Intellect or Age Peer?

[corneyAmber]

deminc:

Sorry, getting confused. I thought we are talking about primary school-aged kids entering international schools. For that, MOE's approval is required. In 2ppaamm's son's case, he is below 12 years old right? Is this also the case for the boy who returned from overseas?


I do think MOE is getting smarter at crafting their rules. A lot of hedging so that they can continue to have a gatekeeping role.

No deminc, the discussion started because 2ppaamm's DS1's friend went to get doctor's letter to transfer to international at SECONDARY level. So I was asking why needed to do that since by secondary ALL kids with enough MOOLARS could go international school but 2ppaamm said not so easy....that is our discussion.

However, the control at PRIMARY level is VERY TIGHT to go international schools.

[cnimed]

Thanks ksi! I "catch the ball" now, haha! So 2ppaamm is saying that actually all applicants require approval, but for most, the approval is automatic. In this case, MOE exercised its gatekeeper role to keep the child in local education system, which I personally think is due to their very open stance that as far as possible, gifted children should be kept within MOE system.


Or did the ball roll away from me again??

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

jtoh:

Hi 2ppaamm, you were saying that gifted boys will find it especially hard to get approval to go to international schools. In your case do you think it was because your son would have skipped grades if he had gone to an international school and MOE frowns upon grade skipping?


I wasn't aware that MOE approval was required for local students to attend SJI International and ACS International and that there was a quota on it. Quite a few of my friends have enrolled their kids in SJI International. They said they went for a test and interview at the school and were given offers conditional on their PSLE performance.

2ppaamm, Yes this is the same experience of my friends and they got in after PSLE but they are girls, is that the difference? :?

I only know from what the international schools tell me. At the point I asked a local-international school, their quota was up for Singaporean students, and they were waiting for MOE to increase the quota, secondly, they cannot admit anyone below 12 years old because MOE does not allow it.

The gifted boy part is from the international-international schools. They told me that it is virtually impossible to admit my son, but they will try. From their experience, MOE will almost never approve gifted boys going to an international school.

For acceleration within the local-international schools, once you make the 12 year old mark, you can be accelerated within the school, MOE only regulates that they take in >12 years old. That's as far as I was told.

[corneyAmber]

deminc:

Thanks ksi! I \"catch the ball\" now, haha! So 2ppaamm is saying that actually all applicants require approval, but for most, the approval is automatic. In this case, MOE exercised its gatekeeper role to keep the child in local education system, which I personally think is due to their very open stance that as far as possible, gifted children should be kept within MOE system.


Or did the ball roll away from me again??

No..the ball did not roll this time... I am also beginning to find out from 2ppaamm that at SECONDARY, they also try to control...maybe for gifted kids. Those I am aware are just normal kids from local primary school switching to international at secondary because firstly parents are rich enough, secondly, hate the exam system in local schools.

[cnimed]

phew!! kekeke…

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm, I am curious about the financial part.

To accelerate the advanced or gifted children to uni so soon, financially is it a burden to the parents as opposed to the normal route where scholarships can be obtained?

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

2ppaamm, I am curious about the financial part.

To accelerate the advanced or gifted children to uni so soon, financially is it a burden to the parents as opposed to the normal route where scholarships can be obtained?

Trying to work out the financial part and post it. The costs involves not just the university costs, you have to weigh the opportunity costs as well as the cost of tuition and time value of money, and inflation etc. Off the top of my head, accelerating a child can only be cheaper, unless the family completely DIY the education. It is possible to get scholarships, there are plenty available besides those available from govt. In any case, govt scholarships are only meaningful if the kid wants to be in PSC. Every university has their scholarship programs and these are available to most students. In fact about 80-90% of students from Ivies get scholarships. If your kid is a very early entrant, it will not be difficult to get a scholarship, if the kid has special other abilities, and the uni believes they can 'leverage' on the kid's reputation and add value to their alumni. I will calculate these out when I get some time today and post it.

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

ksi:

2ppaamm, I am curious about the financial part.

To accelerate the advanced or gifted children to uni so soon, financially is it a burden to the parents as opposed to the normal route where scholarships can be obtained?

Trying to work out the financial part and post it. The costs involves not just the university costs, you have to weigh the opportunity costs as well as the cost of tuition and time value of money, and inflation etc. Off the top of my head, accelerating a child can only be cheaper, unless the family completely DIY the education. It is possible to get scholarships, there are plenty available besides those available from govt. In any case, govt scholarships are only meaningful if the kid wants to be in PSC. Every university has their scholarship programs and these are available to most students. In fact about 80-90% of students from Ivies get scholarships. If your kid is a very early entrant, it will not be difficult to get a scholarship, if the kid has special other abilities, and the uni believes they can 'leverage' on the kid's reputation and add value to their alumni. I will calculate these out when I get some time today and post it.

ok thanks.

[2ppaamm]

http://i41.tinypic.com/xtvky.gif\">

Ok, I have worked out the differences in cost in a simplistic way. If you want a more detailed one, I will do a spreadsheet and find a way to host it so that we can all benefit from it. The cost of tertiary is based upon the kid going to a local uni (NUS or NTU, not SMU because SMU is more expensive), and the cost of university is what I paid for the kids over 4 years. I did not add inflation to the cost of university, if they are not on a scholarship. I also added extra living expenses assuming the kid does not live with the family overseas, but I did not add food, assuming the kid needs to eat either here or overseas. Add that if you think otherwise.

I made some assumptions here:
1. Tuition cost is $200 a month from P1 to JC2.
2. The child goes to a good independent sec and jc school and therefore fees is about $250.
3. In both situations, the kid can start work at $3000 salary a month.
4. In both cases, I compounded the salary based 5% increment per year. It means that the accelerated child will have a salary about $1,200 higher than one who is not accelerated, and probably at a higher position. I did not factor the pay change with a promotion.
5. I also assume no scholarship on both occasions.

Hope this helps.

[Chenonceau]

chamonix:

How does your son find the Edward Zaccaro's books?

Both 2ppaamm's and your children are very blessed to have you ladies as mothers. Don't dwell too much on what you didn't do. From what you shared about your son, he is an intelligent, fine young man. Kudos for doing a great job! :rahrah:

Thanks Chamonix... actually, I am thinking of going up to Chamonix this June hols.

He loves both Edward Zaccaro I bought.

(1) http://www.amazon.com/Things-Future-Mathematicians-Scientists-Rarely/dp/0967991544

(2) http://www.amazon.com/Real-World-Algebra-Edward-Zaccaro/dp/0967991528/ref=pd_sim_b_4