Hi there! i m a SAHM w 2 kids - gal is due for P1 next yr and boy is 5. Hope to get a better ustanding of spore school system n advice on selection of schools for my 2 kids (both r currently not in local schools…my gal will not be in local P1 next yr too). looking into putting my kids in local primary schools (they r sporeans but daddy is foreigner) but i am worried if they can be accepted/adapt to e local system. any advice? or hv frens in my sitn b4 to share? tks!


kai-jun

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/6557/mummy-kaijun-just-joinedRSS for NodeTue, 16 Jun 2026 02:28:30 GMTSat, 07 Nov 2009 09:40:58 GMT60kaijun, I’m just glad my DD survived P1. I’ll worry about PSLE when it comes (nearer) since MOE is always changing the syllabus and exam formats.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/76749https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/76749Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:47:09 GMT:welcome: :welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/76523https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/76523Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:45:32 GMTschellen, i can foresee that language subjects are e biggest hurdle that they hv to overcome n its definitely tough, sigh! fm my understanding, they r allowed to be exempted fm chinese (if approved by MOE and school) if we choose to take up another mother tongue but as you mentioned, e kids will hv to attend e lessons outside school and prove it to e school. Being kiasu, i hv been reading up on articles related to PSLE…gosh, it seems so "incredibly stressful"…really kudos to all mummies n daddies who had or will be going thru e process!!!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75824https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75824Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:39:32 GMTkaijun, actually, based on what you mentioned about your children’s language abilities, that should be enough to convince your DH to not send them to local schs until these are up to par. My DD is already having problems with Chinese (our fault since we didn’t start speaking it with her at home until it’s too late); even her Chinese teacher says she still has lots of difficulty with recognition and intonation, not to mention the limited vocabulary.


English-wise, we’re glad she is above par (but we still have to work hard so that she doesn’t get stuck in Singlish and poor grammar). If the child has difficulty with English, everything else suffers as the medium of teaching is English. Even if they excel in Maths and Science, they will not be able to do their work or understand their teachers if they are hampered by the language.

It’s best that they beef up on both languages or life in local schs will not be pleasurable for them. I’m not sure if they can be exempted from Chinese if their Mother Tongue isn’t Chinese. Even if exemption is possible, they may have to replace it with their actual Mother Tongue which will most probably not be offered in the local schs (unless it happens to be Malay or Tamil). Then, they may have to travel elsewhere after sch hours a few times a week to attend Mother Tongue lessons.

Personally, I don’t think young children should be made to spend so much time on studies or at sch. They should be given adequate playtime and rest time.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75649https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75649Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:50:04 GMThi schellen, tks for sharing yr experience with me. I guess in my kids' case, they may hv more difficulty, esp in e initial yr or so to follow up with the local education system as they didnt attend local kindergartens, which i understand that most of e kindergartens will start preparing e kids for P1 by e time they are in K2. My kids' english are definitely below average as compared to most of the kids of the same age, even though they hv been attending english enrichment classes. Not to mention mandarin - ZERO!!!! tt's why i am so hesitate to send them to local schools even though i have been told that kids will eventually pick up e \"skills\". I agree with what u hv written in e 3rd paragraph...i am going to print it out and show it to DH cos he is not convinced by my concern


hi titank...tks for e warm welcome!!!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75645https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75645Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:28:02 GMT:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: :welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75357https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75357Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:52:14 GMTkaijun, I am one of those parents who aren’t that kiasu so I just sent my DD to a neighbourhood ("real" one, not the more elite kind) sch. She’s in P1 now and enjoying sch life. We’ve lived near the sch for years so when she was growing up, she already knew where she was going when she turned 7. To us, as long as she does her best and her abilities are challenged occasionally, we’re satisfied. She has no tuition and no enrichment other than ballet and piano which she asked for herself and has stuck to for a number of years.


To many S’porean parents, I guess this is a no-no? Cos I have encountered so many (here and elsewhere) who swear by enrichment, tuition and fighting tooth-and-nail to register their children into elite schs. I believe that children can excel wherever they are as long as they have the potential and the right resources/environment. These conditions are not only found in elite schs and via enrichment/tuition. (FYI, I will only sign my DD up for tuition if she really needs it.)

I believe that international schs will also be stressful but it is the good kind of stress that produces all-rounded individuals, not the typical academically-inclined, book-mugging, fact-regurgitating "scholar" that the MOE system still produces despite its wish to produce well-rounded and community-loving citizens. (This may sound harsh but I state based on my own experiences. Though there are exceptions to this stereotype, there are generally few unless you limit your search within elite schs. But tehre’s where the stress comes in.)

When it’s time for DD to go to sec sch, she can choose an elite sch if she wants to and can qualify. By then, she is old enough to know what she wants and the effort needed to get it. We’ll only step in if we feel that she can’t handle the stress or is heading towards becoming one of those "scholars".

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75316https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75316Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:26:09 GMThi schellen…as i hv been "out of touch" of spore education system for long long time…all i heard and read tend to be nothing but "tough, stress, competitive…"…is it really that bad? hopefully with the "holistic assessment to support learning" implemented by MOE…e kids will discover much more joys in their journey of learning…not just striving/struggling to get top grades. Intl schools give the impressions tt they r more relaxing academic-wise…but i m sure e kids will hv to face e "stress" eventually as they move up to the upper grades…just tt they probably have a more "relaxed" time in e lower grades?!?!?


kai-jun

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75259https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75259Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:31:30 GMTHi Kaijun!


You can ask your DH to come take a look at the posts here, especially in the Pri Sch Selection, Pri Sch Academic Preparation and Parents' Networking forums. Maybe he'll change his mind after that and grant you your wish.

Before I registered DD at the govt pri sch nearby, I had hoped for loads of cash to send DD to an international sch too. Unfortunately, I still don't have the loads of cash and MOE says I cannot send her to an international sch anyway since DH and I are both S'poreans.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75114https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75114Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:44:11 GMTtks for e warm welcome!!!!


hi buds...our initial plan was to send them to intl schools once they reached Grade 4...but now DH wants to check out on e local schools too as he thinks tt e children will benefit fm education system as spore has a good reputation for its system...but i guess he doesnt really understand how the kids are being \"drilled\" to perform academically?!?!! still exploring...no way tt my elder one can get into P1 next yr...but honestly i m also hoping tt DH will change his mind cos i dont think I can take e stress...i hv been too relaxing liao!!! :oops:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75109https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/75109Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:39:10 GMT:welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73252https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73252Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:40:13 GMT:welcome: :welcome: :welcome:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73109https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73109Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:21:37 GMT:welcome: to KiasuParents!


Wah, your kiddies must've enjoyed not being in the local school
system! But, yikes! :!: your DD is going P1 in a matter of a
time liao! May i inquire why you're not sure whether your DD
can adapt to the local system or not? And since your DH is a
foreigner, why not just go international....... you do have a
choice right?

I'm a fellow SAHM too by the way. I've 2 DDs 8yrs and 6yrs.
DD2 will be P1 next year. She tells people that she'll be P1
in November. :lol: Why so? Cause her primary school
orientation is in November. :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73037https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73037Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:12:42 GMT:welcome:


you may check out pre-school and primary school section.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73031https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/73031Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:58:30 GMT