Your remarks on your sg education system experience
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Yes i used to do SPA in JC too!Originally posted by Icemoon:Actually our education system is really world class you know? The goal set by MOE is there, just that schools have trouble implementing it 'cos of variety of reasons.
For example, science now is not about regurgitation. Heard of SPA? The closest encounter I had to SPA was in JC, back then they called it design experiments.
Now SPA is there in the secondary school pure science syllabus.
40% weightage -
40% of practical you mean? I remember it was a rather small component and we all basically heck care.Originally posted by vIn.Warrior:Yes i used to do SPA in JC too!
40% weightage
But the fact is, now MOE pushes it down to secondary school level. So students have to think like scientists ah. See .. all thanks to our world class education system. -
My exp with Singapore education system :
- World-class curriculum and student support ... but only for specific subjects. eg maths, science related. Support for arts subjects is still pretty third-world.
- Decidedly high cost of tertiary education for locals, for all the government's stance on how important it is
- Highly segregated, from different streams to what I call the great big poly and uni class divide.
- Does not cater to late bloomers
- The difference between teaching methods and material in SAP schools are vastly different to those in government schools (I compared notes with my siblings.. I was shocked at how different their homework / tests were compared to mine for the same year/subject)
- students threatened, forced to drop CCAs / less "valuable" subjects (even if you clearly excel at them) if they are not very good at an unrelated, but more "valuable" subject
- Fickle with new methods/ideas (pertaining to curriculum and teaching). These are introduced with a bang whether or not they've been planned thoroughly enough, afterwhich they are neglected and expected to float on their own.. few years later they're dropped at the drop of a hat due to less than desirable results (the only obvious outcome of a lack of planning beforehand and support afterwards).. we end up with many "guinea pig" batches of students (eg GEP, IP.. special/express stream etc) who're basically the ones who lose out
- students encouraged to be "creative" and to get involved in extra-curricular activities... but students are not given the room to do so.. and they're sometimes even penalised for it! (eg students are asked to paraphrase, but when a student *does* do a good job of paraphrasing, she gets marked down because the teacher herself cannot recognize the same points in different words - yes, this happened to me many times)
- teachers only spoonfeeding students textbook information.. always emphasizing "don't try to be smart, just follow the book and then u can score well"... not entertaining requests for further explanation either due to time constraints or own lack of knowledge (related to afore-mentioned point)
My exp with Australian education system :
- Simple, flexible, non-judgmental and relaxed pre-university curriculum that's hard to fail but also hard to excel at. Many say there is a lack of focus and guidance - it does not adequately prepare its students for the leap to University standards.
- curriculum and teaching methods are pretty much uniform throughout schools in each state.
- However, the above allows for students to really explore into their own interests/develop a real passion and in many cases actually force the students to look forward to learning more so they can stay competitive, instead of dreading school like in Singapore. Typical Australian student: "It's my passion, that's why I must excel in it".. Typical Singaporean student: "Die die cannot lose. Huh? Simi passion. All A1, be can liao!"
- Tertiary education is very different from pre-university education, both in terms of system and competitiveness. It is much more difficult and many subjects have high entrance requirements. Post-VCE, many students are caught by surprise.
- Pre-university: you may face a few instances of racist crap but in fairly strong doses.. even if you clearly demonstrate superior linguistic abilities and are articulate to a fault, if you don't act almost exactly like an Aussie, you'll be treated like a stranger.. you'll feel the barrier. There'll be a handful of small-town morons who will shun you / discriminate against you (sometimes even teachers) / continue to talk to you in a condescending tone / deliberately slow pace (well.. now you know how minorities/PRC in Singapore feel).
- As an International student, you should never expect to have more privileges than a local (and if you ask for it, they will tell it to your face). You typically pay 3-5 times more than local students in terms of course fees (not taking into account any additional govt subsidies these students may have)
- In Singapore, students can call their teachers on their mobile phones in the middle of the night if they encounter problems, say, while studying for "tomorrow's" difficult paper. In Australia, that's called harassment.
- You are not being "rude" or "trying to be smart/funny" if you correct a teacher during class (politely), giving long and well-articulated answers, or give creative input, and in the event that you disagree with how a teacher marked your creative work, you can appeal to the school to have different teachers review those marks without fear of backlash
- Teachers don't spoonfeed. Students have alot of freedom with how they want to use their time, and nagging from teachers is minimal, so the curriculum/course may seem relaxed... although it is not. As I said, it's easy to pass.. but not to excel.. because this is not about how well you regurgitate information, and no one will hold your hand. Many Asian/Singaporean students are not used to this. While they can may do relatively well in VCE, they often struggle in University. -
If you spend too much time as an undergraduate in your Singapore researching your own interests, you end up losing..
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That is why in Australia, I do better. I always do something related to my own interests. I argue against conventions regardless of whether it is work or study. I am more for acting on evidence. In Australia, I can actually debate with young fresh medical graduates in clinical matters and they take it into consideration when treating the patient. Even had a registrar agreeing with me a few times. In Singapore, it is called insubordination but in Australia, it is called guiding young doctors as part of the nursing duties.Originally posted by LazerLordz:If you spend too much time as an undergraduate in your Singapore researching your own interests, you end up losing..
