Drove a lot on Sunday. My first time driving on the expressway. A bit scary coz all the cars just zoomed by me. And I realized that I can actually parked. Haha. Not so bad after all =)
Will have to drive Robin around one day. But need to add my name to the car insurance thingy before I can borrow the car and drive on my own. Can't wait. Yay!!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
I HAVE GOT MY LICENSE!!!
Yay! Just passed my TP yesterday with 8 demerit points =)
Those who intend to take your TP at SSDC, go to a video viewing room at level 4 immediately to view a video after the tester handed you your results before making your payment at the counter. That is if u pass lah. Coz yesterday I stupidly queued at the counter first then the lady told me that I have to proceed to level 4 to view a video first then can make my license. By the time I went up, no more slots for the video and I have got to go back to SSDC again today =.=
Yay! Just passed my TP yesterday with 8 demerit points =)
Those who intend to take your TP at SSDC, go to a video viewing room at level 4 immediately to view a video after the tester handed you your results before making your payment at the counter. That is if u pass lah. Coz yesterday I stupidly queued at the counter first then the lady told me that I have to proceed to level 4 to view a video first then can make my license. By the time I went up, no more slots for the video and I have got to go back to SSDC again today =.=
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
An article I came across while doing some google-ing,
When failing means breaking
your bond
By Dawn Chia
STRAIGHT out of secondary school, she got a chance to become a teacher.
While studying for a diploma in education, she would also get paid $1,500 a month by the Government in her final year.
Good opportunity.
But what if she was not cut out to be a teacher?
Only a few flunk badly and failed students have to repay a sum - as much as $76,700, as one trainee learnt.
Miss Siti Suhana Saat has been asked to return this sum to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for failing her teaching course.
As soon as she completed her O levels, she had applied to the National Institute of Education (NIE) to become a government primary school teacher.
She was accepted for the four-year programme but she failed her final practical examination - twice.
As a result, MOE terminated her appointment, in accordance with the Teacher Training Agreement which she had signed.
Her four-year bond was deemed broken, and she had to pay MOE just over $76,700.
Miss Siti told The New Paper: 'I want to teach'.
But she just didn't make the cut.
In a recent letter to The Straits Times Forum, MOE said the agreement is explained to each applicant. But Miss Siti claimed she it never occurred to her that failing would be equivalent to breaking the bond.
She scored mostly Cs and Ds in the first three years of her course. The real blow came in her final semester last year.
She failed her practicum - the teaching practice module where trainee teachers are assigned to teach at schools for a two-month period - and two related modules.
Miss Siti recalled: 'I was stunned - I'm not a straight As student, but I felt I did all right for my practicum. I couldn't believe that I failed the last exam.'
She argued that assessment for the practicum was subjective - a view echoed by her former employer Mrs Ann Tee Chye Hoon, whose letter was published in The Straits Times on 12 Feb.
When The New Paper asked about Miss Siti's case, and whether she had been told specifically that failing would be deemed as breaking her bond, MOE referred us to its response in The Straits Times, published on 25 Feb.
In a joint reply to Mrs Tee, MOE and NIE said the terms and conditions of the agreement are explained to each applicant before they sign, weak students are given counselling and coaching and those who fail the teaching practice module are given a second chance. Miss Siti took a re-examination at another primary school in July. When she got her results in December, it was still bad news.
'I stared at the computer screen for a very long time - the letter 'F' kept flashing across my mind.
'After a while, I dashed around my room to look for any documents which might help me, but it was useless,' she said.
Miss Siti showed The New Paper a copy of numerous assessments done on her repeat practicum last July. She had scored some C (average) grades.
There was an overall B (good) grade for one of her practical assessments by her co-operating teacher.
In it, an experienced teacher, assigned to give the trainee guidance and support, commented that Miss Siti had planned the day's lesson well, managed the class well, and that she had gone to every student who needed extra attention.
But this was just one assessment.
When she was failed the practicum, Miss Siti was crushed.
'One teacher may think that I'm a good teacher, but another may not,' she said.
'Grading is after all done based on each individual's standards.'
NIE and MOE did not respond to our queries on the grading.
