Is GEP really necessary?
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tired mom:
That's what I am saying. dSA and uni interview already drawing so mu h criticism and flax. Do we still need another 'spreading out' thingy ?At the age of 12, IMHO, is not too young to learn about the realities of life.
My DD has just gone through the DSA process. Though rejected by one of the schools, she was thankfully given an offer for the other. Faced with the fact that some of her classmates whose academic results are poorer than her were accepted by the school which rejected her, she said in a \"matter-of-fact\" manner to her younger sis, \"Such is life, you do not always get what you want. Sometimes things are not within your control even if you had worked hard at it.\"
I realised she had learnt an important life lesson here, even though it may be cruel.
I looked back at myself learning a similar lesson when I was 18, which I found so much harder to come to terms with. With my good \"Á\" levels result, I went on for an interview for a university course, the course that had always been the dream of my (then young) life. That was my only chance, as my parents had made known to me that doing that course overseas is financially out-of-reach for us. Then I looked around at my JC classmates who did not do as well as me, but heading overseas for THAT course, I just could not help to feel.... and know.... that life is not fair.
I think it is that much harder to learn at 18 years old.....
And to 2ppaamm, it seem contradictory that you are advocating more of such ambiguity when you already are so dissatisfied with the GEP and DSA ambiguity in its current form. Do we really need more?
This will not affect my kids, so I am asking without personal agenda or interest -
I really don’t know whether such segregation by grades (COP) is good or bad? That brings me back my childhood memory when I was in primary school. In one exam, I happened to score full marks, while another boy got 0. The teacher asked me to help this boy. I helped him in study while he taught me table tennis and others stuff. We became a great friends. By helping him, I was greatly improved in my studies too. But today, I guess, there aren’t such cases anymore.
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ruohoo97:
I really don't know whether such segregation by grades (COP) is good or bad? That brings me back my childhood memory when I was in primary school. In one exam, I happened to score full marks, while another boy got 0. The teacher asked me to help this boy. I helped him in study while he taught me table tennis and others stuff. We became a great friends. By helping him, I was greatly improved in my studies too. But today, I guess, there are such cases anymore.
Don't be disheartened. There are still such cases. Children and even in their teens can be so innocent an carefree. At least for my son's case. He is helping a classmate who is weak and they made the arrangement themselves. In turn the classmate also help him in a different project. In this school, they also have more former peer tutoring where their teacher help pair them up. They are all pretty willing to do it. This makes me very happy. SOmetimes I feel parents make things complicated. Leave it to the kids and they co exist very happily in their own way. -
Dnls_mum:
Great to hear about that. I see that your son is in NJC, one of schools I wanted my dd to apply DSA. But after checking info about school, NJC doesn't have the particular CCA that DD wants. So we didn't apply.ruohoo97:
I really don't know whether such segregation by grades (COP) is good or bad? That brings me back my childhood memory when I was in primary school. In one exam, I happened to score full marks, while another boy got 0. The teacher asked me to help this boy. I helped him in study while he taught me table tennis and others stuff. We became a great friends. By helping him, I was greatly improved in my studies too. But today, I guess, there aren't such cases anymore.
Don't be disheartened. There are still such cases. Children and even in their teens can be so innocent an carefree. At least for my son's case. He is helping a classmate who is weak and they made the arrangement themselves. In turn the classmate also help him in a different project. In this school, they also have more former peer tutoring where their teacher help pair them up. They are all pretty willing to do it. This makes me very happy. SOmetimes I feel parents make things complicated. Leave it to the kids and they co exist very happily in their own way.
School culture is important. -
Dnls_mum:
The current system is so complex, and I sometimes wonder if it is deliberately made so to confuse and it is hard to explain. This also does not affect my children, since all those who went to Sec school went into schools of choice, and those who wanted to get into GEP went in, those who preferred to stay in their original primary school did, those who DSA'ed got their choices. So, I also don't have a personal agenda.
And to 2ppaamm, it seem contradictory that you are advocating more of such ambiguity when you already are so dissatisfied with the GEP and DSA ambiguity in its current form. Do we really need more?
