English, maths, mother tongue at N-level; 1 of 4 subjects for skills cert
By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 11 Apr 2012
STUDENTS who enrol at the new specialised school meant for less academically inclined youngsters will graduate not just with N-levels but also an Institute of Technical Education Skills Certificate.
The 200 teenagers due to be admitted next January will take up a four-year programme leading to the GCE N-level exams, similar to their peers in the Normal (Technical) stream at other schools.
But they will also have the chance to gain a skills certificate by studying one of four subjects offered by the Institute of Technical Education - facility services, mechanical servicing, retail services, or hospitality services. The school hopes that most of its students will go on to take National ITE certificate courses after they complete the four years.
The details of Crest Secondary School's curriculum were announced by the Education Ministry yesterday.
Mr Frederick Yeo, who was appointed principal last year, said the students will learn English, mathematics and mother tongue for their N-levels, but classes will be no bigger than about 20 students each, and teachers will tailor their approach to suit the children's more practical, hands-on learning style.
He said the school, in Jurong East Street 24, will also emphasise character and values education. Attention will be given to building students' confidence using various means such as sports and other team-based activities.
Mr Frederick Yeo, who was appointed principal last year, said the students will learn English, mathematics and mother tongue for their N-levels, but classes will be no bigger than about 20 students each, and teachers will tailor their approach to suit the children's more practical, hands-on learning style.
He said the school, in Jurong East Street 24, will also emphasise character and values education. Attention will be given to building students' confidence using various means such as sports and other team-based activities.
Youngsters can apply if they have passed their Primary School Leaving Examination and qualified for the Normal (Technical) stream. They will then be assessed based on how suitable they are for a more practice-based and hands-on education.
The Education Ministry's director of planning, Dr Cheong Wei Yang, said the school is in line with the ministry's broader objective of creating multiple pathways aimed at developing every child to his or her fullest potential.
He said it will build on the success of improvements that have already been made to the Normal (Technical) course, and the lessons drawn from NorthLight and Assumption Pathway schools. He said: 'The positive experiences and outcomes from students in these schools show the value in using a whole-school approach to nurture the whole child.'
Mrs Chua Yen Ching, one of eight members of the board, said this approach worked at NorthLight School, which she used to head until last year.
NorthLight was set up to offer a three-year vocational programme to students who fail the Primary School Leaving Examination, yet about half of them went on to further their education at the Institute of Technical Education or private schools.
Mrs Chua, who now heads curriculum planning and development at the ministry, added that youngsters in the Normal (Technical) stream have achieved better results at schools where customised teaching approaches were tried out. At Shuqun Secondary, for example, 65 per cent of them scored at least three N-level passes in 2010, up from 40 per cent in 2007.
Mr Choe Peng Sum, who heads the board at Crest Secondary and is chief executive of Frasers Hospitality, said the school's development will be guided by the members who come from the public and private sector, and self-help groups.
These include Mr Christopher Lee, the creative director of multi-award winning design firm Asylum. The 42-year-old, who dropped out of his engineering diploma course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic before going on to study visual communications at Temasek Polytechnic, said it was important to help young people find their passion.
'I am a great believer in the saying, 'Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life',' he said.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong first announced that specialised Normal (Technical) schools were to be set up during his National Day Rally speech two years ago.
The Education Ministry has already said that the second school, which will take in students in 2014, will be located in Woodlands.
It's 'mix and mingle' at Crest Secondary
THE new school will give its students plenty of opportunities to mix with more academic youngsters, the Education Ministry said yesterday.
This is despite claims by some that separating children of different abilities can lead to segregation.
The ministry's director of planning, Dr Cheong Wei Yang, said it had taken note of the valid concerns raised by various members of the public and MPs.
However, he said specialised schools remain the best way to help students with different needs who could benefit from a customised curriculum.
Those not in favour of this approach include Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar. The Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC said last year that the idea 'goes against the essence of inclusivity and integration in our society'.
More recently, Ms Denise Phua, who represents Moulmein-Kallang GRC, asked if it was 'healthy' for children of different abilities to be separated.
Yesterday, Crest Secondary School principal Frederick Yeo listed some of the ways in which its students will 'mix and mingle' with their peers from other schools.
Commonwealth Secondary will help Crest with its Girl Guides group, while Raffles Institution has offered to help with the Scouts.
Sports and games will also be arranged with youngsters from Shuqun Secondary. 'So there will be no lack of integration opportunities for the students,' said Mr Yeo.
One of Crest's board members, Mrs Chua Yen Ching, said people had similar concerns about NorthLight school for less academic children, which turned out to be unfounded.
'It is important to provide a well-structured and long-term programme to integrate students,' she said. 'It cannot be a one-off thing.
'If the school succeeds in helping students do well, then people will see it as a worthwhile programme. The stigma will fade.'
Fellow board member Christopher Lee said: 'Between stigma and opportunity, I'll choose opportunity.'
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