Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else?

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Mon, 04 Nov 2013 02:37:24 GMT

jetsetter — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 02:37:24 GMT

h3ngh3ngl4h:
Our system is meant to churn out good administrators and is still lacking in producing original thinkers. We have not reached that stage yet, hence the poor rankings for our education.

u r spot on. indept assessors of eduction system score tertiary institutions based on lecturers' credentials, no. of Nobel Laureates/field medalists amongst staff or alumni, no. of highly cited researchers, no. of academic pprs issued per annum, originality of theses topic, participation of intl seminars, etc.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Mon, 04 Nov 2013 01:46:31 GMT

h3ngh3ngl4h — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 01:46:31 GMT

Our system is meant to churn out good administrators and is still lacking in producing original thinkers. We have not reached that stage yet, hence the poor rankings for our education.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Sun, 03 Nov 2013 03:09:53 GMT

janet88 — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 03:09:53 GMT

the reason why the govt wanted F1 was to make Singapore be known to the world and also to remind the world that we are world class for aviation, education, medical etc etc…strangely with all the pushing and psle being so high stakes, our system is not quite on the list.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:47:24 GMT

pirate — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:47:24 GMT

looking4Tutor:
The games has just begun it keeps every parents wondering.

It is best to bring down the world ranking of NUS to around the bottom 5 and we will be the happier lot served by foreign talents. Very soon we will see our children and grandchildren work oversea as foreign labours and maids.

Explain please, with reference to specific policies or directives from MOE. Otherwise, this general tirade will merit a grade of D-, or possibly even F.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Thu, 31 Oct 2013 02:54:09 GMT

janet88 — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 02:54:09 GMT

as a SAHM, i want to play an important part in my children’s lives. i do not want to be just someone with authority but also a friend and confidante they can rely on…i do not want to pressurize them with academic results but to give them a happy childhood…i just hope the ministry can go ontrack and not bring the barrier so high. even with such a demanding education system, we are not even on the top 5 in the world…what’s the point? the best part, the schools are not the ones who can help the kids achieve what MOE wants.

if our education system is intended to be world class, then tutors should not be the ones parents approach…no offence to tutors, because I love mine.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Thu, 31 Oct 2013 02:27:09 GMT

zbear — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 02:27:09 GMT

tutormum:
Imami:
[quote=\"insider\"] If connection is missing between parent and child, even get A+ also quite useless from longer term perspective.

So build connection first, then everything will fall into place...
how do parents know if the connection with the child has been built?

When your child shares with you everything under the sun and you can talk as friends without them worrying about any adverse effects. My boys know that I'm always there for them and they can tell me their problems and even troubles they get themselves into. Of course they know what are expected of them and bad behaviour will not be tolerated. However, they know they would not be judged for their actions and any mistakes made. It's their choice and they have to live with the consequences. To avoid mistakes, they will always consult me and the final decision is always theirs.[/quote]
Its the same for me too. My 2 kids always share their daily activities (what's happening in school), friends, teachers - everything in fact - with me. Sometimes they just need to vent their frustrations, sometimes they need advice.

I am their friend and mentor - I listen n will give advice and guidance when necessary. At times, they don't understand but when I am proven right, they realise that I speak words of wisdom.

It is indeed good to build a strong relationship with your children.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Thu, 31 Oct 2013 01:04:08 GMT

janet88 — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 01:04:08 GMT

the problem arises at kindy…parents are worried their kids are not exposed to 听写, homework and worksheets in primary school. then they pressure the kindy principal to make sure their kids are ready for p1. kindy syllabus is not standardized across Singapore. so the rat race actually begins in kindergarten. given such a scenario, how can learning ever be fun ???

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Thu, 31 Oct 2013 00:06:48 GMT

ammonite — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 00:06:48 GMT

insider:
BeContented:

On preschool only need to know up to 10.....with most of us better educated now, expecting more in life, do you actually find that 'acceptable'? I dun....not even 10 years ago.

hahaha...this is the 'something' that MOE needs to do to convince parents that 1 to 10 for preschoolers is enough.

Early childhood educators cum MOE all know that it's enough.

But some parents keep saying want more...

Personal observation
- 1-10 for preschoolers was not acceptable for ds1, but very acceptable for ds2.
- spelling and 听写was impossible for ds1 in kindergarten but easy for ds2

I didn't try to teach ds1 spelling and tingxie in preschool, and I don't ask ds2 anything beyond 20. Because my two kids have different strengths and weaknesses, I have learn to close one eye to \"learning benchmarks\". 不行就是不行。

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:09:25 GMT

looking4Tutor — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:09:25 GMT

The games has just begun it keeps every parents wondering.

It is best to bring down the world ranking of NUS to around the bottom 5 and we will be the happier lot served by foreign talents. Very soon we will see our children and grandchildren work oversea as foreign labours and maids.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 16:42:09 GMT

Nebbermind — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 16:42:09 GMT

tutormum:
Imami:
[quote=\"insider\"] If connection is missing between parent and child, even get A+ also quite useless from longer term perspective.

So build connection first, then everything will fall into place...
how do parents know if the connection with the child has been built?

When your child shares with you everything under the sun and you can talk as friends without them worrying about any adverse effects. I have many students telling me things that they won't tell their parents cos they felt that not only their parents won't understand them, they would get into their bad shoes.
My boys know that I'm always there for them and they can tell me their problems and even troubles they get themselves into. Of course they know what are expected of them and bad behaviour will not be tolerated. However, they know they would not be judged for their actions and any mistakes made. It's their choice and they have to live with the consequences. To avoid mistakes, they will always consult me and the final decision is always theirs.[/quote]My tutor friend also said that, ie, students coming to him when in trouble rather than going to their parents.
I guess it's coz of the diff role play...whatever happened, parents will try to enforce the consequences, sometimes over zealously.
But tutors are not enforcers, they are mentors and they approach the problem with the mindset of providing solutions. That makes them more approachable.

