Is GEP really necessary?
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ponyo:
no, no don't give up on us... we need all the hands/brains/legs to make this country a nation we can be proud of. I used to go down that negative road too. Then I told myself, no, no no, cannot think this way. Even if I cannot agree with the system, the powers that be, I must try to help in whichever way I can. Be an agent of change. I may not be able to contribute materially but at least I can do something positive. Help with schoolwork, be a positive influence on my kids and others around me etc
And I cannot agree more, especially for a country that spends so much resources and $$$ trying to woo foreigners into our country, when we don't even look after our own to the best of our abilities.2ppaamm:
[quote=\"ponyo\"]
We are a small little red city state. A life left undeveloped to its fullest potential is one too many already...
I am saddened whenever I go back to Singapore... and wonder if that is the country I know. I cannot even get to speak my Singlish to the Chinese restaurant manager, nowadays, even hotel managers are Filipinos. I think to myself, very soon, we will be like many western countries, 'invaded' by the foreigners, they purchase all the expensive properties, we rent from them, they set up all the companies, we work for them, they are high ranking, we work for them. I am seeing these signs more and more. This is the country that my parents and grandparents built their homes, and now, even I have to leave, with all my resources, because of an education system won't cater, and to think that a host country would receive us with open arms, and scholarships galore. I think something is so wrong. It is like you try to fill a cup on one end, and then let it leak from another.
:offtopic:[/quote]I had an opportunity to start a business in Singapore. My potential partner called me to say he wants to invest in Singapore, (he is Malaysian btw) and he told me he has got big dreams. I said I am not going back, at least in the near future. He said it is so strange, here he is trying to grow his business in Singapore, and Singaporeans are leaving, another brilliant partner went to the Middle East. I chose to leave too, incorporating the company here, and registering the patent here, giving no more loyalties to Singapore. I said why worry, the government has a brilliant FT policy. He said, but they have no loyalty.
I told him, at least at this time, loyalty does not mean a thing to this country. Maybe when the country realizes our worth will we come back. Right now, I don't have to pay anything for education ($0), nothing for healthcare ($0), big house with a big garden all paid for (because it is so cheap), car paid for (lagi cheap), collect rent (also cheap), children's education all taken care of (wonderful teachers, professors, principal and ministry of education), safe and wonderful food (illegal to have steroids), still got colleagues to yum cha and chit chat with, my best friend living just a few streets away, wonderful neighbours to have tea with, got time to fly kites with my children, got time to KSP, got time to chat for a whole day with my son, whom I had no time to talk to when he was doing his undergrad in Singapore, 4 seasons to watch and love, can sew and shop with my girls, and known to be a distinguished talent family. But, I know, that somewhere, if I can just let people see the light, they will know what I am trying to tell them and hopefully things will be better too.
But my friend, a famous psychologist here told me this: an idealist is killed by those he tries to reform. And here, I am having the first taste of this.
The fear of the unknown will always stop people from looking for change, even for the better. And that is human nature which will never change. 
I will just do my part.
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comfy:
This is a long story. We identified only 2 schools for DSa application. HCI and NJC. HCI cos DS from Nanyang and he wants to go where his friends went, and also he wants to be like mum and Dad. DH from Chinese High then Hwa Chong, me fm Hwa Chong. Then we encourage him to try another one. Went for talks by many schools and DS, DH and I all like the NJC programme very much. DH and I very Bo chap, so did not even realize at that time that NJC did not have SBGE.
Hi,Dnls_mum:
Agree Agree. That's why when my boy went to GEP, I insisted that he take up CCA that is not academically linked! No Comp Science, Robotic or even Math Olympiad. I made him join scouts! He was the only GEPer in Scouts! :rotflmao: I want him to mix with others and enjoy outdoor group activities.
