Schools in Singapore

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Have you have had your child's school call you up to tell you that his or her math or English is not good. And that you need to check with your enrichment centre why your child is having difficulties in school ?

Sometimes I wonder what those schools are for ? The school's role now seems to be to dole out homework and tests to meet some kind of quota. The enrichment centre's role is to educate.

Teacher - "why your child cannot answer these questions"
Parent - "enrichment class haven't teach that topic"
Teacher - "then you must ask you ask your enrichment centre to cover that topic else how is your child going to learn ?"
Parent - "sorry sorry .... Will somehow find another enrichment centre to cover that topic now"
Teacher - "this kind of money must spend - its your child's education. If you don't do this then how is the school going to maintain it's top ranking"

Anyone got this from your child's teacher / school also ?

 

[ben1]

Re: Schools in Singapore

Sadly, this is the norm in such schools.

 

[ac323]

Re: Schools in Singapore

To keep pace with market trends and commensurate with their roles and responsibilities, more than 26,000 teachers and some 500 Allied Educators will receive a pay rise starting this month, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced yesterday, a week ahead of Teachers' Day.

Teachers, excluding those newly or recently appointed, will receive an 8 per cent gross monthly salary increase of between S$550 and S$830 depending on job grade. Allied Educators will see a 5 to 15 per cent rise in their salary, which works out to an increase of up to S$700 in their monthly pay.

Teachers' salaries were last reviewed in April 2008, and this is the first salary revision for Allied Educators since the introduction of the Allied Educator Scheme in 2009.

In response to TODAY's queries, an MOE spokesperson said educators who have reached the maximum salary tier will still receive the salary adjustment.

Newly-appointed teachers, however, were already appointed on higher starting salaries, which took effect last month, while recently-appointed teachers have also received starting salary adjustments.

Senior Education Officers in the superscale grade will not receive an 8 per cent adjustment as the MOE will review their salaries separately, added the spokesperson. Excluded as well are specific groups of officers, such as officers on special contract terms or moribund schemes.

In a post on the MOE's Facebook page, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote that he is "pleased" the ministry is making salary adjustments "in recognition" of the contributions made by teachers and Allied Educators.

Heartened by testimonies of how teachers have made a difference in students' lives, he said: "It is challenging to be in the frontline, day-in, day-out, especially if our teachers also have young children or other family members to take care of.

"But to our teachers, take heart that your hard work and devotion is well appreciated by all of us, especially at MOE."

Educators TODAY spoke to welcomed the salary increase but felt more could be done to help teachers with their workload.

Ngee Ann Secondary School principal Adrian Lim pointed out that work processes can be better streamlined so that teachers will have more time to communicate with parents and their students.

"We need to streamline our work, to work smart, to use ICT to help us, such as leveraging on technology to replace attendance taking, or to communicate with parents," he said.

A secondary school teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, suggested having more assistance with administrative work so they can focus on teaching.

"For example, if a teacher has no prior experience or talent for a co-curricular activity (CCA), and his role is administrative, perhaps this workload can be passed on to somebody who is purely in charge of the administrative aspects of a CCA," she said.

 

[wt_know]

Re: Schools in Singapore

parent is equally "guilty" ?

parent do whatever they can including buying home near school, volunteer, join clan associated to the school, etc in order to send their kid to this "high ranking" school ... it seems that ranking is everything. high ranking = bragging rights = the kid will graduate with flying colors

hence, it is right for teacher to do whatever it takes to mantain ranking? i don't know ...

Teacher - "this kind of money must spend - its your child's education. If you don't do this then how is the school going to maintain it's top ranking"

 

[wobbles]

Re: Schools in Singapore

This is one of those times I get down on my knees to thank 7-11 for not selling me a bad condom.....

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: Schools in Singapore

more like "hence it is right for a teacher to defer it to enrichment centre to maintain the ranking.

hence, it is right for teacher to do whatever it takes to mantain ranking? i don't know ...

 

[Chocs]

Re: Schools in Singapore

...hmm...something is wrong somewhere...no? Thought School is to teach, not delegate. Tai Chi.

...:thinking:

 

[wt_know]

Re: Schools in Singapore

why need to go enrichment class or tuition in the 1st place?
does it means school is under deliver and need to be compensated thru outside "extra" teaching? we all know that tuition school biz is sibei good ... popular tuition centre like popular school ... hard to get in even you are willing to pay

more like "hence it is right for a teacher to defer it to enrichment centre to maintain the ranking.

...hmm...something is wrong somewhere...no? Thought School is to teach, not delegate. Tai Chi.

