MOE to scrap Banding for Secondary Schools

[Chenonceau]

Bear.w.me:

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.

:goodpost: BearBear!

[nms1]

Bear.w.me:

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 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.

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.

[Lilac66]

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.

[3Boys]

Bear.w.me:

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:

Ummm......no.

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?

[Daddy D]

http://www.straitstimes.com:80/premium/singapore/story/every-school-have-niche-2017-20120920

[quote]Every school to have a niche by 2017
MOE to fund teacher training and facilities, to help build expertise...[/quote]Here we go again? Let the competition begin...

[Chenonceau]

Some food for thought... http://petunialee.blogspot.sg/2012/09/how-motivation-research-caused-nation.html

[MR06]

Daddy

http://www.straitstimes.com:80/premium/singapore/story/every-school-have-niche-2017-20120920

[quote]Every school to have a niche by 2017
MOE to fund teacher training and facilities, to help build expertise...

Here we go again? Let the competition begin...[/quote]Cannot access article without a password.

Why don't you copy and paste here to share.

[looking4Tutor]

Bear.w.me:

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:


Just my humble opinion.

unlikely an Ivy League uni

[Daddy D]

Here u go...
[quote]By Stacey Chia And Matthias Chew
BY 2017, every school in Singapore will have a niche of its own.

To help them along, schools will get money from the Education Ministry (MOE) starting next year to train teachers, build facilities, buy equipment and run programmes to build expertise in their chosen area.

Schools can also work with external organisations and tap other sources of funding. For example, they can look for grants from arts or sports promotion agencies, or link up with tertiary institutions to do research.

The MOE will also work with schools to ensure a good spread of niche areas, it told The Straits Times yesterday when giving more details of its niche programme.

Currently, schools get MOE funding only after their niche areas have been recognised. Only 191, or about half of all schools here, have recognised niches under a programme that started in 2005.

Last week, the ministry announced that it would spend $55 million over five years to help all schools find their niche. Schools with recognised niche programmes get a three-year funding of $150,000. They have to re-apply for funding every three years.

Secondary schools are also allowed to accept up to 5 per cent of their Secondary 1 intake for the purpose of building up their niche areas. For instance, a school with rugby as its niche can take in students good in the sport even if they do not meet the academic entry requirement.

Principals welcomed the extra help from the MOE, as the process of building a niche from scratch can take three to five years.

To get recognition, schools have to demonstrate consistent excellence in their chosen fields and involve the entire school in that activity. They need to show that interest can be sustained over the long term.

Schools do not always succeed on their first try. Edgefield Primary, for instance, had two applications to get dancesport recognised as a niche turned down before finally getting approval this year.

Principal Willy Tan said this was because no other school offered a similar programme, and it had difficulty showing it could excel in competitions. It had to compete overseas, in Malaysia and Hong Kong, to demonstrate success.

Mr Mark Minjoot, principal of Greendale Secondary School, which has been trying to build its proposed niche in outdoor education over the past three years, said: \"You'll need to show that your programme is not one-off, or ad hoc, and it's been building up over the last few years.\"

St Anthony's Canossian Primary School hopes to get the nod soon for performing arts as its niche. Principal Eugenie Tan said: \"We can develop a bigger pool of performing arts teachers so that we can run most of the programme on our own without external vendors.\"

Despite the long process it takes to carve a niche, principals said it is worth the effort. Students get to learn a new sport or skill, while schools can use niches to mould more rounded students, inculcate values and earn a brand reputation.

Having a niche has also allowed lesser-known schools like Woodgrove Secondary to make a name for themselves, said principal Sung Mee Har. The school, with environmental education as its niche, has grabbed headlines with a string of awards, including being the first school to win the Singapore Environmental Achievement Award given out by the Singapore Environment Council.

The payoff can also come at a later stage.

Some parents feel that their children may have an advantage over others if they apply to a secondary school with the same niche programme.

While parents said a niche programme is not a major consideration when they choose schools, they admit it can be beneficial. Said housewife Chua Keng Leng, 36, whose daughter will enter Nan Chiau Primary, which has a niche in basketball, next year: \"I would rather the school have a niche in drama, but maybe basketball can help her develop motor skills or just know more about how to appreciate a basketball game.\"[/quote]