The boy has to be going to primary one next year and I haven’t even checked up the schools for him. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know the enrollment schedule although it’s supposedly soon.
I’m anxious about his education alright and it’s not because I’m taking my own sweet time. But rather, instead of working on his enrollment, I’m currently working on his deferment.
You see, the official age to enter school is seven but my boy will only turn six next January. But because his birthday is on 1st January, he has to join the 2002 batch even though he’s born in 2003.
Seriously, I don’t know which scholar came up with such a system and I don’t understand the rationale behind it. If he is born in 2003, why can’t he just join the 2003 batch? The only possible reason according to my husband is that school officially starts on 2 January.
We’re not very keen for the boy to go to school so soon. While he’s not lagging behind academically, he does have some problem areas we need to address such as his independence level and his social skills. Moreoever, with a punishing education system like what we have here, we’re not keen to push him that hard. So deferring him for a year will probably be beneficial for all of us.
While that sounds easy enough, but the best part of the story is that to defer him for school, we have to send him for some medical assessment. We have to spend the money and devote the time to do this in order to meet the ridiculous requirements set by MOE. (Somebody please tell the ministry to wake up their blardy idea!)
Boy ah boy, why couldn’t you wait for another day to be out five years ago?
precisely, i really don’t understand that rationale too…
Lia:
Comment by Lia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 @ 5:45 am
You are really different, sesame. :)Anyway, I also don’t understand why is it so hard for MOE to just accept your deferment. Maybe you should write to Straits Times Forum to complain!
CM: Wah siow liao…where got time to write in…but we figure out that if we cannot get our way then we will go and approach MP! Me different ah? Actually, not really but a few pple who experienced the same situation as us did adviced us to send him in later. It’ll be better and I think so too.
Comment by crazymommy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 @ 12:29 pm
shane is born same year and month. But starting a year later. what a big difference a few weeks make. Heng ah…he’s hardly ready.
carrie:
Really heng for you! But talking about the difference, you know at this age, even a few months make a lot of difference to their mental development. Mine is not ready too.
Comment by carrie — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 @ 9:27 pm
I’m having the same thoughts too.. with the brat. Chloe is still 4 this september. But the rules changed this year.. and she can go into school this year.. with those who already turned 5. Grade-primary is what Chloe will be going to.. like kindergarten.. but seriously.. do i wanna subject her to all the germs.. and bullying so early..?? wouldn’t it be better to keep her another year with us..??
MB: Hey, it’s true about the germs. They get sick easily at that age. It’s call the nursery syndrome. Even our pediatrician encouraged us to send him in later. There are thoughts about getting them socializing blah blah but…there are also problems associated with sending them to school too early. I know exactly how you feel…
Comment by Mama BoK — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 @ 3:16 am
What funny school system.
Comment by zara's mama — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 @ 5:05 pm
Think going to a private practice should not be a problem in getting a deferment letter. Don’t waste time & money on the govt ones. The answer I got back was, wait till he is seven then they can access him more accurately. My husband and I was, huh?
ky: I’m arranging for him to go to the Children’s Partnership for consultation cos it’s being recommended by his Godma. But they’re so full, the assessment can only happen in May at the earliest!
Comment by kwai yoke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 @ 8:11 pm