PSLE leave: For or Against?
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Chenonceau:
Where did you see that comment from MOE? I thought that their stance had changed.
The fact is... for many children (not those lucky ones in good schools with great teachers and lovely curriculum) the 6 years DON'T prepare them. Parents at home and tutors do. \"Should\" is not \"did\". MOE has publicly announced that kids need to learn from EXTERNAL sources. This is their official line.nms1:
I voted \"against\" just because I think it gives totally the wrong message.
I believe that OCBC had good intentions as they see their staff taking leave to support their children through PSLE and it's unfortunate that they've ended up being criticised.
BUT the fact is, why should we have an exam that requires parents to take leave? Their 6 years of primary school education should prepare them for this exam and it should just be something that they revise and prepare for then take. It shouldn't mean that life stops for it. The most I would see myself doing is taking leave on the last day of exams to take my children out to celebrate.
OCBC's leave is in line with MOE policy. Parents do have a role to play in student academics.. according to MOE press releases. MOE believes in parent partnership. -
nms1:
Where did you see that comment from MOE? I thought that their stance had changed.[/quote]I think in the latest reports when the launched the Learning Portal. The Learning Portal is to allow the kids to learn from sources external to the classroom. A letter 2 months ago by Liew Wei Li, highly placed MOE official specifically stated that kids have to learn from external sources. In the same press report on the Mother Tongue learning portal, it was mentioned that now parents can get involved and learn with their children.
The fact is... for many children (not those lucky ones in good schools with great teachers and lovely curriculum) the 6 years DON'T prepare them. Parents at home and tutors do. \"Should\" is not \"did\". MOE has publicly announced that kids need to learn from EXTERNAL sources. This is their official line.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"nms1\"]I voted \"against\" just because I think it gives totally the wrong message.
I believe that OCBC had good intentions as they see their staff taking leave to support their children through PSLE and it's unfortunate that they've ended up being criticised.
BUT the fact is, why should we have an exam that requires parents to take leave? Their 6 years of primary school education should prepare them for this exam and it should just be something that they revise and prepare for then take. It shouldn't mean that life stops for it. The most I would see myself doing is taking leave on the last day of exams to take my children out to celebrate.
OCBC's leave is in line with MOE policy. Parents do have a role to play in student academics.. according to MOE press releases. MOE believes in parent partnership. -
Chenonceau:
I believe I am not alone in saying this...not all P6s are blessed with teachers who prepare them sufficiently for PSLE. Otherwise, why would kids be asked by teachers whether they have tuition ?
The fact is... for many children (not those lucky ones in good schools with great teachers and lovely curriculum) the 6 years DON'T prepare them. Parents at home and tutors do. \"Should\" is not \"did\". MOE has publicly announced that kids need to learn from EXTERNAL sources. This is their official line.nms1:
I believe that OCBC had good intentions as they see their staff taking leave to support their children through PSLE and it's unfortunate that they've ended up being criticised.
BUT the fact is, why should we have an exam that requires parents to take leave? Their 6 years of primary school education should prepare them for this exam and it should just be something that they revise and prepare for then take. It shouldn't mean that life stops for it.
OCBC's leave is in line with MOE policy. Parents do have a role to play in student academics.. according to MOE press releases. MOE believes in parent partnership.
PSLE preparation starts after P5 SA2...it's not that straightforward as 6 years of primary school, just revise and go for it. If only it was that simple...but it is not. It is incorrect to say that PSLE leave feeds into the fears of parents. The fact is, preparation for this exam is important.
OCBC knows that this leave is important for parents with kids in P6. -
I’m for it.
I think the option should be given to parents who can then decide if they want to spend more time to help their children cope with PSLE, rather than not giving them this flexibility. Those who don’t think their children needs that extra support from the parents, can just carry on life as usual.
I think it’s irresponsible for the authorities to say that this will feed the fear. People are merely reacting to the situation. Afterall, you don’t see people taking leave to help their children cope with their weekly spelling. To have an important major exam, reputed to be tears inducing and tested so creatively and out of the textbooks, and to expect parents not to be concerned enough to take leave to help their children cope with it? I think that’s insane. -
Chenonceau:
I think in the latest reports when the launched the Learning Portal. The Learning Portal is to allow the kids to learn from sources external to the classroom. A letter 2 months ago by Liew Wei Li, highly placed MOE official specifically stated that kids have to learn from external sources.[/quote]I think that is very different from tuition or the like. Childrens' learning in this day & age cannot be limited to what they learn in the classroom. They should be reading other books and expanding their horizons. That is very different from going to tuition or being coached by their parents.
