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Post by candy188 on Nov 26, 2013 7:45:56 GMT 7
Do you agree that "every school is a good school"? Very practical advice from our Education Minister, Heng Swee Keat (extracted from Facebook):Know your child. Understand what suits him. Give him the environment that will bring out the best in him.
This is what I’ve been seeing and hearing from parents and friends, and I fully agree with you. I am deeply encouraged by the way that many parents think first about what is best for our children.
Now that the PSLE results are out, I’m sure many parents and their P6 children are discussing which secondary school to choose. The secondary school years are important developmental years – the students are entering the early teenage years when they will undergo many physical, social and emotional developments.  ==> It is good to have an open talk with your children to know what type of secondary school they are interested in, that will help them to thrive, learn and grow – not just academically, but holistically. ===> I am sure you want your child to grow up not just to excel in their studies, but to be confident and well-rounded, with good character and sound values.
Some parents choose a school based on the previous year’s cut-off-point, or COP, in the belief that the higher the COP, the more competitive the school, and hence, the better it is. Several parents have told me that they felt that the higher the COP, the more likely their children can get As in the exams.
But remember, academic grade is only one aspect, and even then, how well your child does depends on how motivated he is. I encourage parents to carefully consider the kind of environment that will best motivate your children, and enable them to develop themselves fully in the next 4 to 5 years. Is your child naturally competitive and will he thrive in a school where others are academically stronger and spur him to do better? Or is your child more likely to shine in a place where he is amongst peers, and he can grow at his own pace and develop other qualities without having to devote all his time to just study? Some children are late developers and the right environment helps them thrive. Think of how best you can help your child develop confidence, and enjoy the space to discover his talents and passions. So I strongly suggest that parents consider factors beyond the COP. For example, whether the school’s learning environment is one that you and your child like. And whether your child is interested in the programmes and niches offered by the school. Consider a school that is reasonably close to your home so that your child need not spend too much time travelling, and you can have more family time together. Fast forward a few years and imagine your child looking back and saying, “I made my best friends at this school, I learnt how to get along with others, I found my interests in this school, I discovered what I truly care about at this school.” Now, what does this school look like? Discover that together with your children. Whichever school you choose, I hope parents and children alike are very excited about the next stage to come. For my young friends who will not be going to secondary school, you can try again, or you can enrol at Assumption Pathway School or NorthLight School. Both are very good schools that have made a big impact on its students. I understand, with friends talking about which secondary school they want to go to next, you may feel discouraged. You shouldn’t. You will also go on to make friends, discover things, make a difference to people around you. I want you to believe in yourself and keep doing your best – show the world what you’ve got! The next few years will be a wonderful time when our children will make friendships to last a lifetime and build a path towards their future. I hope it is a path filled with light and joy – for our children and their loving parents. I am committed to make sure Every School is A Good School and to develop all our students to the fullest so that they may have happy and successful lives. |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 27, 2013 21:34:31 GMT 7
Made an amendments to the 6 choices for my boy's Secondary school based solely on the distance of the schools after being awakened by the practical advice by Mr Heng Swee Keat.  My immediate task is to ensure that he stays motivated and not be overly burdened by the travelling time.  Do you agree that "every school is a good school"? Very practical advice from our Education Minister, Heng Swee Keat (extracted from Facebook):Some parents choose a school based on the previous year’s cut-off-point, or COP, in the belief that the higher the COP, the more competitive the school, and hence, the better it is. Several parents have told me that they felt that the higher the COP, the more likely their children can get As in the exams.
