However, if volunteers, parents
and youth workers are engaged to counter the finite resources, Tyem’s
suggested approaches to solve the above predicament are as follows for:
Lost interest in studying
o Mentor & mentee sessions – organisations like True Hearts Connection
(www.truehearts.org)
o Have some teachers be seen and known as teacher with genuine heart for helping
students in difficulties
o Permit 'N' level students to take ‘O’ level subjects (easier subjects are
languages, Bible knowledge, Islamic Religious Knowledge, Art, Music, F&N and PE)
o Let students take 2 ‘O’ level sittings (no more than 3 subjects per
sitting)
o Excel them in sports or other challenging activity and use that to interest
them to studying (see the film - Coach Carter)
o Be more flexible with the approach to subject selection by weaker students
o Students that are above 16 years old and are in Sec 3, should be allowed to
take ‘O’ level subjects. Presently, MOE does not permit and we hope this policy
will change soon.
o Permit multiple sitting of the ‘O’ level subjects and encourage the
Polytechnics and JC to recognise more than 2 sittings and non-consecutive
sittings
Lost of self-esteem self-respect & self-confidence
o Give equal treatment to N level students to participate in enrichment and
Character Development programmes
o Most parents could co-pay for many such programmes
o Strengthen their non-academic talents and teach them to manage the academic
subjects
o Avoid embarrassing or humiliating high-risk students
o Reason with them like adults (see Coach Carter)
o Avoid jumping to conclusion and target high-risk students (see I not stupid
too)
o Senior school management could have regular chat sessions with high-risk
students
Streamed into Normal (Academic/Technical)
o Parenting workshops - to help parents be more responsible for their child’s
education
o Look into more radical teaching methods to enthuse these students
o Have the better teachers to teach these students
o Provide tuition classes from external vendors with parents encouraged to enrol
their child into such programme. The tuition group must be able to use the
school premise and computer lab if necessary.
Some school rules & regulation don’t make sense
o Schools should review to make every r&r with a mature and logical approach
o To have students go against “illogical” rules & regulation is to encourage a defiant spirit
and a disregard to authority
o E.g. Hand phones are becoming a necessity for many students. Schools may an adult like approach to the situation and students are able to respect
the school’s restrictions use of the hp. Some schools are concern with theft,
but if the school have warned them about it, then do
leave it to them to be responsible. Parents are also informed of hp consequences.
o Students should know the logic and rational behind every school rule
o Every student who left school and desires to return should be treated like the
parable of the Prodigal Son.
o High-risk students being targeted or black listed by teachers is strongly
discouraged