//Editor's note: Topic selected & edited for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/psle-university.


Quite a few people asked me. So thought I'd share here how I get my children prepared for university in 2 to 3 years after their PSLE. I'm just a mum who does not want my children to go through the sad Singapore system (PSLE is enough). If this helps you, I am glad.

What I did was to select a Diploma course for my children when they finished their PSLE. Singapore's Maths does give a good foundation to the children, so I make sure they learn that properly. In addition, my children do not go for tuition or anything throughout their Primary school years, but they read very widely. I don't train them but I read to them alot, 4 of them started reading very early (at 4), my last child read later as I had very little time to read to him.

I am strongly against tuition because I believe that it kills the love of learning for most kids. Besides, tired kids cannot think and cannot excel. Done my research, all geniuses, from Einstein to Mozart, to Leonardo da vinci do not get 'monitored' 24/7. They are allowed to roam freely and learn at will. Most of them have only a notebook to keep their observations and learn from themselves. I believe in that.

Do your own bit of research.... how many kids who excel at PSLE top their \"A\" levels or in their uni? Safely, less than 1%. Don't burn them out at such a young age.


With the love for reading and a good foundation for Maths, they are able to cope with very rigorous reading required at High School Diploma level.

After the PSLE, I give them these books to study (by now, they are very excited to start - as they see it a key to escape the choking system they are in). The course is modular, so they earn the credits as they finish each module. As they finish a module, I give them the next, I don't really monitor and let them finish at their own pace. They then take the exams. I choose an online program so that I know when they have finished the module and pass them the next topic. Again, I don't tutor. The self-learning skills they acquired through their primary school years without tuition and their passion I believe in instilling comes into work here.

My daughter, who 'eats books', finished the course in 1 year. My son took 2 years. Really depends on the propensity of the child.

After the recognized HSD, they can then sit for the SAT, all universities take that for admissions, including Singapore universities.

Key is, don't push the child, let him/her develop the love for learning. That way, they actually go through the process faster... And, for my 2 children who finished, they actually thanked me for it, and did not detest it at all.

If you plan to hot house your child, forget it. He/She will probably be better off in the local system where everyone is hot housed anyway. Poor kids have a lot to handle already so don't force them onto anything. To us, university is a way to pursue what you love earlier (I honestly don't understand all the \"basic\" that we teach till \"A\" levels and then throw them all out later, basic should just be basic, then we allow our children pursue their dreams) - just my philosophy.

Hope this helps you :siam: from this system and still give your child a head start.

mathsparks:

all these talk about level playing field, what nonsense! The rich will always have a way...many ways :lol:

Yep, it is about who has the money to afford, and if this goes on, the ones with the money will be the ones who make it to better schools. I have written about this a dozen times and raised this a million times to the 'people in charge' but they have fallen on deaf ears.

We'll see, there is a clear divide, even amongst the 12-year-olds, between the haves and the have-nots.

Sad...

In just another decade or two, the gap between the rich and poor will widen further, just like in other developed countries. Don't they see it? Can't they see it? Even school teachers are lazy enough to encourage tuition.

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mathsparks:

Oops, I assumed he's out of the country. Yr 15 yo must be the youngest in the U, eh? Genes of the mum or dad? Just curious. Coz I read somewhere that the intelligence genes come from the mum.

He is a whole 7 years younger. Maybe got a bit of genes for passion. Better shift out of this topic. This is the COP track... maybe start another track on alternative to Singapore education system. I have a whole lot of tricks to share that there are alternatives to the Singapore system, though I have yet figured a way out of the PSLE, and survive till they reach about 14 to go to uni. Ha ha...

karmeleon:

Did I saw I cope?!!!! Wah, your kids are amazing! Mine are pretty much run-of-the-mill, mischevious, playful, not highly-exceptional. haha.

Not exceptional lah, I just don't believe there's only one route to success. I believe my ordinary kids can do extraordinary things. So can yours. For one thing, I HATE PSLE and this stupid streaming and stress at 12 years old :x , when is this system going to be scraped?????

Poor kids, one round after another of agony, all for getting into good schools. Fed up!!! They should be enjoying their learning process, having fun, GROWING UP, and playing and not worry about DSA, T-scores, Interviews, haSt, COP, Appeals.

What chance does a bright 12-year old have if he/she is without an educated/informed parent? None! :!:

mathsparks:

karmeleon and 2ppaamm,


:salute: to you both for boosting the declining birthrate, and in
2ppaamm's case, provided your kid comes back eventually.

Ha ha, I have difficulty getting him out of the country. He is doing his uni locally. I wanted him to go overseas to do a term or two of exchange but I think he got used to me washing his laundry and cook for him.:shock: We decided to fire our two maids following all those strange reports and their own strange behaviors. (Seeing men at night...)

Yep, declining birthrate, but two people holding the fort is not good enough. You can join us! :lol:

karmeleon:

Haha - It's HAST. If I'm not mistaken, ACS(I) takes in for IB using the HAST. For Sports domain, it's for O-level track, and there are no other domains. And HAST is just a testing method. It's short for Higher Ability Selection Test and covers not just patterns but English & Maths as well. NJC does this same test, but has Selection Day Camp plus Interviews. Quite a extensive process. Ooh, I have 1 less than you. 2 more to go for PSLE .

Hm... just goes to show how outdated I am. My son took that test in 2006. I only knew ACS(I) was not the school because it was sooooo far away... I chose RI, but he also left the school after 2 years and went straight to uni.

O, I also know of at least 4 swimmers in ACS(I) who went to IB straight. One of them have a T-score of 19X, 2nd year in 2010.

Wah! 4 is a lot to handle, also, yeah? Especially if you are a kiasu mother... I am not kiasu enough. My kids have no tuition and not much help from me, as I work full-time. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing insisting they try to cope themselves.

How do you cope? Do you work?

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