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More news on university ranking in Singapore for today as Singapore falls to 15th place according to this article from straitstimes.com with an extract of it below:
by Amelia Teng
“SINGAPORE – Singapore has fallen 12 spots to 15th place in a ranking of the world’s best cities for university students.
Last year the London-based educational consultancy Quacuarelli Symonds (QS) ranked the Republic third in the world and the best in Asia.
However when it released this year’s table this morning it had plummeted, which QS said was due to adjustments made to some factors.
Cities were given scores across five categories for 18 measures, including four new ones that looked at their level of pollution, safety, transparency and tolerance.
Existing indicators included affordability and employability
this is from an article published by Straits Times…
“Remember the days when one B and two Cs would get a student into the arts and social sciences faculty of the National University of Singapore?
Not any more.
This year, A-level holders needed at least an A and two Bs, despite the faculty taking in the largest number of students at the university – 1,700 in all.
Two years ago, the minimum grade needed was three Bs.”
As expected, the shifts in education in a competitive Singapore are turning its wheels and grinding its gears. There’s no stone left untouched and in time to come, grades needed to enter NUS will only climb higher and its 22nd TOP UNIVERSITY TOP RANKINGS don’t help the matter much. We are an open education system and we have international students vying seats together with our students, and most people will think this is a bad thing but its more of fear that their children does not get a seat. However, this is not true as an open education system allows healthy interaction with the top students around the world, something Singapore needs to achieve a successful international trade programme.
So what does that mean to Singaporean Students?
As we climb higher up the world rankings, our education system becomes more attractive to foreigners and in our open education system, it attracts the best students and we in turn, will interact with the best in the world. That is a good thing. Competition creates excellence. And to vie for a seat in NUS will mean the cream of the crop of Singapore will be competing with the cream of the crop of the world. And that is our bread and butter. We survive because we have to be the best. To be the best, we need to compete with the best. Having a 22nd world ranking university, Singapore’s education system is at a better place right now than the last century and our students will enjoy all this excellent education infrastructure.
Top Education at our doorstep.
Just 20-30 years ago, we had to fly overseas to go to a properly good university with a properly good world ranking. We don’t need to anymore with NUS ranked at 22 at our backyard. I forgot to mention, NTU is at a not so far 39th for 2014.
That is an achievement that we should be proud of. I can only imagine the brains, the work and the funds needed to build two World Top50 University in Singapore. So this brings us to what is next? For a country where our natural resource is human resource, education and training lies high up the ladder for our future survival. But I foresee ourselves in safe hands with world class universities as part of our portfolio, but only if we have the system to create and nurture world class students to be able to qualify for these universities that we will reap the rewards, or else all those seats will be snapped up by the best of the rest of the world. Hardwork, proper training, and determination to be the best shall be dogma.
Sonnet 123 No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change
No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change: Thy pyramids built up with newer might To me are nothing novel, nothing strange; They are but dressings of a former sight. Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire What thou dost foist upon us that is old, And rather make them born to our desire Than think that we before have heard them told. Thy registers and thee I both defy, Not wondering at the present nor the past, For thy records and what we see doth lie, Made more or less by thy continual haste. This I do vow and this shall ever be; I will be true, despite thy scythe and thee.
Here’s some perspective of our education in Singapore. All data obtained from http://www.singstat.gov.sg
Singapore literacy rate (for 15 years and above) is at 96.5% with males at 98.5% and females at 94.6%. However, there is no change for males literacy from previous years but females upped 0.2% from 94.4% previously.
Singaporeans with Secondary education or higher (for 25 years and above) has increased from 67.7% to 68.8% with males 71.8% and females 66%.
Our mean years of studying are 10.5 years with males at 11.0 years and females at 10.0 years.
Also interesting, our social indicators have improved with 20 doctors for every 10,000 population as compared to 19 doctors from the previous data.
Whether you are preparing for GCE, GCSE, IB, PSLE, SAT, or any examination, it is imperative to get your brains fit for the exams. Try these few websites for free brain teasers:
1) Brainmetrix.com contains general games that tests most of brain activities. IQ based, Cognitive and even Sudoku can be found free in here.
BrainMetrix.com screen capture
2) GamesForTheBrains.com is also a general brain teaser free games website that are simple for children to navigate. Just click on the links you find on the frontpage and you are all set to go.
3) BrainHQ.com is another website but it is slick and organised into memory, attention, brain speed, people skills, intelligence, and navigation exercises. However, it does need a sign up to get the basic tier games, and to access the full site there is a purchase involved.
Have your assessment books ready and arranged at arms length. Have all your equipment organized within a radius of 1.5 metres. Have water, food and whatever you need to be comfortable near you so that you don’t have to walk away to pick things up. Have a dedicated studystation that does not need packing and unpacking every time you study. It is yours and you do not need to put all your books away after you are done studying.
