SINGAPORE : Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes will have
a single intake for its first-year students from end of January in
2009.
The Education Ministry said this was possible as the Singapore
Examinations and Assessment Board would be taking greater control
of the GCE 'O' Level examination from this year.
On average, Serangoon Junior College loses more than half of its
Year One students between the first and second intake. (About 60
percent)
This has put the school at a slight disadvantage.
Lim Lay Peng, Head of Department of Pastoral Care at Serangoon
Junior College, said: "We have a syllabus to complete, because of
the high turnover, we have to spend precious curriculum time going
through the students what was covered in the first intake unlike
other JCs where their turnover rate is not so high, they do not
have to re-teach, they can just continue with the syllabus, they
can save time there."
Time is also saved from not having to plan for two separate
time-tables and orientation programmes.
Under the single intake system, the 'O' level results will be
released in early January 2009, with posting results available
later that month.
Students will also have an additional three weeks break before
school term starts in late January, compared with the current
system.
Elson Ong, First Year Student at Serangoon Junior College, said:
"If you have only one intake you just need to focus mainly on the
'O' levels, then you can spend the most of the Sec 4 pursuing
leadership qualities, participating in outdoor activities or maybe
going on overseas attachment programmes."
But some students still prefer the two intake system as it enables
them to find out more about junior college education.
Wilson Heng, First Year Student at Serangoon Junior College, said:
"I like the current system because it lets me see if I want to have
a JC life or poly life, and it will give me a chance to choose the
subjects I want to take for my 'A' levels."
With the revised school calendar, the JCs will share six common
weeks of school holidays with the polytechnics and up to 12 common
weeks with the Primary and Secondary schools.
The Education Ministry said this would allow families with children
studying in different educational levels to spend more time
together.
It will streamline the processes for the 'O' Level examinations and
Joint Admission Exercise. - CNA/de