But remember, academic grade is only one aspect, and even then, how Well your child does depends on how MOTIVATED he is. I encourage parents to carefully consider the kind of environment that will best motivate your children, and enable them to develop themselves fully in the next 4 to 5 years.  Think of how best you can help your child develop confidence, and enjoy the space to discover his talents and passions. So I strongly suggest that parents consider factors beyond the COP. For example, whether the school’s learning environment is one that you and your child like. And whether your child is interested in the programmes and niches offered by the school. Consider a school that is reasonably close to your home so that your child need not spend too much time travelling, and you can have more family time together. |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 27, 2013 22:04:00 GMT 7
Staying on the cream of crop in elite school requires elaborate maintenance of ensuring the kids engage top-tier tutors so as to match the standard of the peers. My friend's daughter who had perfect scores in all subjects, except English (95 marks) in primary 5, need tuitions just to ensure that she doesn't fall behind her classmates.  Tuition & enrichment classes during school holidays. News: MPs call for closer look at private tuition industryThe private tuition industry came under the spotlight in Parliament yesterday as several Members of Parliament (MPs) raised questions on how to retain teachers in the Education Service. These teachers may leave for more lucrative roles in the private sector. Ms Koh then asked if there was a need to study the relationship between household income and expenditure on tuition and its impact on social mobility, citing figures from - 2008 that showed that about 97 per cent of Singaporean students enrolled in tuition and enrichment classes - compared to only 49 and 30 per cent of primary and secondary school students who did so in 1992. Likewise, in 2008, households spent S$820 million on tuition, double the figure in 1998. She also quoted figures from the latest household expenditure survey which found that Singaporeans spent about 1.1 to 2.2 per cent of their household expenditure on tuition and educational expenses.www.todayonline.com/singapore/mps-call-closer-look-private-tuition-industry-0 Tuition or fatten the wallet |
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Post by oldman on Nov 28, 2013 6:33:47 GMT 7
Private tuition in Singapore is not cheap. Top tutors demand $150 per hour, minimum of 2 hours, for private tuition. Don't laugh but I was paying more in tuition fees a month than it will cost me to send my kids overseas to study. There is something terribly wrong with the system as it encourages teachers to focus on giving tuition outside. A few hours of giving tuition a week will probably generate double a teacher's salary.... and probably tax free as well.
Because of the current incentives for teachers, it will not be surprising that existing teachers pay more attention to those whom they teach outside of school than inside their own schools. They know that they have to keep teaching in the school as this will increase their value as parents much prefer existing teachers.
For me, I cannot understand how teachers can charge such amounts as my conscience will certainly not allow me to discriminate. On the other hand, I also know of teachers who teach because they are passionate about teaching and they charge reasonable amounts. These teachers have no qualms extending the time they spend with students as it is obvious that they are not after the money. Sadly, there are not many of such teachers around.
Teaching may now be a lucrative profession, rather than a noble one. My view of teachers have changed drastically since having to pay teachers for private tuition for my kids. I certainly have much less respect than before.
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Post by zuolun on Nov 28, 2013 7:05:32 GMT 7
Private tuition in Singapore is not cheap. Top tutors demand $150 per hour, minimum of 2 hours, for private tuition. Don't laugh but I was paying more in tuition fees a month than it will cost me to send my kids overseas to study. There is something terribly wrong with the system as it encourages teachers to focus on giving tuition outside. A few hours of giving tuition a week will probably generate double a teacher's salary.... and probably tax free as well. Because of the current incentives for teachers, it will not be surprising that existing teachers pay more attention to those whom they teach outside of school than inside their own schools. They know that they have to keep teaching in the school as this will increase their value as parents much prefer existing teachers. For me, I cannot understand how teachers can charge such amounts as my conscience will certainly not allow me to discriminate. On the other hand, I also know of teachers who teach because they are passionate about teaching and they charge reasonable amounts. These teachers have no qualms extending the time they spend with students as it is obvious that they are not after the money. Sadly, there are not many of such teachers around. Teaching may now be a lucrative profession, rather than a noble one. My view of teachers have changed drastically since having to pay teachers for private tuition for my kids.
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Post by candy188 on Nov 28, 2013 7:25:42 GMT 7
Sadly, what oldman stated is a fact in Singapore education system.  The ministry should examine what went wrong with the education system such that those who are more priviledged (who possess greater financial bullets) can raise the standard of their kids effortlessly, unlike the average income families who need to scrimp and save to afford the tuition fees.  Value of society has evolved to focus solely on material reward such that passionate teachers are almost extinct.  Luckily, my son manages to discover selfless teachers (4 in total) in his primary school.  Private tuition in Singapore is not cheap. Top tutors demand $150 per hour, minimum of 2 hours, for private tuition.
