I am a Singaporean married to an Asian Kiwi wife. We live in New Zealand, and have a 7 year old son who also holds a kiwi citizenship. I plan to return to Singapore in 2015 with my family to allow my son to attend primary 5 and 6 in Singapore in preparation for him to attend SOTA. I will apply for P/R status for my wife and son. I have aging parents and want to be in Singapore during their need. I am very interested about schooling in Singapore and all the excitements associated with schools hence my interest with Kiasu Parents. :?


Please read my second post at the bottom of this page

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/33376/i-am-new-member-a-singapore-dad-in-nzRSS for NodeSat, 09 May 2026 21:51:36 GMTTue, 20 Mar 2012 09:05:13 GMT60:rahrah: Welcome ! :rahrah: :rahrah:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743476https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743476Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:13:56 GMTYou may have a bit of adjustment to make when you return.

I know in some schools, music lessons give way to core subjects because the teachers cannot finish the syllabus, especially so in the upper levels.

But if you really choose to return, then I suppose you would have to work around it, find enrichment classes etc. Gain outside exposure to music ?? Maybe stay near a music school, buy a house next to some musicians ?? -- just joking.

But seriously, there are free events for such exposure available - go to http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/02_whatson.html
(Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at NUS).


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Primary state schools in NZ start at 9 am and finish at 3pm. Class size is about 23 students and the teachers in my son’s school normally have an assistant teacher assisting them in class. Most schoolwork is done in class and that includes sports and music. Children start primary school on their birthday when they reach 5 years of age as such teachers need to keep track of each child’s academic progress and level of competency on any subject considering that the children trickle into school throughout the first year in school. Over time the children realize that they are an individuals and not running on a one speed treadmill. That means a 7 year old child who is capable in mathematic beyond his age will attend a class or 2 classes higher during the math’s period to meet his level. That goes for any subject including music. Children study at different levels but relationship are forged by the many fun activities held on and off school. Some days the children go to school in their pajamas, they have wacky hair days, cultural days, school fair and many other activities to interact including bi-weekly school assembly that feels like a mini concert. School is fun for the children and for the parents, and very little stress is associated with schooling as Kiwis on the whole are a classless society and accepts each person as an individual regardless of their social, economic or academic background.

My son loves going to school and enjoy his time in school. We are confident that the positive desire to learn will sit well when he attends primary 5 in Singapore. Music can play second fiddle by the time he reaches primary 5 as the hard work for music will be done and hopefully a strong enough foundation is laid due to the early start. He can always pick it up in SOTA or at a later stage in life. My main concern will be on how well he will fit into the Singapore school culture. He has to cut his long hair, wear school uniform and run on a one speed treadmill with an eye on the finishing line (primary six) as he needs the grades to get into SOTA and having said that, my wife and I are trying our best to raise a well balanced boy. We believe the ultimate teachers are the parents and schools are just for grades and such a system is a necessity in a progressive modern society.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743333https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/743333Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:54:02 GMTIf you ask me the education system in the NZ is more holistic. Honestly, the programme here are very accelerated and I seriously do not know what is the value add except for the small numbers that was sent to competition brings glory for the country. Even, Sota, the child’s grades cannot be be too bad; it is unlike a Menuhin and one of my friend’s son gave up because if he attends sota, he will have less time for his music. Afterall, they have the IB exams to pass.

They pay very little attention to music. Many who goes into MEP programmes are supported by the family. You see, Education in Singapore in not Free. It is accelarated and yet the parents got to fill the gap.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736891https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736891Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:56:49 GMTYou may have a bit of adjustment to make when you return.

I know in some schools, music lessons give way to core subjects because the teachers cannot finish the syllabus, especially so in the upper levels.

But if you really choose to return, then I suppose you would have to work around it, find enrichment classes etc. Gain outside exposure to music ?? Maybe stay near a music school, buy a house next to some musicians ?? -- just joking.

But seriously, there are free events for such exposure available - go to http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/02_whatson.html
(Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at NUS).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736862https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736862Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:25:12 GMTHi Everyone,


Thank you for the welcome messages. I thoroughly enjoy this web-site and like reading their informative opinions, comments and the various view points of the members on a wide range of subjects.

I was planning to relocate my family to Singapore this year to be closer to my aging parents but at the same time I wanted to be sure that I am able to provide a good and enjoyable start to a primary one education in Singapore for my 7 year old son Jayden TJ. Last year I spent several months in Singapore talking to some of the principals from my neighborhood schools and I walked away dismayed by the rigidness of the school policy and its curriculum. Getting an appointment to see the school principal was a tedious task and a lesson on humility and patience. My main grip was the apparent lack of a good musical education and insufficient choice of instruments offered in school for a child to be excited about. . The costs of after school music program in Singapore are expensive and time consuming. Primary schools in NZ view music lesson as essential learning block. The school my son attends has a music program that has been going on in that school for the last 80 years and it cost $70/instrument a year. It offers a dozen different instruments each Saturday morning and if you could not afford the fees or the time, then the children are offered free lesson during school hours on some popular instruments.

Children in NZ start primary school on their birthday when they turn 5 years old (I heard that NZ is the only country in the world that have such an enrollment policy) Such policy make the school child friendly and with 420 pupils and 23 different nationality represented in the enrollment you would think that the principle and his staff would be rushed off their feet. Yet, I consistently see the principal on the school zebra crossing at least twice a week with a raised red flag supervising the children crossing. Each new child entering school on their birthday is celebrated during the school weekly assembly. The assembly itself is open to the parents and care givers and is conducted like a music concert with individual and group presentation from the various classes. To view some of the school assembly, you could lock into my 7 years old son facebook public/fan page under the name “Jayden TJ”. He plays the bass guitar in the school band. He currently plays 7 different instruments and 3 of them at grade level. It is a testimony that every child can enjoy and learn music if given a early start.



Schools in Singapore have come a long way since I attended primary school many many years ago. The ability to reinvent had made Singapore what it is today and I am very sure they are in the right track hence I was very excited when I read about SOTA and the reason and ideas behind the establishment of such a fine school. I had the opportunity to visit the brand new school and I was impressed. How impressed I will be by the time my son attend SOTA will depend on how well SOTA integrates if self within the arts and academic community in Singapore and its international standing as a school that can bring out the very best in its student and it ability to capture a world wide audience on its art and its academic field.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736193https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/736193Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:57:48 GMT:welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/732979https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/732979Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:06:46 GMTWelcome

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731884https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731884Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:07:30 GMTYeah, keep in touch through this website and by the time you return , you will know all about the education system and can navigate better.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731858https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731858Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:52:41 GMT:welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731855https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731855Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:48:53 GMTwelcome! this will be a good online space for you to re-acclimatise....

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731809https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731809Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:35:21 GMTKSP :welcome: you to KSP

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731807https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/731807Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:24:05 GMT