...:thinking:

 

[SapphireSpite]

Re: Schools in Singapore

No point getting in top school, in the end, your child want to study, they study.
Rather put a child in a nearby neighbourhood school (save transport costs!!!), if smart, then can koop all the awards easily, else top school might fight until so stress sometimes until can skydiving (true story, Singapore too stressful)

 

[Chocs]

Re: Schools in Singapore

...small kids...nowadays...most wear glasses....all bags big big...on their small small frames......

..matter of time...all will behaved like le Dog in my Signature...deflated & super tired...:yikess:

 

[wt_know]

Re: Schools in Singapore

hearsay, there is no lousy school (at least in spore), only lousy student

No point getting in top school, in the end, your child want to study, they study.
Rather put a child in a nearby neighbourhood school (save transport costs!!!), if smart, then can koop all the awards easily, else top school might fight until so stress sometimes until can skydiving (true story, Singapore too stressful)

 

[SapphireSpite]

Re: Schools in Singapore

hearsay, there is no lousy school (at least in spore), only lousy student

i never say lousy school
but well, singaporeans are all so stereo typical want to put their child in the top school, then got this person say , "All schools in Singapore are equal" then why don't you want to put your child there in a neighbourhood school :screwedu:

Just my $0.02.

(this smiley doesn't seem to fit the expression lol)

Edit, was digging up one of my past assignments regarding the registration process of Primary Schools, where somehow, it favors those with connections with the schools just as teachers, staffs, or even parent volunteers, to allow entry for the child more easily than those without connection,
One of the articles had the headline, "Neighbourhood schools are good too" which was commented by a Minister and it might spark some fire, as what I've mentioned earlier.

 

[jaskin]

Re: Schools in Singapore

Teacher - "this kind of money must spend - its your child's education. If you don't do this then how is the school going to maintain it's top ranking"

This statement makes my blood boil. Schools that put ranking ahead of their students... My sister went through that. Lucky I went to some chao ah beng sec school and never had to go through that nonsense

 

[Chocs]

Re: Schools in Singapore

...eh...not all Ah Bengs r Chow one okie...sum ah Beng bery smart one ley.......

..born intelligent..no need top schools..

.....

 

[ac323]

Re: Schools in Singapore

...eh...not all Ah Bengs r Chow one okie...sum ah Beng bery smart one ley.......

..born intelligent..no need top schools..

.....

are you saying C3PO???









cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers

 

[SapphireSpite]

Re: Schools in Singapore

...eh...not all Ah Bengs r Chow one okie...sum ah Beng bery smart one ley.......

..born intelligent..no need top schools..

.....

Hahaha! well, actually what matters most in the end if you are successful or not in life, which can be a little bit subjective, such as defining success like "getting a better job than your parents", "earning $4k a month", "make big bucks"

 

[Centurion9990]

Re: Schools in Singapore

One of the articles had the headline, "Neighbourhood schools are good too" which was commented by a Minister and it might spark some fire, as what I've mentioned earlier.

This year, my group of friends are busy having sex and I have just attended 5th Dragon baby's shower party... And whenever they get together, schools is always the hot topic... One just paid 10+% over valuation for an old condo unit near to Nanyang Primary. One of them mentioned, "I don't believe what minister had said that neigbhourhood schools are good. Which minister send their kid there?" :singsing::singsing::singsing:

While they are busy debating about their child grooming policy, usually I'm busy checking out girls around my table and surf BMW-SG... I da man

 

[golilok]

Re: Schools in Singapore

If the parent picked the school liao
Then better know what hole the kid is getting into ba

 

[SapphireSpite]

Re: Schools in Singapore

This year, my group of friends are busy having sex and I have just attended 5th Dragon baby's shower party... And whenever they get together, schools is always the hot topic... One just paid 10+% over valuation for an old condo unit near to Nanyang Primary. One of them mentioned, "I don't believe what minister had said that neigbhourhood schools are good. Which minister send their kid there?" :singsing::singsing::singsing:

While they are busy debating about their child grooming policy, usually I'm busy checking out girls around my table and surf BMW-SG... I da man

U da man !

 

[The Guardian]

Re: Schools in Singapore

Everyone is doing the best for their kids in whichever way they deem comfortable. Sending to enrichment class n daily coaching is mandatory. But for some, they might think that personal coaching is not necessary as it will be duplicated effort. But in this highly competitive Singapore system, it's sad that they will have to live with it.

For me, my kid is still keeping pace with the pack. But who knows how long this can go on, so have to standby alternative plans. As parents, we just need tyo be very sensitive to their emotionasl changes so that they don't feel helpless n go skydiving.