I thought this is one of the best feel good stories that I have come across for along while. Click the URL to see the kid posing with his market vendor mother. The family is indeed tight having lost their father to cancer in May.
The govt has also realised that publicising the names of overaged FT kids scoring top grades in PSLE is only making things worse and its in their interest to tone it down before they lose East Coast GRC. The real challenge is hand the country back to Singaporeans before it is too late.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20121123-385220.html
By Gwendolyn Ng
My Paper
Friday, Nov 23, 2012
SINGAPORE - Gathered at Loyang Primary School in Pasir Ris yesterday morning were eager parents waiting for the release of their child's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results.
But one particular pupil, Jaren Pang, 12, had his three siblings - Jason, 21, Jamie, 19, and Jacob, 15 - with him.
The siblings are a close-knit bunch, having had to rely mostly on each other for support at home.
This is because their father died from intestinal cancer in May and their mother, the family's sole breadwinner, works long hours as a market vendor.
Jamie, a National University of Singapore business undergraduate, said: "We make it a point to be there for Jaren."
After his name was called in the school hall and he was handed his results slip, Jaren ran straight towards his siblings.
He scored an aggregate of 232, achieving straight As for four subjects, including an A-star for Mathematics.
He hopes to qualify for a place in Anglican High School. Jaren was among a total of 48,333 Primary 6 pupils who sat the PSLE this year.
Of these, 97.6 per cent can proceed to secondary school.
In terms of course eligibility, 63.1 per cent are eligible for the Express course, 23.1 per cent for Normal (Academic) and 11.4 per cent for Normal (Technical).
My Paper understands that this year's top PSLE scorer garnered an aggregate of 285, while the lowest score was 43, which were both printed on pupils' results slips.
Preparing for the PSLE was a gruelling feat for Jaren, who spent an hour each day at Changi General Hospital as his father's condition worsened over the months.
Jaren, who shared a close bond with his late father, said: "I knew that (our time together) was limited, so I really cherished it."
He also had to help out at his mother's stall in a Bedok market on weekends, stopping only three weeks before the PSLE began in September.
His form teacher, Mrs Emily Tan, 50, was full of praise for Jaren. She said: "He tries to be very attentive in class, despite the emotional turmoil that he had to go through.
"At home, he has his sister to help him with his studies. So, there was no need for tuition."
In the afternoon, the siblings made a trip to their mother's stall with the news.
Jaren ran to hug his mother when he caught sight of her.
Madam Susan Lim, 46, who earns about $1,000 a month selling bananas, tapioca and coconut shreds, told My Paper: "I'm proud of Jaren. I'm really lucky to have children who are so sensible and independent."
The govt has also realised that publicising the names of overaged FT kids scoring top grades in PSLE is only making things worse and its in their interest to tone it down before they lose East Coast GRC. The real challenge is hand the country back to Singaporeans before it is too late.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20121123-385220.html
By Gwendolyn Ng
My Paper
Friday, Nov 23, 2012
SINGAPORE - Gathered at Loyang Primary School in Pasir Ris yesterday morning were eager parents waiting for the release of their child's Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results.
But one particular pupil, Jaren Pang, 12, had his three siblings - Jason, 21, Jamie, 19, and Jacob, 15 - with him.
The siblings are a close-knit bunch, having had to rely mostly on each other for support at home.
This is because their father died from intestinal cancer in May and their mother, the family's sole breadwinner, works long hours as a market vendor.
Jamie, a National University of Singapore business undergraduate, said: "We make it a point to be there for Jaren."
After his name was called in the school hall and he was handed his results slip, Jaren ran straight towards his siblings.
He scored an aggregate of 232, achieving straight As for four subjects, including an A-star for Mathematics.
He hopes to qualify for a place in Anglican High School. Jaren was among a total of 48,333 Primary 6 pupils who sat the PSLE this year.
Of these, 97.6 per cent can proceed to secondary school.
In terms of course eligibility, 63.1 per cent are eligible for the Express course, 23.1 per cent for Normal (Academic) and 11.4 per cent for Normal (Technical).
My Paper understands that this year's top PSLE scorer garnered an aggregate of 285, while the lowest score was 43, which were both printed on pupils' results slips.
Preparing for the PSLE was a gruelling feat for Jaren, who spent an hour each day at Changi General Hospital as his father's condition worsened over the months.
Jaren, who shared a close bond with his late father, said: "I knew that (our time together) was limited, so I really cherished it."
He also had to help out at his mother's stall in a Bedok market on weekends, stopping only three weeks before the PSLE began in September.
His form teacher, Mrs Emily Tan, 50, was full of praise for Jaren. She said: "He tries to be very attentive in class, despite the emotional turmoil that he had to go through.
"At home, he has his sister to help him with his studies. So, there was no need for tuition."
In the afternoon, the siblings made a trip to their mother's stall with the news.
Jaren ran to hug his mother when he caught sight of her.
Madam Susan Lim, 46, who earns about $1,000 a month selling bananas, tapioca and coconut shreds, told My Paper: "I'm proud of Jaren. I'm really lucky to have children who are so sensible and independent."
