MP echoes calls for PSLE to be scrapped

[verykiasumummy]

janet_lee88:

If teachers' performance depends on students grades, doesn't it make even MORE sense they teach? It's about the same logic as sales rep. Sales reps are given basic salary and in order to earn more, they have to be hardworking to sell more.


I do wonder whether school teachers know how to teach upper level primary Math for example. With the announcement of change of syllabus to PSLE English, will MOE send their teachers for thorough re-training?

yes it makes more sense for them to teach.. but..

maybe they know they cant do much, that's why encourage students to go for tuition... it has been so long, they wun change for the better unless the quality of teachers improve...

[Daddy D]

Choices... Or the lack of choices.... :?


There's public housing (hdb) vs private housing
There's public transport vs private cars
There's public hospitals vs private hospitals
There's public kindergartens vs private kindergartens
There's public universities vs private universities

Why only public primary/secondary schools?
:?

[Bookwrappers]

janet_lee88:

Since schools want to set such 'wake up calls' (a.k.a tough CA/SA/prelim exams), train their teachers to teach students how to solve the questions. Don't pass the responsibility of teaching to tutors. This is unbecoming of teachers. Tutors are NOT paid nor hired to teach kids. They are paid to guide and coach our kids....but it doesn't seem the case any longer.

This is very well said. Teachers in sch always ask parents during parents meeting : is ur child having tuition at home?

What has it got to do with the sch? If i say yes, they will not teach that hard izit? So if i say no, will the teacher give extra lesson to my son?

[Bookwrappers]

verykiasumummy:

janet_lee88:

[quote=\"HAPPYH\"]Most of the tuition centres seem to be boasting that they hire only the experienced and MOE trained teachers........Does it mean some (not all) teachers are using school just to get the experience so that they will be well paid in the tuition centres???

There are some who remain as school teachers so as to command higher tuition fee, claiming they know the syllabus and what is 'expected'. Why not? Good pay for just 1.5 hours of 'talk'. For 1 subject at P6, it's $80.

that's why, dun go to tuition centers who are booming with business... as u know, more biz does not mean better quality... i hv so far stayed on with just a neighbourhood tuition center... not many students there, no big brand, but still delivering quality work after so long... this is what i call passion...

not that i dislike those branded tuition center... i really believe every kid learns differently.. they do not necessarily need branded schools or branded teachers to make them excel..[/quote]I love ur advice about not having to go to branded sch or tuition centers for our kids. Unlike my friends around me and even colleagues, they just like to brainwash me with how good some big renown centers are. Not to mention their names, but i really think adding extra stress to our kids just because we hope them to be in top notched sch is not a good parent. We cannot be so selfish to deprive our kids from happy childhood.

[janet88]

verykiasumummy:

janet_lee88:

If teachers' performance depends on students grades, doesn't it make even MORE sense they teach? It's about the same logic as sales rep. Sales reps are given basic salary and in order to earn more, they have to be hardworking to sell more.


I do wonder whether school teachers know how to teach upper level primary Math for example. With the announcement of change of syllabus to PSLE English, will MOE send their teachers for thorough re-training?

maybe they know they cant do much, that's why encourage students to go for tuition... it has been so long, they wun change for the better

Yes, it's that attitude...some teachers who have been teaching the P6s for many years may feel that they have lots of experience and there is no need to improve/upgrade. Their 'i know best. i have experience', so you listen to me' makes me dislike attending PTMs.

[mgnvr]

I got a shock when my P1 dd came home with a list of recommended assessment books to buy from her FT. I emailed to ask the FT why? She says unless DD has some assessment books otherwise recommended to buy for home revision. Sigh! School textbooks are not sufficient do well in test.

[janet88]

mgnvr:

I got a shock when my P1 dd came home with a list of recommended assessment books to buy from her FT. I emailed to ask the FT why? She says unless DD has some assessment books otherwise recommended to buy for home revision. Sigh! School textbooks are not sufficient do well in test.

:yikes:
So the FT asked you to get assessment books for daughter instead of going for tuition? Something new...er what's next ?

A friend of mine told me this joke. She said schools are like polyclinics...teachers are like the doctors working in those polyclinics. If patients (students) want to get well faster, see specialists (tutors).

[mgnvr]

I am impressed with the FT. She’s trying to motivate her class to learn independently without tuition. However unless parents have work life balance or are sahp it’s difficult to implement with the tough curriculum. At PTM, she was honest to tell us that 30% of English test will not be covered in school. Have to read other books or daily interaction using the language.


The teach less and learn more should not be implemented in lower primary when basics are not even taught. That’s my opinion. At 7 years old how many can learn independently?

[janet88]

mgnvr:

The teach less and learn more should not be implemented in lower primary when basics are not even taught. That's my opinion. At 7 years old how many can learn independently?

'Teach less learn more' is here to stay.
Don't talk about independent learning at 7. Mine is 7+ (P2), still have to chase after her, check her bags and files...tiring to do that daily.
It was a nightmare when daughter was in P1 last year. FT was nice to inform me that P1 will not be honeymoon. So I was almost cut into 2 last year.

[mommylow]

verykiasumummy:

janet_lee88:

If teachers' performance depends on students grades, doesn't it make even MORE sense they teach? It's about the same logic as sales rep. Sales reps are given basic salary and in order to earn more, they have to be hardworking to sell more.


I do wonder whether school teachers know how to teach upper level primary Math for example. With the announcement of change of syllabus to PSLE English, will MOE send their teachers for thorough re-training?

yes it makes more sense for them to teach.. but..

maybe they know they cant do much, that's why encourage students to go for tuition... it has been so long, they wun change for the better unless the quality of teachers improve...

Firstly I don't think a teacher's performance depends on her students' grades. Not even parent's letter of commendation or appreciation will help improve her chance for promotion. My sister is a JC teacher and she told me that teachers who actively participate in CCA activities, contribute substantially in school projects and help earn recognition and honor for school are likely to be rewarded for their effort, not how knowlegeable and well they teach or how many excellent students they produce.

I guess the motivation to teach well for teachers are rather weak in some schools. According to my sister, most teachers are bad teachers and teach for the sake of teaching, there is not much incentive to work harder especially when there are internal politics with HODs and the P. They can be also overwhelmed with other school duties besides doing plain teaching. Personally I feel school teachers are badly paid by MOE especially primary
school teachers. I do pity them to a certain extent for their work is really not easy.

Not everybody is fit to teach. It takes passion, a burning desire to impart knowledge and the nobility to uphold knowledge and wisdom. It's a noble job and not many can deliver. That explains the many dissatisfaction from parents complaining about teachers in school not doing their jobs properly and being unprofessional. Perhaps MOE should be more stringent on selecting their teachers and keep morales high so they are willing to go that extra mile for students. Then we would not have to resort to too much external help from tutors and learning centres.