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Source:
www.moe.gov.sg |
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QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO CCA AND CIP
IN JUNIOR COLLEGES |
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The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will adopt a qualitative approach in
considering Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) of ‘A’-level and polytechnic
applicants for university admission from 2007. The Singapore Management
University has had a qualitative scheme for considering CCA from the outset. |
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To allow for a more holistic and meaningful
assessment of students’ qualities, the universities will look at students’
involvement and achievements in CCAs and the Community Involvement Programme
(CIP) for evidence of desired attributes such as leadership, creative flair,
passion and commitment. |
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CCA, which is currently given a quantitative
score, will instead be assessed qualitatively under the universities
discretionary admission system. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has agreed to
this change in admission procedures for NUS and NTU from 2007. |
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With the move to a more flexible and qualitative
scheme for considering the CCA experience of applicants to NUS and NTU, it
will no longer be necessary to have a fixed CCA points system for junior
college (JC) and Centralised Institute (CI) students applying to university
from 2007 onwards. MOE will remove the CCA grading system, PEARLS, for first
year students in JCs starting from this year[1]. |
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At the same time, MOE will remove the minimum
6-hour requirement for CIP for all students in JCs and the CI from this year.
The CIP scheme, introduced in 1998, is now a vibrant feature of JC life. |
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The JCs and CI will henceforth have autonomy in
integrating CIP into their curriculum to best meet and respond to the needs
and interests of their students. CIP will remain an integral component of the
JC curriculum. |
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The changes in CCA and CIP are consistent with
extensive feedback from JC students. The changes are also in line with MOE and
JC/CI’s efforts to encourage students to engage in CCA on the basis of
interest and passion rather than the points they get for a particular
activity. |
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The shift in the 6-hour requirement for CIP will
also encourage students to take initiative and focus on the quality of their
involvement in the community, as many already do. |
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Towards Qualitative Assessment of CCAs and CIP
for JCs and the CI |
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CCAs and the CIP are integral to a balanced and
holistic education in our schools. They provide opportunities for character
building and nurture life skills and attributes such as leadership, teamwork
and compassion. |
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Currently, CCA constitutes 5% of the University
Admission Score. For university admission from 2007, NUS and NTU will
integrate CCA as part of the discretionary admission scheme instead of the
University Admission Score. |
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The discretionary admission scheme was introduced
in 2004 to allow the two universities to consider a broader range of
intellectual and character attributes besides students’ performance in the GCE
‘A’ level examinations. Currently, the scheme allows for up to 10% of students
to be admitted on a discretionary basis. |
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Under their respective schemes for discretionary
admission, NUS and NTU will look for evidence of these broader attributes in
an applicant’s CCA contributions and achievements, and his involvement in CIP.
Together with the University Admission Score, which will comprise the
applicants’ ‘A’ level score, this would determine an applicants’ suitability
for entry into the university. |
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The move to a qualitative and more holistic
assessment of CCA and other attributes is in line with admission practices in
many reputable universities overseas. |
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Students who would have benefited from the current
system of 5% allocation to CCA points will be given full consideration for
their CCA achievements under the discretionary admission framework from 2007.
Students with impressive CCA records or leadership abilities can in fact be
given fuller and more flexible recognition under the new system. |
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The details of the modified NUS and NTU admission
systems to consider CCA for 2007 admission are at
Annexes A and B respectively. There is no change in the computation of
University Admission Scores for the 2005 and 2006 admission exercises. |
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This qualitative approach to CCA and CIP will
support efforts in JC/CI to encourage students to follow their interests and
passions, and to take greater ownership of their CCA and CIP involvement.
Feedback received from students and their JCs/CI have indicated that there is
difficulty in fully capturing and quantifying students’ efforts and
contributions under the current grading system. |
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CIP will remain integral to the JC and CI
curriculum for all students. Each JC/CI will work out its own CIP programme,
so as to maximise the room for initiative and leadership by students. Feedback
from students and school leaders show that the vast majority of students are
keen to engage in community work, and will want to participate actively in CIP
activities. |
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Recognition of CCA and CIP for Scholarship
Awards |
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The Public Service Commission (PSC) will continue
to look at scholarship applicants’ participation and achievements in CCA and
CIP within the new qualitative framework for these activities in the JC/CI. |
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Background |
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PEARLS |
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PEARLS was implemented in 2000 for JCs and CI, and
quantifies CCA involvement (Participation, Enrichment, Achievement,
Representation, Leadership and Service) into points. The points are used for
admission to NUS and NTU and for Scholarship selection by some agencies. |
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Community Involvement Programmes (CIP) |
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The Community Involvement Programme (CIP) is one
of the key strategies for National Education. Implemented in 1998, the
overarching mission of the CIP is to nurture every student to be socially
responsible and to help them understand that every Singaporean has a role in
enhancing the well being of the community and the country, thus preparing them
for a lifetime of active citizenship. |
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University Admissions System |
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For the transition year of 2005, the admissions
system provides the option to include or to omit SAT I scores. For those whose
SAT I scores are counted, 5 bonus points are awarded for CCA (see option A of
the table below). For those whose SAT I scores are not counted, CCA forms 5%
of the university admission score (see option B of the table below). |
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For 2006, CCA will form 5% of the university
admission score (see option B of the table below). |
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Option |
‘A’-levels |
SAT I |
CCA |
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A |
75% |
25% |
Up to 5
bonus points
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B |
95% |
- |
5%
(included in 100% score) |
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Note: Option (a) is the scoring formula if
applicants’ SAT I scores are counted while Option (b) is the formula if the
applicants choose not to submit their SAT I scores. The universities will
consider the higher of the two options for university admission in 2005, as
some applicants could have already sat for SAT I earlier. Universities will
consider only option (b) in 2006. |
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More..... (Annexes) |
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Source:
Ministry of Education Press Release 9 Mar
2005 |
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In
consultation with Millennia Institute (MI), MOE has decided to
also remove the PEARLS system for both first and second year
students at the institute. This year’s
final-year students at the JCs and the CI who apply to NUS
or NTU would continue to have their PEARLS scores considered for
admission in 2006, as in current practice. |
Changes to CCA and CIP for university admission