Where did you see that comment from MOE? I thought that their stance had changed.nms1:
[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
The fact is... for many children (not those lucky ones in good schools with great teachers and lovely curriculum) the 6 years DON'T prepare them. Parents at home and tutors do. \"Should\" is not \"did\". MOE has publicly announced that kids need to learn from EXTERNAL sources. This is their official line.
OCBC's leave is in line with MOE policy. Parents do have a role to play in student academics.. according to MOE press releases. MOE believes in parent partnership.
Parents should have a role in their childrens' education but they shouldn't be teaching them what the school should be teaching them. I won't be in a position to teach my daughter maths in upper primary because what they learn is not what I learnt. -
Chen,
Is this the letter that you were referring to by Liew Wei Li?
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/forum/2012/07/life-skills-a-key-focus-of-moe.php -
nms1:
Hi hi... I haven't got time to search out the article on the Online Learning Portal mentioning parents' role in helping kids learn Mother Tongue but here is the text of Liew Wei Li's letter...
Where did you see that comment from MOE? I thought that their stance had changed.
Life Skills are the key focus: MOE
1MS LIM Zi Kun highlighted the importance of imparting life skills to our young (“Sexuality education: Life skills equally vital for teens” July 16).
2This is the key focus in the sexuality education programme and our curriculum in schools.
3The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) sexuality education curriculum is designed to equip students with the values and life skills to effectively manage sexuality issues in their growing-up years.
4It aims to help students understand the changes to their bodies as they mature, develop healthy relationships with the opposite sex, and make responsible choices regarding their sexual behaviour.
5Some of the topics taught at the primary levels include managing changes due to puberty and developing a healthy attitude towards their own bodies, differentiating between love and infatuation, protection against sexual abuse and exercising safety precautions when using the Internet.
6Topics such as dating and marriage, the consequences of premarital sex and influence of the media are taught to the older students.
7Beyond sexuality education, students also pick up various life skills through learning experiences in the classroom, co-curricular activities, community involvement programmes and enrichment programmes.
8For example, life skills such as financial management, education and career guidance, and steps in making responsible decisions are explicitly taught at the primary and secondary school levels during Civics and Moral Education, Form Teacher Guidance Period and schools’ life skills programmes.
9Competencies such as social and emotional learning, civic literacy, global awareness and cross-cultural skills, critical and inventive thinking, information and communication skills are also inculcated in our students through various subjects.
10There are many life skills that our students need but there is limited curriculum time.
11The MOE curriculum will not be able to meet every single need.
12The focus is on essential competencies that all students need and those which will better prepare them for their next phase of life.
13Schools customise the curriculum closer to their students’ needs. Equipped with learning skills, students will be able to learn from their parents, the community and from learning resources.
***Clearly... curriculum is to be learnt from parents.***
Source - http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/forum/2012/07/life-skills-a-key-focus-of-moe.php -
Even 10 yrs ago, I have colleagues who take leave for their children’s exams. Not PSLE mind you, but SA1 and SA2. So, OCBC is just repackaging their HR benefits and in the process appear to be pro family. How in the world will that lead to feeding parents fear?
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Funz:
Even 10 yrs ago, I have colleagues who take leave for their children's exams. Not PSLE mind you, but SA1 and SA2. So, OCBC is just repackaging their HR benefits and in the process appear to be pro family. How in the world will that lead to feeding parents fear?
Poor OCBC got slammed by flawed logic in Josephine Teo's attempt to make the govt/MOE look good. -
lapapillion:
I agree. Parents should be given the option. Although I believe preparation should have been done much earlier, even like in P1 to provide them with a firm foundation, parents may opt to stay home to provide support and encouragement and to ensure kids are well taken care of during the exam period.I'm for it.
I think the option should be given to parents who can then decide if they want to spend more time to help their children cope with PSLE, rather than not giving them this flexibility. Those who don't think their children needs that extra support from the parents, can just carry on life as usual.
I think it's irresponsible for the authorities to say that this will feed the fear. People are merely reacting to the situation. Afterall, you don't see people taking leave to help their children cope with their weekly spelling. To have an important major exam, reputed to be tears inducing and tested so creatively and out of the textbooks, and to expect parents not to be concerned enough to take leave to help their children cope with it? I think that's insane.
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