity or someone else's fit of aggression. One can respect Becontented, Funz, Buds, Wonderm... who write and make sense... even if I don't always agree with them on every point.

I am glad Beanbear (or any of those who support systemic change to education) did not see fit to respond to vulgarity with more vulgarity or KSP will degenerate into a forum of un-civil discussion. If this happens, civil people will concede defeat and leave the field to you. But I am not sure such behavior will convince those sitting on the fence. As for me, I will always lose (and unashamedly too) to excesses of emotion and vulgarity because I am unprepared to go that way in my postings.

In an attempt to bring this discussion back to a more civil and factual tone... I searched \"subject-specialisation\" and only found this - http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2010/03/moe-to-enhance-learning-of-21s.php. It shows that only Art, Music and PE Teachers have a clear mandate to subject specialise.

Some Evidence that Primary School Teachers Subject-Specialize

(1) I admit that I could not find any write-up stating that primary school Teachers MUST teach EMS. Still, if we look at it logically, the link I provided above, would not need to be written if it was not ALREADY understood that primary school teachers are expected to teach more than one subject - and thus MOE found it necessary to now specify that Art, Music and PE Teachers henceforth don't have to.

(2) However, cousin of mine is a primary school Math HOD and she assures me that all primary school teachers have to be prepared to teach EMS. I gave Motivation Coaching to 2 primary school teachers who tell me that primary school teachers are expected to teach EMS (and it is a bonus if they are not made to).

(3) In the implementation, it is clear that in some schools, Principals allow Teachers to subject specialize. In other schools, no.... because currently, DS Math Teacher also teaches him Science. In P4, his form teacher taught EMS.


That Some Primary School Teachers Subject-Specialize Means No Policy Agains it?
Lastly, just because some schools allow Teachers to subject-specialize is no clear indication that there is no policy dictating that Teachers MUST teach EMS. Remember the fracas around DSA Appeals last year? The MOE stated that policy-wise, schools were not allowed to accept appeals. Yet schools did... and only stopped when MOE enforced. Might this be the case again?

I agree it could well be that MOE did state that teachers should subject-specialize and did not enforce, and that is why my DS' P4 Teacher handled EMS. His P5&6 Teacher handles Math and Science.

Allowing subject-specialization makes life easier for Teachers too... and that will help them teach better. Why not do it? I am sure there are constraints.

[Funz]

Specialise in subjects or specialise in the class. Both have their pros and cons.


If you specialise in subjects, you move from class to class and level to level. You handle a lot more students. If you specialise in class, you cover EMS but you handle only that few classes (think at most only 2 classes looking at the timetable) and usually only that particular level.

For the former, pupils get teachers who rightfully should have more in depth knowledge of the subject they are teaching. For the latter, pupils will get teachers who will know them better and may be able to provide a more holistic guidance.

No right or wrong, only preferences.

I am trying to recall my primary school days. I believe even then I had different subject teachers at least for upper primary, for I remember them as my science teacher or math teacher, and of course the dreaded chinese teacher. Haha.

[Chenonceau]

Funz:

If you specialise in subjects, you move from class to class and level to level. You handle a lot more students. If you specialise in class, you cover EMS but you handle only that few classes (think at most only 2 classes looking at the timetable) and usually only that particular level.

Hmmmm... yeah good point.... does anyone know if GEP teachers subject specialize? I am thinking that if GEP style has infiltrated mainstream, then if GEP teachers subject specialize, it may be a mechanism that is coherent with the new syllabus.

Anyone knows?

[jtoh]

Funz:

Specialise in subjects or specialise in the class. Both have their pros and cons.


If you specialise in subjects, you move from class to class and level to level. You handle a lot more students. If you specialise in class, you cover EMS but you handle only that few classes (think at most only 2 classes looking at the timetable) and usually only that particular level.

For the former, pupils get teachers who rightfully should have more in depth knowledge of the subject they are teaching. For the latter, pupils will get teachers who will know them better and may be able to provide a more holistic guidance.

No right or wrong, only preferences.

I am trying to recall my primary school days. I believe even then I had different subject teachers at least for upper primary, for I remember them as my science teacher or math teacher, and of course the dreaded chinese teacher. Haha.

I prefer teachers who subject-specialize and teach across classes in the same level as well as across levels. Form teachers don't need to teach EML to get to know the kids better. Teaching one subject will also help the teacher to know the kid.

Now that you mention it, I remember in my primary school days we had specialized teachers too. My P1 form teacher taught me only English and English to students across levels. Similarly for my P2 teacher who taught Math only.

Just to add, my niece and nephews' schools also have specialized subject teachers from P1. I suppose it's a case of different schools having different practices.

[limlim]

I wouldn’t be surprised if there are teachers who can teach well in more than 1 subjects… as long as they have the heart to do so…


so… why the heated debated about subject specialisation…

teachers teach, motivate, and lead…

IMO, the passion matters more… than whether they have undergo specialised training. of coz passion with training is the best combo… but, one with training but no passion or heart… no point… right?

[oxyleo]

limlim:

verykiasu2010:

follow all the way to staff room, or go with a few friends to ask questions during recess ....

for lower primary, it is a bit difficult to expect them to be that independent..

someone, already with weak foundation, they may not be able to express themselves well.

for e.g. immeidately during lesson, it is easier for them to raise they hand and say \"excuse me, could you repeat or spell out the word that you just said?\", then to, during recess, go to the teacher and say \"Mdm, just now what is the word you said? har, err.. that word.. (of coz she cannot pronounce it)....... .... sorry, forget that I came..\".

As for following the teacher to staff room, not possible coz they need to attend the next lesson.

If they are upper primary, I would not expect so much from the teacher and expect the kid to be more independent.. but P1............ difficult.. I expect the teacher to be more patient with the kids and give them sufficient care and attention.

Totally agree with limlim. There is a lot of \"conditioning\" children go through in Pri Sch. And kids in Lower Pri are generally still in a phase where acceptance by teachers are important. Many would not dare be \"in the face\" of their teachers to seek answers. Unlike that of older kids, or even working adults, deploying tactics of a pushy salesman.

Just to relate a humorous incident my son encountered on his birthday celebration in school this year. It was the last day of T1, and all classmates and class teachers were given a McDonalds Happy Meal for his birthday celebration in school. After recess, my son was brimming with excitement to see if his social studies teachers got his party meal. ( May I add at this point that both my son and I are fond of this teacher.) My son left school never finding out eventually because the first thing this teacher said on entering the class was,\" I want all of you to keep quiet. No questions today please.\"

lower Pri kids do take things fairly literally. So enquiring about the Happy meal would qualify a question asked, no?

Ah well.