Schools on parade after PSLE results

When choosing a secondary school, Aasmiya Mohamed Tahriq, 12, is considering three key points: the school’s cutoff point, proximity to her home, and whether it offers her mother tongue.

She said: “My family and I (listed) several schools around my Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) marks and chose those near my home at Farrer Park. Schools not offering Tamil language as mother tongue are also excluded from our list.”

She attended Beatty Secondary School’s open house with her sister last Friday.

The school will open its doors to prospective students and parents until tomorrow.

PREVIEW: (Above) Aasmiya Mohamed Tahriq (wearing glasses) and her sister at Beatty Secondary School’s open house. TNP PHOTOS: KINTAN ANDANARI​

It is known for its achievements in the performing arts and uniformed groups.

Its principal, Mrs Marion Tan, said: “(Through this open house) we want to highlight the school’s holistic education, which includes developing our students’ critical and inventive thinking, as well as their information literacy skill.

“Such skills are honed through community or subject-based project work, hence making learning more meaningful and engaging for students.”

Another visitor at the open house, customer service executive Chew Ching Huat, 51, explained how his family helped his daughter, Charlene Chew, 12, choose a secondary school.

CUT-OFF POINTS 

Knowing his daughter scored above 220 for PSLE, he zeroed in on schools where the cut-off point last year was between 210 and 230.

They visited several schools to gauge how helpful the teachers were and how the students behaved.

“After this, we’ll discuss which suits her most, which interests her, taking into account our own observation during the open house,” Mr Chew said.

Ms Elleen Goh, 44, was starting a year early, taking her daughter, who is in Primary 5, to the open houses at four schools.

Ms Goh said: “I think it’ll be helpful so she can see what the schools are like, know for herself what school she wants, and work hard for it.

“Her secondary school (options) depend on her marks and her own preference.

“She will be the one doing the homework and shouldering the burden of schooling. So I think it’s fair if she decides where to go.”