WALKING THE JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH YOUR CHILD Doing what Matters Most Getting to Know One Another How different is 2017 from 2016? How are you feeling now? WHERE CAN MY CHILD GO? Education Pathways for O Level Students Education Pathways for O-Level Students World of Work / Junior Colleges / Continuing Education Millennia Institute and Training (CET) 2-3 years GCE A-Level GCE Polytechnics Universities O-Level 3 years Diploma Institute of Technical Private Schools and Education Institutions 1-3 years 4-6 years Nitec / Higher Nitec Alternative Qualifications There are TWO admission exercises that your children can take part in before getting their O Level results: 1. DSA-JC 2. EAE Direct Admissions Exercises (DSA-JC & EAE) DSA-JC: Direct School Admissions to JC and EAE: Early Admissions Exercise to Polytechnics are admission exercises that allow students to confirm their places in JCs or the polytechnics prior to their GCE O-Level examinations. Direct Admissions Exercises (DSA-JC & EAE) What are these admissions exercises about? • Admission exercises that allow students to apply according to their aptitudes, interests and achievements. • Allows polytechnics and JCs to select and admit students on criteria beyond just academic grades. Direct Admissions Exercises (DSA-JC & EAE) When to Apply? Applications generally open from June onwards. (For JCs/CIs – browse through the individual JC/CI sites for exact dates) (For Polytechnics - https://eae.polytechnic.edu.sg/eaeStudIns/menu.jsp) Direct Admissions Exercises (DSA-JC & EAE) • Need to meet the eligibility criteria. • Are not allowed to transfer to another school after the release of the O-Level examination results as they are expected to honour their commitments to their posted schools. • Are not allowed to participate in the annual Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) or the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE). Direct Admissions Exercises (DSA-JC & EAE) Students who accept more than one DSA-JC and/or EAE offer will be disqualified from both exercises. Other than the two admissions exercises, most students will go through the most common admissions exercise: 1. JAE Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) Allows you to apply for courses offered by: ■ Junior Colleges (JCs) ■ Millennia Institute (MI) ■ Polytechnics ■ Institute of Technical Education (ITE) https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/jae Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) There are currently 18 JCs in Singapore offering 2-year pre- university courses: 10.National JC 1. Anderson JC 11.Pioneer JC 2. Anglo-Chinese JC 12.Raffles Institution 3. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 13.St. Andrew’s JC 4. Catholic JC 5. Hwa Chong Institution 14.St. Joseph’s Institution 6. Innova JC 15.Serangoon JC 7. Jurong JC 16.Tampines JC 8. Meridian JC 17.Victoria JC 9. Nanyang JC 18.Yishun JC Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) There is one Centralised Institute offering 3-year pre-university course: 1. Millennia Institute Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) The 5 polytechnics offering 3-year Diploma courses are: 1. Ngee Ann Polytechnic 2. Nanyang Polytechnic 3. Republic Polytechnic 4. Singapore Polytechnic 5. Temasek Polytechnic The 3 ITE campuses offering Higher Nitec courses are: 1. ITE College Central 2. ITE College East 3. ITE College West How can my child know about the various polytechnic courses’ cut off points? http://www.polytechnic.edu.sg/introduction/available-courses Junior College or Polytechnic? Polytechnic Junior College • 3 years (Diploma) • 2 Years • Industry based • A-Levels curriculum • Advanced • Practice Oriented Popular courses academic content such as Banking • Internship • Further study (3-4 and Finance will • Work/Further study years university) require 12 (1-4 years university) points and • L1R5 = Min. 20 • ELR2B2 = Min. 26 below. points points and MER Can combine both JC, ITE and Poly courses in your 12-choice submission MER – minimum entry requirement If your children are … Strong in academic subjects Love to learn in depth about English, Math, Physics and Literature Prefer a school-like environment The Junior College route may be suitable for your children. http://news.asiaone.com/news/Singapore/should-you-opt-junior-college-or-polytechnic If your children are … More inclined towards a hands-on learning approach More inclined towards project work Clear of his specific interests The Polytechnic route may be suitable for your children. http://news.asiaone.com/news/Singapore/should-you-opt-junior-college-or-polytechnic Going to University … QN: Will my children have a smaller opportunity to go into university from Polytechnic? Typically, 70% of junior college students enter local universities every year 20% of polytechnic graduates enter local universities every year Going to University … QN: Will my children have a smaller opportunity to go into university from Polytechnic? However, in 2016 MOE reported that … ■ One in five local university students admitted in 2016 is a polytechnic graduate, as the public university landscape expands and diploma holders seek to upgrade themselves. ■ 2015’s local university intake had the highest ever proportion of polytechnic graduates at nearly 34 per cent, up from 24.7 per cent in 2011. ■ With the expansion of SIT and UniSIM, more university places have opened up for diploma holders. These two institutions offer longer and more immersive work attachment programmes. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/1-in-3-local-university- students-admitted-last-year-is-a-polytechnic-student Institute of Technical Education ■ NITEC – 2 Year Course – Requirements: Completed O Levels or two O Level Grades (1-8) in any two subjects ■ Higher Nitec – 2 Year Course – Requirements: Three O Level Grades, depending on course requirements QN: Can my children focus on their studies only in the last few months before O levels? ■ Students need to be consistently improving in their studies and other skills. ■ While preparing for their examinations, they may face certain challenges which require more time and effort to overcome. ■ Insufficient time may cause the student to be overwhelmed and unable to cope with these challenges ■ Therefore they should start their preparation well in advance QN: My children are already good in their studies. Does that mean they do not have to work so hard for their grades? ■ It is good that your children are doing well in their studies. ■ However, they might start thinking that they will receive good grades throughout the year without studying much. ■ Students will get complacent. ■ This may actually result in their grades going downhill. ■ Therefore, consistent hard work is needed to ensure satisfactory grades. Resources for Parents and Students -General Information ■ ECG Website: www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/social-and-emotional- learning/education-and-career-guidance ■ Singapore’s Education System: www.moe.gov.sg/education/education-system ■ Scholarships: www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/scholarships ■ The Next Step Forward: www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/next-step-forward ■ SkillsFuture: www.skillsfuture.sg Resources for Parents and Students -Post-Secondary & Pre-Uni Education ■ Post-Secondary Education Options: www.moe.gov.sg/education/post-secondary ■ Post-Secondary Brochure: www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default- source/document/education/post-secondary/files/post-secondary-brochure.pdf ■ Pre-University Education: www.moe.gov.sg/education/pre-university ■ Framework of ‘A’ Level Curriculum: www.moe.gov.sg/cpdd/alevel/2006 ■ Financial Assistance Information for IHLS: www.moe.gov.sg/education/financial- assistance/financial-assistance-information-for-ihls WALKING THE JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH YOUR CHILD Doing what Matters Most HOW CAN YOU BE A BETTER SUPPORTER FOR CHILD Be well-informed Discuss openly Referenced from Republic Poly Does my child prefer working with people, data, things or ideas? IF MY CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO … Speak well Write well Interact with people well A Media and Communications course may be suitable for them. IF MY CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO … Work with his hands well Work alone or in teams An Engineering course may be suitable for them. CONVERSATION STARTERS Which industries and occupations are you curious about? Which are your favourite subjects and Co-Curricular Activities (CCA)? What do you value most at home and in school? What are some of the things about yourself that you are proud of? How do you think you can go about achieving your aspirations? HOW CAN PARENTS PLAY A ROLE? Stay updated Emphasise the importance of soft skills Emphasise the need for time management HOW CAN PARENTS PLAY A ROLE? Emphasise the need for time management Students recognise the importance of time management to success and school-life harmony. However, it can be difficult for them to practise it. Time management is a fundamental workplace skill. TIME MANAGEMENT What can we do? Teach my children to create a daily plan or to-do list: develops the habit of prioritising their work and working independently. Guide my children to organise and prioritise their tasks: being organised helps my child to keep track of the progress HOW CAN PARENTS PLAY A ROLE? Emphasise the need for problem-solving skills Provide constructive feedback to their sharing and share problem-solving techniques (Plan-Do-Check-Act) with them. Use real-life scenarios and discuss with my children possible solutions to them. AFTER DISCUSSION … WHAT’S NEXT? QN: My child and I have already discussed and decided on the strengths and interests, the education pathway and possible job, what can my child do next? Encourage my children to take ownership of their goals, and take positive steps towards fulfilling them. Visit open houses and education fairs Visit websites of official organisations to gain a better understanding of the career development opportunities offered. Seek internship opportunities in the industry of interest Engage in part-time or contract job opportunities to explore and deepen interests and abilities. HOW CAN PARENTS PLAY A ROLE? Understand that the decision is about my children – not about us that there is no right decision, only making the decision right to the best of our knowledge and ability.