Six top independent schools in Singapore, including Hwa Chong Institution, have had their funding cut

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/funding-cuts-top-independent-schools-spore-20140203

Six top independent schools in Singapore, including Hwa Chong Institution, have had their funding cut and, along with other mission schools, have been told to moderate fund-raising activities for campus upgrading. — ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

By Sandra Davie Senior Education Correspondent

Six top independent schools in Singapore have had their funding cut and, along with other mission schools, have been told to moderate fund-raising activities for campus upgrading.

In addition, they will have to comply with a new directive urging all schools with air-conditioned classrooms to install fans and use air-conditioning only when necessary.

The six schools rank among the top in the Singapore education scene, comprising the Raffles secondary schools and its junior college, Hwa Chong Institution, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and NUS High School of Mathematics and Science.

They all run both the Integrated Programme (IP) and Gifted Education Programme (GEP). The IP provides a seamless secondary and junior college education with students bypassing the O levels. The GEP caters to students in the top 1 to 2 per cent of their cohort.

Continue reading at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/funding-cuts-top-independent-schools-spore-20140203

Jurong West Secondary vice-principal takes issue with ‘every school is a good school’ ideal

Source: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/jurong-west-secondary-vice-principal-takes-issue-with-%E2%80%98every-school-is-a-good-school–ideal-103224519.html

By Chiu Peace | Yahoo Newsroom

Jurong West Secondary vice-principal takes issue with ‘every school is a good school’ ideal. (Screengrab of Google Maps)

“How many of our leaders and top officers who say that every school is a good school put their children in ordinary schools near their home? (Only) until they actually do so are parents going to buy (it).”

Those were the exact words of Jurong West Secondary School (JWSS) vice-principal Pushparani Nadarajah, who was responding to speakers and teachers’ discussions of making every school a good one at the inaugural AsiaEducationExpo (AEX) 2013, according to a report by The Straits Times.

During the first panel discussion, which was attended by about 200 participants, several educators expressed hope that parents would recognise the efforts of all schools to bring out the best in students.

The neighbourhood school’s vice principal’s startling remark drew applause from those who attended the event.

A 37-year-old mother, who has a primary-school-going child and another child attending pre-school, who did not want to be named, told Yahoo Singapore she agrees with the vice-principal’s comments.

“Look at the ministers, most of them are from good schools, like SJI and Hwa Chong,” she said.

Continue reading at http://sg.news.yahoo.com/jurong-west-secondary-vice-principal-takes-issue-with-%E2%80%98every-school-is-a-good-school–ideal-103224519.html

JC Cut Off Points

JC Cut Off Points (COP)

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Aggregate Scores of Junior Colleges (JC)

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RJC Cut Off Points: Arts 3, Science 3
HCI Cut Off Points: Arts 3, Science 3
VJC Cut Off Points: Arts 5, Science 4
NJC Cut Off Points: Arts 5, Science 5
ACS(I) Cut Off Points: Science 5
ACJC Cut Off Points: Arts 7, Science 6
TJC Cut Off Points: Arts 7, Science 6
AJC Cut Off Points: Arts 10, Science 8
MJC Cut Off Points: Arts 9, Science 9
NYJC Cut Off Points: Arts 9, Science 9
SAJC Cut Off Points: Arts 9, Science 9
CJC Cut Off Points: Arts 10, Science 10
SRJC Cut Off Points: Arts 13, Science 13
TPJC Cut Off Points: Arts 13, Science 14
JJC Cut Off Points: Arts 13, Science 16
PJC Cut Off Points: Arts 16, Science 16
YJC Cut Off Points: Arts 20, Science 20
IJC Cut Off Points: Arts 20, Science 20

L1R5 aggregate scores/ Cut Off Points (with bonus points) of students admitted to JCs in the 2012 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE).

