Upon returning to school full time, she fought a losing battle with the school administration to provide her and other mothers-to-be with a place for expressing milk…

But when performance bonuses were given out, she was not only given a pro-rated bonus (which I understand), but also a lower [...]]]>

Source: The Straits Times, Page A19, 17 May 2010

Upon returning to school full time, she fought a losing battle with the school administration to provide her and other mothers-to-be with a place for expressing milk…

But when performance bonuses were given out, she was not only given a pro-rated bonus (which I understand), but also a lower performance grading.

While I am very grateful for the increased maternity benefits a young family now receives, I would like to highlight that there seems to be a contradiction when Singaporeans are encouraged to have more babies, but mothers are penalised when trying to concurrently be both good mums and good workers.

She is now expecting her second child and I won’t be surprised if she leaves the teaching service.

Letter by: Lewis Wong

During my daughter’s Primary 1 orientation at Edgefield Primary School about a month ago, she was made to sit through a test of English and mathematics. A week later, when the school announced the Primary 1 class allocation on its website, I [...]]]>

Source: The Strait Times Forum Page, Page A32, 28 Nov 2009

Letter by: Lewis Wong

During my daughter’s Primary 1 orientation at Edgefield Primary School about a month ago, she was made to sit through a test of English and mathematics. A week later, when the school announced the Primary 1 class allocation on its website, I discovered the school had used the test as a means to stream (or ‘band’, as the school calls it) these pupils.

According to the school, the top 62 pupils were grouped equally into two classes and will undergo an ‘accelerated programme’. The rest of the cohort were randomly divided into six other classes…

Article by Jonathan Liautrakul

The disappointment stayed with me throughout my next three years at Millennia Institute, as I struggled to downshift to the slower pace and lackadaisical attitudes of my peers. I missed the motivation that had spurred me to achieve.

With the help of teachers and friends, I [...]]]>

Source: The Straits Times Page B10, 9 Nov 2009

Article by Jonathan Liautrakul

The disappointment stayed with me throughout my next three years at Millennia Institute, as I struggled to downshift to the slower pace and lackadaisical attitudes of my peers. I missed the motivation that had spurred me to achieve.

With the help of teachers and friends, I was one of the lucky few from my cohort to make it to university.

A novel targeting secondary students and set in a Singapore secondary school has been launched. Entitled Mystery of the Battle Box, the novel is about three schoolmates — two of whom are cousins — teaming up to solve a mystery about hidden treasure in an underground bunker which was built during World War Two.

The teenagers stumble [...]]]>

A novel targeting secondary students and set in a Singapore secondary school has been launched. Entitled Mystery of the Battle Box, the novel is about three schoolmates — two of whom are cousins — teaming up to solve a mystery about hidden treasure in an underground bunker which was built during World War Two.

The teenagers stumble into a secret tunnel beneath the bunker with help from two spirits — a British and an Australian — haunting the bunker since World War Two.

The 290-page work is a first novel by its author Raymond Han — a former banker and a teacher. Find out more HERE!

BOOK DETAILS:

ISBN: 978-981-08-4189-8 Date Published: 5 October 2009

Related Categories: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Historical

It would be a huge setback to teenagers’ personal development if sex education, per se, were to be pared back or sanitised because parents do not want their children to be given the ‘wrong message’. This is not a debate about liberal versus conservative. That is a digression. At [...]]]>

Source: The Straits Times Page A18, 8 May 2009
Editorial

It would be a huge setback to teenagers’ personal development if sex education, per se, were to be pared back or sanitised because parents do not want their children to be given the ‘wrong message’. This is not a debate about liberal versus conservative. That is a digression. At issue is how best to guide a teenager through a delicate growing phase.

However, MOE’s assessment is that in some other aspects, the guide does not conform to MOE’s guidelines. In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality [...]]]>

Source: The Straits Times Forum Page A25, 7 May 2009
Letter by: Jennifer Chan (Ms), Press Secretary to Minister for Education

However, MOE’s assessment is that in some other aspects, the guide does not conform to MOE’s guidelines. In particular, some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex.