25
2019
The plan for Ethan’s secondary school journey
You know that feeling when you think you’ve got it all planned out and then all out of sudden it’s like as if your world has been shaken like a snow globe and everything got messed up? That’s me at the moment.
And it is regarding Ethan’s secondary school journey. You see, he’ll be sitting for his UPSR this September. Last week, he brought home a form for us to select the secondary school to further his studies.
All these while, there is ONE particular school in mind that both Ethan and I agree for him to attend. It is not in the list of the feeder schools though. This school is about 2km from our address and it was a cluster school. Note that I use the word WAS. I only found out it is no longer a cluster school as since 2018, schools are no longer labelled as cluster. How does that affect our choice?
It does not. It is still the school of our choice BUT NOW, the game has changed. If last time good results can boost your chances of acceptance, now it is no longer valid since it is not a cluster school. What is even worse, now I heard that if the school is not listed in the feeder schools of your child’s primary school, chances are you won’t even be accepted into it.
Furthermore, this year the rules has changed. The rule is, your child is only allowed to select from the list of feeder schools. You can’t choose anything that is not in the list and that is bad news as the school Ethan is keen to apply for is not in the list.
Suddenly our world came crashing down and we became so lost. What is the worst case scenario if Ethan is not accepted into this school, you asked? Well, then he has to continue his studies at that feeder school which is notorious for its horrible bottleneck traffic jam during peak hours. Not only that, the school’s reputation is also questionable as it is infamous for its disciplinary problems.
So now what we can do is to select that feeder school and enroll there next year. Once in there, we’ll try to appeal for the school of Ethan’s choice and pray hard that he’ll get accepted. Okay, so that looks like a plan. There is nothing more we can do except to wait for next year. Right?
And then this happened. Ethan been offered a place and scholarship at a Chinese Independent High School. Ethan came home and passed us the form, simultaneously telling us that he does not want to go there. He does not want to go to a Chinese school anymore.
I did not know what to think about it as it never occur in my mind that he would even be offered this. But what I know is, we did have a discussion about his studies before and we both agree that he will not need to continue his secondary studies in a Chinese school.
I posted the offer on Facebook and got mixed response.
Some told us to encourage Ethan to go for it. One even told me that this is the top Chinese private school so don’t waste the opportunity. It was quite a discussion but at the end of it I come to no conclusion. I mean, obviously I have to respect Ethan’s decision since he is the one studying but what if it is a good school and he is throwing away his scholarship just like that?
We never plan for Ethan to study in a Chinese Independent School before this. Why is it even a question now? Is it because he’s been offered a scholarship so I feel wasteful if he doesn’t accept it? If it is, then I have to slap myself as I am putting money above my son’s interest.
It is such a gamble right now. Since we are not accepting this scholarship and should Ethan fails to get accepted into that school of his choice next year, he’ll end up in the feeder school for rest of his secondary years.
I shake that thought off my head. I so hate to be in this position right now.
I don’t know if it goes across the board but I found students from Chinese schools here over-dependent on rote-learning, learn everything by heart, even stories for their essays. Best to go to schools where the focus is in making an individual an all-rounder, not just excel academically.
I agree with you that it is Ethan’s choice so if he doesn’t want to continue with a Chinese School then it is no to that scholarship offer. In the worst case scenario, Ethan has to study in the feeder school and he doesn’t like it there, is it possible for him to apply for a scholarship to go to a private secondary school as Ethan is good academically and is musically inclined?
Me and hubby also plan for our kids to study in Chinese school for 6 years (in primary) and then go to SMK. Jan also told us she doesnt want to go to Chinese school. One reason is her Chinese isnt that excellent.
It is up to Ethan on the school but like you said, only can apply and appeal after UPSR and next year registration in feeder school if he is not accepted in her preferred choice. But I still believe if he scores good result, it would not be hard to enter. But I do understand that schools have their quotas. They have certain amount of students to accept that year.