This will not affect my kids, so I am asking without personal agenda or interest
Don't think I am promoting it to be more ambiguous, just voicing out that it is already ambiguous even at 12, and they should have already gotten used to it by 18. To me at least, the university entrance process is much clearer, less ambiguous and fair, and the practices are far more universal internationally. Still, we get strange creatures... :faint: The Singapore Sec school placement procedure is really strange and beyond my ability to put in words. It is not really nepotism, not really meritocracy, not really anything... :scratchhead: but tries to be everything... Maybe there is beauty in confusion.
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One word can describe the current Sec placement system- rojak. Tried to be creative to include all domains n make it 'hybrid' by combining the local system with some new/common schemes... :slapshead:
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2ppaamm:
Just had a lunch with one mother who told me a \"horrible\" story about a student from one of TOP schools here. This student was DSAed into the school, but for some reason, she was not copying well, by the time of A level, she was barred to take A level as school student, but registered as private candidate, if she passed A level, she could use her school name, if not she would not be allowed even use school name in her reportcard.
Isn't this already happening with the current DSA programs? A child having a higher COP may not necessarily getting into a school compared to a child with a lower. At least during our times, it was taken for granted whoever did better at PSLE would have a better chance of getting into their schools of choice. Yet, in those days, I remember we were spread more evenly then these days. I didn't even know the difference between RGS and Cedar Girls... We were assured of getting the schools of our CHOICE, not the TOP school. It is no longer the case now, people work hard to get into a particular top school. Yet, while we expect the competition to be constrained to academic levels only, there are now so many anomalies which are at best,ambiguous.
Those who get into a top school may or may not be top scorers in the PSLE, but may be: top x medalists from x, y, and z sport, top x GEPpers who get at least 80+x% in their P4, 5, 6 exams, top x% of PSLE T-score, top x performers in Olympiad, top this, top that from everywhere, the criteria has changed for them.
When there is a sport competition, those top medalist please go and get honours for the school, ditto for all the different competitions, because the school has to be 'balanced' (but not necessarily the children), and then if they don't do well academically and hence might affect the school's 'A' levels results, they are asked to take 'O' levels as a private candidates and then, please leave the school? Hm... so much for spreading, so much for building balanced schools that excel in everything. At the expense of the child? Of course, though I have a problem of agreeing, I do see merits in doing so, we are teaching the child that when he is no more of an utility, then the consequence is dire - cruel but reality of life. Treasure every lesson, I guess. :roll:
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:scared:
Very cruel reality indeed! -
ruohoo97:
Yes, cruel reality. It has been happening for years and years, and always under wraps... what are we doing to the next generation? :nailbite: What values are we imparting them? Let's not create 上等社会下等人。
Just had a lunch with one mother who told me a \"horrible\" story about a student from one of TOP schools here. This student was DSAed into the school, but for some reason, she was not copying well, by the time of A level, she was barred to take A level as school student, but registered as private candidate, if she passed A level, she could use her school name, if not she would not be allowed even use school name in her reportcard.2ppaamm:
Isn't this already happening with the current DSA programs? A child having a higher COP may not necessarily getting into a school compared to a child with a lower. At least during our times, it was taken for granted whoever did better at PSLE would have a better chance of getting into their schools of choice. Yet, in those days, I remember we were spread more evenly then these days. I didn't even know the difference between RGS and Cedar Girls... We were assured of getting the schools of our CHOICE, not the TOP school. It is no longer the case now, people work hard to get into a particular top school. Yet, while we expect the competition to be constrained to academic levels only, there are now so many anomalies which are at best,ambiguous.
Those who get into a top school may or may not be top scorers in the PSLE, but may be: top x medalists from x, y, and z sport, top x GEPpers who get at least 80+x% in their P4, 5, 6 exams, top x% of PSLE T-score, top x performers in Olympiad, top this, top that from everywhere, the criteria has changed for them.
When there is a sport competition, those top medalist please go and get honours for the school, ditto for all the different competitions, because the school has to be 'balanced' (but not necessarily the children), and then if they don't do well academically and hence might affect the school's 'A' levels results, they are asked to take 'O' levels as a private candidates and then, please leave the school? Hm... so much for spreading, so much for building balanced schools that excel in everything. At the expense of the child? Of course, though I have a problem of agreeing, I do see merits in doing so, we are teaching the child that when he is no more of an utility, then the consequence is dire - cruel but reality of life. Treasure every lesson, I guess. :roll:
.