That way, the moment you sit down, you are all set to study. Walk away when you are tired, and when you are refreshed, come back and study. No packing. No unpacking. It is always there. The easier you settle down to do your studies, the less time and energy you waste walking around getting your studying organized. Because it is always there for you and organized as well in a small footprint of your house. You don’t have to grab things from all over the house when it is located only in one place.
2) PSLE is like any other examination.
Every time you go for examinations, treat it as if it is your PSLE. Primary 6 has 4 main exams before the PSLE. CA1, SA1, CA2, Prelimns. Treat all these exams like PSLE. Study hard, prepare for it, and keep evaluating where you can improve yourself. With experience, PSLE will be a breeze and you’ll get it done proper. Organize yourself into studying for English PSLE, Mother Tongue PSLE, Science PSLE and Mathematics PSLE and when the day comes, psyche yourself up and get those grades.
3) Improve your memory.
Without a good memory, it will always be the problem of learning something and forgetting it altogether. So why start to begin with? Spend time memorizing what you learn and do it the same day that the topic was taught to you. Also learn tricks to improve your memory.
Generally speaking, to memorize anything is basically a case of not forgetting. Hence, the more we spend time repeating something, the lesser the chance that we will forget something. Come back again and test yourself another day just to make sure you remember it and over time, it will be in your long term memory banks.
4) Speed is mind over matter.
Not completing a paper is the worse way one can lose marks. PSLE in Singapore generally runs within a week and the papers are completed in 1-2 hours. There are situations where students mismanage time and spends too much time on questions. To solve this problem, allocate time for your studies and set an alarm whenever you attempt a question.
General guidelines are: 1 mark for every minute.
So if you attempt a 5 mark question, you are only allowed 5 minutes to complete it. Past that, you will need to jump this question and start doing the next question. Come back and attempt it when you have completed the rest of the questions.
5) Ask and you shall receive.
This is by far the most important thing to do for PSLE preparation. Teachers, parents, friends and family will not know what you don’t know unless you ask. The more you communicate your needs, the more people can help. Tell them what problems you face. There is no problem so big it cannot be solved and no problems too silly that they will make fun of you. Everyone has to start learning from basics sometime before they become masters. And master you will.
“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” – Chinese proverb
Punggol Female Tutors attending to Primary students when they find it difficult to understand
Punggol Tuition Centre for English Math and Science
Singapore Botanical Gardens organizes a programme for students, a holiday special with Orchids as their main theme.
extract from their website:
Description:
Did you know that orchids are one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world?
From 8 to 23 November 2014, we are extending free admission to National Orchid Garden to students and accompanying adults.
Opening hours: 8.30am to 7.00pm daily (last admission is at 6.00pm).
Free admission criteria
1. Children 12 years old and below
2. Students are required to present valid student cards
3. Adults accompanying children and/or students
This is a fairly hidden gem in Singapore’s local highlights but its a truly brilliant gem indeed. Three shophouses at Pagoda Street recreates our Singapore history in complete historical settings. How our forefathers lived and eat is faithfully recreated in this beautiful building. Your kids will learn how Singapore started and its rich cultural history, and there’s even a kopitiam in the building when you get hungry or thirsty.
7) Haji Lane
Food? Check. Culture? Check. Shopping? Check. Art? Check. Haji Lane is a smörgåsbord of all things new and old, chic and traditional, young and elderly. It is the cross junction of our past, present and future. There’s lots of things to do for everyone and with Orchard and Marina Bay area a stone’s throw away, Haji Lane has established itself as a fringe community with a strong-willed resolve to show the world that there’s more to do in Singapore than eating, banking, shopping, shipping, flying and going to the movies. Walk into its varied food joints to taste local food, or run into its many beautiful arty cafe’s. Or just walk around and soak in the art installations by the side of the buildings. Shopping is a good idea too, with plenty to offer along the shophouses.
My army camp was located here before it revamped itself into Dempsey Hill, the placed to go when you want to get away from the city and cosy up to some beautiful restaurants and shops. Its old world charm redefined for the present. My favourite cafe there will definitely be” jones the grocer”. And its not even exactly a cafe as they sell grocery and speciality food items.
To be Continued… wait for the next installment where we reveal the top 5. Hang in there.
Go paperless and your kids can write/draw/doodle without worrying if you are clearing a forest to do that.
2) Skatecycle
Another form of skates hits the streets. It looks like it came out from the movie TRON.
3) Giant Jenga
Ellen plays it on her show. And everyone goes nuts when it goes all wobbly. So go big… get a Giant Jenga and see everyone gather together and go wide eyed gaga. Jenga! Jenga! Jenga!
4) Lego
Lego is making a big comeback, in games, in movies, in toys, in theme parks and why not, its really an awesome way to get creative for your kids. Nothing is impossible with Lego and its all here… http://www.lego.com/
The latest camera from this uber fashionable art/camera/lifestyle gadget. Selfie yourself and have it on Fuji Instax format. Oh did I mention it looks so pretty? It does!
