A struggle at first, but taking higher-level subjects helped boost confidence
Jurong Secondary student Ismahani Azmi, 15, struggled with taking higher-level subjects when she first entered secondary school, but has seen her confidence blossom from the experience, with some help from her teachers, including Mdm Siti Hawa Zaini, her Malay language teacher (seated). PHOTO: FARIS MOKHTAR
SINGAPORE — Finding it hard to cope with her studies, Ismahani Azmi once broke down in tears while working on an assignment in class.
The reason: she struggled in adapting to the syllabus of higher level subjects, which she took up upon enrolling into Secondary One at Jurong Secondary School.
As she had performed well in her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), Ismahani, a Normal (Technical) stream student, was given the option to take English Language at the Normal (Academic) level and Malay Language at the Express level.
But the 15-year-old, who previously studied foundation level subjects in Lakeside Primary School, found the transition hard. And there were times when she wanted to drop out. “It was quite stressful for me and I kept questioning myself whether I can do it,” said Ismahani, who is now in Secondary Four.
However, teachers advised her against doing so as she had the potential to succeed. “I told her it would be waste because I know she can do it. She just needs to believe in herself more,” said Mdm Siti Hawa Zaini, who taught Ismahani Malay Language.
With guidance from teachers, who were willing to stay back after school hours to tutor her, as well as motivation from classmates, Ismahani’s confidence received a boost. Last year, she passed both subjects.
Mdm Siti Hawa too notice a change in her behaviour, saying Ismahani is now more vocal in asking and answering questions in class.
In 2014, Jurong Secondary School was one of 12 schools to introduce subject-based banding (SBB) to lower secondary students under a pilot. Before that, only upper secondary students can take up a higher-level subject.
As part of efforts to recognise students’ abilities and stretch their potential, Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng announced on Tuesday (March 7) that all secondary schools will allow Normal stream students to take subjects at a higher level from Secondary One.
Students will be able to do so if they perform well at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or in school-based assessments such as the mid-year or final-year exams, he said, speaking during the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Committee of Supply debate.
Jurong Secondary principal Ruby Khoo said that when SBB was first piloted, there was initial apprehension among parents, with most asking whether their children would be able to cope.
But over the years, students under the scheme has grown in confidence and is determined to their best.
“What really changed was their self-acceptance, how they feel about themselves. In the past, they would say ‘Oh, I’m just a student in the N(T) course.’ But now they can say they’re taking a subject at a higher level. So it really boost their morale a lot,” said Mrs Khoo.