:scared:
Very cruel reality indeed! -
ruohoo97:
I think you would do all of us here a great service if you can name the school. it is not under any official secret act, so please name the school. much appreciated
Just had a lunch with one mother who told me a \"horrible\" story about a student from one of TOP schools here. This student was DSAed into the school, but for some reason, she was not copying well, by the time of A level, she was barred to take A level as school student, but registered as private candidate, if she passed A level, she could use her school name, if not she would not be allowed even use school name in her reportcard.2ppaamm:
Isn't this already happening with the current DSA programs? A child having a higher COP may not necessarily getting into a school compared to a child with a lower. At least during our times, it was taken for granted whoever did better at PSLE would have a better chance of getting into their schools of choice. Yet, in those days, I remember we were spread more evenly then these days. I didn't even know the difference between RGS and Cedar Girls... We were assured of getting the schools of our CHOICE, not the TOP school. It is no longer the case now, people work hard to get into a particular top school. Yet, while we expect the competition to be constrained to academic levels only, there are now so many anomalies which are at best,ambiguous.
Those who get into a top school may or may not be top scorers in the PSLE, but may be: top x medalists from x, y, and z sport, top x GEPpers who get at least 80+x% in their P4, 5, 6 exams, top x% of PSLE T-score, top x performers in Olympiad, top this, top that from everywhere, the criteria has changed for them.
When there is a sport competition, those top medalist please go and get honours for the school, ditto for all the different competitions, because the school has to be 'balanced' (but not necessarily the children), and then if they don't do well academically and hence might affect the school's 'A' levels results, they are asked to take 'O' levels as a private candidates and then, please leave the school? Hm... so much for spreading, so much for building balanced schools that excel in everything. At the expense of the child? Of course, though I have a problem of agreeing, I do see merits in doing so, we are teaching the child that when he is no more of an utility, then the consequence is dire - cruel but reality of life. Treasure every lesson, I guess. :roll:
.
:scared:
Very cruel reality indeed! -
2ppaamm:
Yes, cruel reality. It has been happening for years and years, and always under wraps... what are we doing to the next generation? :nailbite: What values are we imparting them? Let's not create 上等社会下等人。[/quote]really ? I did not do well in my A level, I am allowed to use the school's name, and even invited back to teach, and a proud alumni
Just had a lunch with one mother who told me a \"horrible\" story about a student from one of TOP schools here. This student was DSAed into the school, but for some reason, she was not copying well, by the time of A level, she was barred to take A level as school student, but registered as private candidate, if she passed A level, she could use her school name, if not she would not be allowed even use school name in her reportcard.ruohoo97:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
Isn't this already happening with the current DSA programs? A child having a higher COP may not necessarily getting into a school compared to a child with a lower. At least during our times, it was taken for granted whoever did better at PSLE would have a better chance of getting into their schools of choice. Yet, in those days, I remember we were spread more evenly then these days. I didn't even know the difference between RGS and Cedar Girls... We were assured of getting the schools of our CHOICE, not the TOP school. It is no longer the case now, people work hard to get into a particular top school. Yet, while we expect the competition to be constrained to academic levels only, there are now so many anomalies which are at best,ambiguous.
Those who get into a top school may or may not be top scorers in the PSLE, but may be: top x medalists from x, y, and z sport, top x GEPpers who get at least 80+x% in their P4, 5, 6 exams, top x% of PSLE T-score, top x performers in Olympiad, top this, top that from everywhere, the criteria has changed for them.
When there is a sport competition, those top medalist please go and get honours for the school, ditto for all the different competitions, because the school has to be 'balanced' (but not necessarily the children), and then if they don't do well academically and hence might affect the school's 'A' levels results, they are asked to take 'O' levels as a private candidates and then, please leave the school? Hm... so much for spreading, so much for building balanced schools that excel in everything. At the expense of the child? Of course, though I have a problem of agreeing, I do see merits in doing so, we are teaching the child that when he is no more of an utility, then the consequence is dire - cruel but reality of life. Treasure every lesson, I guess. :roll:
.
:scared:
Very cruel reality indeed!
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