Press Reports 2006
Students get to launch own CCAs
31 Dec 2006
Students get to launch own CCAs
By: BENSON ANG
December 31, 2006
Tossing a frisbee and jamming in a band are among new activities started by JC students. WHEN Tong Cheng Wei joined Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) early last year, he wasn’t too excited about the co-curricular activities (CCAs) being offered. “None of them particularly interested me,” said the 18-year-old. But the film enthusiast didn’t want to be just a bookworm either, so he approached Mrs Koh Siew Leng, the head of Physical Education (PE) and CCA, to pitch the idea of forming a film and music production club where students can write, produce and direct their own short films.
Called i.Nnovation, the club Cheng Wei proposed now has almost 40 members. In August this year, it held its first film festival, showcasing 1 1/2 hours of student films shot mostly on campus. These days, CCAs at junior colleges are no longer confined to the run-of-the-mill chess and library clubs or school bands. Coffee appreciation, ultimate frisbee and film production are just some of the many new additions to the menu of CCAs and interest groups that students can pick and choose from. Many of these were not initiated by the schools – they actually came out of proposals by students themselves, representing a diverse range of interests. Victoria Junior College (VJC) and St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) say they have long been open to suggestions but have only recently seen more students proactively approaching them. Explaining this, VJC’s head of PE Tan Yew Hwee said: “Students nowadays are more confident, since parents and schools have been encouraging them to think for themselves.” Other junior colleges actively encourage students to come forward. Innova Junior College (IJC), for example, even issues a formal invitation on its website.
To create a new CCA, IJC students just need to find 20 like-minded schoolmates, and a teacher to support them. Floorball and jamming have been offered as CCAs since last year. Pioneer Junior College began encouraging its students to suggest their own CCAs this year. The trend of more JC students coming up with their own CCAs mirrors the practice in universities where societies and clubs are often formed by undergraduates with niche interests. Just this year, Singapore Management University students formed a Hokkien opera group while some Nanyang Technological University students have started a breakdancing club. The trend doesn’t seem to have caught on in secondary schools though, and understandably so, given the relatively younger age of the students. But JCs do not automatically take up every suggestion – whether an activity becomes officially recognised as a CCA depends on several factors, including whether the school’s facilities and staff strength can accommodate the CCA. VJC’s Mr Tan said: “The CCA must be sustainable. We don’t want to start and end a CCA in the same year. That’s just wasting resources.” Added Mr Mark Lo, NJC’s vice-
principal : “The proposed CCA must also not overlap with existing CCAs.” In cases where a suggestion isn’t endorsed as a CCA, schools say they are still open to the idea of students forming interest groups. The difference is that interest groups may receive less funding for students and have less teacher involvement than CCAs. Said Tan Li Hong, 18, who initiated an ultimate frisbee interest group at TJC: “It was so easy to set up. The school even gave me a template for my proposal.”
Over at Jurong Junior College, there have been 30 programmes such as coffee appreciation and Mandarin song-writing in the past two years. These activities last only eight weeks, and there are no plans to turn them into CCAs. But whatever the case, schools say they are all for students taking the
initiative to propose CCAs as it empowers them to take charge of their own activities. “To propose a CCA, the students must conduct research, identify the CCA’s benefits, and plan a budget,” said Ms Kalyani Kausikan, a staff member of SAJC. “By doing this, students are already learning real-life planning skills.”
Copyright © 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
By: BENSON ANG
December 31, 2006
Tossing a frisbee and jamming in a band are among new activities started by JC students. WHEN Tong Cheng Wei joined Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) early last year, he wasn’t too excited about the co-curricular activities (CCAs) being offered. “None of them particularly interested me,” said the 18-year-old. But the film enthusiast didn’t want to be just a bookworm either, so he approached Mrs Koh Siew Leng, the head of Physical Education (PE) and CCA, to pitch the idea of forming a film and music production club where students can write, produce and direct their own short films.
Called i.Nnovation, the club Cheng Wei proposed now has almost 40 members. In August this year, it held its first film festival, showcasing 1 1/2 hours of student films shot mostly on campus. These days, CCAs at junior colleges are no longer confined to the run-of-the-mill chess and library clubs or school bands. Coffee appreciation, ultimate frisbee and film production are just some of the many new additions to the menu of CCAs and interest groups that students can pick and choose from. Many of these were not initiated by the schools – they actually came out of proposals by students themselves, representing a diverse range of interests. Victoria Junior College (VJC) and St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) say they have long been open to suggestions but have only recently seen more students proactively approaching them. Explaining this, VJC’s head of PE Tan Yew Hwee said: “Students nowadays are more confident, since parents and schools have been encouraging them to think for themselves.” Other junior colleges actively encourage students to come forward. Innova Junior College (IJC), for example, even issues a formal invitation on its website.
