Ahtong 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 Disparity in tertiary education facilities by Kwek Jian Qiang 04:45 AM Dec 26, 2011 Singapore has often been accorded the honour of having one of the best education systems. Our students rank high in their scores, from mathematics to other subjects. There are, though, significant disparities in the quality of learning environments. When my grandmother visited Singapore this year, one of her most striking comments was when she saw a sparkling, shiny Institute of Technical Education (ITE) "skyscraper" campus. Her first impression was that, in such a quality school environment, the students would be the best and brightest in Singapore. It took me a while to convince her otherwise and her look of dismay was apparent. Indeed, a question should be raised: In a system where people are rewarded according to merit, why are our best and brightest not getting the best learning environments? I once attended a seminar at ITE College East. The interior was like a plush hotel: Sleek floors, plush lecture theatre chairs, high-quality tables - quality exceeding that found in our polytechnics and junior colleges (JC). From the exterior, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a stadium stand, it looked like it was made for the Youth Olympics. What saddened me, though, was the graffiti on the tables and chairs. Apparently, the students do not cherish what they have. Should any JC or polytechnic student have access to such quality facilities, I have no doubt they would appreciate it better. There is a need to equalise government spending on school facilities. Campuses such as Anderson JC's and Victoria JC's pale in comparison to ITE College East's. Our brightest students, who will become Singapore's future leaders, should get the best facilities in order to excel and grow. We should reward according to merit. The writer is a JC student. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 that is the only pride they can get it that make them feel better and hope. i visited both the ITE east and the new one at CCK, this is the environment they need at least to take their last chance of formal education seriously (within the system!). However it the the atmosphere in the campus which is more important, felt that JC can be quite tense. More teenage would prefer Poly nowadays. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watwheels Supersonic December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 Got a feeling the topic will veer to FT somehow... Anyway I know there's a Chinese restaurant in that ITE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Author Share December 27, 2011 Call me elitist but I feel JC boy does state some hard truths. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kangadrool Supersonic December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 (edited) Red eyes syndrome. Same in your work place. Better don't drive better car than your boss. These JC students could have chosen the ITE path also if priority is world class facilities. They have a choice to choose whether to study at ITE or not. By the way, do they go there for study or play (main objective)? Edited December 27, 2011 by Kangadrool Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 Call me elitist but I feel JC boy does state some hard truths. you will start to see the teenage killing are from JC and the good one from ITE? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerano 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 hard truths. The question he is asking is why the best are not given the best? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unidentified 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 hard truths. The question he is asking is why the best are not given the best? very hard truths,this JC boy well on the way to join the million dollars P$P club. no wonder only the ITE towkays(no formal/high education) gets respected here compared to those bookworms(only know wayang,bootlicking,shoot arrow). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kangadrool Supersonic December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 (edited) hard truths. The question he is asking is why the best are not given the best? It never ends. Last time, the ITE students probably asking why ours so lao yah. Then, came the upgrades. AFter upgrades, JC and Polys look so lao yah. AFter JC and Polys get the upgrades, the ITE ones look lao yah. This is called "red eyes syndrome" and "keeping up with the Joneses". Same thing with car, many people feel jealous or itchy when your neigbours/collicks upgraded their rides. Then, buy new rides even though their car still new and giving no problems. Edited December 27, 2011 by Kangadrool Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neost 6th Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 what's happening to our top students who are supposed to be futures leaders in both public and private sectors. They should be capable and resourceful enough to thrive and excel under all types of environment. If most of our creme de la creme are thinking the same way, then I think Singapore die liao. No air con command post cannot organise a battleplan, no proper office equipment and secretarial support cannot formulate a plan to fight flooding and traffic snarl etc etc. How eh like that? Recall one incident shared by one bro.... During 1 field training exercise, the CQ sent in fresh ration in a styrofoam box but forgot about the spoon. The lao jiao reservist and trainers just torn one corner of the lunch box and used it as a spoon. The newly minted officer stood there and complained about no spoon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Author Share December 27, 2011 What I feel is that every school should have decent facilities to provide a condusive environment for studying. However, if there are extras, it should go to the "better" institutions first. Otherwise, it will send out a mixed message. To use an analogy, imagine if you perform very well at work but your boss decide to reward a cmi colleague instead to encourage him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerano 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 It never ends. Last time, the ITE students probably asking why ours so lao yah. Then, came the upgrades. AFter upgrades, JC and Polys look so lao yah. AFter JC and Polys get the upgrades, the ITE ones look lao yah. This is called "red eyes syndrome" and "keeping up with the Joneses". Same thing with car, many people feel jealous or itchy when your neigbours/collicks upgraded their rides. Then, buy new rides even though their car still new and giving no problems. My time was with VITB...but i dont think its jealously la... i dont he's feeling that its just not fair Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nullifi3d 4th Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 Disparity in tertiary education facilities by Kwek Jian Qiang 04:45 AM Dec 26, 2011 Singapore has often been accorded the honour of having one of the best education systems. Our students rank high in their scores, from mathematics to other subjects. There are, though, significant disparities in the quality of learning environments. When my grandmother visited Singapore this year, one of her most striking comments was when she saw a sparkling, shiny Institute of Technical Education (ITE) "skyscraper" campus. Her first impression was that, in such a quality school environment, the students would be the best and brightest in Singapore. It took me a while to convince her otherwise and her look of dismay was apparent. Indeed, a question should be raised: In a system where people are rewarded according to merit, why are our best and brightest not getting the best learning environments? I once attended a seminar at ITE College East. The interior was like a plush hotel: Sleek floors, plush lecture theatre chairs, high-quality tables - quality exceeding that found in our polytechnics and junior colleges (JC). From the exterior, with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a stadium stand, it looked like it was made for the Youth Olympics. What saddened me, though, was the graffiti on the tables and chairs. Apparently, the students do not cherish what they have. Should any JC or polytechnic student have access to such quality facilities, I have no doubt they would appreciate it better. There is a need to equalise government spending on school facilities. Campuses such as Anderson JC's and Victoria JC's pale in comparison to ITE College East's. Our brightest students, who will become Singapore's future leaders, should get the best facilities in order to excel and grow. We should reward according to merit. The writer is a JC student. Aiyah JC boy, once you finish A levels you will be rewarded with awesome facilities in Tekong's 5-star resort. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 What I feel is that every school should have decent facilities to provide a condusive environment for studying. However, if there are extras, it should go to the "better" institutions first. Otherwise, it will send out a mixed message. To use an analogy, imagine if you perform very well at work but your boss decide to reward a cmi colleague instead to encourage him. they do.... they get the best teachers/lecturers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fast1 Supersonic December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 they do.... they get the best teachers/lecturers Logically, that also means the best teachers/lecturers work and teach in second-rate physical environments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Author Share December 27, 2011 they do.... they get the best teachers/lecturers Hard to say since the best teachers also get the best students. But you do have a point in a way ...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kangadrool Supersonic December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 My time was with VITB...but i dont think its jealously la... i dont he's feeling that its just not fair The reason why they changed name from VITB to ITE and building mega campus with good facilities is to uplift the morale of these students and they have also recognised the needs to nurture them for our future workforce. Some of these ITE courses aren't easy to study also. I bet some JC students will fail there when they could have passed easily in JC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerano 1st Gear December 27, 2011 Share December 27, 2011 The reason why they changed name from VITB to ITE and building mega campus with good facilities is to uplift the morale of these students and they have also recognised the needs to nurture them for our future workforce. Some of these ITE courses aren't easy to study also. I bet some JC students will fail there when they could have passed easily in JC. I mean i studied in VITB But anyway, yes for sure some will fail but comparing intellectual capability 1-1, it can be fair to say that JC students are on the whole of the highest calibre that we have in our education system ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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