DSA 2011

[ngbrdad]

comfy:

I will like to ask a question. If a child(GEP) is offered CO, can she opt out of SBGE prog, mean join the rest of the mainstream in the IP prog.

You do know that for GEP to continue SBGE in independent IP secondary school, the kid is entitled to the $200 monthly GE grant right ?

[Brenda10]

ngbrdad:

That's the correct spirit 胜负乃兵家常事.

All the best to your DD for her PSLE.

Thank you ngbrdad for your good wishes and encouragement!

[soka]

Langmum, d nearest mrt to dhs is mountbatten

[jtoh]

Interested:

Can understand how Blur dad feeling and thanks Daddydaddy for writing how I feel. My DS is in the same or even worst situation then Blur Dad, ds got less then 75% and got rejected by all 3 sch, not even CO/WL. I understand this year (or maybe I'm not aware of prev yrs) <80% got CO the rest got WL or Rej. If this is the case why told us in the beginning that 70% is safe in GEP ?? If less then 75% mark geppers got rej then this year Geppers without CO is more the 20% rite ?? Not all applied for more then 3 sch and if got rejected mean they fall inside the no CO group. I really confuse now, if <70% but less the 75% got no CO then it should be more the 20% w/o any sch thru DSA rite ?? I'm really confuse now....

Hi interested,

I can understand your frustration and how upset you must be feeling. Just to clarify, 70% is the baseline for GEP subjects, meaning it's the minimum the students should be scoring for any subject from P4-P6. If you score below 70% you'll be asked to buck up, attend remedial etc. So it is a figure to let you know that your child's performance is ok, but not that it's safe for DSA. That 70% baseline score is a separate percentage from the 80% overall average for P5 and P6 SA1 which DSA schools look at.

Generally, if you score >80%, you are not required to take GAT etc and your chances of being offered a CO are high, though not guaranteed.

No one's promised that GEP means success at DSA. In fact, the official word from MOE is that GEP students have to compete for DSA COs with all other mainstreamers. The MOE indication of >80% getting COs is based on past year's figures and one can only project that possibly it will remain the same. Again, no guarantee.

This year, the DSA situation seems to have become more competitive, based on the feedback we've received from parents on the forum. Or maybe not, because maybe fewer parents shared information on ksp in previous years. We will only know if the percentage of COs has reduced when MOE releases the info next year.

I think schools can advise students/parents that students should strive to attain >80% if they want to stand a better chance at DSA. But there should also be a reminder to parents that GEP does not guarantee success at DSA, lest hopes be raised unnecessarily.

Interested, good luck to your son for PSLE. I'm sure he'll be able to get into his dream school through PSLE and your encouragement. :rahrah:

[jtoh]

Good luck to all parents waiting for the NJC COs today! :rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:

[jtoh]

comfy:

I will like to ask a question. If a child(GEP) is offered CO, can she opt out of SBGE prog, mean join the rest of the mainstream in the IP prog.

The SBGE programme in some schools is conducted across the entire student population. So everyone is in SBGE, regardless of whether they're in the GEP classes or mainstream classes. So you can't opt out of the SBGE programme. If you're asking if you can ask not to be in the GEP classes, I suppose you could, although I don't know of anyone who has.

[Strparent]

jtoh:

Just to clarify, 70% is the baseline for GEP subjects, meaning it's the minimum the students should be scoring for any subject from P4-P6. If you score below 70% you'll be asked to buck up, attend remedial etc. So it is a figure to let you know that your child's performance is ok, but not that it's safe for DSA. That 70% baseline score is a separate percentage from the 80% overall average for P5 and P6 SA1 which DSA schools look at.

Generally, if you score >80%, you are not required to take GAT etc and your chances of being offered a CO are high, though not guaranteed.

No one's promised that GEP means success at DSA. In fact, the official word from MOE is that GEP students have to compete for DSA COs with all other mainstreamers. The MOE indication of >80% getting COs is based on past year's figures and one can only project that possibly it will remain the same. Again, no guarantee.

For GEPpers, I think many people under-estimate the importance of the GAT/HAST test and the key INTERVIEW.

Yes, the 70%, 80% gauge is a good guideline, but the performance on the GAT test AND the interview can throw a lifeline to those who did not get >80%.

Last year, my DS's classmate got abt 66% for SA1 P6. He applied to ACS, RI, NJC and HCI. He had to take all the necessary written tests of course. Rejected by RI and NJC after the tests, and went for interviews at ACS and HCI. Then he also was rejected by ACS, and guess what ? He received a CO from HCI.

He must have done very well in his interview, because some boys who had 77% for SA1, were only shortlisted at HCI 1st WL.

Therefore, if one is to attempt the DSA route, he or she MUST put his/her best efforts forward and try to impress them during the interview. Much like real life, the interview can override your CV.

[ngbrdad]

Strparent:

Hi Tisha,

actually I feel that the NJC program for DSA is the most comprehensive and FAIR of all the IP schools. They do not give priority to GEP students at all, unlike RI, RGS and HCI, who prefers the GEPpers with above 80%, and even DHS who offer firm spots to GEPpers with 75%.

in fact, they always wait till late to decide the COs, so that those who already got COs from other schs who either drop out of the NJC one or would not be so interested anymore, which they can see during the delayed interview and camp. And the written tests were all more comprehensive and detailed too.

My DS's classmates last yr had COs from NUSH, RI and HCI, but his parents want him to go NJC ( for certain reasons ), but he did not get CO at the end, I suspect he said too much about his other COs during his interview, hahaha.

And I like the boarding school program, which is great for young teens who had been very dependent at home , with the overly protective mums and maids.

So, not true about mainstream getting lesser chance, in fact I suspect it's the other way round, because most GEPpers prefer the more prestigious schools and NJC knows that.

Good luck to all waiting for NJC DSA. :xedfingers:

I don't know how important is the interview in the NJC DSA but certianly it's not very fair.
There are simply too many panels and different durations for the interviews.
Some panels have HOD, discipline master etc while some consist of PE teachers.
The allocation of the panel was done prior to the day activity so should be random.
So if it is deemed very important then there is a huge chunk of luck involved.

[Tinkerbelle]

Brenda10:

Hi,


Sorry for the late update as we were busy during the last few days.

DD recd an unsuccessful letter from DHS last week!

Have jokingly told her that perhaps there are too many 舞林高手 lah！ :evil:

Therefore she is still a 自由身 that can sign her contract with different tier of school base on her PSLE result!

BTW, we found the DSA process is a great experience and DD had learnt and experience how competitive that she will be facing when she move to Secondary school.

Hi Brenda,
Sorry to hear about it. Don't be too disheartened....Your DD has given her best shot and had a great learning experience. Encourage her not to give up...focus on her PSLE and I'm positive she'll get into her dream sch. Jia you! :ugogirl:

[matadorepy]

Strparent:

tisha:

I also agree that the DSA experience was a great one. The NJC camp and interview was a good exposure for DS.

Even though I've joined the bandwagon of waiting for this NJC letter, I do not have high hopes.
We went thru this DSA with an open mind. Being from main stream I was well aware that the chances are not high. Nevertheless need to give our kids the oppotunities they deserve(so as not to regret later).

Hi Tisha,

actually I feel that the NJC program for DSA is the most comprehensive and FAIR of all the IP schools. They do not give priority to GEP students at all, unlike RI, RGS and HCI, who prefers the GEPpers with above 80%, and even DHS who offer firm spots to GEPpers with 75%.

in fact, they always wait till late to decide the COs, so that those who already got COs from other schs who either drop out of the NJC one or would not be so interested anymore, which they can see during the delayed interview and camp. And the written tests were all more comprehensive and detailed too.

My DS's classmates last yr had COs from NUSH, RI and HCI, but his parents want him to go NJC ( for certain reasons ), but he did not get CO at the end, I suspect he said too much about his other COs during his interview, hahaha.

And I like the boarding school program, which is great for young teens who had been very dependent at home , with the overly protective mums and maids.

So, not true about mainstream getting lesser chance, in fact I suspect it's the other way round, because most GEPpers prefer the more prestigious schools and NJC knows that.

Good luck to all waiting for NJC DSA. :xedfingers:

I beg to differ from your view about NJC awarding CO to GEPers.

From my DD and her GEPers frens' experience last year, most of the GEPers who applied NJC actually got the CO even though the interviewers know that most GEPers may get more than 1 or more CO or WLs from other IP school. A case of my DD classmate who actually got both RGS and NJC COs but chose to go NJC instead. Like it or not, those GEPers who make it thru the Hast test, NJC Camp and the final interview round will somehow still have an edge over mainstreamers. NJC will also want a fair share of the cream even though they might not be the preferred destination of the most GEpers.