Abolishing Streaming in Secondary Schools: Netizens React
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mommyNg\" post_id=\"1901217\" time=\"1551759376\" user_id=\"2838:
The devil is, as always, in the details.
On the whole, I applaud this move to replace streaming into Normal and Express in secondary schools by full subject-based banding, to reduce stigmatism and to encourage more integration between students from different background and academic ability. :rahrah:
MOE would still need to iron out the implementation details though, such as having sufficient school/teacher resources to cater to dynamic demands, cut-off points (if any) to decide which subjects to take at G1, G2, and G3 level, the new \"name\" to replace N and O levels, the entry criteria to various paths such as NITEC, Poly, and JCs, etc. But I believe the change is in the right direction....
“encourage more integration between students from different background and academic ability”
- only true to a certain extent: integration only happen if the sec school offers all 3 (or even 2) streams. And as we all know, the top tier schools only offer 1 stream
The skeptic in me says, the commoners are welcome to integrate among themselves, while the elite stays in their fenced enclosure :evil: -
floppy\" post_id=\"1901222\" time=\"1551760304\" user_id=\"97579:
Well, at least for current schools that are already offering at least 2 streams, this is a good move. It is true to a certain extent that students in the N level class are looked upon differently by students in the O level class from the same school.... at least from the personal anecdotes that I heard...
The devil is, as always, in the details.mommyNg\" post_id=\"1901217\" time=\"1551759376\" user_id=\"2838:
On the whole, I applaud this move to replace streaming into Normal and Express in secondary schools by full subject-based banding, to reduce stigmatism and to encourage more integration between students from different background and academic ability. :rahrah:
MOE would still need to iron out the implementation details though, such as having sufficient school/teacher resources to cater to dynamic demands, cut-off points (if any) to decide which subjects to take at G1, G2, and G3 level, the new \"name\" to replace N and O levels, the entry criteria to various paths such as NITEC, Poly, and JCs, etc. But I believe the change is in the right direction....
“encourage more integration between students from different background and academic ability”
- only true to a certain extent: integration only happen if the sec school offers all 3 (or even 2) streams. And as we all know, the top tier schools only offer 1 stream
The skeptic in me says, the commoners are welcome to integrate among themselves, while the elite stays in their fenced enclosure :evil:
Maybe we should kill off the GEP programme in primary schools and do similar subject-banding (e.g., pull-out classes) for them (primary school students) too, then the elite would have to get out their fenced enclosure and integrate with the commoners :evil: -
the worse is when teachers see NA students as incapable of going further.
I’m ok kids take a longer time if they are slow…but when students are demoralised because of the teachers’ attitude towards them, it hurts their self-esteem badly. -
Any mention of which schools will be piloting this next year?
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@mks. mommyNg's sharing: https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=65315&start=310. Ours - pioneers!
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Given that my kid is going to be the pioneering batch, the details that I am most interested in are the COP / criterias for JC / ITE / Polys. As the subjects are structured into G1, G2 and G3, I suspect it’s going to be some kind of Ranking Points system, with G2 or G3 subjects as pre-requisites for some poly or JC courses. Therein lies the real challenge.
Assuming the current COP is maintained - there is really no way for the ‘new normal’ students to make up for lost ground if they aspire to qualify for some JC. Under SBB, they can do their O Levels in 2 years - the stronger subjects in sec 4 as part of O Level exam, and the weaker ones in sec 5, ie one extra year to focus and improve.
Furthermore, if a ranking point system is used (how else to sort them out?), weaker students would probably have to take on a number of G3 subjects to ensure that their max scores are good / high enough to get to JC or their preferred course in Poly. How beneficial could that be? And how different is it from current NT stream when the students are told that their max points cannot meet the COP for poly courses no matter how well they do?
Lastly, with the current PFP, Normal students actually have an advantage over their O Level counterparts. They can qualify for some courses using N Level scores. With the new system, how else are they going to stand out? Since it’s a mixed bag, polys are unlikely to be able to set aside places for them. Forcing these students to compete with stronger students in the same year will inevitably result in many popular poly courses to be closed to them.
Like I said, the devil is in the details. I shall wait with bated breath
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sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"1901241\" time=\"1551764191\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=1901241 time=1551764191 user_id=130531]
Sky, hope it is not too complicated..hope I didnt understand wrongly..would the weaker ones need to chase till panting arh or subject based banding means still go by own capability level..and O level over 2 years? How arh, take few stronger subjects in Y4 and the bal in Y5 arh..wah this one I dont mind..can relax abit..
@mks. mommyNg's sharing: https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=65315&start=310. Ours - pioneers![/quote] -
More on this:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/will-there-still-be-secondary-five-and-other-questions-answere-as-streaming-is
Looks like they will still use PSLE scores to decide which \"band\" you will be in Sec 1 (mostly G1, G2 or G3), then based on Sec 1's performance you can then choose to take higher level classes (G2/G3)? And refinements to the admission criteria for JCs, Polytechnics and the ITE will be announced separately later....
@mks, no more 5th year.. all will go through a four-year curriculum, for all subject bands.
\"At the end of Sec 4, in 2027, these students will attain the common certificate with various subject permutations - six G3 subjects and one G2 subject, or five G3 and two G2, or two G3, three G2 and one G1, and so on,\" said Mr Ong.
\"This will require us to undertake a review of our post-secondary posting system, so that students taking a combination of G1, G2 and G3 subjects, can be fairly considered for ITE, polytechnic and JCs. Our review will recognise students' particular strengths that make them suitable for specific post-secondary courses.\"
As 2024 is a few years away, Mr Ong said the ministry will use this time to undertake this review.
MOE will also explore other alternatives to a fifth year in secondary schools, which may be like the Polytechnic Foundation Programme which helps students who have completed their secondary education enter polytechnics or JCs.
Edgefield Secondary is one of the schools that piloted the subject-based banding in the school -
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/edgefield-secondary-a-trailblazer-in-putting-normal-and-express-students-in-same -
MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1901252\" time=\"1551765320\" user_id=\"43981:
No mention of sec 5. From readings so far, doesn’t seem there will be one. Since it’s standardized into a single certification framework, if you allow a student who cleared G2 to move to G3, it can also be argued that a student should be allowed to move from G1 to G2, then G2 to G3 (ie 6 years).
Sky, hope it is not too complicated..hope I didnt understand wrongly..would the weaker ones need to chase till panting arh or subject based banding means still go by own capability level..and O level over 2 years? How arh, take few stronger subjects in Y4 and the bal in Y5 arh..wah this one I dont mind..can relax abit..[/quote]sky minecrafter\" post_id=\"1901241\" time=\"1551764191\" user_id=\"130531:[quote=\"sky minecrafter\" post_id=1901241 time=1551764191 user_id=130531]@mks. mommyNg's sharing: https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=65315&start=310. Ours - pioneers!
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