KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Dear All…

I need some advise…

My boy at Green View Sec School currently in Secondary 2 didn’t do well in his studies. He scored U grades for all his subjects and was asked to repeat Sec 2 again for year 2012. We have appealed to the school to put him in Sec 3 Technical Stream next year..as we all know my boy wont be able to cope in his studies. We tried helping him by engaging a personal tutor for him but his grades still got bad to worse..I seriously do not want him to repeat Sec 2 again, what if he still cant make it , will he be asked to repeat Sec 2 in year 2013? The school has stood firm, wanting him to repeat Sec 2. According to them, my son will get bored with Technical Stream as it may be way too easy for him. But to think of it, who knows he can excel when he is in Technical stream? Why pushed him when we know his limited capabilities? I have called up some neighbourhood schools asking if there is vacancies for Sec 3 Technical Stream and was asked to submit the application form for consideration. Do you think these schools can consider taking him for Sec 3 Technical Stream next year for this reason? I called MOE, was told it depends on the school actually..and there is nothing wrong switching to Technical stream if student unable to cope. Please help...

Thank you in advance...

Dear wannabe_ks,

Sorry for being a wet blanket but if your son has scored "U" grades for all his subjects, I do not think it will be possible for him to be "promoted" to secondary 3 - regardless if you are looking at the express or NORMAL stream.

Generally, students in Secondary 2 NA has to pass English and 2 other subjects to be promoted to Secondary 3 NA. Some schools accept a fail in English language but require a pass in 4 subjects. Using the same criteria, your son would not have made the mark to be promoted to secondary 3 NA.

Using such logic, chances of a school accepting him into secondary 3 NA is very unlikely. Most schools would demand that he repeat Secondary 2, either in the express or NA stream.

meinteel wrote:Dear wannabe_ks,

Sorry for being a wet blanket but if your son has scored "U" grades for all his subjects, I do not think it will be possible for him to be "promoted" to secondary 3 - regardless if you are looking at the express or NORMAL stream.

Generally, students in Secondary 2 NA has to pass English and 2 other subjects to be promoted to Secondary 3 NA. Some schools accept a fail in English language but require a pass in 4 subjects. Using the same criteria, your son would not have made the mark to be promoted to secondary 3 NA.

Using such logic, chances of a school accepting him into secondary 3 NA is very unlikely. Most schools would demand that he repeat Secondary 2, either in the express or NA stream.

Dear Meintell,
Thanks for your reply...Since our application was rejected to switch to Sec 3 Normal Technical stream next year. Then he will have to repeat his Sec 2 Normal Acad next year.

wannabe_ks, I feel for you but have you tried finding out from the teachers, tutor and from your own observation what could be the problem that has caused him to get a U Grade for all subjects?

I feel that this is one main issue that you have to tackle first so that you will be able to better gauge if by putting your son into NT will really do him good or it's better for him.

JMHO.