What Do Singaporeans Think Of Elite Vs Neighbourhood Schools? | Word On The Street

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Does the school an individual comes from really matter to Singaporeans? In a society where hard work is the key to success, we took to the streets to find out what Singaporeans think about the age-old comparison between "elite" and "neighbourhood" schools.

Word On The Street is a series on TSLTV where our host, Fauzi, goes around asking Singaporeans about anything and everything that's happening in Singapore!

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Elite schools open more doors for you. They present more opportunities and resources, both in terms of the financial/material aspects and the human connection. Yeah in the end the exam paper is the same, but what if some opportunities can make you bypass the paper at all.

xxiao
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the school you entered actually instils in you a little bit different culture and attitude? Not that school matters in terms of personal achievements, but definitely affects the students in their way of thinking.

timng
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Same paper doesn't mean equal resources, networks and opportunities. It's not a leveller tbh

allyyq
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I think ‘elite schools’ are where the smarter people congregate, and this makes the environment more conducive for studying and thinking, but having said that, it does not necessarily make one smarter.

MultiChickenbones
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I've attended both an elite school and a neighbourhood school. Is there a difference? Yes. Elite schools have stronger alumni networks that support the school with funds and equipment that lack in neighborhood schools. The alumni also provide the elite schools' current students with an intangible network that does not exist in a neighborhood school (or to a much lesser extent).

The students in elite schools do come from families that are more well to do, have more resources, or are more motivated to do well. As such, students in elite schools tend to have better opportunities exploring talents that are not entertained for students in most neighborhood schools.

The government may try to sell the idea that all schools are good but ministers continue to send their children to elite schools. So obviously some schools are better. Are neighborhood schools terrible? No. But they represent the real Singapore. The elite school students do exist in a bubble. I didn't realize that until I attended a neighborhood school. Yes, the end result may be the same - students graduate with O, A or IB no matter where they go. But education is as much, or even more so, a journey as it is to have arrived.

singlah
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Was from a good primary school and then a neighbourhood (notorious) secondary school. Proceeded on to Singapore poly and then nus. Experienced both cultures in elite schools and non elite.

What I feel is that the school you go to really matters. In an elite school, most students articulate well with accurate pronunciation, grammar and well established vocab. The subject of conversation is really different as well.

Elite schools conversation does broaden your horizon as students reads and experience a lot.

In a neighborhood school, you will find students like this too, but the ratio is a lot lesser.

All in all, schools only matters that much. Then people you meet, the friends you make. You need to work hard yourself and work towards your goals and aims. :)

ashelylin
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Lastly, effort and hardwork pays off, 198 for PSLE, almost couldn't make it for express, graduated with 14 points, got into TP, graduated then, now in NTU. Don't give up.

ystoh
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But privilege has a lot to do with whether your hard work comes to fruition or not :-)

Msbouncy
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The difference is in school culture, the peers you meet and also alumni support and staff resources.

chocotaaro
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there really is a difference. i mean definitely they’re all students and should be mingling but someone in an elite school is more well cultured, more eloquent and has more advantages/opportunities and is offered a more holistic education. definitely not all about grades when a good school actually changes many other things for you. so there really is a difference i would say.

coldpeaches
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At around 1pm when the students are dismissed wait outside an elite school, you will see parents waitinig for their kids in Audi, BMW, Mercedez, all the ex cars. If u go to neighbourhood schools, you will see normal cars, trucks, vans, cycle and only a few ex cars.

mohamedimranfarid
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Since it's word on the street, I feel that this video would've been better if you interviewed people from different age groups/backgrounds - adults, foreigners, etc. I mean all of them can walk on the street right? Haha

Though some of them may be genuine, I feel that some of these students may be giving politically correct responses so that they do not get "flamed" by those who are from the "other" school.

It would be interesting to see what the slightly older generation think. Some may be planning on sending or have already sent their kids to a particular school. It'll be great to hear them out.