Junior College	Arts	Science/IB
Anderson JC	10	8
Anglo-Chinese JC	7	6
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)	–	5
Catholic JC	10	10
Hwa Chong Institution	3	3
Innova JC	20	20
Jurong JC	13	16
Meridian JC	9	9
Nanyang JC	9	9
National JC	5	5
Pioneer JC	16	16
Raffles Institution	3	3
Serangoon JC	13	13
St. Andrew’s JC	9	9
St. Joseph Institution	–	–
Tampines JC	13	14
Temasek JC	7	6
Victoria JC	5	4
Yishun JC	20	20

Source: http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/jae/files/jae-info.pdf

http://www.dunearn.edu.sg/students/junior-college-admission-cut-off-points-2013

JC Cut Off Points (Bonus Points)

For students seeking admission to JC/Poly/ITE and with the following CCA grades:a. Grades of A1 – A2 (2 points)b. Grades of B3 – C6 (1 point)

For students seeking admission to JC/MI courses and with grades of A1 to C6 in both their first languages (i.e. English and a Higher Mother Tongue). This is provided that these choices come before any Poly/ITE choices.(2 points)

For students seeking admission to JC/MI courses and with grades of A1 to C6 in Malay/Chinese (Special Programme) (MSP/CSP) or Bahasa Indonesia (BI) as their third language. This is provided that these choices come before any Poly/ITE choices.(2 points)

For students from feeder schools if they choose their affiliated Junior College course(s) as their:a. 1st choice, or b. 1st and 2nd choices. (2 points)

The bonus points can be deducted from their total points, and will be helpful to enter the JC (depending on the JC’s Cut Off Points). Theoretical Minimum Score is 0 points (if under CLEP or MLEP programme), otherwise minimum score is 2 points.

Academic grading in Singapore: How many marks to get A in Maths for PSLE, O Levels, A Levels

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_grading_in_Singapore

Singapore‘s grading system in schools is differentiated by the existence of many types of institutions with different education foci and systems. The grading systems that are used at Primary, Secondary, and Junior College levels are the most fundamental to the local system used.

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Primary 5 to 6 standard stream

A*: 91% and above
A: 75% to 90%
B: 60% to 74%
C: 50% to 59%
D: 35% to 49%
E: 20% to 34%
U: Below 20%

Overall grade (Secondary schools)

A1: 75% and above
A2: 70% to 74%
B3: 65% to 69%
B4: 60% to 64%
C5: 55% to 59%
C6: 50% to 54%
D7: 45% to 49%
E8: 40% to 44%
F9: Below 40%

The GPA table for Raffles Girls’ School and Raffles Institution (Secondary) is as below:

Grade	Percentage	Grade point
A+	80-100	4.0
A	70-79	3.6
B+	65-69	3.2
B	60-64	2.8
C+	55-59	2.4
C	50-54	2.0
D	45-49	1.6
E	40-44	1.2
F	<40	0.8

The GPA table differs from school to school, with schools like Dunman High School excluding the grades “C+” and “B+”(meaning grades 50-59 is counted a C, vice-versa) However, in other secondary schools like Hwa Chong Institution and Victoria School, there is also a system called MSG (mean subject grade) which is similar to GPA that is used.

Grade	Percentage	Grade point
A1	75-100	1
A2	70-74	2
B3	65-69	3
B4	60-64	4
C5	55-59	5
C6	50-54	6
D7	45-49	7
E8	40-44	8
F9	<40	9

The mean subject grade is calculated by adding the points together, then divided by the number of subjects. For example, if a student got A1 for math and B3 for English, his MSG would be (1+3)/2 = 2.

O levels grades

A1: 75% and above
A2: 70% to 74%
B3: 65% to 69%
B4: 60% to 64%
C5: 55% to 59%
C6: 50% to 54%
D7: 45% to 49%
E8: 40% to 44%
F9: Below 40%

The results also depends on the bell curve.

Junior college level (GCE A and AO levels)

A: 70% and above
B: 60% to 69%
C: 55% to 59%
D: 50% to 54%
E: 45% to 49% (passing grade)
S: 40% to 44% (denotes standard is at AO level only), grade N in the British A Levels.
U: Below 39%