Opinions on changes to PSLE

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:43:36 GMT

SAHM_TAN — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:43:36 GMT

The country is training soldiers to defend the country. One yr of NS is not enough. Unless all forms of defence is automatic and all our soldiers need to do is press the button.

I have a son too. I was unsettled when training was reduced for officer training.

I want my son to be well-train for his benefit. touch wood

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:08:02 GMT

Ovencookies — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:08:02 GMT

Yup agreed a lot of my friends are sending their kids to the IP stream because of all the benefits the schools are saying about. It seems like the trend of for students to skip O Levels through the IP system not sure if this is going to be a good tho…

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:03:50 GMT

Jovialcho — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:03:50 GMT

Eventually ip will be like new express while current exp stream taking olevel like new nlevel

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:59:34 GMT

33mama — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:59:34 GMT

Back to this topic…

with these few years of psle seeming more manageable, what do you think could be the changes to the psle system?
Bell curve will move for higher % to get 250&abv? More children ability to go IP program?
EESIS open to all with 250&abv?

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:56:49 GMT

janet88 — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:56:49 GMT

1 year NS is a good idea…our boys have to be ‘lent’ to govt for 2 years and that delays

1) further studies
2) boys finish studies later, finds a job later, gets married later…you know the rest.
3) our husbands also retire later…can you imagine a family of 3 boys?

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Sat, 24 Aug 2013 04:47:34 GMT

AdvancedAcademia — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 04:47:34 GMT

snowlotus:
33mama:
[quote=\"Mawar\"]Just thinking aloud.

Let's see... by 2016, all schools will be single session. Start school later and extend hours. Less teacher directed teaching, more exploration based curriculum. Extend PE hours for primary school. Migrate towards project based education. Heavier emphasis on CCA.

Mastery learning. Gradually allow students to earn credits and give more leeway for them to go at their own pace. Smudge primary and secondary school delineation.

Oh PSLE? All the above will count towards the Leaving Certificate. By then the term PSLE would be no more. Too stressful so it will be renamed.
wow! i like this... start school later and stay in school longer. more PE and outdoor activities. 10am to 5pm. lesser traffic congestion more sleep for the young children.
just to add on...lesser school holidays = fill it with more camping to build independence in kids..
shorten IP program from 6 years to 5 year.
1 year NS...

wow... I like this \"1 year NS\" [/quote]1 yr NS might be asking for too much. Will there be enough time to go thru BMT, specialist training and still serve vocationally?

I like the idea of having a wider project based education. But before that can happen, more support must be given to weaker pupils. Many in the lower bands are already struggling with the subjects in silo. Integrating them will make learning more sophisticated, which is good as it reflects the real world, but those academically weaker students might not be able to handle the sophistication without support...

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Sat, 24 Aug 2013 04:14:15 GMT

snowlotus — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 04:14:15 GMT

33mama:
Mawar:
Just thinking aloud.

Let's see... by 2016, all schools will be single session. Start school later and extend hours. Less teacher directed teaching, more exploration based curriculum. Extend PE hours for primary school. Migrate towards project based education. Heavier emphasis on CCA.

Mastery learning. Gradually allow students to earn credits and give more leeway for them to go at their own pace. Smudge primary and secondary school delineation.

Oh PSLE? All the above will count towards the Leaving Certificate. By then the term PSLE would be no more. Too stressful so it will be renamed.
wow! i like this... start school later and stay in school longer. more PE and outdoor activities. 10am to 5pm. lesser traffic congestion more sleep for the young children.
just to add on...lesser school holidays = fill it with more camping to build independence in kids..
shorten IP program from 6 years to 5 year.
1 year NS...

wow... I like this \"1 year NS\"

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:59:23 GMT

Coolkidsrock2 — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:59:23 GMT

floppy:
jtoh:
[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]the primary schools which some ministers come from may not have that wow factor...but their secondary schools definitely DO...when interviewers see applicants who are from big name secondary schools stated in the resume, those applicants tend to have one foot in the door already...yes that is pedigree.

so much emphasis is put on PSLE to get into the BEST secondary schools.
I prefer to look at an applicant's academic results, employment history and achievements first. What's the point in having a well-known secondary school name on your resume if your O level results (or A level results or University results) can't even get you through the first screening?

