When I was in primary school in the 1950s, I remembered that the students who could not pass the examination had to stay back at the same level for one year. This probably applied to less than 10% of each cohort.
I find this to be a better way, compared to "streaming" that was adopted in the 1980s. When students are streamed to a non-Express class, they are stigmatized and it is quite glaring. This turned out to be a worse system.
Do you prefer the system used in the 1950s or the streaming system today?
I find this to be a better way, compared to "streaming" that was adopted in the 1980s. When students are streamed to a non-Express class, they are stigmatized and it is quite glaring. This turned out to be a worse system.
Do you prefer the system used in the 1950s or the streaming system today?
Mr. Tan, you just mentioned the downside of the system what about the upside? I heard from some people that if you are exceptionally good, you can jump grades. How will this compare to the present day streaming?
ReplyDelete@11:51 am. Please provide a name in the future. Ir is quite difficult to reply to a person who is known only as 11:51 am.
ReplyDeleteI do not quite understand your question, but I will try to give an answer.
When I was in Primary 3, my mother and uncle thought that I was smart enough to jump grade. My uncle saw the principal, who was wise in advising that I stay in my current year. So, I had an easy time for the next 10 years.
I found that, in general, the children born in the earlier months of the year tend to do better than those borne towards the end of the year. If the student born in December stayed back for one year, there are only just a few months older than the rest of their classmates.
Everyone can learn anything.
ReplyDeleteIt is knowing HOW YOU LEARN
This is the task of the MOE. To identify the student's learning style.
A one style approach is ineffective and many will fall through and appear to be "stupid". Those who manage to scrape through do so by learning through rote and memory which produces people without analytical skills.
Streaming is based on results.
Which is dependent on performance in memory. Memory is affected by emotions. You either remember bad or good feelings that is linked to your ability to remember details.
These are unconscious behaviours and we do not recognise it ourselves.
An observer may be able to identify our learning styles better. That is the teacher.
But, alas.. KPI is more important then learning. So, the exams and test of memory continues.
Learning takes place when application is observed and deep learning occurs when transfer of skill into another environment is succesful.
And MOE does not believe it is their role to do it.
Streaming seems to be a way which works primarily to concentrate the limited teaching resources (experienced teachers, classroom time, etc) to the brighter students. If we stick to the education system of today, which is to push students to get their certificates, there is hardly any other better way.
ReplyDeleteStudents who are streamed to the weaker bands but are still pushed along to higher levels suffer a lot. Too many of them hence gave up. Seen it myself.
Nice
ReplyDeleteI remembered vividly on the model in the past.
ReplyDeleteI have see merits in the system; however, I do have friends who despite retaining for a year, they are still unable to pass the mark. We just need to recognize that there are some of people who are not academically inclined and in fact, they are better off learning a skill set and excel.
In my opinion, I think we will need to be smart on our education system i.e. as teachers, we will need to evaluate individual learning interest and capabilities whether given another year, will the student make it and a good outcome is expected.
I don't favour the old system of retaining the student if he cannot pass the mark. In neighbourhood schools, these pupils face much ridicule and stigmatization from both fellow peers and teachers.
ReplyDeleteClassmates don't want to be like them.
Teachers openly ask, "Do you want to be failures like them? Work harder," in front of the class and retainees.
How does this sound like a better system?