DSA 2011

[jtoh]

cindylauper:

[


Hi, I understand that all parents are concerned for their kids. However, when looking at the DSA selection exercise in the perspective of a mainstream school kid, it is very disheartening as the GEPers and the mainstream students are fighting to get into the DSA in the same selection exercise and the GEPers have a known but undeclared priority over the mainstreamers. Since the two groups of students are not selected using same yardstick, schools should just set aside the actual number of vacancies available to mainstreamers applying under academic, after deciding how many vacancies go to GEPers. In this way, mainstreamers and GEPers do not compete in the same \"battleground\".

Actually, most schools do set aside a quota for the different domains - GEP, Academic, Sports, Aesthetics etc. If you speak to the Sports teachers, they'll tell you exactly how many places are available for that year's Sports intake, and how many spots are alloted to which sport. Many IP schools (those with SBGE usually) also have a quota for GEP students and a separate quota for academic domain. And they don't necessarily fill up all the spots. If the students don't meet the mark, they aren't accepted. So GEP and mainstreamers don't exactly compete against each other in these schools. The mainstreamers compete against other mainstreamers in the academic domain. For eg there might only be a handful of places awarded to those in the English domain. So if there are students better than you, you won't be offered a DSA.

There are some schools who don't distinguish between applying under GEP domain and Academic domain. NJC and NUSH for eg. These ones, yes, there's direct competition.

[Zann]

PiggyLalala:

cindylauper:

Hi, I understand that all parents are concerned for their kids. However, when looking at the DSA selection exercise in the perspective of a mainstream school kid, it is very disheartening as the GEPers and the mainstream students are fighting to get into the DSA in the same selection exercise and the GEPers have a known but undeclared priority over the mainstreamers. Since the two groups of students are not selected using same yardstick, schools should just set aside the actual number of vacancies available to mainstreamers applying under academic, after deciding how many vacancies go to GEPers. In this way, mainstreamers and GEPers do not compete in the same \"battleground\".

It is true that all parents are concerned for their own kids. The mainstreamers viewed that they are competing in a unfair battleground with the GEPers during the DSA. But the GEPers are also competing in a unfair battleground with the mainstream during PSLE. One has to understand that the real PSLE preparation for the GEPers starts in P6, end of term 2. Gepers are not genius in all subjects, they also need time to prepare for exam especially for their weaker subjects. The stress that the child went through is tremendous, first the P6SA1, then the DSA and interviews, follow by the outcomes of the DSA, and finally the PSLE. If the so called 'prority' is not given to the GEPers during DSA, many parents will think twice before putting their child in the GEP because of the stress, uncertainity and the unfair battleground during the PSLE. JMHO.

两头不到岸 is exactly what the fear is. Every year there are still so many P3 parents want to send their kids for GEP preparation course.

[Pooh Bear]

You always have a choice to put in the kid into GEP. "Fair" or "unfair" –> u are given a choice. Life itself is unfair, but it is dependent on you to make the best out of it.

[Funx3]

Zann:

两头不到岸 is exactly what the fear is. Every year there are still so many P3 parents want to send their kids for GEP preparation course.

In the Hope of Getting the Official Approval of Being Gifted ....

[Alchemist]

Publica:

ngbrdad:

[quote=\"CSN\"]Dear Parents who are still waiting for NJC's letters

It means bad news if u have not received any letter by now. DH called NJC on Thursday and was told letters posted to successful ones on Wed and they will post unsuccessful ones only next week. It's bad news for DS as NJC is only remaining hope. So got to really \"chiong\" for PSLE. Given his very weak Chinese, slim chance to get to his dream school. Will try our best and commit the rest to God. God bless. A very worried mum.

Oh dear I hope you are wrong.
So far only one person reported receiving the NJC letter here.
So maybe there is postal delay.