MahathirMH
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Lol he needs to interview the employers. They don’t feel the same way

lazytofat
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as someone who is currently studying in an 'elite' sec school, and who came from a neighbourhood primary school, it is unfortunate to say that there is a difference which is very apparent. firstly, the socio-economic background of the families in elite schools are much better. 99% of the school lives in luxury condo/landed property, have some form of tuition or enrichment classes, and generally are very well-to-do and sheltered. that being said, there are obviously extremes when you go anywhere, but the other extreme in this case, e.g. students from FAS is close to none. i have quite a lot of friends whose parents are civil servants high up on the social ladder --- and they usually have more privileges than us. nearly everyone sports branded shoes, bags, etc. quite telling when having a macbook is compulsory for us. O.O it is evident that how well a student does in society isn't necessarily dependant on their smartness or IQ --- a significant portion is due to their family and connections. the government claims that SG has a meritocratic education system --- they're trying (i cannot say much too).
secondly, the attitude is rlly very different. i feel like my attitude aligns with most of my friends in my elite school, but i prefer the neighbourhood school attitude. here, it's really the stereotypical view: nearing exam time, a lot of students will be very competitive, and there are some cases of backstabbing. (very sad, really). teachers expect much more from us too, and our expectations are astronimically high (we all strive for 4.0s, the highest GPA). we are also very fiercely competitive not only in the academics portion as most of us are perfectionists that strive to flourish holistically. hence, clinching leadership positions and doing well in our CCA is EXTREMELY important to us. it becomes very stressful during competition/election period as all of us want to do well --- not just well, EXCELLENT. this environment proves to be highly toxic because all of us just want to one-up our peers.
these don't limit us in our social life though, oh boy, i think people who come from elite schools are much more social than people from neighbourhood schools (just a generalization from past experiences, this cannot be said true for everyone). their parents have a lot of connections, and they know to keep those connections because it can bring lots of benefits. their children also know, that's why friendship and social life is very important to us (we know our connections now matter a lot in the future). cannot say the same for comradeship and loyalty though. may i add that i come from a girls school --- and i don't think this just applies to us because we are 'elite' --- but a handful of us are already in BGR. not say it's a bad thing, but i'm just like wHeRe??? and ofcs i realise we are highly adaptable.
this seems like an essay but it is really not, prolly just a retelling of my experiences. i won't say which or which is better, but imo you can tell my bias from how i wrote this. i have to say my experience is different because i do not come from as priveleged a family (still well-to-do though), but i can tell you that the comparison between elite and neighbourhood is pretty significant and it reflects a lot about our society and its (problems).

AllWayMe
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When discussing issues like this, Singaporeans tend to always attempt saying the politically and universally right answer, when in fact there's always some truth in stereotypes. I couldn't care less regarding one's educational institution, and like what was mentioned by those in the video; attitude is the paramount factor. However, it is the hard truth that your school often dictates your attitude and behaviour. It is statistically proven that students of elite schools are generally more well-behaved, and have better work competency

sfqm
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But if u enter a school that is like all paikia u will soon be affected by them and become one too imagine if everyone in ur school is a paikia except you and you dont want to be friend it will be sad to be lonely so it rlly matters which school u come from. People from ur daily lived will influence you... primary school kids work hard and enter a good school ! Because i regretted not working hard and not entering a rlly good school

jeanne
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honestly there is a diff. if u go to a BAD neighbourhood school, things can get pretty rough without tuition. I went to one of the worst schools in sg and i got 43 during prelims. However i worked really hard and achieved 14. Ofc its all comes down to hard work, but honestly if i had a better school with better resources i may have scored better. so yea, honestly its q impt and different

EunhyukieLoveELF
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Went from an 'ok' primary school to an elite secondary school. I really think that going to an elite school opens up many doors for you, but going to a neighborhood school also has its advantages. At the end of the day, it depends on your preference. There will always be pros and cons in either class of schools

Chill-Ice
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i went to an elite secondary school but i became lazy and could only make it to a neighbourhood jc... i think that in both types of school, there is a variety of students (the nice friendly ones and the toxic ones)... based on culture, i think elite school students are more hardworking and matured. in neighbourhood schools, there are more immature ones and students tend to be more chill academically...

anna-jzye
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The only difference of an "elite" school and a "neighbourhood" school are the teachers. The teachers in 'neighbourhood" schools tend to stereotype their students and treat them as "bad kids" from the start and if this is how they are treated, this is how they will behave. I think this whole system was created by the attitude the teachers have towards the students and the kind of attention they give to them. Not all teachers are like that but I think most of them are, and this affects the growth and character of a student. Something needs to change.

xxsijiaxx