Takwim Persekolahan 2013

From The Star

The above is news article from The Star about school holidays. Also the official Takwim Persekolahan 2013 from Ministry of Education (MOE). 

LINUS and PBS

From The Star

From The Star

From The Star

These were from The Star. There is just a few words on the PEMANDU website. Not that I understand LINUS yet, but now the MOE are planning for LINUS 2.0. How ironic. LINUS 2.0 has additional English monitoring other than the BM and Maths monitoring in the current LINUS.



From The Star

As for PBS, it's still very abstract to me. My poor children who had to go through the experimentation from MOE. Terrible, they should have official communication via the school to parents to help us prepare the kids for LINUS (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 whatever..) and PBS.

From The Star

Also on English language. They should bring back teaching of Maths and Science in English. The kids which do not take Maths and Science in English will not be able to go for assessment like ICAS. So sad that my kids will miss out on this. I'm all for Maths and Science in English. Otherwise, the concepts are really hard to grasp in higher education level. I'm not trying to belittle mother tongue for Maths and Science, but the benefits are truly valuable for those who go for higher education. This talk going around nowadays about adding English literature is laughable. Imagine, those who cannot even handle normal conversational English language, trying to jump into English literature. Cannot even crawl, trying to walk and even thinking of flying. Think they are geniuses? Even those who are good in English cannot comprehend English literature, what more those who are struggling (^_^)

Sistem Analisis Peperiksaan Sekolah (SAPS)

Photo from: http://saps.moe.gov.my/access-denied.php (not sure why it indicated access denied?)

Photo from: http://saps.moe.gov.my/ibubapa2/index.php

Heard that parents can check their children's grades via this database by MOE. However it's only for Year 3 and above for primary school, and Remove and Form 2 and above for secondary school (I translated directly from the BM info). No idea why is it so selective?

Textbook writer for KSSR Year 4 sought by DBP

Photo: Ad from The Star

I saw this advert in The Star that DBP is looking for writers for the 2014 KSSR textbooks in various subjects. I'm only interested when I see the subjects they are planning to write textbooks for. The list goes like this: BM, English, Arabic, Islamic Studies, Moral Studies, Physical Education, Health, Maths, Science, Information Technology and Communication, Design and Technology, History, Visual Art and Music. Official list given by MOE here. So many subjects compared to my time in primary school and they are preaching about how to reduce school bag weight (must be dreaming with the list of new subjects coming up). Just reduce the subjects! What is the difference between Information Technology and Communication with Design and Technology? Is one ICT and the other engineering related? There are no details as the interested applicants are suppose to follow the standards which are only available to certain people. I

Photo from: http://www.dbp.gov.my/lamandbp/main.php

This list is for SK, so SJK (C) will usually have about the same subjects in Mandarin in addition to BC. So my poor girl will have to study Sejarah when she goes to Year 4 in 2014. Hopefully before that, someone will overturn this poorly made decision to make Year 4 students study Sejarah and the Malaysia constituency. Accusing the young of being unpatriotic is not excuse to burden them with more fact-cramming subject in school. Why not leave the History and Constituency topic to secondary students who can better grasp the concept than pitiful 10-year-olds. Why even in the Year 1 and Year 2 BM textbooks they already insert topics about the PMs and their long distinguished names. Poor parents who try to coach our kids. Even I cannot remember the full names of the PMs with their many titles.

SSPN income tax exemption statement check

From the top of PTPTN website. Taken from PTPTN website: http://www.ptptn.gov.my/web/english/home

Or this section, also taken from PTPTN website.

It's tax season. For those who had deposit into their children's SSPN account in 2011, we can claim a tax deduction. Click on the e-cukai button for the related statement to accompany your tax submission. For those of us who file online, keep the statement for the next 7 years as IRB can audit our documents up to 7 years.

This e-cukai button will appear only near the tax season. I saw it towards end of March 2012.

Baucar Buku 1Malaysia usage extended to 30 April 2012

This is according to news report on TV. Students who received the BB1M are given an extension to use up their vouchers by 30 April 2012, an extension of 1 month. Couldn't find an official news report online yet as that was on TV.

Later, I only found this news from Sin Chew about the extension of BB1M due date.

SPM 2011 results to be out next Wednesday

According to report by The Star, SPM 2011 results will be out next Wednesday. Refer to report here. Students will be able to get their results from their schools after 10am.

It's quite a surprise that for the previous STPM result release earlier. Even though it's stated students will get results after 12pm from their schools, the top students were invited to get their result from the top official in KL. One of the student is from Penang. Wondered if he was invited earlier than that in order to receive the top honours? So in fact, the officials have the results ready, just didn't announce to the laymen but announce to the top scorers.

