SG education system

gevo SG

If Singapore doesnt give recognition to a straight A* in the
sciences and mathematics student, who would?

True, scholars must be of the crème of the crop to qualify themselves, but why is getting a B in the school with no B+ for Language Arts the greatest hurdle for a student to cross? The student has excelled in all areas of sciences and mathematics, and his passion for those subjects are undeniable. So, why is getting a B for Language Arts (in IP schools theres no English as a subject) going to hinder him all the way in research programmes, overseas attachments, scholarship applications and even a minor thing such as specialized training for personal skills?

He, who deserves to be recognized, needs to be recognized. Singapore needs to realize that we need to keep our local talents, well, local, instead of focusing on getting more foreign talents.

His CCA records are stellar, science and technology activities are aplenty, and so, the only reason for his failure is his grade for Language Arts. Is that truly an accurate measure in giving him opportunities to further his knowledge? Knowledge is driven by passion. Without passion nothing would be done to the best of his capabilities. Is that one grade going to affect his life, one subject that isnt even remotely linked to science, being so literature-based?

Yes, absolute scores should be considered, but what use is there if we award prestigious programmes to someone who has the caliber, but has a lack of commitment and passion? Are we not going to waste our nations resources?
Passion can be cultivated. That is true, but one can never be sure. Is passion with 4A* in Mathematics, Physics, Biology sufficient to secure a scholarship? In Singapore, no. The world is evolving into a knowledge based economy, and if Singapore doesnt appreciate such talents, other nations would! Why are we so backward in our thinking that results are everything? We need a change, as this would retard Singapores economic growth by increased brain drain.

Our local talents are clearly better than many other foreign talents. We have a first rate education system, a first rate workfare scheme, so why are our talents going overseas, effectively losing to foreign talents? Does this prove that Singapores education has failed? Our society is not flexible?
Preserving our talents is the least the Government can do. Increasing population to 6.5 million, but how many are really born and raised in Singapore? Is that the best way for economic growth, to shun local talents and to attract increasing numbers of foreign talents?

If Singapore doesnt realize this mistake, other nations are going to benefit in ways more than economic and social. Why cant we produce Nobel Laureates? Are Singaporeans inferior?

We dont have the environment to cultivate leading Singapore-born researchers. This is crucial, as the mark of the nation is judged by its national R&D efforts. So why cant we allow people with the passion to flourish? Must we step aside for those with perfect GPAs without a single hint of passion and interest in the fields that we are so deeply passionate about?

Are we, the second class citizens?

gevo SG

Is passion non-existent in scholarship holders?

There are many JC-level scholarships available to cater for the students interest; however, most scholarships are through the nomination by the school only. As I understand, the scholarships selection boards are very stringent about the academic results of the scholars. When schools nominate, it is customary for them to choose those who are ranked the first few in standard (due to criteria set by scholarship organization), hence resulting in these students being offered many scholarships, while those who are slightly lower ranked, even with great passion and interest, are ignored. This deprives these students the chance to further their real-world knowledge as scholarships are usually research-based.

Eventually, the scholars are those who do not have a burning passion for that field of study, while getting the research grants of a few thousand over their JC years. Is this a signal that the scholarship recruiting is flawed? Taxpayers money is being spent on people who have no clear future in the study that they are offered the scholarship. This is not an optimal way of nurturing talents to assist and replace the current generation. True, it is irrefutable that results is an important factor in scholarship application, as that shows their management skills, their determination for work, responsibility in taking pride for the school work and so on. But isnt it more true that a future, an illustrious career, in that agency which offers the scholarship more practical? It is ironic that after utilizing the grants given to them, the scholars leave that field of study to pursue something else. Not only it is a waste of resources nurturing these scholars, it deprives those with potential the opportunity to succeed in the area of their passion.

Students, with or without passion for a subject, are judged by results. It is impossible for students to appeal, to voice out their opinions to the school management level since it would make minimal difference. The school would select those with the greatest chance of securing the scholarship and the requirements for nominating potential scholars are based largely on academic results, reasons being that their passion and interest would be judged through interviews. But doesnt that leave a whole lot who would perform much better in the latter disadvantaged?

Passion for a particular subject can be more difficult to judge than absolute scores, however, it is probably a more accurate gauge for selecting scholars. They are being given various opportunities to work in world-class institutes, and it defeats the purpose of that if they are only able to perform well academically and nothing else. Judging a student purely through academic grades is like judging a book by its cover, something that we know we shouldnt be doing in a modern 21st century cosmopolitan society.

aiglosicicle SG

if you think scholarship boards judge students purely based on academic results you are totally wrong. yes perfect grades are a requirement but after potential scholars are selected, they will further assess the person based on his or her passion and other non-academic areas. people with less than perfect a'level grades HAVE gotten the president's scholarship before.

from the point of view of the scholarship board, it is pointless to award a student with burning passion but whom cannot excel in his studies. so what if he likes science? if he cant do 'basic' a'level or o'level science it only means two things. 1: he is lazy and has a bad attitude towards work 2: he lacks the aptitude for science and will be a useless researcher.

what if the student is passionate, got straight As for his sciences but a B for english? yes the scholarship boards will choose him IF and ONLY IF there isnt a single other student out there in this world who is passionate, got straight As for sciences AND english, which is quite rare.

anyway if the student is truly passionate about something, he or she will work as hard as humanly possible to make bloody sure he or she does well or, at least, make sure the school nominates him or her for scholarships.