But the big name secondary schools tend to produce respectable academic results.[/quote]It could be because they are taking in students with a proven track record. Not too difficult to produce respectable academic results.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 03:32:30 GMT

HAPPYH — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 03:32:30 GMT

janet_lee88:
jtoh:
[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]NO employer looks at PSLE results...but why is this exam so stressful? :siao:

Bec it is not an exam for job placement, but an exam for school placement. And parents place a lot of stress on getting their children into the best schools. Wait. Let me rephrase. Parents want their children to get into the best schools. Not the best schools for their children.

wait, let me rephrase...parents want their children to get into schools which THEY think are the best.[/quote]

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:28:00 GMT

floppy — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:28:00 GMT

jtoh:
janet_lee88:
the primary schools which some ministers come from may not have that wow factor...but their secondary schools definitely DO...when interviewers see applicants who are from big name secondary schools stated in the resume, those applicants tend to have one foot in the door already...yes that is pedigree.

so much emphasis is put on PSLE to get into the BEST secondary schools.
I prefer to look at an applicant's academic results, employment history and achievements first. What's the point in having a well-known secondary school name on your resume if your O level results (or A level results or University results) can't even get you through the first screening?

But the big name secondary schools tend to produce respectable academic results.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:34:14 GMT

janet88 — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:34:14 GMT

From P1-4, models for math is expected…but at p5, it is up to the students…Son used algebra but his teacher told us during PTM it is NOT advisable. In P5, his teacher said if he can show the steps and of course the correct answer, the marks will be awarded. Totally different ball game for P5/6. The topics to be tested for PSLE is really a lot, not just math.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:30:45 GMT

wonderm — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:30:45 GMT

Harlequin:
All schools are good schools, Mr Heng has never once said \"All schools are equal\"!

\"Teach less learn more\" is to say that students shouldn't be spoon fed all the way, we are already getting close to the muggers' nation, the more one is taught the more the reliance, learning should be a journey of seeking out, not closing in, map path, zoom and feed, and then straight to the exam hall.

When the parents make their children learn/study mainly for exam score, in the process of mugging/spoon feeding the parents unwittingly killing off the willingness of learning, it then makes learning a pain.

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

Sigh.

:goodpost: Totally agree!

It is not possible and also not desirable to make all schools equal.

My interpretation of \"teach less learn more\" is that they cut down on the number of topics (for example, reduced the topics for primary science curriculum) to allow more time for learning the concepts well. For some students, it can be more difficult to score in exams because it is easier to memorize the contents from textbooks than to apply the concepts.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:08:06 GMT

Augmum — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 12:08:06 GMT

janet_lee88:
jtoh:
[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]NO employer looks at PSLE results...but why is this exam so stressful? :siao:

Bec it is not an exam for job placement, but an exam for school placement. And parents place a lot of stress on getting their children into the best schools. Wait. Let me rephrase. Parents want their children to get into the best schools. Not the best schools for their children.

wait, let me rephrase...parents want their children to get into schools which THEY think are the best.[/quote]That's why some parents' mindset have to be changed.....

What is the definition of \" the BEST school\" ?
It is paramount to choose one school which is of the best interests to the child....
Not one that others perceive as being the Best schools....

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:56:51 GMT

kaking — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:56:51 GMT

Children learn from their parents, and when their parents don't practise fairness, democracy, and meritocracy (will only pay lip service outside but tell their kids when at home to work on connections and that getting there is most important regardless of what they do and how they achieve it), is it any wonder that many kids characters are real crooked nowsadays?

