Electric News
By Chong Zi Liang
January 26, 2008
AS secondary school student Gabriel Tay, 18, awaited his O-level results yesterday, confidence was not on his side.
After all, it was only on his second try that he had managed to score nine points for the N levels, barely making it into Sec 5.
It also didn't help that media reports had been focusing recently on the slim chances poorly performing N-level students had of getting into the polytechnics.
Points are scored on an aggregate system, with As getting 1 and 2 points, Bs 3 and 4 and so on.
N-level students need an aggregate score of 10 points or less for their three best subjects in order to take the O levels.
They must also pass English.
Yesterday, it was English that was worrying Gabriel the most.
'I know my English is not strong, all I could do was try my best,' he said shortly before receiving his results.
But his fears, and those of many of his school mates in his situation, were unfounded.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR POLY
When he opened his result slip, Gabriel realised he had done well enough for a place in a polytechnic.
He also passed English, getting a total of 27 points for six subjects.
And he was not alone in his Sec 5 cohort at St Gabriel's Secondary.
Only two students who had scored between eight and 10 points during the N levels - considered a borderline score for entrance into Sec 5 - failed to make the cut for a polytechnic.
A whopping 98 per cent made it, well above the national average of 60 per cent.
So what makes a school like St Gabriel's different? The key to its success lies in its network of caring teachers, said vice-principal Jackie Cheng.
'The Sec 5N classes are the pride and joy of the school,' said Miss Cheng, who had taught many Sec 5 classes herself prior to becoming vice-principal.
And that special bond between teachers and pupils showed. Every student was quick to thank their teachers for not giving up on them, despite their mediocre N-level results just a year ago.
'Even when my teacher handed me my N-Level result slip last year, he encouraged me to continue working hard,' said Nicholas Chow, 18, who had scored nine points at that time.
'In this school, no teacher has ever told me I cannot make it,' added Nicholas, who is now eligible for a polytechnic education.
Sec 5 students from Mrs Chang Chin Ngan's form class said that she was a huge source of motivation for them.
When told about this, Mrs Chang was modest about her role in her students' success.
'It's true that nine and 10 pointers have to work hard to get into poly,' she said.
'So I used examples of formers students who did well despite poor N-level results to show them it could be done.'
Another student who thanked the school for turning what he called a rebellious lifestyle around was Avery Wong, 18.
'I was the rebel type and out to prove I was right,' he said. 'But after I was retained, I became more responsible and started to connect well with the teachers.'
And St Gabriel's was not the only school whose weaker students did well.
Over at West Spring Secondary School, Samuel Koh and Shah Izwah, both 17, were also celebrating their successes in qualifying for the polytechnics.
But, more than that, they were part of a group who proved naysayers wrong, having scored nine and 10 respectively one year ago in the N-levels.
Samuel recalled how a study trip to Cambodia changed him.
'My teacher pointed out how poor the Cambodians were, but they still studied so hard,' he said. 'That really inspired me.'
Izwah paid tribute to his Chemistry teacher, Mr Koh Tse Hong, a teacher who was 'powerful in getting our attention and giving us encouragement'.
SECRET TO SUCCESS
Mr Koh emphasised a good teacher-student relationship was the secret behind improving students' academic performance.
Back in St Gabriel's Secondary, the rapport between its vice-principal and Gabriel was evident.
As MissCheng reminded him not to forget his teachers, Gabriel assured her he would not, saying it was she who taught him the virtue of being grateful in the first place.
He also promised to return to StGabriel's to visit the teachers who have helped him in his six-year journey to the O Levels.
One teacher in particular is Mrs Cheng, his math teacher, who spent many an evening poring over textbooks with him.
'She is definitely someone who I will come back and visit,' he said.
By Chong Zi Liang
January 26, 2008
AS secondary school student Gabriel Tay, 18, awaited his O-level results yesterday, confidence was not on his side.
After all, it was only on his second try that he had managed to score nine points for the N levels, barely making it into Sec 5.
It also didn't help that media reports had been focusing recently on the slim chances poorly performing N-level students had of getting into the polytechnics.
Points are scored on an aggregate system, with As getting 1 and 2 points, Bs 3 and 4 and so on.
N-level students need an aggregate score of 10 points or less for their three best subjects in order to take the O levels.
They must also pass English.
Yesterday, it was English that was worrying Gabriel the most.
'I know my English is not strong, all I could do was try my best,' he said shortly before receiving his results.
But his fears, and those of many of his school mates in his situation, were unfounded.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR POLY
When he opened his result slip, Gabriel realised he had done well enough for a place in a polytechnic.
He also passed English, getting a total of 27 points for six subjects.
And he was not alone in his Sec 5 cohort at St Gabriel's Secondary.
Only two students who had scored between eight and 10 points during the N levels - considered a borderline score for entrance into Sec 5 - failed to make the cut for a polytechnic.
A whopping 98 per cent made it, well above the national average of 60 per cent.
So what makes a school like St Gabriel's different? The key to its success lies in its network of caring teachers, said vice-principal Jackie Cheng.
'The Sec 5N classes are the pride and joy of the school,' said Miss Cheng, who had taught many Sec 5 classes herself prior to becoming vice-principal.
And that special bond between teachers and pupils showed. Every student was quick to thank their teachers for not giving up on them, despite their mediocre N-level results just a year ago.
'Even when my teacher handed me my N-Level result slip last year, he encouraged me to continue working hard,' said Nicholas Chow, 18, who had scored nine points at that time.
'In this school, no teacher has ever told me I cannot make it,' added Nicholas, who is now eligible for a polytechnic education.
Sec 5 students from Mrs Chang Chin Ngan's form class said that she was a huge source of motivation for them.
When told about this, Mrs Chang was modest about her role in her students' success.
'It's true that nine and 10 pointers have to work hard to get into poly,' she said.
'So I used examples of formers students who did well despite poor N-level results to show them it could be done.'
Another student who thanked the school for turning what he called a rebellious lifestyle around was Avery Wong, 18.
'I was the rebel type and out to prove I was right,' he said. 'But after I was retained, I became more responsible and started to connect well with the teachers.'
And St Gabriel's was not the only school whose weaker students did well.
Over at West Spring Secondary School, Samuel Koh and Shah Izwah, both 17, were also celebrating their successes in qualifying for the polytechnics.
But, more than that, they were part of a group who proved naysayers wrong, having scored nine and 10 respectively one year ago in the N-levels.
Samuel recalled how a study trip to Cambodia changed him.
'My teacher pointed out how poor the Cambodians were, but they still studied so hard,' he said. 'That really inspired me.'
Izwah paid tribute to his Chemistry teacher, Mr Koh Tse Hong, a teacher who was 'powerful in getting our attention and giving us encouragement'.
SECRET TO SUCCESS
Mr Koh emphasised a good teacher-student relationship was the secret behind improving students' academic performance.
Back in St Gabriel's Secondary, the rapport between its vice-principal and Gabriel was evident.
As MissCheng reminded him not to forget his teachers, Gabriel assured her he would not, saying it was she who taught him the virtue of being grateful in the first place.
He also promised to return to StGabriel's to visit the teachers who have helped him in his six-year journey to the O Levels.
One teacher in particular is Mrs Cheng, his math teacher, who spent many an evening poring over textbooks with him.
'She is definitely someone who I will come back and visit,' he said.
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