After PSLE: Find out about full subject-based banding and picking a secondary school at ST webinar
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Students in Gan Eng Seng School from different streams are in the same form class because of full subject-based banding.
ST FILE PHOTO
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SINGAPORE - Mr Mohamed Naif Bamadhaj is looking forward to enrolling his youngest son in a secondary school that offers full subject-based banding (FSBB), so that the boy can take subjects at a level suitable for him.
His son, Mohamed Zinedine Emad, 12, a Primary 6 pupil who just sat the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in October, struggles with languages and is stronger in maths and science.
Mr Naif has seen the benefits of FSBB as his other son, Raouf, 14, is attending Gan Eng Seng School, which offers FSBB.
His elder daughter, Jaydra Zohrin, 13, is taking Malay and English at the Express level and the other five subjects at the Normal Academic level. She is a Secondary 1 student in Dunman Secondary.
He found out at a recent parent-teacher meeting that she may be able to take all the subjects at the Express level if she continues to improve.
“It is not the end of the road even if you do not do so well in the PSLE. There is still the opportunity to excel later on,” he said.
Mr Naif also likes the fact that FSBB enables students from different streams to take non-academic subjects, like music and art, together.
“It prepares them for later in life when they meet people from all walks of life with different backgrounds and academic levels,” he said.
Under FSBB, students learn each subject at a level that best suits their strengths, interests and learning needs.
St Andrew’s Secondary School principal Lee Han Hwa said he has seen positive results from putting students of different streams in the same class since the school started offering FSBB in 2020.
Students from the Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams are grouped in the same form class and take some common subjects like art and music together.
“My boys told me they value one another and are happy learning together. They want to remain in the same form class,” Mr Lee said.
With feedback from students and teachers, he has decided to extend the mixed form classes to the upper secondary level as well.
FSBB was piloted in 2020 in 28 schools.
Parents can learn more about FSBB at The Straits Times post-PSLE webinar on Nov 12, Saturday, at 10am. The event is organised by The Straits Times for its subscribers.
Participants can get information and tips on secondary school selection
Topics in the webinar include who are suitable for the integrated programme, what FSBB is about, and what to look out for when picking a secondary school.
After the webinar, there will be three breakout sessions helmed by principals from six secondary schools, where parents can learn more about the schools and ask questions.
The six schools are Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, St Joseph’s Institution, Bowen Secondary, Swiss Cottage Secondary, St Andrew’s Secondary and Temasek Secondary.
To sign up for the ST post-PSLE webinar, go to str.sg/postpsle22
Registration is free for all ST subscribers.
The deadline is Nov 9, 2022.