Darkness_hacker99 SG

My case is similar to those TS mention. I am not so language inclined but I do really have the passion for those Science course in polytechnics. I must say Language had brought me to my failure becuase I couldnt get into the instituition I yern to go.

Ito_^ SG

“passion” cannot be measured.

gevo SG

what about a straight a, even a* (straight As can't can you anyway nowadays) in everything, but lacks passions? you can't tell from scholarship applications, and even through interviews if the students' good enough at "lying". zzz

trendz SG

what about those who are more language-inclined?
if their writing/articulation, etc is good; and they have the basic maths and science knowledge in their head; why wouldn't I employ them instead of someone who excels in maths and science alone but speaks like a bureaucrat with half his cranium lobotomised?

okay. let's go back to the past. think about it. the sg education system isn't being fair to those who are more language-inclined too. just look at those post-secondary school kids who flunked their maths/science and are completely denied a chance to enter poly, much less jc and do we even need to mention about local universities? is there any recognition for these kids?

the world is never fair. very few would be strong in most areas in the academic arena or say; being an all-rounder. Wink

Devil1976 SG

How come sounds more like a Speakers' Corner's topic to me...? Rolling Eyes

LifeIsWonderful SG

you guys english so chim, i see damn blur, pls summerize in 1 word or less.

mistyblue SG

sg is a highly controlled state.

if you want to follow your dreams, you might need to go elsewhere, if you cannot and you need to stay around here for one reason or another, then forget your dreams and become one of the faceless drones to earn your meager keep but always be prepared to pay more, work more, eat less, spend less, think less. To be marginally happy in Singapore is to not think, forget about dreams, be contented that perhaps high pay is not corrupting the ministers, only look through a tunnel for your future if there is any and hope to die young. Most importantly remember to sign a will and make your nominations for whatever cpf is left after paying rental to HDB.

gevo SG

well, if someone could excel in science in Singapore, his/her English are going to be of professional caliber already. Can you see how many essays they are going to write for their Chemistry or Biology?

English and English Literature are two totally different fields. Getting a B in ELit could probably mean much more than an A in English, agree me not?

Well, the problem is that they don't take English, they substitute it with English Literature (Language Arts). There is not even an argument that exists that English Lit is of a higher level than English, but what basis is there for us to compare between the two?

Anyway, one could still talk like a re*ard and write like one, but as long as Shakespeare's language is carefully analysed, that's an A. A B just constitutes a less comprehensive analysis of his famous works, and that's technically not part of one's command in English. You can use powerful, expressive language and still flunk Language Arts.

It's like a person who takes Chemistry and Physics under combined science. If he is bad at one, is he bad at SCIENCE? I beg to differ.

binarynwitz SG

What can be gauged?

Passion or results?

While yes, it's not being fair to those who are bad in languages.

But is there a foolproof method? As long as a foolproof method doesn't exist, this method would still continue as the most effective method to gauge one's talents.

Plus, homo sapiens all have the tendency to gauge ability, intelligence and what-nots with a digit.

It allows us to compete.

surferpunk SG

Well... Each and every one of us has a price. As well as our own 'value'. Only after all of our attributes have been computed (passion, grades, CCAs and what not), then we can have our own unique values. In short, only the one that has the most worth will get his chance in Singapore.

Basically, you can deny a genius who have won an International Maths Olympiad but failed his GP. Not saying that a Singaporean student has ever done that. But even if there's one such student, I doubt he will be groomed by the govt due to the fact that he didn't meet even the basic criteria to enter university.

Prestigious govt scholarship for him?? I doubt so. Most probably, foreign companies will have already swarm over him for his potentials. A genius in the making. But his own nation, Singapore, won't do much just because of a failure of a simple requirement. And I can bet that Albert Einstein won't be able to receive the President's Scholarship. Due to the fact that "he easily passed the science part, but failed in general knowledge".

A person should be judged based on his own strength. Judged on the magnitude of his own strength. Not the magnitude of his entire strength. Some say two identical person with similar personalities, 4As and excellent CCA records but the one with C6 for GP is at a disadvantage than the one with an A1. But how do we know for sure that the one with a C6 who attain full marks for one or two of his 4 subjects is inferior to the one with an A1? Well... Life is always unfair.

Darkness_hacker99 SG

Ya. I also think so. This forum dont have thread moving function leh

Wahhahahahz Laughing

surferpunk SG

well… we are agonising, aren’t we? lol…