What more can we say when policies seemed to be tilted to favoritism based on some crooked reason, like because you did very well in P3 exams, viola, you are exempted from competition in PSLE & O levels and guaranteed into best IP schools?

MM Lee's daughter quoted a very good example in newspaper of RJC student tricking his friends and playing politics to try to win some scholarship?

Remember that Wee Sue Ming incident?

What do all the above tell us?

Harlequin:
All schools are good schools, Mr Heng has never once said \"All schools are equal\"!

\"Teach less learn more\" is to say that students shouldn't be spoon fed all the way, we are already getting close to the muggers' nation, the more one is taught the more the reliance, learning should be a journey of seeking out, not closing in, map path, zoom and feed, and then straight to the exam hall.

When the parents make their children learn/study mainly for exam score, in the process of mugging/spoon feeding the parents unwittingly killing off the willingness of learning, it then makes learning a pain.

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

Sigh.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:46:00 GMT

Augmum — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:46:00 GMT

Harlequin:

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

Like what u say....
The impt of the love for learning....
Parents can help to enrich and expand their children learning, But dont kill their enthusiasm by spoon feeding....

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:37:05 GMT

TravelMummy — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:37:05 GMT

Harlequin:
All schools are good schools, Mr Heng has never once said \"All schools are equal\"!

\"Teach less learn more\" is to say that students shouldn't be spoon fed all the way, we are already getting close to the muggers' nation, the more one is taught the more the reliance, learning should be a journey of seeking out, not closing in, map path, zoom and feed, and then straight to the exam hall.

When the parents make their children learn/study mainly for exam score, in the process of mugging/spoon feeding the parents unwittingly killing off the willingness of learning, it then makes learning a pain.

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

:goodpost: I can't agree more!

Sigh.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:35:55 GMT

Augmum — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:35:55 GMT

firefly38:
janet_lee88:
we often read/hear of parents asking which schools producing 100% passes for PSLE, A* etc etc...then this line, 'all schools are good schools' is like 'teach less learn more' is a joke...and i can safely conclude what i mentioned earlier.

you expect teachers to mould the child's character? kids do not stay with their teachers...it's the environment they are in which shapes them.
would the teacher teach the class, 'students, don't be kiasu. be righteous, gracious blah blah blah'.
Yes.. The teachers in my kids' schools do..

My boys spend very long hours in schools, and the teachers do play a part in moulding their characters.. I am thankful to them.. Coz, relying just on my own, my kids won't be who they are today..

I can proudly say that my gal's sch teachers ( esp their HCL teacher) DO teach them to be righteous...to be honest, gracious....etc...

诚信勇忠 is their sch slogan.....
Not only the teachers do teach them, their principal also from time to time emphasis these qualities during assembly time...

Yes, i agree that all these teachings shd best be from home, fr parents....
But the vast amt of time they spend in schools, teachers and environment play vital roles too....

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:50:50 GMT

keroppi — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:50:50 GMT

icy_mama:
firefly38:
[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]we often read/hear of parents asking which schools producing 100% passes for PSLE, A* etc etc...then this line, 'all schools are good schools' is like 'teach less learn more' is a joke...and i can safely conclude what i mentioned earlier.

you expect teachers to mould the child's character? kids do not stay with their teachers...it's the environment they are in which shapes them.
would the teacher teach the class, 'students, don't be kiasu. be righteous, gracious blah blah blah'.
Yes.. The teachers in my kids' schools do..

My boys spend very long hours in schools, and the teachers do play a part in moulding their characters.. I am thankful to them.. Coz, relying just on my own, my kids won't be who they are today..

although my kids are still young and yet to show their characters, i must also add the teachers in my kids' schools do too.

just like firefly38, i believe that teachers and school do play a part in moulding kids' characters. i'm also thankful to have met good teachers. it made my job alot easier. [/quote]Count me in. My kids' teachers do too and the school has this 10 year character & leadership programme. And moral education is thrown in FOC some more, nowadays where got free things one? So for this freebie, I'm very grateful.