To create a new CCA, IJC students just need to find 20 like-minded schoolmates, and a teacher to support them. Floorball and jamming have been offered as CCAs since last year. Pioneer Junior College began encouraging its students to suggest their own CCAs this year. The trend of more JC students coming up with their own CCAs mirrors the practice in universities where societies and clubs are often formed by undergraduates with niche interests. Just this year, Singapore Management University students formed a Hokkien opera group while some Nanyang Technological University students have started a breakdancing club. The trend doesn’t seem to have caught on in secondary schools though, and understandably so, given the relatively younger age of the students. But JCs do not automatically take up every suggestion – whether an activity becomes officially recognised as a CCA depends on several factors, including whether the school’s facilities and staff strength can accommodate the CCA. VJC’s Mr Tan said: “The CCA must be sustainable. We don’t want to start and end a CCA in the same year. That’s just wasting resources.” Added Mr Mark Lo, NJC’s vice-
principal : “The proposed CCA must also not overlap with existing CCAs.” In cases where a suggestion isn’t endorsed as a CCA, schools say they are still open to the idea of students forming interest groups. The difference is that interest groups may receive less funding for students and have less teacher involvement than CCAs. Said Tan Li Hong, 18, who initiated an ultimate frisbee interest group at TJC: “It was so easy to set up. The school even gave me a template for my proposal.”
Over at Jurong Junior College, there have been 30 programmes such as coffee appreciation and Mandarin song-writing in the past two years. These activities last only eight weeks, and there are no plans to turn them into CCAs. But whatever the case, schools say they are all for students taking the
initiative to propose CCAs as it empowers them to take charge of their own activities. “To propose a CCA, the students must conduct research, identify the CCA’s benefits, and plan a budget,” said Ms Kalyani Kausikan, a staff member of SAJC. “By doing this, students are already learning real-life planning skills.”
Copyright © 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
JC decides: Let students try hand at PR
10 Oct 2006
Students writes to The New Paper: Why the harsh punishment for late-comers?
By Veena Bharwani
October 10, 2006
IMAGINE students being asked to do a principal's job for a day.
Four Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) student councillors did exactly that last month when they were assigned to respond to The New Paper's queries on the college's strict late-coming rules.
The councillors' response was positive, and the student who complained felt that the letter was fair.
The four - Lester Chee, Hashimah Harith, Mervis Toh and Angie Lim - rose to the challenge and produced a professionally written reply.
STUDENT COMPLAINED
In August, an NYJC student wrote to us saying that some students would rather get an MC and skip school than come to school late and receive a warning.
The student, who had been late more than four times, had received a warning letter threatening expulsion if she was late again.
The student lives more than an hour away from school.
She felt it was unfair that she should face expulsion even though she turned up for school late, while some other late-comers got off by skipping school and getting an MC.
We asked the college to respond to the complaint.
The usual practice for press queries is for the school principal or a head of department to handle the matter.
The student's council usually handles activities within the school like camps, games and student surveys.
When approached, the councillors were a bit shaken.
Recalled the president Lester Chee, 17: 'At first, we were like 'wow'. We can't play around. This is serious.'
Added vice-president Angie Lim, 17: 'This was the first time that we were dealing with something of such great importance.'
The last thing they wanted to do was to tarnish the college's name.
10 DRAFTS, 6 HOURS, A PERFECT LETTER
So for one day during the week-long school holidays last month, they met in the school in the morning and wrote 10 drafts of the letter until they settled on the final one six hours later.
The two-page letter answered the questions in detail.
It explained that students who received the warning letters were persistent late-comers who had already been given ample warning.
On the possible abuse of medical certificates, the letter stressed that the college trusted that students who produce MCs are genuinely unwell.
The letter was signed by the council president and approved by the principal.
The students ran the letter through their English teacher and principal before faxing it to us.
Principal Kwek Hiok Chuang said he gave the council the task as he wanted them to play a major role in student affairs.
Said Mr Kwek, 51: 'They wanted to craft the perfect letter and they did it right down to the signature.'
Getting students more involved in the college matters is not new, said Pioneer Junior College principal Tan-Kek Lee Yong, 51.
She said: 'We invite the council to give us feedback on uniform and student attire.
'We even have discussions with them on issues such as the appropriate hair length and new blazer designs.
