MOE to scrap Banding for Secondary Schools
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firefly38:
Catholic High School (Sec) is an exception.. The students are allowed to take any subject combinations (in addition to choosing from fixed subject bundles), as the Principal believes that students are more likely to do well in subjects they have interest in, not in subjects they are being forced to take.. The school will make special arrangement even if there is only 1 student taking a particular subject combination.. Certainly more work for the school time-tabling team, but they feel that the extra effort is worth it..tutormum:
[quote=\"pinky\"]I support the scrapping too. Heard from friends of schools asking their students to drop subjects that they did not do well in case it affect the school overall ranking. (I suppose referring to S4 students). Wonder if it is a common practice :yikes:
No need to wonder. It is so common that every school is doing it. Thank God that DS3 is able to take Literature as O level as he loves it. His school has not offered it for seven years. I know the main reason that students are not encouraged to take Literature cos of the low chance of scoring A. Schools don't want it to pull down the overall ranking while students don't want to get anything less than A. :sad:
I believe, besides CHS, there are many other schools which have been placing students' welfare as their first priority.. I do not agree when you say ''EVERY school is doing it''.. I do not think Pinky meant it that way either.. :roll:[/quote]It's true. There are other schools, aside from CHS, which will do their best to give students the subject combination they want, even if it's just one person doing that combination. And kudos to the schools that do it because administratively it's a lot more work. -
verykiasu2010:
Which just goes to prove that the parents are part of the problem! However much MOE tries to change unless parents change their expectations, the problems will still remain.no time to catch up reading from page 1
here is my view. when MOE stops the banding, there will be enterprising people who will start to compile the data and do their own research and ranking and analysis, and parents will buy those info in a book, or subscribe to a website
I know there were people who wanted to do just that - research, compile & analyse data, interview the school, and rank them, and sell the info
Probably ksp website could one day evolve into that database, subscription based
Not giving any idea to CKS to start charging. It is just an example
The bottom line is, MOE does not do it, others will do it. Last time it was done by SPH/ST
Parents need to accept that not all children can be top students, not all children will benefit from being in a \"top\" school and really find out where their child's strengths lie and what the best options are for them. -
nms1:
:goodpost: :goodpost:
Which just goes to prove that the parents are part of the problem! However much MOE tries to change unless parents change their expectations, the problems will still remain.verykiasu2010:
no time to catch up reading from page 1
here is my view. when MOE stops the banding, there will be enterprising people who will start to compile the data and do their own research and ranking and analysis, and parents will buy those info in a book, or subscribe to a website
I know there were people who wanted to do just that - research, compile & analyse data, interview the school, and rank them, and sell the info
Probably ksp website could one day evolve into that database, subscription based
Not giving any idea to CKS to start charging. It is just an example
The bottom line is, MOE does not do it, others will do it. Last time it was done by SPH/ST
Parents need to accept that not all children can be top students, not all children will benefit from being in a \"top\" school and really find out where their child's strengths lie and what the best options are for them. -
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edtan:
So you are suggesting that even those who are not academically inclined be allowed to do say, medicine, if he so chooses? Even if his chances of flunking out were very high?I think the MOE is too reactive over by one or two people comments.
First, it was the P1 screening and later Secondary school banding.
Why don't take out the entry requirement for the universities, that will solve every parent woe and have unlimited vacancies for all courses. We can choose we want to do; not constraints by the entry points.
Or are you saying that we do away with standards altogether in Uni so that even someone who were flunking every semester be allowed to graduate?
How much trust will you have in your professions if that were the case?
We should not expand Uni places for the sake of expanding Uni places. Or for that matter, just so that can feel good about not having to compete for expensive state-funded education. -
Hi All,
I am a parent whose children are also in school right now. :grphug:
In my opinion, for as much as Singapore would like to be a developed nation, then its people will be making choices more independently (i say more independently because there is still a system and requirement in place).
I noticed that the Western countries (suppose to be developed countries) like the USA and Western European countries, going to university is a matter of choice for their citizens. As long as one can study and meet the minimum entry requirements. :rahrah:
So i think step-by-step Singapore is moving in the right direction. In the end citizens will find more levelled playing field.
We need to move away with the myth that higher education is only meant for the brightest but it is meant for the one who wants to work hard to achieve it. This is what education in a developed countries is about.
Just my humble opinion. -
Bear.w.me:
:goodpost: BearBear!Hi All,
I am a parent whose children are also in school right now. :grphug:
In my opinion, for as much as Singapore would like to be a developed nation, then its people will be making choices more independently (i say more independently because there is still a system and requirement in place).
I noticed that the Western countries (suppose to be developed countries) like the USA and Western European countries, going to university is a matter of choice for their citizens. As long as one can study and meet the minimum entry requirements. :rahrah:
So i think step-by-step Singapore is moving in the right direction. In the end citizens will find more levelled playing field.
We need to move away with the myth that higher education is only meant for the brightest but it is meant for the one who wants to work hard to achieve it. This is what education in a developed countries is about.
Just my humble opinion. -
Bear.w.me:
In the UK at least it is not true that you can enter university with just minimum requirements. You have to obtain the grades that the offer from your course requires. If you don't achieve that you can try for another course with lower requirements but you can't just walk in with a couple of A level passes. Of course, the less bright can achieve the grades by working hard but they still need to meet the mark.Hi All,
I am a parent whose children are also in school right now. :grphug:
In my opinion, for as much as Singapore would like to be a developed nation, then its people will be making choices more independently (i say more independently because there is still a system and requirement in place).
I noticed that the Western countries (suppose to be developed countries) like the USA and Western European countries, going to university is a matter of choice for their citizens. As long as one can study and meet the minimum entry requirements. :rahrah:
So i think step-by-step Singapore is moving in the right direction. In the end citizens will find more levelled playing field.
We need to move away with the myth that higher education is only meant for the brightest but it is meant for the one who wants to work hard to achieve it. This is what education in a developed countries is about.
Just my humble opinion.
In addition, employers know fully well which are the more rigorous courses so when you are first looking for employment upon graduation this will be a factor. -
slmkhoo:
Similarly in the US, it's not just a case of meeting minimum standards to be accepted. There are also many universities of varying standards, and employers will take that into consideration too. I think one of the main differences between the west (I have many US and UK friends) and Asians is that there is less of the strong desire for the same top few courses like law and medicine. Individuals consider their abilities and interests more than simply pay and prestige.
Countries like China should also serve as a warning to Singapore - many graduates cannot find jobs as the quality of many degrees is low, but graduates are unwilling to take 'lesser' jobs. For some of these graduates, it is a tragic situation as sometimes entire extended families have helped to pay his fees and are relying on him to get a 'good' job and help the clan in finances and guanxi. When they can't find a 'graduate' job, they experience a lot of pressure and disappointment, and there are debts to pay back. In these cases, the students would probably have done better to have gone to the poly-equivalent rather than struggle to make into a low-ranked university and course - at least they would have a job.
Yes, we don't want to end up with graduates being a dime a dozen... it's happening in South Korea(and I doubt if the quality is low). Our govt should study the situation there and not repeat the problem with more Us. Hopefully, our 2 new Us will be like what is claimed, courses will be tailored more in line with what the economy needs. -
Bear.w.me:
Ummm......no.
I noticed that the Western countries (suppose to be developed countries) like the USA and Western European countries, going to university is a matter of choice for their citizens. As long as one can study and meet the minimum entry requirements. :rahrah:
Whilst one can always go to a degree factory, if you want a meaningful education at a reputable Uni, you need more than a minimum entry score.
And by the way, why should tax payers pay for folk to go to Unis and come out with worthless degrees?
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