Lomo’Instant Wong Kin Leong eduKateSg
article written by Wong Kin Leong, eduKateSG Tampines St73
Herein lies important dates for Singapore schools and our operating schedules for 2015. Parents take note that eduKate SG operates on all days except public holidays stated in SECTION 3.2
(all information are subject to changes from MOE and is only intended to be used as a rough guideline. dated 4th Nov 2014)
extract from MOE website:
School Terms and Holidays For 2015
1.0)The school year for 2015 for all MOE primary and secondary schools will start from Friday, 2 January and end on Friday, 20 November 2015. This takes into account 40 weeks of curriculum time for teaching and learning before the start of the national examinations, and six weeks of school vacation at end of year for teachers and students.
1.1) School Calendar 2015
PRIMARY & SECONDARY
Semester I
Term I
Fri 2 Jan – Fri 13 Mar
Term II
Mon 23 Mar to Fri 29 May
Semester II
Term III
Mon 29 Jun to Fri 4 Sep
Term IV
Mon 14 Sep to Fri 20 Nov
JUNIOR COLLEGE (JC) Year 1 & Millennia Institute (MI) Year 1
MI Year 2
JC Year 2 & MI Year 3
Semester I
Term I
Mon 2 Feb – Fri 13 Mar
Mon 5 Jan – Fri 13 Mar
Term II
Mon 23 Mar to Fri 29 May
Semester II
Term III
Mon 29 Jun to Fri 4 Sep
Term IV
Mon 14 Sep to Fri 20 Nov
Mon 14 Sep to end of ‘A’-level exams
1.2) School Vacation 2015
2.0)The four vacation periods for schools, junior colleges and centralised institute for 2015 will be as follows:
PRI & SEC
Between Terms I & II
Sat 14 Mar – Sun 22 Mar
Between Semesters I & II
Sat 30 May – Sun 28 Jun
Between Terms III & IV
Sat 5 Sep – Sun 13 Sep
At End of School Year
Sat 21 Nov – Thu 31 Dec
JC Year 1,
MI Year 1 & MI Year 2
JC Year 2 &
MI Year 3
Between Terms I & II
Sat 14 Mar – Sun 22 Mar
Between Semesters I & II
Sat 30 May – Sun 28 Jun
Between Terms III & IV
Sat 5 Sep – Sun 13 Sep
At End of School Year
Sat 21 Nov – Thu 31 Dec
End of ‘A’ Level exams – Thu 31 Dec
3.0) The scheduled school holidays and public holidays for 2015 will be as follows:
3.1) Scheduled School Holidays 2015
Youth Day
Sun 5 Jul (The following Monday, 6 Jul 2015 will be a scheduled school holiday)
Teachers’ Day
Fri 4 Sept
Children’s Day for primary schools and primary sections of full schools only)
Fri 9 Oct
3.2) Public Holidays 2015
Term I
New Year’s Day
Thu 1 Jan
Chinese New Year
Thu 19 Feb
Fri 20 Feb
Term II
Good Friday
Fri 3 Apr
Labour Day
Fri 1 May
Vesak Day
Mon 1 Jun
Term III
Hari Raya Puasa
Fri 17 Jul
National Day
*Sun 9 Aug
Term IV
Hari Raya Haji
Thu 24 Sep
Deepavali
**Tue 10 Nov
Christmas Day
Fri 25 Dec
*The next day, Mon 10 Aug 2015, will be a public holiday. **Tentatively, Deepavali will fall on 10 November in 2015. This date will need to be reconfirmed against the Hindu Almanac when it is available. Should there be a change in date, the Ministry of Manpower will issue a media release to announce the change accordingly.
Modernise your writing with new phrases or idioms.
Time shifts language and adopts new words/phrases. As we continue into the 21st Century, usage of idioms have changed significantly in our society and time dictates certain idioms/phrases to be out of date and some that becomes fashionable.
Here’s a few fun ones:
take things easy
suck it up
keep in touch
speak of the devil
slip past
send me up the wall
you got me
hit it off
mixed up in
in summary
These phrases are definitely useful and fashionable right now, and gives a contemporary and modern feel to your writing. If your composition is written in a modern setting, keep the words trendy and fresh.
Or it depends on the characters that you use in your composition. When the person is older, he/she can take on an older vocabulary/phrase/idiom. But when the character is younger, then keep it trendy, like “Whoa! Nellie”.
So keep that in mind when you write your next composition. Certain phrases might sound archaic and eventhough it is contextually correct, it just gives a slightly musty feel to your writing, dusty covers and all.
English Tuition with Yuet Ling doing Cloze Passages.
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Singapore Mathematics Tuition Centre 