MP echoes calls for PSLE to be scrapped
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Abolish PSLE? I'm against it too.
Why dont make changes to the syllabus and expectations so that it is not so stressful.
Why dont they put in other \"activities and subjects\" into the curriculum other than just academic?
Currently, the music and art lessons are not quite music and art (my perception). I remember when my kids were younger, they have the opportunity to study part of their primary years overseas. For music lessons, children are given the opportunity to explore different types of instrument each semester (not just some kind of singing or recorder, half-hearted kind of lesson). For art, they explore different painting media using brush, paper marche, clay, oil painting, etc. Not just give you a piece of paper and just draw something.
Extra CCAs (perhaps 2) for kids to give them opportunity to explore other interests like scouts, computer, dancing, etc. Now sec sch kids are encourage to stay in the same cca throughout the 4 or 5 years so as to gain pts and seniority. :nailbite: Seniority!!
No homework scheme - all work to be completed in sch. If the teacher teaches a topic, give classwork for that topic, and hand-in the same day? Why is there a need for homework?? Go home means go home and enjoy being at home.
If the MOE abolish psle, the next complaint will come when the children cannot go to the sec sch of their choice. How to determine which kids go to which sec sch? RGPS goes to RGS, ACS (Pri) goes to ACS (sec)??? Bedok pri to Bedok sec?? The next problem will emerge!! -
Picolo:
Hi Picolo,I am all for PSLE to stay. After all, it is the Primary School Leaving Examination. The P6 students do need to take a standardised test nationwide so as to settle into the right places as they leave their primary schools, regroup and move on to new secondary schools. For those who are for scrapping, I wonder if they already have somewhat secured places in popular schools via affiliations or GEP.
I also wonder why until now, nobody has brought up the issue of the time given for PSLE EL & CL Compo - it's only 50 minutes! Need to produce a logical and reasonable plot, plan how to start, how to end with a nice and sensible conclusion, check mistakes in spelling/grammar/sentence structure... Phew! I had the shock of my life when I realised how much the standard of Compo has gone up a few years ago when my eldest son started P2. His & his classmates' P2 Compos were more atas than my Sec 2 Compo! Despite the fact that primary school students are expected to turn in high standard of writing over the years, the time given has not increased. I find this perplexing and quite disturbed by it... Cos I'm a left-hander and I also cannot write fast :oops: But more importantly and relevant to the rest, I think giving such a tight time limit (in my opinion lah) gives undue stress to the kids and their parents. Those who want to do well tend to overprepare to the extremes. It also encourages parents to send their kids to Creative Writing classes so that their kids are exposed to as many scenarios as possible (can regurgitate model compos given by enrichment centres) and if they have regular weekly practices, they should have sufficient competencies (writing skills and speed) to meet the high demands. The tight time limit gives undue stress to the poor kids and their parents. I think the kids deserve better childhood and the parents better parenthood.
Can't more time, like 1 hr 10 mins or 1 hr 15 mins (or maybe more) be given instead? When we step into the working world, any of our bosses set a timer to 50-min and say die-die must hand in report when time's up?
the time given is actually 1hr 10min to do a compo and a situational writing. Teachers usually advise students to take 50 min to write the compo, 5 min to check. 10min to write the situational writing, 5min to check.
Given enough practise, yes, it is do-able. Unfortunately, as far as i know, children are given very little compo practise in sch. I know of a kid who did one compo in the first semester. While i understand the teacher has to mark almost 40 compos for every one compo given, still i think one compo per semester is too pathetic. How to get enough practise?? Perhaps then this is why parents have to resort to tuition - creative writing classes whereby kids get to write at least one compo a week. -
ksi:
Honestly, sometimes we try to chew more than we could take. Only PSLE and P3 streaming is across the board. GEP, IP and DSA are all options only but we would make it sound like everything affects us. I took time to understand them and once I did, there was no stress!pirate:
[quote=\"cherryc\"]Totally agree with Chen. The majority of us took PSLE before and we all turn out pretty balanced and unscathed. The whole 6 years of primary school life is getting very daunting for many students and parents now and scrapping PSLE may turn out to be more confusing for some groups of students and parents. I do hope the excessive stress (esply parental stress) , tuitions and parental involvements in our current education system can be alleviated.
Agree. PSLE was fine in my days. Then they introduced Pri 3 streaming. Then we have GEP. After that, they introduced IP. And then DSA...
Let's not look for sacred cows just for the sake of it. Perhaps we should start with all the other 'improvements' to the system.