Parents who consider themselves as mentor or pastor will definitely enjoy a close relationship with their kids.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:31:47 GMT

tutormum — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:31:47 GMT

Imami:
insider:
If connection is missing between parent and child, even get A+ also quite useless from longer term perspective.

So build connection first, then everything will fall into place...
how do parents know if the connection with the child has been built?

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 14:02:08 GMT

Imami — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 14:02:08 GMT

insider:
If connection is missing between parent and child, even get A+ also quite useless from longer term perspective.

So build connection first, then everything will fall into place...

how do parents know if the connection with the child has been built?

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:20:39 GMT

insider — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:20:39 GMT

zeemimi:
:whut: after we accelerate our education system to an unreasonable sky high level, we call the average/normal kids dumb? :?

errrmmm... must remember the 'frog-in-the-cooking-pot' syndrome...

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:58:33 GMT

zeemimi — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:58:33 GMT

:whut: after we accelerate our education system to an unreasonable sky high level, we call the average/normal kids dumb? :?

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:09:04 GMT

jetsetter — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:09:04 GMT

insider:
jetsetter:
do whatever they wish, just don't dumb down our overall standard...

overall standard will not be dumbed down lah.

Now just bringing this runaway train back to more reasonable level for primary schoolers.

Yes!!

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:02:34 GMT

insider — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:02:34 GMT

jetsetter:
do whatever they wish, just don't dumb down our overall standard...

overall standard will not be dumbed down lah.

Now just bringing this runaway train back to more reasonable level for primary schoolers.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:59:47 GMT

insider — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:59:47 GMT

BeContented:

On preschool only need to know up to 10.....with most of us better educated now, expecting more in life, do you actually find that 'acceptable'? I dun....not even 10 years ago.

hahaha...this is the 'something' that MOE needs to do to convince parents that 1 to 10 for preschoolers is enough.

Early childhood educators cum MOE all know that it's enough.

But some parents keep saying want more...

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:43:07 GMT

BeContented — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:43:07 GMT

jetsetter:
do whatever they wish, just don't dumb down our overall standard...

Agree.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:42:10 GMT

BeContented — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:42:10 GMT

SAHM_TAN:
BeContented,

From your post does it mean you don't like the change?

When I look at MOE syllabus, they are moving towards thinking skills. It's harder to cultivate critical thinking, analytical and strategic thinking skills. Content is easy to read up.

There are still educators who believe reading should start at 7yos. But here, it will never reach that stage.

I have not been following the change, but if per what you mentioned above that MOE is moving towards critical/strategic thinking, analytical skills etc, I am all for it.

Dun like the change for lowering standard?
Honestly, it will not affect me much since I will have no more kids in primary school next year. But I am very cynnical about making standards lower....how low and how effective will it be. The other concern is of course how will it affect in terms of global competition. There is no perfect system and we can never please all......and I believe MOE do try their best to do what is deem 'best' at that moment/period in time.

If the mindset doesn't change, will making paper easier help?
I'll be blunt.....if previously your child is only getting 65% while there's kids getting 90%, what's your reaction. If the paper becomes easier and your child can get 80% (yippy!! improved!! no longer demoralised), but half the class gets 100%, does it make you any happier/more assured? Will you start feeling satisfied with his/her results? Will you start giving them more play time/childhood cos' 80% is a good score?
Or continue to pile more cos' the child is still at the bottom half? And if you know that the school papers are easy, deep down are you really not worried if the child is scoring 80% only? Such easy paper, why cannot score like others??

And honestly, how many kids actually have that intrinsic desire for learning. May I know how easy is it to tell kids to study when they feel it is so easy to score 80% now, why still need to work harder? If 65% is not enough to spur on to work on their weakness, will getting 80% easily do the job of motivating them to learn beyond? Or we really just need them to learn what is taught and those that will be tested, dun have to learn beyond. Do share how you do it cos' I'm still struggling to develop that intrinsic desire for learning in my own kids, despite the fact that they are considered doing well currently. IMO, my kids seems to still have their childhood.....busy but balanced.

On preschool only need to know up to 10.....with most of us better educated now, expecting more in life, do you actually find that 'acceptable'? I dun....not even 10 years ago.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:34:29 GMT

jetsetter — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:34:29 GMT

do whatever they wish, just don’t dumb down our overall standard…

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:33:57 GMT

insider — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:33:57 GMT

All standards will come down to real PSLE standards…

PS:
Really quite awful to read some P6 Comprehension passages that are of so chim standard…

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:18:59 GMT

PiggyLalala — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:18:59 GMT

dimsum:
The problem is i doubt there will be any tone down for language papers esp English. So the tone-down is probably in maths and science. Thus, students who are stronger in maths n science will be 'lugi'.

Felt the same as you. This is really not fair. If moe wants to make psle easier, it should be across all 4 subjects. It should not be the case where maths is made so much easier just because it received the most complaints from parents.

Usually the kids will know how they have fared in maths but not in the languages or science papers. In reality the standard of the language papers or science paper could be pitched at a higher level than maths.

I think moe should just publish the full psle papers. This certainly will reduce the stress of psle without without compromising the standard of the papers.

Reply to Is PSLE really that hard or is the problem somewhere else? on Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:02:09 GMT

dimsum — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:02:09 GMT

The problem is i doubt there will be any tone down for language papers esp English. So the tone-down is probably in maths and science. Thus, students who are stronger in maths n science will be ‘lugi’.