We do not have a good feeling with NJC too. From feedbacks here and personal experience, COs are usually mailed out before the rejection letters. Just to add, son's classmate received CO from NJC on Friday.
All the best to parents waiting for NJC letter![/quote]
Dear Publica,

Congrats to your son on the SST CO and good luck for the NJC wait. :xedfingers:

VL

[Ms tay]

For my thinking , I don't feel Dsa and psle systerm

R unfair to the mainstreamers or gepers
Although my ds had rejected by ri n hci in Dsa
As Dsa is main for gepers n psle is just a
Extra chance for them .equally psle is main for
Mainstreamers and Dsa is just extra chance...
Nomatterhow even if they can't get into their dream
School in p6 it is not the end of the world they still have
Chances when they in sec 2 or sec 4 .this is just my opinion
:congrats: to all Successful Dsa applicants and good luck to
Those who sit for psle .all the best !!! :

[phankao]

cindylauper:

Hi, I understand that all parents are concerned for their kids. However, when looking at the DSA selection exercise in the perspective of a mainstream school kid, it is very disheartening as the GEPers and the mainstream students are fighting to get into the DSA in the same selection exercise and the GEPers have a known but undeclared priority over the mainstreamers. Since the two groups of students are not selected using same yardstick, schools should just set aside the actual number of vacancies available to mainstreamers applying under academic, after deciding how many vacancies go to GEPers. In this way, mainstreamers and GEPers do not compete in the same \"battleground\".

They should just abolish DSA and give GEPers an extra bonus points over their PSLE score (like what they do for HMT). I remember that for entry to JC last time, it was that way. eg. affiliated school - minus 2 points, national sportsman - minus 4 points, or something like that.

[Funx3]

phankao:

They should just abolish DSA and give GEPers an extra bonus points over their PSLE score (like what they do for HMT). I remember that for entry to JC last time, it was that way. eg. affiliated school - minus 2 points, national sportsman - minus 4 points, or something like that.

\"national sportsman - minus 4 points\"
Really Got such Scheme last Time?
How Long Ago was it?

[Funx3]

Ms tay:

For my thinking , I don't feel Dsa and psle systerm

R unfair to the mainstreamers or gepers
Although my ds had rejected by ri n hci in Dsa
As Dsa is main for gepers n psle is just a
Extra chance for them .equally psle is main for
Mainstreamers and Dsa is just extra chance...
Nomatterhow even if they can't get into their dream
School in p6 it is not the end of the world they still have
Chances when they in sec 2 or sec 4 .this is just my opinion
:congrats: to all Dsa applicants and good luck to
Those who sit for psle .all the best !!! :

Well Said, Ms Tay! :celebrate: :celebrate:
For Majority of Students Population, Won't Even Be Bothered or Affected by DSA.

We Just Treat it as an Extra Opportunity to try for the Top Schools.
If Selected, Then \"Heng\" -Ah!
If Not, just sit for PSLE, try to get the Best Result and Definitely there is a Good Sch within Spore tt my kids can Continue the Next Phase of the Education.

[Blur Dad]

Zann:

PiggyLalala:

[quote=\"cindylauper\"]
Hi, I understand that all parents are concerned for their kids. However, when looking at the DSA selection exercise in the perspective of a mainstream school kid, it is very disheartening as the GEPers and the mainstream students are fighting to get into the DSA in the same selection exercise and the GEPers have a known but undeclared priority over the mainstreamers. Since the two groups of students are not selected using same yardstick, schools should just set aside the actual number of vacancies available to mainstreamers applying under academic, after deciding how many vacancies go to GEPers. In this way, mainstreamers and GEPers do not compete in the same \"battleground\".

It is true that all parents are concerned for their own kids. The mainstreamers viewed that they are competing in a unfair battleground with the GEPers during the DSA. But the GEPers are also competing in a unfair battleground with the mainstream during PSLE. One has to understand that the real PSLE preparation for the GEPers starts in P6, end of term 2. Gepers are not genius in all subjects, they also need time to prepare for exam especially for their weaker subjects. The stress that the child went through is tremendous, first the P6SA1, then the DSA and interviews, follow by the outcomes of the DSA, and finally the PSLE. If the so called 'prority' is not given to the GEPers during DSA, many parents will think twice before putting their child in the GEP because of the stress, uncertainity and the unfair battleground during the PSLE. JMHO.

两头不到岸 is exactly what the fear is. Every year there are still so many P3 parents want to send their kids for GEP preparation course. [/quote]
You have mentioned what exactly how I feel now and the situation that my DS is in. However, if my younger DS is accepted to GEP in 2 years time, I will still sent him to the GEP. No regret sending my DS to GEP, it was just him that he did not work hard enough or not good enough. No one to blame.