New STPM format to include school-based assessment

More news in The Star and Sin Chew about the new STPM format called modular STPM. More details in the MPM website on rules and general guideline for Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah PBS

Upcoming Star Education Fair 2012 in PISA, Penang

Photo from my copy of The Star

The Star Education Fair 2012 will be held in Penang at PISA, on 24 and 25 March 2012. This event is from 11am to 7pm on the two dates. According to The Star report, there will be local and foreign institutions offering undergraduate, postgraduate, twinning, diploma, certificate and distance learning programs. Best thing is admission is free (not sure about parking though).

This would be the kind of education fair that I'd bring my children when they are in their teens. Hope they still hold such fairs by the time they goes to secondary school.

STPM 2011 results coming out Wednesday

News in The Sun and The Star about STPM 2011 results. Candidates will be able to get their results from 12 noon from their respective schools. But private candidates will get results via mail. Another channel is to go for SMS checking or via http://www.mpm.edu.my from noon on that day. Details please refer to the news articles.

It seems STPM results come out faster than SPM results? Maybe the number of candidates for STPM is far fewer than SPM. Usually SPM results are also coming out in March.

Higher Education Roadshows/Info Days

All photos of ads in The Star

Saw many ads in The Star about education fairs by UK, Australia and New Zealand colleges and universities. Every year nowadays, they have such education fairs for SPM and STPM school leavers. Totally confused as seems like the sessions are held by different representatives?

There are also many open days held by the various local private colleges and local private universities. No wonder the young people got confused. As a parent, I'm also confused over what to choose when there are so many options.

Even though my children are years away from higher education, I like to keep updated about these events. Would not want to be still blur when they finished their exams, you know. I was in that "dazed" stage when I completed my own exams so I want to be more prepared for them. Besides, our resources and information available back then was so limited compared to now.

Tesco milk powder promotion (23 February - 7 March 2012)

 

Screen shot of Tesco catalogue 23 February - 7 March 2012

This is supposed to be a promotion from Tesco Malaysia's catalogue valid from 23 February - 7 March 2012. Not sure if they are so good to honour the prices until really 7 March 2012 and if stock is still available. We manage to get our children's milk powder last week which is about 3% cheaper than Giant's price. So in order to remember the promotion, I screen shot this particular catalogue page. The promotion is part of Tesco's Dunia Si Manja promotion.

Photo from: http://www.tesco.com.my/index.aspx?LID=1

SPM registration for private candidates

Photo of - Classified in the Star 27 February 2012

Typically fifth-formers will register for SPM via their school. Probably there are candidates who are under different circumstances need to register private candidate.

Saw ad from The Star that private candidates (? in BM is "calon persendirian") can start to register for 2012 SPM from 1 to 31 March 2012. Details to refer http://www.moe.gov.my/lp. However I don't find any details at this website. Maybe I'm not good in navigating this website. Probably go to the nearest state JPN (Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri) to enquire if not sure.

Teachers burdened with data entry

Sinchew reported on teachers burden being looked into: http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/237543?tid=1 High time!

Why did it got my attention? It's because a few weeks ago, little princess gave us a form to amend. It's the student personal particulars we filled last year. She told us to just amend with pen. Then a couple weeks later, she came back with another form to be filled by parents. It's again student's personal particulars in a different format! Pity the teacher who has to do data entry for these details. Hope they will have administrative assistants to help out but seems like the teachers are doing this job for the students.

Form 6 program revamp - will be in 3 semesters

Read news that the Education department just try to make Form 6 more appealing. The news is in Mandarin from Sin Chew: http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/237419?tid=1

They are divvying up the 1.5 year program (of course they didn’t count when you need to wait for results) into 3 semesters. This new idea will be first implemented for those students who will start Form 6 in 2012. The 6^th Formers will now be tested with what they learnt each semester instead of a do-or-die exam at the end. University entrance will be based on average marks for the 3 semesters.

Will it be more attractive to get more students to join Form 6? Personal opinion is not likely. Those who will take Form 6 will continue to do so. Those who didn’t choose it will not. For the problem is not only the exam. It’s the syllabus is not work-place friendly, it doesn’t do anything for those with STPM certificate. What does it say except it’s in the transition between high school and university. STPM is equivalent to A-Levels which Singaporeans and British are doing at earlier age than Malaysians.

It’s not a professional diploma where you can get out and bang on doors for employment after completing studies. My children, most probably will not take STPM. I went through this path, due to family limitation. However even how limited we are, we will send the children to college, TARC or local college and do a program they are interested. Being too studious in nature, the STPM is no longer appealing except the ones who has the confidence to ‘gamble’. After all, results which are average in STPM will get you nowhere. But if you have at least a diploma, there is still a chance of getting employed (still possible? Or unlikely in this time?). Shows employers you are serious in the chosen field with more emphasis on real-life application, you know.

