I'm a teacher and a parent and honestly, i cant deny there is indeed a difference in a normal neighbourhood sch, 'popular' sch and 'branded’ sch

[NiNao]

from facebook parent group


I'm a teacher and a parent and honestly, i cant deny there is indeed a difference in a normal neighbourhood sch, 'popular' neighbourhood sch and 'branded' schs. I taught in all 3 types of sch with a SAP sch being my current sch. The stark constrast is actually the amount of resources and programmes which really depend alot on budget and manpower. And unfortunately the normal neighbourhood schs dont have this as they dont have affiliations with associations tt actually sponsor certain events/resources and programmes. SAP schs especially have both good support frm their clan association, PV and also alumni. I was really shocked at how grand their sch events can be and for e.g for teacher's day, teachers can really sit down and relax without having to organise and execute the event for the day as the PVs do almost everything. Hence, teachers can use the time to improve academic programmes and lessons unlike in my previous neighbourhood sch where we gotta do everything from scratch on top of the alr busy academic-related stuff and CCAs. And often in 'branded' schs, SES of students is generally much higher. In my previous neighbourhood sch, each class has about 3-4 on FAS scheme while my current SAP sch close to 0-1 student per class. The kinds of issues we deal with are also different. I often have to handle alot of absentees in my previous sch due to permissive or even absent and divorced parents. But current sch is more of highly-involved parents who sometimes are highly demanding. And tt said, the behaviours of students are also different, more competitive in the branded schs and less so in the neighbourhood schs BUT it's not always a positive thing as somehow the students in the SAP sch are less tolerant of each other as compared those in neighbourhood schs. Too competitive and lack of exposure to different cultures play a part. Somehow we have more discipline cases in my current sch even though the discipline mgmt is actually stricter than my previous sch. However, this is just my observation according to my own experiences, it could be different in other SAP schs.

Oh and branded schs often have better chances of having students into DSA mainly due to own parent's involvement. Sch training in each sch is generally the same but what makes a difference is tt the students themselves have outside training. I was surprised that almost every kid in my sports CCA has their own personal trainer outside of sch. Very different from those in neighbourhood schs who only depend on CCA to train.

But honestly, it still depends on your child himself and also the way you parent your child. I was frm a neighbourhood sch, with no tuitions but topped the sch, got into the special stream (bck then it was for those 250 and above), went to a branded girls sch aft tt. On the other hand, my hubby, went to a branded pri sch but got 20 points less than me in PSLE despite having a mom was an ex-teacher and even had tuitions. So really depends on the kids' abilities. But well my hubby still managed to get to a good sec sch and he eventually got into a top jc too as he worked harder in his sec sch. As parents, we play an impt part in motivating them and providing them with as much help they need, within our means.

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From another parent

I’ve had kids in both “elite primary school” and “neighbourhood school”.
I’m also a sahm so I was deeply involved in coaching them as getting tuition would put a strain on our income.
What I’ve observed are these:

1. Yes “elite schools” have better resources for random things, which are mostly funded by alumni, so it is terribly unfair to say to do away with 2A. With MOE’s constant change of policies, it’s obvious that they want people from different SES to mingle, but they can’t deny the resources the alumni have poured into their Alma maters. So let’s not be cheapskate and act all self entitled and say 2A should go.
2. Yes “elite schools” produce much better psle scores. This is largely a function of the SES of the student population. Many of them not only have sahm, they also live in a nice big private property in a central location yet mom can afford to chauffeur them around in a car, or two. Though they earn big bucks, dad is often around too.
3. Yes “elite schools” have more PRCs. It’s obviously because they channel their energy into things they can control to move odds in their favour, instead of whining all day along. They are constantly planning and plotting and motivating their children, not complaining about how they are disadvantaged. Many of them are quite nice people (at least they were to me, a (yuck) “born and bred” singaporean.
4. No, “elite schools” do not have better teachers. I compared the resources and notes and I know this for a fact. They even seem less dedicated - zero supplementary lessons. Kids were even told “anyway all of you have tuition” which is untrue for mine.Fact. Not hearsay. First hand experience.

So, if you want your child to succeed, those are the ingredients. Be rich yet present and involved.
But since we can’t really choose to be rich, we can choose to be present and involved.

Signing off as a parent whose children have gone through both “elite primary school” and “neighbourhood primary school” and one who has unwittingly conducted a social experiment with results that are often peppered with hearsay.

this is just a couple of stupid old women pretending to offer advice but are actually bragging if you know how to read between the lines

 

[Sodomicha]

What happened to all schools are good schools?

Maybe ministers can list down what primary school their kids went to.

If most got into neighbourhood school and did well,the peasants bo wei gong liao.

 

[dotarian007]

minister say all school are good school ok

 

[ahnyaahnya]

Capt obvious
Even in sch itself the class are segre by grades

Used to be that way.. they classes were graded. And the whole class attended lessons together for all subjects.
Is it still the same now?
Iirc, I read that it's different now.... they combine with other classes based on their capability in the individual particular subject.
Dunno whether that has been implemented. Can't imagine the headache for the ones in charge of arranging the time= table for the classes

 

[cet87]

I tot someone say all schools are good schools ?

all schools are good schools until you go to ITE. Its really the end.

 

[ahnyaahnya]

Unlike last time, all schools have sufficient resources. Principal and HoD every 6 yr also rotate around. Normal vs popular vs branded the difference if any is not much. Only the intake students decide their own destiny.

All schools get same support from MOE
Edit: Normal Tech students get more funds, 30% to 50% more

 

[thretiredDad]

all schools are good schools until you go to ITE. Its really the end.

In before someone say
he was from ITE
but now making 7 figure income

 

[niefeng80]

Hopefully. I always tell them that they have to lead their own lives. I can’t take their exams for them. They must think about what they want in life. If I’m lucky, I may have 20 years left. If not, I anytime ride motor also can langgar and uplorry. Can’t worry too much liao

Solid advice

 

[lightningflash]

How ironic for a teacher to refute all schools are good schools

 

[GreatPumpkin]

PRC teachers were sharing that even for normal school in singapore, the competition is more fierce in singapore than china.

They were telling CHINA parents "do not for any second think education in singapore schools is easier even tho there are lesser topics to target"

these was part of a casual gathering i have with these ppl for my monthly trekking

Irony is PRC parents are the biggest spoil markets out there.

 

[losthope00]

不要比较就没有伤害

don’t compare with others and there would not be harm.

if really want to compare, always compare yourself present and the past.

the best teacher in life is actually yourself. No one could control you but yourself.

 

[maikumgong]

Maybe ministers can list down what primary school their kids went to.

If most got into neighbourhood school and did well,the peasants bo wei gong liao.

Yea, that would be convincing

 

[GreatPumpkin]

Yea, that would be convincing

They will say they need to stay in bungalow for security reasons or because nobody want to rent those places (so poor thing)

Then by pure coincidence, all the branded schools are nearby.

 

[Autumn.]

Irony is PRC parents are the biggest spoil markets out there.

that was what the convo goes. no matter how helicopter the PRC parents are, they cannot win the children IN SG.

sad and funny we are so hardcore as stewdents day to day. Also they (PRC teachers) say even normal school in sg have more test than china schools (this is said as general basis)

 

[HelIoo]

we all know but our minister says all schools are good schools

 

[huihong]

Maybe ministers can list down what primary school their kids went to.

If most got into neighbourhood school and did well,the peasants bo wei gong liao.

 

[GreatPumpkin]

that was what the convo goes. no matter how helicopter the PRC parents are, they cannot win the children IN SG.

sad and funny we are so hardcore as stewdents day to day. Also they (PRC teachers) say even normal school in sg have more test than china schools (this is said as general basis)

Main weakness of prc children here is english. In other subjects they are stronk.

My prc neighbour has tuition + enrichment planned for her daughter every day of the week. When I asked if she is worried about her daughter burning out, she just shrugged.

Till this day I don't dare tell my wife lest it sparks another round of arms race.

 

[I_m_limpeh]

So is the students and not the school. Like someone say before, if you send all the RI boys to Yishun and all the Yishunn student to RI, what will happen?

RI students will be very bored with Yishun secondary school program. RI students can learn finish O level syllabus within 2.5 - 3 years, one year ahead of neighborhood school students.

 

[I_m_limpeh]

Main weakness of prc children here is english. In other subjects they are stronk.

My prc neighbour has tuition + enrichment planned for her daughter every day of the week. When I asked if she is worried about her daughter burning out, she just shrugged.

Till this day I don't dare tell my wife lest it sparks another round of arms race.

The PRC student you described is considered weak academically, excluding her English. Most very good students in elite schools are in school till late evening for cca and running student leadership programs, not just attending the activities. Have to juggle school work on their own and not much free time for tuition.

 

[Suporter]

All schools are good schools.

Unless whities pichak lobang....