'It's best to get their opinion as they are more in touch with the students than we are.'
Copyright © 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
By Veena Bharwani
October 10, 2006
IMAGINE students being asked to do a principal's job for a day.
Four Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) student councillors did exactly that last month when they were assigned to respond to The New Paper's queries on the college's strict late-coming rules.
The councillors' response was positive, and the student who complained felt that the letter was fair.
The four - Lester Chee, Hashimah Harith, Mervis Toh and Angie Lim - rose to the challenge and produced a professionally written reply.
STUDENT COMPLAINED
In August, an NYJC student wrote to us saying that some students would rather get an MC and skip school than come to school late and receive a warning.
The student, who had been late more than four times, had received a warning letter threatening expulsion if she was late again.
The student lives more than an hour away from school.
She felt it was unfair that she should face expulsion even though she turned up for school late, while some other late-comers got off by skipping school and getting an MC.
We asked the college to respond to the complaint.
The usual practice for press queries is for the school principal or a head of department to handle the matter.
The student's council usually handles activities within the school like camps, games and student surveys.
When approached, the councillors were a bit shaken.
Recalled the president Lester Chee, 17: 'At first, we were like 'wow'. We can't play around. This is serious.'
Added vice-president Angie Lim, 17: 'This was the first time that we were dealing with something of such great importance.'
The last thing they wanted to do was to tarnish the college's name.
10 DRAFTS, 6 HOURS, A PERFECT LETTER
So for one day during the week-long school holidays last month, they met in the school in the morning and wrote 10 drafts of the letter until they settled on the final one six hours later.
The two-page letter answered the questions in detail.
It explained that students who received the warning letters were persistent late-comers who had already been given ample warning.
On the possible abuse of medical certificates, the letter stressed that the college trusted that students who produce MCs are genuinely unwell.
The letter was signed by the council president and approved by the principal.
The students ran the letter through their English teacher and principal before faxing it to us.
Principal Kwek Hiok Chuang said he gave the council the task as he wanted them to play a major role in student affairs.
Said Mr Kwek, 51: 'They wanted to craft the perfect letter and they did it right down to the signature.'
Getting students more involved in the college matters is not new, said Pioneer Junior College principal Tan-Kek Lee Yong, 51.
She said: 'We invite the council to give us feedback on uniform and student attire.
'We even have discussions with them on issues such as the appropriate hair length and new blazer designs.
'It's best to get their opinion as they are more in touch with the students than we are.'
Copyright © 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
Results can't tell a person's character
30 Sep 2006
NOT all suffered under the EM3 stream.
Some, like Chua Kim Wee, were EM3 survivors.
They were late bloomers, like those referred to by Minister for Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
From the academically-slowest stream in primary school, Kim Wee is now sitting for his A levels.
The Nanyang Junior College student only made the Normal-Technical stream in secondary school.
But the 19-uear-old did so well along the way that he crossed over to the Normal-Academic Stream in Sec 2 and later obtained 4 distinctions in the O Levels.
His achievement was specifically lauded by Mr Tharman yesterday.
But what makes Kim Wee unique is that unlike Song Chuan, Kim Wee wasn't looked down upon.
He said: 'I didn't feel like an EM3 student. The other students in my school were not so obnoxious as to make me feel that way. In fact primary school was quite enjoyable.'
He is a perfect example of a student the revised system hopes to bring about - one who mixes well with the rest and helps the others pick up some people skills.
The former Monfort Junior School student said he felt very comfortable in the stream because he had caring teachers.
'My teachers used to tell me it doesn't matter if I'm at the bottom. I should try hard anyway to do my best. They were the ones who got me interested in school and studies.'
ANGRY AT ATTITUDES
However, he gets angry when others talk down to other EM3 students, and welcomes the demise of the EM3 stream.
He said: 'I didn't want others to be discriminated against in the same way. People tend to judge others based solely on their results but it can't tell a person's character.
'Everyone goes through ups and downs. I feel very sorry for those who went through that.'
He added: 'I'm just an ordinary person. There are others who have achieved much more.'
Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
Some, like Chua Kim Wee, were EM3 survivors.
They were late bloomers, like those referred to by Minister for Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
From the academically-slowest stream in primary school, Kim Wee is now sitting for his A levels.
The Nanyang Junior College student only made the Normal-Technical stream in secondary school.
But the 19-uear-old did so well along the way that he crossed over to the Normal-Academic Stream in Sec 2 and later obtained 4 distinctions in the O Levels.
His achievement was specifically lauded by Mr Tharman yesterday.