Golden Student or Pelajar Emas program by Penang state

After annoucement of Penang state student aid last year, there was not much news. It looked like parents had to register at their local representative office? But the following news share that the Penang state government is trying to get help from the state Education department.

Report in The Sun: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/292452
Report in The Star: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/2/18/north/10722984&sec=North

The Penang state student aid is for Year 1, Year 4, Form 1 and Form 4 students from 2012. My earlier blog post about it here: http://mychildrenstuff.blogspot.com/2011/10/penang-to-give-rm100-to-students-for.html

TV9 will be showing Pink Panther next week on 11 February 2012

But I'm not sure which one as there are 2 movies. It will be at 10pm at the Movie Night slot.

Herbie Fully Loaded on TV9

Photo from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400497/ This is the official poster

The children enjoyed this movie shown on TV9. It's about a Beetle car which has a mind of its own. Very funny most of the time. Even though some of the scenes do not make sense, it is still funny (^o^) More about the movie here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400497/ and the official webpage: http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/herbie-fully-loaded.html

Traffic jams expected for the long weekend holiday in Penang

Seeing this news in The Star scared me to bits. I hated traffic jams and this news is scary. Hopefully we're not stuck anywhere for too long. Looks like we might not be going far from home this weekend. Might as well let the children rest and get back to health too instead of running around.

The Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration was just held 29 January 2012 attracted a big crowd as well. Heard of the jams and crowd. We might visit another year when the children are older and stronger to make the walks (^_^).

Pre-CNY traffic jam

Most parents have not settled into the routine of new Year 1 students yet, heck I'm not even settled for my princess' pickup routine. Yet we are also grappling with problem of influx of peeps pre-CNY. Cannot understand why there are so many cars on the road at all times. This morning the traffic jam even started at 7am! Whole main road outside jammed up. Luckily I'm just on my way home and I gave up picking up breakfast on the way (+_+)

CNY shopping

This year 2012 CNY we got ourselves less clothes than last year.

For the mr and I, one t-shirt each. For little princess, one dress and one skirt (I still owe her a feminine t-shirt to go with the skirt). For little prince, 3 t-shirts and one pair of pajamas. Erm, do we count whatever we bought last year but still fairly new and planned to wear during CNY? Then, one t-shirt each for the children. For little princess, 2 pairs of pants. This is not including clothes from the grandparents, even though the children didn't like what they bought. The designs are too fuddy-duddy and the clothes are small, in fact expected to be too tight in a couple of months' time.

Plan for next year is to reduce the amount bought for little prince. He really has too much clothes.

Tesco school shoes on sale

The RM5.90 school shoes are on sale at Tesco. Only RM0.51 now (no kidding!). Just glance through and found there's limited size and the condition of the shoes are yellowish. If can find the right size, even if yellowish, can still buy as school shoes can be washed and whitened. However it's only for spare, not for everyday use as it doesn't look as comfortable as the ones from brands like Pallas.

Next time if we're buying spare shoes will wait for this sale (^o^)

Exchange Novalac growing up milk powder at Giant

The Novalac growing up milk we got

We manage to be early for the exchange program. Need to bring other brand's milk powder scoop and the form for the exchange. Other than Novalac milk powder in 400g tin, the generous folks at Delfi even gave out other samples like baby biscuits that they are marketing. Got to know about the promotion from newspaper, but the ad is also available here. http://www.delfimarketing.com.my/news/24-novalac-dha-grow-exchange-program-at-giant-hypermarket.html

Later we went shopping at Giant, and found that Novalac is actually premium range, meaning the price is on the expensive side. Now that the children are properly toilet-trained, we no longer rush around for baby diapers. It's milk powder that we keep look out for discounts.

Back-to-school traffic jam

This being the first week of school, there are traffic jams everywhere near the schools. Especially primary schools. The new-to-school and back-to-school crowd is really crazy. Parents who are new to the school simply park everywhere as they are not familiar with the place yet. Add salt to the wound, there is a contractor working on the drain near little princess' school. So a portion of the area where some parents used to park is off-limits. Ended up with MORE JAM. Hope that next week everything back to normal and traffic jam will reduce. But my personal fear is that Chinese New Year is coming soon, and folks working elsewhere are returning home, adding more to the back-to-school jam. Peeps, please be considerate to the parents near school area. AND DRIVE CAREFULLY! The crowd usually disperses 10 minutes after parents pickup the children.