singaporeolevelmaths Tips

Away from 12 – 21 Nov 2009

alwaysLovely — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:32:00 +0000

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‘O’ levels & Sec 3 Math & Chemistry Holiday Programmes 2010 (Revision & Headstart)

alwaysLovely — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:29:29 +0000

Credit: Art Institute of Portland

Most Secondary two students would have received your streaming results, stating the subject combinations for Sec 3 for year 2010, haven’t you?

I hope you like the combination as you are going to eat, sleep and breathe those subjects.

For Secondary three students, I hope most if not all of you have been promoted to Sec 4. Pat yourself if you have done well. If you haven’t done well, what are you going to do this holiday?

Regardless if you are Sec three or ‘O’ level students next year, are you ready to rock & roll?

We are excited for 2010!

You don’t have to do everything during this holidays, you just need to do 1 – 2 right things while enjoying your break. I’m not even talking about doing your holiday assignments.

If your concepts aren’t great, build them up by re-learning them!
If you aren’t practicing enough, start working on sums, doing your five/ten years series!
If you hate the subject or have no interest, use this holiday to decide if you are intending to continue or give up, find time sit down and read about the subject, get a friend to explain the annoying concepts to you

“The moment you say ‘I know everything’ is the end of your growth.”

If you like to experience learning with a difference, spend your holidays more meaningfully, enrich yourself in these ‘O’ level Math or Chemistry, we would like to extend the invitation to join us at our December Holiday Mastery Workshops & Essential Concepts Revision Programme!

Click here for more details.
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Parents Beware! (My Response to Today Papers on ‘PSLE Tuition Ad’)

alwaysLovely — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:25:34 +0000

It’s holidays! Well at least for a big group of students. I know there are still another group who are sitting for their ‘O’, ‘A’ levels! Gambatte! (Japan phase for ‘Go for it’, ‘Try your best!)

Students are busy planning their activities while parents are also busy planning! But planning activities (holiday courses, revision classes, registration for tuition classes for 2010, overseas holidays…) for their kids!

So I thought it’s a suitable time for me to share an article I wrote to TODAY.

Last week in Today Papers, there was a big article on ‘PSLE Tuition Ad’ which claims to have SEAB (Singapore Examination & Assessment Board) setters conducting intensive revision programmes for PSLE and ‘O’ levels.

Below is the exact article I have written (unpublished as of now):

Parents Beware!

I was appalled when I read the article on ‘PSLE tuition ad’(26 Oct, Mon) for making such bold and misleading claim on exam setters providing revision programme for PSLE and ‘O’ levels.

Logically, parents should know that in such national examinations like PSLE and ‘O’ levels, the confidentiality of questions and the panel of setters are kept to the highest level, ensuring fairness for every candidate.

This makes the claims of the advertisement highly questionable.

Being in the education industry, I wasn’t surprised that there were parents who might call to find out more and perhaps even signed their children for the programmes. Afterall, education is one of the top priorities in Singapore and committed parents will do whatever it takes to help their children in the stressful examination period.

That being said, since finding the right programmes and centres are so crucial, parents ought to be aware of some of the commonly ‘misused’ terms like ’school teachers’, ‘MOE-registered teachers’, ‘MOE-registered centres’.

I run a training company specialize in the coaching of ‘O’ level Mathematics and Chemistry. We have received calls, making enquiries of our programmes and the background of our trainers. Some of the commonly asked questions are: ‘Is your centre MOE-registered and endorsed by MOE?’ and ‘Are you a school teacher?’

Myth 1: MOE-registered learning and tuition centres represent an endorsement or accreditation by MOE

Tuition and learning centres are considered as private school when they register with Ministry of Education (MOE) but do not in any way represent an endorsement or accreditation by MOE.

As stated clearly on MOE website: ‘Registration by MOE does not in any way represent an endorsement or accreditation of the quality of the schools, courses offered and the teachers permitted to teach these courses.’ (http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/private-education/school-registration/)

Myth 2: ‘School teachers’, ‘MOE-registered teachers’ went through formal NIE training.

During the registration of tuition or learning centres under ‘private school’ category, teaching staff is also registered with MOE.

Many tuition and learning centres leverage on this perception of ’school teachers’ and use it as part of their marketing gimmick.

They would usually tell parents that they have a team of ’school teachers’ or ‘MOE-registered teachers’.

Many parents have this wrong perception that ’school teachers’ or ‘MOE-registered teachers’ in tuition or learning centres are experienced current or ex-school teachers who are familiar with syllabus, teaching methodology and have gone through the formal National Institute of Education (NIE) training.

This might not be true in all instances.

In summary, I would strongly urge parents to ask for referrals and recommendations from friends and relatives with regards to choosing suitable tuition or coaching programmes. They should also personally call to find out more of the tutors and trainers who would be teaching their children instead of relying on misleading advertisements! One way to determine the quality of the tuition or coaching programmes offered is to look at the centres’ testimonials from their ex-students (and their parents).

I hope parents would find this article useful and if there are any terms which you aren’t sure, drop me a comment and I’ll do my best.

Please send this article to your friends by clicking on the ‘Share this‘ button (found at towards the end of the page) who would benefit from this as well.

Original news article: (click on image for a larger view)

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