Don't laugh but I was paying more in tuition fees a month than it will cost me to send my kids overseas to study. There is something terribly wrong with the system as it encourages teachers to focus on giving tuition outside. A few hours of giving tuition a week will probably generate double a teacher's salary.... and probably tax free as well.  Because of the current incentives for teachers, it will not be surprising that existing teachers pay more attention to those whom they teach outside of school than inside their own schools. They know that they have to keep teaching in the school as this will increase their value as parents much prefer existing teachers. For me, I cannot understand how teachers can charge such amounts as my conscience will certainly not allow me to discriminate.
On the other hand, I also know of teachers who teach because they are passionate about teaching and they charge reasonable amounts. These teachers have no qualms extending the time they spend with students as it is obvious that they are not after the money. Sadly, there are not many of such teachers around. Teaching may now be a lucrative profession, rather than a noble one. My view of teachers have changed drastically since having to pay teachers for private tuition for my kids. I certainly have much less respect than before. |
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Post by candy188 on Nov 28, 2013 15:31:06 GMT 7
Though Singapore and Finland vary substantially in terms of culture & welfare system, I think there are some areas in their education system that our government should consider, namely ~~ lower teacher-student ratio from current 1:20 for preschool to a more manageable number of 10 kids.~~~ enforcing compulsory schooling for preschool level, not just compulsory primary education. ~~~ more emphasis on play for preschoolers, nowadays they are taught science like earth composition, condensation, evaporation, natural disasters (my P6 boy covers for his P6 syllabus); writing complicated Chinese words like 孔雀 (peacock)， 蝴蝶 (butterfly).  18 ways Finland’s education system beats S’pore’s hands down
In Finland, tuition is virtually unheard of,
homework is rarer than precious metal and exams are conducted only when it is really required — maybe three times in one lifetime.
 Sounds wonderful, right?
1. Pre-school teachers in Finland are required to have a basic three-year degree and many hold master’s degrees.
In Singapore, if you’re a woman without a criminal record, you’re pretty much getting the job.  2. The teacher-student ratio for pupils between three and six years old is 1:7.
This is virtually unheard of in Singapore. 3. Finland operates 24-hour childcare centres catering to parents who might be stewardesses, policemen and nurses.
Singapore operates 24-hour kopitiams.
4. Teachers of primary and secondary schools study for five years up to master’s level.
In Singapore, 19-year-olds do relief teaching in secondary schools. 5. Finnish pre-schools for three to seven-year-olds are focused on play. A play-based curriculum stimulates creative development and a curiosity for learning.
Singaporean parents try to make their 6-month-old infants read. 6. By law, Finnish children under the age of seven have a right to attend childcare regardless of family income or parental employment.
In Singapore, the law is used to deter criminals. 7. The top 10 percent of students to graduate from Finnish high school will pick teaching over law.
It would be a miracle if we found 10 people in Singapore who did that. 10. Finnish primary school teachers make an average of US$30,500 (S$38,300) a year.
Male teachers get this pay because they served NS. Female teachers, tough luck. 11. Finnish schools are All Equal — Every school is a Good School.
In Singapore, Raffles Institution is the best school. mothership.sg/2013/09/18-ways-finlands-education-system-beats-spores-hands/ Opposition voices against emulating Finnish education system. Singapore should not be FinlandAndy: In Finland, there is relatively little stress in the education system and private tuition is unheard of. When school ends, so do the lessons. I have visited Singapore several times and have spoken with many stakeholders in education. Apparently, in Singapore, when school ends, other lessons start — expensive tuition lessons that parents pay for privately!Andy: I understand that most Finnish parents interviewed by TODAY believe all Finnish schools were equally good. I did one of the first official studies and report of Finland, and I agree. My observation of Singapore suggests that most Singaporean parents will not believe that all Singapore schools are equally good — that is why there is great competition to get into certain high-ranking schools.