It worked! He is now in IP school (NJC) but not GEP school and has no problem mixing with his other classmates. He is doing well in school and his teacher did notice that he is very fast with maths and always had alternative solutions and so asked us and was not surprise when we confirmed he came from GEP. He now does accelerated maths which is good for him as he was already showing signs of being bored with the general math curriculum. His teacher has asked him to be a peer tutor, and he has our blessings to share his knowledge with his classmates. Again, his CCA now is Canoeing and not in some acedamically linked CCA, and he is enjoying it and mixing well with all regardless of academic strength.
So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up
I like your sharing and just wonder why you send your ds to NJC instead of those IP school that have SBGE prog? I just wonder if there any differences between IP with SBGE and without. Does the GEB still monitor your ds progress? TIA.
Then he got rejected by HCI and was devastated, and good news came from NJC. We only realized then that NJC no SBGE. I wrote to MOE to ask if there is difference. The Director of GE called me personally. She explained that there used to be GEP in Sec school. The current secondary schools with SBGE were all the previous sec GEp school. When MOE did away with the sec GEP programme, these schools continued with their own programme. NJC was never a sec school and so was never a GEP school so don't have SBGE lor. She assured me that NJC is also a gd school. She said that they keep track of all their GEPers, even those who have finished school! Dunno to believe or not
So we decided to accept the DSA (ks lor don't want to end up with nothing :rotflmao: ) and DS did not participate in the SI selection exercise. Anyway we heard that last year NJC accepted very few thru DSA so DS was super lucky that he did well in the test and interview.
When result came out, DS teachers ask me to consider putting him in a SBGE school that is an independent school. Said that DS cannot get scholarship in NJC cos it is not an independent school and wasted his GE status by going to non-SBGE school. I told teacher never mind no scholarship. I can afford the NJC School fees of $23 a month! :imcool: :rotflmao:
We have no regrets putting DS in NJC. He is very happy and performing well. He is very good at Maths and science, does decently in English but horrendous in Chinese. He is not super hardworking, so I think he will die in HCI. We like the NJC programme so far, very diverse and out of the box.
Imagine that for class music project, each group given a decade like 60s, 70s....to 2000s, then have to come up with a performance to enact the music of that era. Or whole class given a drama project ie, from script writing to production. This is what I call education! Then they have one terms of boarding every year in junior high. Best thing, cheap school fees and get students from different family background! But DS did have some prob cos science teacher said he ask too many questions :rotflmao: , so call him disruptive. But we talk to him and he now understand to ask only when teacher has completed teaching something and has extra time. Not ideal, but that's life :). For Maths, teacher wants him to show step 1,2,3...., he jump from 1 - 3. Got marks deducted. But never mind la. Teacher say in A level paper max 2 marks can be deducted from whole paper for not showing all steps! :rotflmao:
Now i don't care whether the GE branch monitors my son's progress or not! :imcool: But I think his GEp did help him cope with the NJC IP programme which focus a lot on independent learning.
Sorry if I :offtopic: -
Melodies:
Maybe your DD school super popular so got lots of students lor! HeheWhy everyone are in a class with <40? Which school are your ds in? My dd's class size is >40 .Not fair!
Wait. But then lor, make no difference le. chey..... :roll: Dnls_mum:
:goodpost: Well said.
The problem is that in Singapore, education is no long used as a social leveler. I read somewhere once that wiki leaks have a report about some ministry person saying that they don't want everyone to go uni......I can't verify this, but I have heard similar insinuation on many occasions. So sad...sigh.
So i must say that I am lucky and that my non GEP son is in a school that has good teachers. He is doing decently well even though he is in a class close to 40. Whew! :xedfingers: Again, we make the best of the situation.
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Please continue to share with us le. Hey, you know we are Kiasu, Kiasi and Kiabo in nature ...take time to change our spot n just need to be more patience.....n maybe we will get there.. :rahrah: :rahrah:
2ppaamm:
I had an opportunity to start a business in Singapore. My potential partner called me to say he wants to invest in Singapore, (he is Malaysian btw) and he told me he has got big dreams. I said I am not going back, at least in the near future. He said it is so strange, here he is trying to grow his business in Singapore, and Singaporeans are leaving, another brilliant partner went to the Middle East. I chose to leave too, incorporating the company here, and registering the patent here, giving no more loyalties to Singapore. I said why worry, the government has a brilliant FT policy. He said, but they have no loyalty.