Out of nursing now, I still debate with my senior officers and they take it into consideration. They call it getting "fresh ideas" in Australia and then I kenna the grand job of writing a proposal. I actually implemented a few proposals I suggested to them and now one whole branch is using the implementation of one proposal. In Singapore, it is still called insubordination. -
Hah... after coming back from Australia, I started working for a Singapore-based MNC, telecom industry... I guess I was too used to the sort of environment you described, and heck my face is still sore from being slapped with that whole "insubordination" crap. In Singapore it's just "shrug, what to do?" and.. "you can't do anything about it either and you'd better not try".
Do you have alot of ideas and are outspoken? Then you're a "troublemaker". It really confused me. In the end, my boss actually convinced the execs to have me fired for it. *wince* Yah, just that - "insubordination". Long story.
I've learnt my lesson now, of course. I just shut up and play dumb.. I've done some planning and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to bail out of here soon. I can't wait. Mouth very itchy, brain restless. lol. soon, soon! *assures self*Originally posted by fymk:
That is why in Australia, I do better. I always do something related to my own interests. I argue against conventions regardless of whether it is work or study. I am more for acting on evidence. In Australia, I can actually debate with young fresh medical graduates in clinical matters and they take it into consideration when treating the patient. Even had a registrar agreeing with me a few times. In Singapore, [b]it is called insubordination but in Australia, it is called guiding young doctors as part of the nursing duties.
Out of nursing now, I still debate with my senior officers and they take it into consideration. They call it getting "fresh ideas" in Australia and then I kenna the grand job of writing a proposal. I actually implemented a few proposals I suggested to them and now one whole branch is using the implementation of one proposal. In Singapore, it is still called insubordination.
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Not aimed at intelligence but only "do or die" mentality...
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Originally posted by spinsugar:
Alot of ideas and yes I speak up alot. So kenna insubordination threats alot in Singapore.
Hah... after coming back from Australia, I started working for a Singapore-based MNC, telecom industry... I guess I was too used to the sort of environment you described, and heck my face is still sore from being slapped with that whole [b]"insubordination" crap. In Singapore it's just "shrug, what to do?" and.. "you can't do anything about it either and you'd better not try".
Do you have alot of ideas and are outspoken? Then you're a "troublemaker". It really confused me. In the end, my boss actually convinced the execs to have me fired for it. *wince* Yah, just that - "insubordination". Long story.
I've learnt my lesson now, of course. I just shut up and play dumb.. I've done some planning and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to bail out of here soon. I can't wait. Mouth very itchy, brain restless. lol. soon, soon! *assures self*
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I already got out while I could. At least my Australian employers like my ideas. -
Failures are the mother of success. So keep trying.Originally posted by fymk:Alot of ideas and yes I speak up alot. So kenna insubordination threats alot in Singapore.
I already got out while I could. At least my Australian employers like my ideas. -
you are not alone.Originally posted by fymk:Alot of ideas and yes I speak up alot. So kenna insubordination threats alot in Singapore.
I already got out while I could. At least my Australian employers like my ideas. -
The topic is open to all views and please feel free to comment on any level.Originally posted by Wega007:wow.. like that ppl have to write essay.. from Pre school all the way up to Uni level..
or you are concern with Uni?
at different level, I believe answers will be different.
No one needs to be perfect before he can comment in this thread.
I am a learner . You guys are my teacher. -
Actually, this aspect is up to the People to effect this change, if there is really such a problem.Originally posted by LazerLordz:If you spend too much time as an undergraduate in your Singapore researching your own interests, you end up losing..
In fact, to me, as a believer in democracy, many policies also can be influenced by the people. The people hold the votes and mandate comes from the People and not self-given to anybody.
Thus, we should be reminded that whatever needs to be improved, the People can actually effect the needful change, if there is one.
Never under-estimate what a democratic citizen can contribute to his motherland.
As long as its for the better. The People must be held responsible. -
- You are not being "rude" or "trying to be smart/funny" if you correct a teacher during class (politely), giving long and well-articulated answers, or give creative input, and in the event that you disagree with how a teacher marked your creative work, you can appeal to the school to have different teachers review those marks without fear of backlash
Actually, not so in SG, if you meet really good teachers and if you are logical. So far, only one has given me a bad grade, but that's because our thinkings clash. While she agreed that insights gained and whatever stuffs learnt are different issues, she had another idea on how I should present that, not being blatantly honest and said that I gained NO insights. Well, maybe, but until now, I've yet to understand that.
SG teachers are like some kind of computer systems, extremely logical. Don't try creative ways with them, but be logical with them. If you could show that something wouldn't work, that's fine with them.
But of course, some things are better kept to yourselves. Asia, after all, isn't so open-minded, and some will really mind when a junior points out the error of a senior, who has always done something in some fashion.
Maybe it's selfish, but I believe that if it endangers my future to a very big extent, that secret will be kept with me for as long till they discovered it.
Edit: typos.