Things You Never Knew...

In the Sunday Times today there are a couple (well, two) of articles that convey a rather startling message - people who do well at their O levels would rather go to poly than JC. Back in my time - not so long ago, but 10 years can seem a long time (Especially in relation to something as fluid as Singapore's education policy) - if you had 19 points or less for your L1R5, you would go to JC. Otherwise, it was off to poly for you. (Let's not consider those who got in excess of 30 points and wouldn't qualify for either)

I had friends who couldn't make it to JC, yet their parents wanted them to have a university degree so what they would do is take a course at Poly, hopefully do well enough to get into some nameless university (usually in Australia, but if you're rich there are zillions of 'universities' in America that will gladly take your money in exchange for a degree) and return home, Bachelor of Engineering.

Now, it seems, people with decent grades (not stellar, mind you) choose the road-which-used-to-be-not-less-travelled-but-seems-to-be-getting-more-popular. Their reasons? The Sunday Times gives 5, all of which don't seem very convincing.

Studies relate more to future goals
I'm in my last year of law school, and I still don't really know what I want to do with my life. What makes you so sure the decision you make at 16 is really what you want? Future goals at 16? Geez, youngsters nowadays are so results oriented.

Alternatively. So you play a mean game of CS/DoTA? You can wtfpwnzorz all comers, so you think you have it made in Multimedia Game Design, or whatever they call it? Think again. Game design is not easy, and it's next to impossible to make a decent living unless you are extremely talented. This is just one extreme example, but I get the feeling there are many who think this way, especially in relation to 'new economy' courses - IT, web design, what have you. (Word taken from another article in the papers about the same issue) Mind you, I'm not disparaging these courses. All I'm saying is that if you're bright and talented, there are other (possibly better) ways to get to your dream job.

Better off in the working world
Well in a very twisted sense, yes, I guess. If your ambition in life (which raises it's own question, see above) is to be a say, low-grade technician, then that electronics engineering course would serve you in good stead in your quest to qualify as Product Service Technician. But really, with an L1R5 of 11 you can do better for yourself.

Less stress at poly
If it's because you don't have to take Chinese or GP, then this has a smidgen of truth in it. But hey, school is school is school. It's as stressful as you make it out to be. To be the best, you'd better put in your time.

Okay, so I've never actually been to Poly so I don't know how stressful it is, but in any educational environment you create the stress for yourself. If you want to slack of in JC and lead a stress-free life, be my guest. Contact me for tips!

No equivalent at JC
(This is a rather longwinded argument) In the United States of America, when you go to university you have a year or so to make up your mind on what you want to major in. In that first year, freshmen are encouraged to take any module that catches their eye. The broadness of their education is stressed, and depth can come later. (though I don't have statistics offhand, lots of Americans choose to go to grad school) What's important though is the learning skills gained.

So that's the reason why at JC they make you take broad subjects like math and physics and economics - the hard knowledge gained might not be of any use at all (so much for all my F Math) but the skillset acquired will serve the student well in all his future learning. So, true, in JC they don't teach you biomedical engineering, or financial analysis, but they equip you to excel while learning in the future.