djchris

SINGAPORE: Singapore should reform the assessment system in its schools - says MP Denise Phua who has spoken out against what she calls the "T-Score Syndrome".

The T-Score refers to the aggregate marks obtained by students in the Primary 6 School Leaving Examination.

During the debate in Parliament on Thursday, the MP for Jalan Besar says if she had her way with the budget - she would first spend some money and effort in reforming the assessment system.

Next, she'll reform the minds of all Singaporeans.

This is so that one's potential or talent can be measured by more than his or her academic score.

Ms Phua said, "Just last month, a very able mainstream Secondary School principal told me how disappointed he was because his students did not fare as well in the GCE as in the previous year. I know of a boy who failed his GCE this year and was refused by his school to stay on to try another year because his poor results will affect the overall standing of the school. Come close to the season of the release of PSLE and GCE results, the conversation of almost everyone is still centred around exam scores - every other achievement is greeted with a polite smile, not 'congratulations!'."

The Acting Principal of Pathlight School added, "Even when I was helping out with the Enabling MasterPlan for the disabled, I was asked to highlight the excellent PSLE results my students with autism have achieved, to impress the funders of my school that they are worth the investment."

Yet she said many know that high academic scores do not necessarily make great leaders or workers.

Ms Phua recounted how one of her top performing staff and an ex-creative director said he was scoffed at when he chose the design school route instead of going to university.

She said, "Another one of my colleagues, Dennis Tan, GCE O-level-holder, single-handedly created an Enrichment Activity Unit now offering countless special needs children with holiday programs. These children were previously rejected by other enrichment program providers who think that they are too much of a trouble."

Her conclusion: there's merit in installing a formal "Portfolio Assessment" system instead.

This is so that the potential and talent of a student - and eventually an adult - is measured by a visible portfolio of not just his examination scores, but also his contributions in other areas like the arts and to the community. - CNA/yy

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fuyumi

With such a principal, it is no wonder students lose motivation to learn. During my sec sch days, I had one teacher who told us t give up a certain subject as a choice in out O levels becos it may pull down the passing mark too. I was totally shock at how a teacher can say such a thing.

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GreenShell

Actually, if your teacher asked you to drop a sub which you're very weak in, he/she is helping you because firstly, you'd not see some poor grade for that sub reflected on your Cert, secondly, you can spend the time studying for that subject on other subs which you know you can focus and get better grades.

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fuyumi

True but if the teacher had explained it in that manner, I believe the students would have understood her thoughts. Unfortunately, it wasn't that way.

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StMichael

This is one of the reason why I left the MOE - the fact that the assessment grades are EVERYTHING. No matter what they may say otherwise, at the end of the day, the assessment grades are EVERYTHING.

Michael Chan
Shanghai, China
Teaching and living in Shanghai:
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vgohyk

I just don't feel good at how Singapore is progressing lately. It's been.. too much.

GreenShell

Sometimes, teachers feel that whatever they say will be deemed common sense and right, and maybe that's why they don't find a need to explain in that details? No offence to any teachers here. >.<

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Shyraiiyann

well-being no longer important already
i remember how i used to top lit, top this top tt,
nobody bothered to tell me it was something worth praising

until i lost them all.
they said i was no longer able.

StMichael

No offence at all. It happens to anybody, not just teachers - we all have certain assumptions and perceptions that we carry with us throughout our lives. Some teachers may feel that her assumption does not hold at the other end, and would explain, while some may not think that way.

Michael Chan
Shanghai, China
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GreenShell

Yup, maybe we should just mention that Teachers merely advising us in a more... confusing ways, in which, make us think that it's better to listen to them than losing our way through? Not sure! :biggrin4:

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MamaRos

I would like to add that aside from academic intelligence, students must also learn how to be morally n socially intelligent. What we get now are super kids with high grades but possessing no sense of right or wrong in their lifestyles and also no ability at all in people skills.

This has resulted in a lot of problems for the HR Department of companies - on one hand, they have a wide choice of Ugrads applying for positions in their firms. On the other hand, being academically smart, these workers learn as much as they can from their job and without batting an eyelid, resigned for another company, citing their work 'experience' as justifiable for them to get another $100 more. The cycle does not end there. Young graduates are known to have worked in no less than 9 companies in a 3 years' period and the segment of 'Job Experience' is at least 3 pages long.

Where's the moral principal of being loyal to a company? It's non-existent in this day and age. What's the reason for leaving a job? My colleagues, my boss is usually the reason. Why apply for another job so soon? That company is offering me $100 more.

Academic achievements = more money.

That is terrible and very very wrong!:disgust2:

It is not the place, nor the condition, but the mind alone that can make anyone happy or miserable.
Roger L'Estrange

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