I told him, at least at this time, loyalty does not mean a thing to this country. Maybe when the country realizes our worth will we come back. Right now, I don't have to pay anything for education ($0), nothing for healthcare ($0), big house with a big garden all paid for (because it is so cheap), car paid for (lagi cheap), collect rent (also cheap), children's education all taken care of (wonderful teachers, professors, principal and ministry of education), safe and wonderful food (illegal to have steroids), still got colleagues to yum cha and chit chat with, my best friend living just a few streets away, wonderful neighbours to have tea with, got time to fly kites with my children, got time to KSP, got time to chat for a whole day with my son, whom I had no time to talk to when he was doing his undergrad in Singapore, 4 seasons to watch and love, can sew and shop with my girls, and known to be a distinguished talent family. But, I know, that somewhere, if I can just let people see the light, they will know what I am trying to tell them and hopefully things will be better too.
But my friend, a famous psychologist here told me this: an idealist is killed by those he tries to reform. And here, I am having the first taste of this. The fear of the unknown will always stop people from looking for change, even for the better. And that is human nature which will never change. I will just do my part. -
Dnls_mum:
:snuggles: If we continue to mess around with our ONLY resource, it is going to be real sad. But you know, it is never the people on top who suffer, it is those below. Even in a depression, it is those middle class and below who will suffer, those at the higher end never will. Singapore has the highest GDP in the world, but our income distribution is also one of the worst. The rich will continue to get richer, their children will get smarter as long as the education system continues to throw the ball at the parents, those who can afford will never be affected. Consequently, the poor will always get poorer. People like me can just zoom off and still do well. But it is those who are left behind who are stuck with no options. Where are they to go? In a society, we should always look out for the last 10%. Always, I have no doubt about it.
I feel sad like you too. Sometimes, I get too passionate when it comes to discussion topics involving FT. I worry for my kids, what will happen to them? Will they have the opportunities that I had? But I never think of leaving. Because this is my country. This is where my extended family lives! This is where I have my roots. Don't give up. This is where you have your memories. Memories that you can share with your kids. No where is perfect!
:grphug: -
2ppaamm:
Now you make me want to leave too :siam:
I had an opportunity to start a business in Singapore. My potential partner called me to say he wants to invest in Singapore, (he is Malaysian btw) and he told me he has got big dreams. I said I am not going back, at least in the near future. He said it is so strange, here he is trying to grow his business in Singapore, and Singaporeans are leaving, another brilliant partner went to the Middle East. I chose to leave too, incorporating the company here, and registering the patent here, giving no more loyalties to Singapore. I said why worry, the government has a brilliant FT policy. He said, but they have no loyalty.
I told him, at least at this time, loyalty does not mean a thing to this country. Maybe when the country realizes our worth will we come back. Right now, I don't have to pay anything for education ($0), nothing for healthcare ($0), big house with a big garden all paid for (because it is so cheap), car paid for (lagi cheap), collect rent (also cheap), children's education all taken care of (wonderful teachers, professors, principal and ministry of education), safe and wonderful food (illegal to have steroids), still got colleagues to yum cha and chit chat with, my best friend living just a few streets away, wonderful neighbours to have tea with, got time to fly kites with my children, got time to KSP, got time to chat for a whole day with my son, whom I had no time to talk to when he was doing his undergrad in Singapore, 4 seasons to watch and love, can sew and shop with my girls, and known to be a distinguished talent family. But, I know, that somewhere, if I can just let people see the light, they will know what I am trying to tell them and hopefully things will be better too.
