Mr Simen spoke about navel gazing and looking back to the year. Navel gazing means introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue. It means trying to understand, to take stock so that you would be able to plan forward.
He shared with the school his insights on the School Workplan Seminar 2007 held on 2 October and highlighted the new Normal Academic streaming initiatives
2. New Normal Academic Streaming from 2009
Mr Simen told the boys that currently about 80 percent from 4N go on to Sec 5N but a small number make it to polytechnic, even fewer to Junior College.
The current 4N level criteria is pass English Language and 2 other subjects, and to get a less than 10 point average for the 3 subjects.
Yet, the criteria to enter polytechnic is English Language and your best four subjects (with Mathematics as one of the subjects with a less than 21 point average for a popular course; the criteria to enter junior is English Language and best five subjects with a less than 20 point average. This made further refinement necessary.
The new criteria from 2009 is:
a. Must pass English
b. Must pass Maths
c. EL-Maths-Best 3 ≤ 19 (EL-Maths-Best 3 subjects at the ‘N’ level examinations)
Opportunities have been opening up for the 4N students - Last year, 4N students who did well were offered the option of skipping the N level exams and going to 5N without sitting for the N level exams. ITE students are also given opportunities to go to the Polytechnics if they do well.
The current refinements are part of opening up more opportunities for N level students and getting them more prepared for the O levels.
Under the new criteira, students who do well enough in their ‘N’ levels to meet the revised criteria for progression to Sec 5N (EL-Maths-B3 ≤ 19) will also be given the additional option of enrolling in a new curriculum track comprising direct entry into ITE. These courses are called Higher Nitec courses at the ITE. (Usually, only those who enter ITE after their O levels are allowed to take Higher Nitec courses). With this option, the students can start their Higher Nitec studies a year earlier, compared to the current situation where N(A) students have to sit for their ‘O’ level examinations first before being eligible for Higher Nitec courses
Mr Simen added that the bar has not been raised much. Under the old 10 point system, students had to score an aggregate of 3.3 for their subjects (10/3). Under the new system, students have to score an aggregate of 3.8 for their subjects (19/5). It would ensure that they are better prepared for the 5N level exams with a more firm foundations for all their core subjects. It would ensure that they do not struggle at O level exams.
He encouraged N level students to use the new standards as a yardstick to measure their grades -
English Language (to pass) + Mathematics (to pass) + Combined Humanities + Science + One more subject
"Readiness", he said, "is everything"
3. Prayer
Because the examinations were approaching, Mr Simen prayed over the boys and said the following prayer:
"O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I seek, I knock, I ask that my prayer be granted.
O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name that my prayer will be granted.
O Jesus, Who said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
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