CNY 2013 replacement school day changed

Made us crazy arranging all the hobby classes on Saturday, then rearranging due to the last minute change.

Photo from: http://www.jpnpenang.edu.my/

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.

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.

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

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

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 (+_+)

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^)

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.

PMR results out on Thursday 22 December 2011

Hope all the 2011 PMR candidates do well. Their results will be out on Thursday, available from schools after 10am. Or via SMS. News is from The Star: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/19/nation/20111219163600&sec=nation

Pemberian Baucar Buku 1Malaysia (BB1M)

Refer to this from Treasury website for details on the RM200 book voucher. The vouchers will be distributed by the schools/colleges/universities. All the bookstores are encouraged to participate and they can claim back via BSN. However I wonder which are the bookstores that actually will participate though. The vouchers are valid from 1 January through 31 March 2012.

This link has FAQ on the BB1M and also FAQ on the BR1M. Check it for eligibility:
http://www.treasury.gov.my/pdf/bajet/FAQs_BELANJAWAN_2012.pdf

Update: Looks like major bookstores like Popular and MPH accept the BB1M vouchers. MPH just advertised they are giving RM5 book voucher for every RM100 nett purchase.

Spare school shoes

We should not be buying things just because they are cheap or on sale. But we do see a need for a pair of spare school shoes for the children, especially we have experienced so many weekend activities for the SJK (C)'s. So this promotion comes in handy and the quality is not too shabby either. Other than school shoes, there's also school uniforms on offer at Tesco. They've marked down their prices for this weekend to compete with Giant.

Photo from: http://www.tesco.com.my/

Highlight of little princess' school UPSR results

Went to pickup little princess for holiday camp today from her school. Saw the school's UPSR results for 2011. Looks like more students getting A's compared to last year. There are 31 students with 7A's, 17 students with 6A's and 14 students with 5A's. Congratualations to the school and hope they keep their fighting spirit!

Back-to-school shopping begins!

It's the beginning of back-to-school shopping. Promotions from Giant, Tesco, Parkson all in newspaper ads today. Planning to buy another pair of spare school shoes for princess, and another pair of school shorts. Already heard from another mom that Tesco's school shorts comes with elastic band which is more convenient for primary school children. She also mentioned their super cheap school shoes are actually not comfy. As a spare, need to buy a much bigger size. Will have to wait till the last week of holidays before any actual buying as the children grow so fast.

In fact, if missed the back-to-school shopping season at the hypermarkets and supermarkets, it will be difficult to find uniform stuff except at the speciality stores. I actually prefer the Kimnovak school uniform as they look nicer, especially for secondary school girl's pinafore. I think other school paraphernalia can get from other sources depending on pricing and comfort level. But next time, princess will have Kimnovak pinafore for her secondary school, that's for sure. When I didn't have Kimnovak pinafore last time, I used to envy the girls who wore them as it looked much nicer and smarter.

Uses of the RM100 student cash aid

If you are from well-to-do family, do you decline the government's offer of the RM100 student cash aid? Would like to suggest that this amount to be donated to the school after accepting the aid if you do not need it. After all, the school that your child goes to is the one who nurtures and educate them. In fact, why not top-up more donation to the school next year as donation to school are going to be tax deductable in 2012 (base on Budget 2012). Definitely the school will appreciate any kind of donation especially the SJK(C)'s.

Got the RM100 student aid

Little princess told us to go to her school to give our signature. However when asked what is it that teacher wanted, she is not able to elaborate. When the Boss went to her school, he was told it's the RM100 student aid. Parents have to sign accept or reject for primary school (I think). So far, all the parents he saw accepted the aid. Definitely any help for school will be welcomed ya. The cash aid for students is disbursed through school for Year 1 to Form 5 students. For those starting Year 1 in 2012, they will get the RM100 student aid later. Heard that secondary school students just get a memo and the RM100 is passed to them. Most school would have completed giving out the student aid by now as it's last day of school!