But my friend, a famous psychologist here told me this: an idealist is killed by those he tries to reform. And here, I am having the first taste of this. The fear of the unknown will always stop people from looking for change, even for the better. And that is human nature which will never change. I will just do my part.
-
2ppaamm:
Yes, in fact, if one been to America & Australia, they'll find it a difference, not for tour but long stay there.
I had an opportunity to start a business in Singapore. My potential partner called me to say he wants to invest in Singapore, (he is Malaysian btw) and he told me he has got big dreams. I said I am not going back, at least in the near future. He said it is so strange, here he is trying to grow his business in Singapore, and Singaporeans are leaving, another brilliant partner went to the Middle East. I chose to leave too, incorporating the company here, and registering the patent here, giving no more loyalties to Singapore. I said why worry, the government has a brilliant FT policy. He said, but they have no loyalty.
I told him, at least at this time, loyalty does not mean a thing to this country. Maybe when the country realizes our worth will we come back. Right now, I don't have to pay anything for education ($0), nothing for healthcare ($0), big house with a big garden all paid for (because it is so cheap), car paid for (lagi cheap), collect rent (also cheap), children's education all taken care of (wonderful teachers, professors, principal and ministry of education), safe and wonderful food (illegal to have steroids), still got colleagues to yum cha and chit chat with, my best friend living just a few streets away, wonderful neighbours to have tea with, got time to fly kites with my children, got time to KSP, got time to chat for a whole day with my son, whom I had no time to talk to when he was doing his undergrad in Singapore, 4 seasons to watch and love, can sew and shop with my girls, and known to be a distinguished talent family. But, I know, that somewhere, if I can just let people see the light, they will know what I am trying to tell them and hopefully things will be better too.
But my friend, a famous psychologist here told me this: an idealist is killed by those he tries to reform. And here, I am having the first taste of this. The fear of the unknown will always stop people from looking for change, even for the better. And that is human nature which will never change. I will just do my part.
Houses bigger, cars cheaper. More space to roam around. Their education does not expect you to score. When you're old, no need to worry for medical fees. Am I right, 2ppaamm? I think there're much more.
The only think I still scare of is gunning issue out there in America. But its all under God's will where we have no control over these.
One day, might need to join 2ppaamm there. Wherever my DH goes, I need to follow because he is the breadwinner of our family.
:offtopic: -
Dnls_mum,
Don't be mistaken. Not asking anyone to leave. Just stay & if there are greener pastures & opportunity comes, then you may choose to or not to. Don't be easily influnce by anyone, you should decide your own life or path to go. For my family, we just leave it to God for things that we cannot change.
I still proud to be a Singaporean.
:offtopic: -
Dnls_mum:
This is a long story. We identified only 2 schools for DSa application. HCI and NJC. HCI cos DS from Nanyang and he wants to go where his friends went, and also he wants to be like mum and Dad. DH from Chinese High then Hwa Chong, me fm Hwa Chong. Then we encourage him to try another one. Went for talks by many schools and DS, DH and I all like the NJC programme very much. DH and I very Bo chap, so did not even realize at that time that NJC did not have SBGE.
Hi,comfy:
[quote=\"Dnls_mum\"]Agree Agree. That's why when my boy went to GEP, I insisted that he take up CCA that is not academically linked! No Comp Science, Robotic or even Math Olympiad. I made him join scouts! He was the only GEPer in Scouts! :rotflmao: I want him to mix with others and enjoy outdoor group activities.
It worked! He is now in IP school (NJC) but not GEP school and has no problem mixing with his other classmates. He is doing well in school and his teacher did notice that he is very fast with maths and always had alternative solutions and so asked us and was not surprise when we confirmed he came from GEP. He now does accelerated maths which is good for him as he was already showing signs of being bored with the general math curriculum. His teacher has asked him to be a peer tutor, and he has our blessings to share his knowledge with his classmates. Again, his CCA now is Canoeing and not in some acedamically linked CCA, and he is enjoying it and mixing well with all regardless of academic strength.
So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up
I like your sharing and just wonder why you send your ds to NJC instead of those IP school that have SBGE prog? I just wonder if there any differences between IP with SBGE and without. Does the GEB still monitor your ds progress? TIA.
Then he got rejected by HCI and was devastated, and good news came from NJC. We only realized then that NJC no SBGE. I wrote to MOE to ask if there is difference. The Director of GE called me personally. She explained that there used to be GEP in Sec school. The current secondary schools with SBGE were all the previous sec GEp school. When MOE did away with the sec GEP programme, these schools continued with their own programme. NJC was never a sec school and so was never a GEP school so don't have SBGE lor. She assured me that NJC is also a gd school. She said that they keep track of all their GEPers, even those who have finished school! Dunno to believe or not So we decided to accept the DSA (ks lor don't want to end up with nothing :rotflmao: ) and DS did not participate in the SI selection exercise. Anyway we heard that last year NJC accepted very few thru DSA so DS was super lucky that he did well in the test and interview.
When result came out, DS teachers ask me to consider putting him in a SBGE school that is an independent school. Said that DS cannot get scholarship in NJC cos it is not an independent school and wasted his GE status by going to non-SBGE school. I told teacher never mind no scholarship. I can afford the NJC School fees of $23 a month! :imcool: :rotflmao:
We have no regrets putting DS in NJC. He is very happy and performing well. He is very good at Maths and science, does decently in English but horrendous in Chinese. He is not super hardworking, so I think he will die in HCI. We like the NJC programme so far, very diverse and out of the box.
Imagine that for class music project, each group given a decade like 60s, 70s....to 2000s, then have to come up with a performance to enact the music of that era. Or whole class given a drama project ie, from script writing to production. This is what I call education! Then they have one terms of boarding every year in junior high. Best thing, cheap school fees and get students from different family background! But DS did have some prob cos science teacher said he ask too many questions :rotflmao: , so call him disruptive. But we talk to him and he now understand to ask only when teacher has completed teaching something and has extra time. Not ideal, but that's life :). For Maths, teacher wants him to show step 1,2,3...., he jump from 1 - 3. Got marks deducted. But never mind la. Teacher say in A level paper max 2 marks can be deducted from whole paper for not showing all steps! :rotflmao:
Now i don't care whether the GE branch monitors my son's progress or not! :imcool: But I think his GEp did help him cope with the NJC IP programme which focus a lot on independent learning.
Sorry if I :offtopic:[/quote]Wow! This is really good sharing! I like that the school fees is cheap (all schools should be, including all the independent schools) and there is a representation of all social status in the school. If you understand where I am coming from...
My kids go to the best ranked school in this city (because I stay just 600m away) and we don't have to pay a single cent. I now understand what is public education - each of them with a laptop at primary school, and each class is 25 max. They cover advanced and enriched materials for ALL subjects, for those who can manage, the class teachers do a short diagnostic test every fortnight to decide if you are ready for the enrichment. They also learn a foreign language, the local (and famous) artist come and visit to give art classes once a week, same for musician. They get tennis class, swimming classes, a pool for the school children to use, all free. The building is old, but the students' hearts are warm. My socially clueless son is learning to be socially adept because of his classmates. He learns love, he learns to laugh. Something I wished Singapore schools have taught him. He still makes mistakes and the shadow of the unforgiving education system he came from still emerges, but I am hopeful it will be gone soon.
You are an enlightened mum! So happy to read your story, which is so refreshing! -
2ppaamm:
:thankyou:
Wow! This is really good sharing! I like that the school fees is cheap (all schools should be, including all the independent schools) and there is a representation of all social status in the school. If you understand where I am coming from...
I know where you are coming from. I am most happy when DS is still happy wearing his bata shoes even though he is now allowed to wear track shoes. Didn't ask me to get him track shoes even though some of his friends wearing them :).
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