www.todayonline.com/commentary/singapore-should-not-be-finland |
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Post by candy188 on Dec 1, 2013 8:30:34 GMT 7
Received enquiries from friends & relatives who seem more concerned in my son's PSLE score rather than whether he makes it to Express stream. Was initially affected by the comparison of the scores but I decide that the well-being of my son should be my priority. Rewarded him with his favourite chicken chop for his effort to transit to another milestone in life (Express stream in Secondary School).  'Wisdom of the masses or just plain kiasu?'Curious about the top PSLE scorer this year? Unofficial sources at parenting website Kiasuparents say it is a Raffles Girls' Primary School pupil who scored 275.
This year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) decided not to publish the highest and lowest PSLE scores, but this has not stopped people from speculating. A stay-at-home mother going by the username of Glorymum on the website decided to start the thread to help parents select schools for their children.  Website founder William Toh calls the information "wisdom of the masses". "It is not our intent to sabotage MOE's effort. Rather we are a platform for parents to share their experiences and make choices based on this info." Glorymum, who does not have a child in Primary 6, admitted that collating the top scores was not easy.
"There were a number of parents who were unwilling to reveal the top scores as they fear that their identity may no longer remain anonymous," she said. She collated all the top scores herself. www.edvantage.com.sg/content/wisdom-masses-or-just-plain-kiasu#sthash.q8l8Lx1e.dpuf |
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Post by me200 on Dec 1, 2013 9:01:06 GMT 7
Exam is to test of understanding of knowledge. It reflects the IQ of the students.
However, many students leverage on "how to be exam smart, how to score A" technique such as mind mapping, memory skill, etc to help to boost their marks. Most remember the facts, but not really understand the concept and application.
When some of these students join the work force, they face new challengnes as they don't really know how to apply their 'knowledge' to work. Recently a CEO from technology company said that his new recruits performance is average even though their exam score is excellent.
IMO, what is important is the street-smart IQ. A good certificate provides a good entry platform, but to excel in his/her career, street-smart and EQ play important role.
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Post by candy188 on Dec 1, 2013 15:17:09 GMT 7
Exam is to test of understanding of knowledge. It reflects the IQ of the students.However, many students leverage on "how to be exam smart, how to score A" technique such as mind mapping, memory skill, etc to help to boost their marks. Most remember the facts, but not really understand the concept and application.When some of these students join the work force, they face new challenges as they don't really know how to apply their 'knowledge' to work. Recently a CEO from technology company said that his new recruits performance is average even though their exam score is excellent.  IMO, what is important is the street-smart IQ. A good certificate provides a good entry platform, but to excel in his/her career, street-smart and EQ play important role.
Hi me200, appreciate the kind sharing. Seems like I have to put in tremendous effort to sharpen my EQ.   Your interactions in the hallway and at after work sessions are key opportunities tap into what makes the other person tick. Try to figure what motivates them. It’s about putting as much strategy into your work relationships as you put into your social relationships.
Being present and understanding what is important to others can help you figure out what is important for you to get across and how to apply what you have learned in meetings without blundering through to get the the next thing. 4020vision.com/index.php/2011/10/career-success-is-more-eq-than-iq/ |
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Post by candy188 on Dec 4, 2013 8:39:05 GMT 7
Yesterday, I attended the graduation of my boy's Confident Communicator workshop at Mindchamps,it is an interactive session with open-heart exchange between the parents and kids. It was a touching moment to witness the teenagers (majority are Secondary levels with only 3 kids who are P6) pouring out their feelings to their parents as they express their appreciations to their selfless love.  Was so proud of my P6 boy as he delivered his speech confidently on stage on the topic, "Don't miss this lifetime opportunity to get to know me".  He has been a victim of physically & mental abuse by bully since P3, so that is the reason for sending him to the exorbitant Mindchamps program with the purpose of boosting his self confidence & becoming more assertive.  |
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