Between Standard and Foundation

Just recently, the ministry of education came up with newer plans for children taking the normal course in secondary schools. It looked like a better plan, because for once, the needs of these children are really looked into. Among them is the creation of a head of department for normal technical education in secondary schools. This only means that there would be someone to look into the affairs, needs and matters of normal tech's curriculum and students. There would also be refinement in the Sec 4 and Sec 5 curriculum so that the children can go direct into Higher Nitec at ITE or the polytechnics respectively. There are other initiatives, like getting ITE lecturers to be seconded to secondary schools so that they are better able to share their expertise and inspire the students. There will also be the creation of new posts of educational associates to be attached to schools as well.

The reason that these being good news to me, is that, I know, many of our Malay children are in this stream. And if it's being refined to give them more opportunities, they should grab this opportunity and not let it slip by.

One other thing that I found out is that there are no more EM3 and the merge EM1/EM2 banding in primary schools anymore. There are only two types of subject bandings, and they are foundation subjects and standard subjects. This only means that children can choose to take up all standard subjects or one or two foundation subjects depending on their ability and affinity in those subjects - English, maths, science and mother tongue. This is great as instead of labelling the child, we label the subjects, and if a child is not able to take up a standard subject, then they should consider a foundation subject. And children will be mixed in a class.

However, a word of caution from some educators:

This is especially the case for foundation maths. Many educators believe that it is still necessary for the child to take standard maths instead of foundation maths, as the requirement for entry into most faculties in post-secondary education, except ITE, requires standard maths. If you want to take up "O" levels maths, you have to learn standard maths, not foundation. In that sense, these educators felt that if a child already took foundation maths in primary school, it will only limit his/her choices later on. And as we all know, some children are late bloomers, and we also do not want to doom the child before he can bloom.

It is just an advise for parents to plan and think ahead - not only of their child's abilities, but their child's interests and the possible choices ahead. Unless, a parents' feel that their child can only do an ITE track, then they should nurture the child to realise a higher nitec track in ITE, and later diploma in poly. If, however, they feel that their child is still able to perform better than expected, they should consider giving as much assistance in standard mathematics at the primary level so that their children can have many more options and choices to choose from for his education later in the future.