My DS (now Sec 2) & his classmates still go back to his Pri school whenever there is a Sec school break to see his teachers (yup, 2 years running). They meet up with his teachers for movies and a meal once in a while. They are very good mentors. My son and his friends are so blessed.

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:37:32 GMT

jtoh — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:37:32 GMT

janet_lee88:
the primary schools which some ministers come from may not have that wow factor...but their secondary schools definitely DO...when interviewers see applicants who are from big name secondary schools stated in the resume, those applicants tend to have one foot in the door already...yes that is pedigree.

so much emphasis is put on PSLE to get into the BEST secondary schools.

I prefer to look at an applicant's academic results, employment history and achievements first. What's the point in having a well-known secondary school name on your resume if your O level results (or A level results or University results) can't even get you through the first screening?

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:37:10 GMT

Coolkidsrock2 — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:37:10 GMT

Harlequin:
All schools are good schools, Mr Heng has never once said \"All schools are equal\"!

\"Teach less learn more\" is to say that students shouldn't be spoon fed all the way, we are already getting close to the muggers' nation, the more one is taught the more the reliance, learning should be a journey of seeking out, not closing in, map path, zoom and feed, and then straight to the exam hall.

When the parents make their children learn/study mainly for exam score, in the process of mugging/spoon feeding the parents unwittingly killing off the willingness of learning, it then makes learning a pain.

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

Sigh.

:goodpost:

Realistically, all schools will never be equal as there are other factors beyond MOE which contribute to the success of a school.

I spoke to a couple of kids at the top secondary schools during their Open House - no tuition and from neighbourhood schools. Still no tuition in secondary school though the difference is need to \"work a bit now compared to primary school\".

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:25:16 GMT

icy_mama — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:25:16 GMT

firefly38:
janet_lee88:
we often read/hear of parents asking which schools producing 100% passes for PSLE, A* etc etc...then this line, 'all schools are good schools' is like 'teach less learn more' is a joke...and i can safely conclude what i mentioned earlier.

you expect teachers to mould the child's character? kids do not stay with their teachers...it's the environment they are in which shapes them.
would the teacher teach the class, 'students, don't be kiasu. be righteous, gracious blah blah blah'.
Yes.. The teachers in my kids' schools do..

My boys spend very long hours in schools, and the teachers do play a part in moulding their characters.. I am thankful to them.. Coz, relying just on my own, my kids won't be who they are today..

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:23:56 GMT

33mama — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:23:56 GMT

Harlequin:
All schools are good schools, Mr Heng has never once said \"All schools are equal\"!

\"Teach less learn more\" is to say that students shouldn't be spoon fed all the way, we are already getting close to the muggers' nation, the more one is taught the more the reliance, learning should be a journey of seeking out, not closing in, map path, zoom and feed, and then straight to the exam hall.

When the parents make their children learn/study mainly for exam score, in the process of mugging/spoon feeding the parents unwittingly killing off the willingness of learning, it then makes learning a pain.

Children at times are the victims of their parents kiasu-ism. Kindly don't make them stop thinking, exploring and learning, or else the purpose of education is reduced to only schooling and mugging.

Sigh.

:goodpost: Really like what you said!

Reply to Opinions on changes to PSLE on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:14:44 GMT

iFirefly — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:14:44 GMT

janet_lee88:
we often read/hear of parents asking which schools producing 100% passes for PSLE, A* etc etc...then this line, 'all schools are good schools' is like 'teach less learn more' is a joke...and i can safely conclude what i mentioned earlier.

you expect teachers to mould the child's character? kids do not stay with their teachers...it's the environment they are in which shapes them.
would the teacher teach the class, 'students, don't be kiasu. be righteous, gracious blah blah blah'.

Yes.. The teachers in my kids' schools do..

My boys spend very long hours in schools, and the teachers do play a part in moulding their characters.. I am thankful to them.. Coz, relying just on my own, my kids won't be who they are today..