If not for a few teachers pushing me to sign the screening for GEP for my child, I would have opted out. DSA was never on my plan for my child after I understood what it was all about from my friends during the time my child started primary school. I felt that it was not applicable to her because I wanted her to get into a school of choice based on PSLE. At the end PSLE scores still count. IP is also depending if she can cut it. If not, an express route is nothing wrong. Every road leads to Rome, most important criteria is not external, it is SELF! MOE just provides options and parents should wisely map the children to these options and not try to chase every scheme possible. No wonder so stress.[/quote] :hi5: :goodpost: -
Lynn2010:
I agree that not much compo practices are given in school. Think my kid only did 1-2 compo per Term. Even if the compo was marked, there was no guidance on how to improve the compo.
Hi Picolo,Picolo:
I am all for PSLE to stay. After all, it is the Primary School Leaving Examination. The P6 students do need to take a standardised test nationwide so as to settle into the right places as they leave their primary schools, regroup and move on to new secondary schools. For those who are for scrapping, I wonder if they already have somewhat secured places in popular schools via affiliations or GEP.
I also wonder why until now, nobody has brought up the issue of the time given for PSLE EL & CL Compo - it's only 50 minutes! Need to produce a logical and reasonable plot, plan how to start, how to end with a nice and sensible conclusion, check mistakes in spelling/grammar/sentence structure... Phew! I had the shock of my life when I realised how much the standard of Compo has gone up a few years ago when my eldest son started P2. His & his classmates' P2 Compos were more atas than my Sec 2 Compo! Despite the fact that primary school students are expected to turn in high standard of writing over the years, the time given has not increased. I find this perplexing and quite disturbed by it... Cos I'm a left-hander and I also cannot write fast :oops: But more importantly and relevant to the rest, I think giving such a tight time limit (in my opinion lah) gives undue stress to the kids and their parents. Those who want to do well tend to overprepare to the extremes. It also encourages parents to send their kids to Creative Writing classes so that their kids are exposed to as many scenarios as possible (can regurgitate model compos given by enrichment centres) and if they have regular weekly practices, they should have sufficient competencies (writing skills and speed) to meet the high demands. The tight time limit gives undue stress to the poor kids and their parents. I think the kids deserve better childhood and the parents better parenthood.
Can't more time, like 1 hr 10 mins or 1 hr 15 mins (or maybe more) be given instead? When we step into the working world, any of our bosses set a timer to 50-min and say die-die must hand in report when time's up?
the time given is actually 1hr 10min to do a compo and a situational writing. Teachers usually advise students to take 50 min to write the compo, 5 min to check. 10min to write the situational writing, 5min to check.
Given enough practise, yes, it is do-able. Unfortunately, as far as i know, children are given very little compo practise in sch. I know of a kid who did one compo in the first semester. While i understand the teacher has to mark almost 40 compos for every one compo given, still i think one compo per semester is too pathetic. How to get enough practise?? Perhaps then this is why parents have to resort to tuition - creative writing classes whereby kids get to write at least one compo a week. -
Nonono. Don’t increase the compo timing.
What will follow will be the increase in expectations.
But I am for the idea to allow kids ten min planning time before writing. Commence writing after the ten min planning time. With that, kids have more time to plan an original story
Rather than regurgitate what they memorize because no time to plan. I used to have that dunno for what subject. Do they still practice this? -
Dino mummy:
Absolutely my experience!!
I agree that not much compo practices are given in school. Think my kid only did 1-2 compo per Term. Even if the compo was marked, there was no guidance on how to improve the compo.jedamum:
Absolutely my thoughts!!Nonono. Don't increase the compo timing.
What will follow will be the increase in expectations. -
If taking baby steps to change, suggest that they start with testing Only what is being taught in ALL primary school. Then there is more level playing field. Do away with those unnecessary streaming which only sieves out the cream of crop. And PSLE will not be so stressful.
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cascada:
If taking baby steps to change, suggest that they start with testing Only what is being taught in ALL primary school. Then there is more level playing field. Do away with those unnecessary streaming which only sieves out the cream of crop. And PSLE will not be so stressful.
No, I think the 1st thing to do is the improve on the textbook. Without a ref, how do anyone know what they are supposed to be taught. -
Nebbermind:
Right, it's a chain effect.cascada:
If taking baby steps to change, suggest that they start with testing Only what is being taught in ALL primary school. Then there is more level playing field. Do away with those unnecessary streaming which only sieves out the cream of crop. And PSLE will not be so stressful.
No, I think the 1st thing to do is the improve on the textbook. Without a ref, how do anyone know what they are supposed to be taught. -
Nebbermind:
:goodpost:cascada:
If taking baby steps to change, suggest that they start with testing Only what is being taught in ALL primary school. Then there is more level playing field. Do away with those unnecessary streaming which only sieves out the cream of crop. And PSLE will not be so stressful.
No, I think the 1st thing to do is the improve on the textbook. Without a ref, how do anyone know what they are supposed to be taught.
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