Ha! Have you all read this article (ST today)?
'Jump in locals enrolling in international schools here'
Here are excerpts:
There has been a nearly fivefold increase in the number of Singaporean students in international schools here since 2002.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said 975 Singaporeans are currently enrolled in some of the 40 international schools here, a big jump from the reported figure of 200 five years ago.
Their parents pay as much as $2,000 a month.
This growing number does not include Singaporeans attending the international arm of three local schools - Anglo-Chinese School (International), Hwa Chong International and St Joseph's Institution (SJI) International.
The attraction of the international schools, which cater mainly to children of expatriates, includes smaller class sizes, the broad-based International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, less emphasis on examinations and wider choice of second-language subjects.
Some parents whose children have special learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, also opt for international schools as they have teachers trained in dealing with special needs children.
However, parents have to seek the MOE's nod to enrol their children in international schools. Approval is given only for exceptional reasons, such as when the child has lived abroad for a long time...
One parent who made the switch is Mrs Mae Anderson, a Singaporean married to an American. She had enrolled her older daughter, Sarah, now 11, in a top local school but decided to transfer her in the middle of Primary 2 to the Singapore American School (SAS).
Mrs Anderson, who runs a local charity, made the switch because she felt there was an over-emphasis on exam results and a lack of attention to extra-curricular activities and community service in the local school.
'I feel that a holistic education is crucial,' she said...
Mrs Poh Bee Davis, who sends her 12-year-old daughter Tara and 14-year-old son Tynan to the United World College of South East Asia in Dover Road, likes the smaller class sizes as children get more individual attention.
Class sizes in international schools range from 15 to 25 students per class, compared to 40 in local schools.
Mrs Christina Ong, an image consultant and trainer who transferred her dyslexic son Gerald from a local school to the International School Singapore when he was in Secondary 3, said local schools do have their strengths.
She said: 'My older son thrived in one. But it was not suited for my dyslexic younger son. He managed till Secondary 3, but it was a real struggle without any special help for him.
'Now he is happier and working harder in his studies, even in maths, which he doesn't like very much.'
I don't think the issues mentioned here are new or unexpected. I reckon more would jump at the chance if they had the opportunity and the cash.
'Jump in locals enrolling in international schools here'
Here are excerpts:
There has been a nearly fivefold increase in the number of Singaporean students in international schools here since 2002.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said 975 Singaporeans are currently enrolled in some of the 40 international schools here, a big jump from the reported figure of 200 five years ago.
Their parents pay as much as $2,000 a month.
This growing number does not include Singaporeans attending the international arm of three local schools - Anglo-Chinese School (International), Hwa Chong International and St Joseph's Institution (SJI) International.
The attraction of the international schools, which cater mainly to children of expatriates, includes smaller class sizes, the broad-based International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, less emphasis on examinations and wider choice of second-language subjects.
Some parents whose children have special learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, also opt for international schools as they have teachers trained in dealing with special needs children.
However, parents have to seek the MOE's nod to enrol their children in international schools. Approval is given only for exceptional reasons, such as when the child has lived abroad for a long time...
One parent who made the switch is Mrs Mae Anderson, a Singaporean married to an American. She had enrolled her older daughter, Sarah, now 11, in a top local school but decided to transfer her in the middle of Primary 2 to the Singapore American School (SAS).
Mrs Anderson, who runs a local charity, made the switch because she felt there was an over-emphasis on exam results and a lack of attention to extra-curricular activities and community service in the local school.
'I feel that a holistic education is crucial,' she said...
Mrs Poh Bee Davis, who sends her 12-year-old daughter Tara and 14-year-old son Tynan to the United World College of South East Asia in Dover Road, likes the smaller class sizes as children get more individual attention.
Class sizes in international schools range from 15 to 25 students per class, compared to 40 in local schools.
Mrs Christina Ong, an image consultant and trainer who transferred her dyslexic son Gerald from a local school to the International School Singapore when he was in Secondary 3, said local schools do have their strengths.
She said: 'My older son thrived in one. But it was not suited for my dyslexic younger son. He managed till Secondary 3, but it was a real struggle without any special help for him.
'Now he is happier and working harder in his studies, even in maths, which he doesn't like very much.'
I don't think the issues mentioned here are new or unexpected. I reckon more would jump at the chance if they had the opportunity and the cash.
Comments
I was going through some blogs and found this site. You have some very interesting comments in your posts.
I agree with you that Maths today is very different from our time. In fact, the exam questions get tougher by the year.
You can check it out in my blog.
Nice knowing you.
Excel
http://road-to-psle.blogspot.com
Hey, another Road to PSLE blog!
So the questions are tougher? According to SEAB, the difficulty level of the exam paper (and the children's performance) is about the same every year...
What?! there's another road to psle?! But that one really deserves the title; mine is a bit of a misnomer.
I also considered putting my kids in an international school but that's not an option for most of us.
I like your posts n comments on issues. Keep it up will ya!
I think your blog name is still suitable. You are just on a different road to the PSLE.
Ya, the road to international schools is blocked for most of us, not least by the exorbitant fees (among other things). I also read about the long waiting lists. Imagine being #201 on the wait list for Australian School...
Hi Ling,
Welcome here! You have such a cute mummy blog!