But what makes Kim Wee unique is that unlike Song Chuan, Kim Wee wasn't looked down upon.
He said: 'I didn't feel like an EM3 student. The other students in my school were not so obnoxious as to make me feel that way. In fact primary school was quite enjoyable.'
He is a perfect example of a student the revised system hopes to bring about - one who mixes well with the rest and helps the others pick up some people skills.
The former Monfort Junior School student said he felt very comfortable in the stream because he had caring teachers.
'My teachers used to tell me it doesn't matter if I'm at the bottom. I should try hard anyway to do my best. They were the ones who got me interested in school and studies.'
ANGRY AT ATTITUDES
However, he gets angry when others talk down to other EM3 students, and welcomes the demise of the EM3 stream.
He said: 'I didn't want others to be discriminated against in the same way. People tend to judge others based solely on their results but it can't tell a person's character.
'Everyone goes through ups and downs. I feel very sorry for those who went through that.'
He added: 'I'm just an ordinary person. There are others who have achieved much more.'
Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.
新议员张思乐费绍尔 同南初学弟学妹对话
08 Aug 2006
新议员张思乐费绍尔 同南初学弟学妹对话
● 林慧慧
2006-08-08
新加坡的政治体系是否民主?我国的政治生态环境难道容不下不同声音吗?
本月4日傍晚,南洋初级学院第四讲堂里的一场另类“政治论坛”,就讨论了这些课题。
其实,那只是一场南初校友会为学弟妹主办的对话会,应邀回答提问的是两名刚当上国会议员的南初校友——社会发展、青年及体育部政务次长张思乐及马林百列集选区议员费绍尔博士。
两名新议员不约而同穿上T恤、牛仔裤轻松赴会,面对学生对本地政治环境的批评,他们都作出回应。
他们不忘在回答后以当年他们的反馈获得当局正视的例子,尝试说服400多名学弟妹:他们有能力推动改变,也有责任参与塑造新加坡的未来。
政治以外,两人也分享对母校的回忆,及在初院的浪漫史。无独有偶,他们都是在校园内找到各自的终身伴侣,而费绍尔的太太还是他的初恋。
虽然张思乐和费绍尔都在同一届1986年从南初毕业,不过他们却笑说,念书的时候两人从未碰面。
费绍尔在对话会后受访时说,对话会让他对新一代学生的想法有更好的了解。他对学生认为本地政治不民主的提问印象深刻,“我相信这代表一部分现代青年的想法,而我对他们的立场没有异议,就如会上一名同学指出一个社会必须容得下不同意见和声音。”
张思乐是白沙—榜鹅集选区议员。他说,他对回母校跟学弟学妹交流的感觉很好,“希望能借此鼓励他们,启发他们追求更高更远的目标。不一定是要进入政坛或从商,只要对自己有自信,也能成就一番事业。”
新加坡报业控股版权所有(公司登记号:198402868E)
● 林慧慧
2006-08-08
新加坡的政治体系是否民主?我国的政治生态环境难道容不下不同声音吗?
本月4日傍晚,南洋初级学院第四讲堂里的一场另类“政治论坛”,就讨论了这些课题。
其实,那只是一场南初校友会为学弟妹主办的对话会,应邀回答提问的是两名刚当上国会议员的南初校友——社会发展、青年及体育部政务次长张思乐及马林百列集选区议员费绍尔博士。
两名新议员不约而同穿上T恤、牛仔裤轻松赴会,面对学生对本地政治环境的批评,他们都作出回应。
他们不忘在回答后以当年他们的反馈获得当局正视的例子,尝试说服400多名学弟妹:他们有能力推动改变,也有责任参与塑造新加坡的未来。
政治以外,两人也分享对母校的回忆,及在初院的浪漫史。无独有偶,他们都是在校园内找到各自的终身伴侣,而费绍尔的太太还是他的初恋。
虽然张思乐和费绍尔都在同一届1986年从南初毕业,不过他们却笑说,念书的时候两人从未碰面。
费绍尔在对话会后受访时说,对话会让他对新一代学生的想法有更好的了解。他对学生认为本地政治不民主的提问印象深刻,“我相信这代表一部分现代青年的想法,而我对他们的立场没有异议,就如会上一名同学指出一个社会必须容得下不同意见和声音。”
张思乐是白沙—榜鹅集选区议员。他说,他对回母校跟学弟学妹交流的感觉很好,“希望能借此鼓励他们,启发他们追求更高更远的目标。不一定是要进入政坛或从商,只要对自己有自信,也能成就一番事业。”
新加坡报业控股版权所有(公司登记号:198402868E)