But she clung on to hope, and wrote a letter to NIE on 23 Dec, begging for another go at her practicum.
She said: 'I went for the same interviews, sat for the same exams and attended the same classes as my course mates.
'If I didn't acquire the necessary skills, how could I have stayed on the course for almost four years?'
NIE rejected her appeal, listing 'weaknesses' like poor classroom and time management, and late submissions of lesson plans.
DEVIATING FROM LESSON PLANS
She admitted deviating from the lesson plans occasionally because she felt the need to spend more time on areas which students didn't understand.
'Teachers have to be flexible and adapt to the students' needs, and not follow the lesson plans so rigidly just because we planned them,' she said.
'That's what what teaching is all about - to make sure the students understand.'
She has begun repaying the $76,706.32 that she owes MOE.
An MOE officer told her the amount covered salary earned, tuition fees and interest.
She made her first payment of $7,700 - a loan from her grandmother - to MOE on 15 Feb. And she is proposing to pay $200 every month annually.
MOE has apparently agreed to this being a long-term repayment plan provided she makes regular payments in her first year.
'I think it'll take me at least 40 years to repay the entire amount, with a yearly interest of 6 per cent,' she said.
She recently found a job as a teacher at a childcare centre, where she receives $750 a month. To supplement her income, she works as a private tutor, making about another $100.
Her father, a taxi-driver, makes just enough for the family's expenses, and doesn't have savings to help her pay off her bond.
Indeed, despite the bond repayment, she gives her parents $200 every month.
The eldest of three children said she used to give half the allowance she drew from MOE to her parents for household expenses.
In her final year, she was getting just over $1,500 a month.
Despite her failure, Miss Siti is determined to pursue a career in teaching.
Armed with only an O-level certificate, she admits that she is stumped when interviewers ask about her failed NIE stint.
'It's embarrassing - I spent four years at NIE, but ended up with no diploma and a huge debt.'
She added: 'I still love teaching.'
=============================================================
I cannot believe that MOE is so damn mean. Still got to charge interest. Like totally no compassion. I don't know why I am beginning to feel that I cannot stand the government. I cannot stand the Ministries and the civil servants. And they should not even be called civil servants in the first place coz I don't really feel served by them. Not at all.
Just feel disappointed with some cold-blooded policies. Want to say/write more but.. Oh well. There's no 100% freedom of speech here.
STRAIGHT out of secondary school, she got a chance to become a teacher.
While studying for a diploma in education, she would also get paid $1,500 a month by the Government in her final year.
Good opportunity.
But what if she was not cut out to be a teacher?
Only a few flunk badly and failed students have to repay a sum - as much as $76,700, as one trainee learnt.
Miss Siti Suhana Saat has been asked to return this sum to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for failing her teaching course.
As soon as she completed her O levels, she had applied to the National Institute of Education (NIE) to become a government primary school teacher.
She was accepted for the four-year programme but she failed her final practical examination - twice.
As a result, MOE terminated her appointment, in accordance with the Teacher Training Agreement which she had signed.
Her four-year bond was deemed broken, and she had to pay MOE just over $76,700.
Miss Siti told The New Paper: 'I want to teach'.
But she just didn't make the cut.
In a recent letter to The Straits Times Forum, MOE said the agreement is explained to each applicant. But Miss Siti claimed she it never occurred to her that failing would be equivalent to breaking the bond.
She scored mostly Cs and Ds in the first three years of her course. The real blow came in her final semester last year.
She failed her practicum - the teaching practice module where trainee teachers are assigned to teach at schools for a two-month period - and two related modules.
Miss Siti recalled: 'I was stunned - I'm not a straight As student, but I felt I did all right for my practicum. I couldn't believe that I failed the last exam.'
She argued that assessment for the practicum was subjective - a view echoed by her former employer Mrs Ann Tee Chye Hoon, whose letter was published in The Straits Times on 12 Feb.
When The New Paper asked about Miss Siti's case, and whether she had been told specifically that failing would be deemed as breaking her bond, MOE referred us to its response in The Straits Times, published on 25 Feb.
In a joint reply to Mrs Tee, MOE and NIE said the terms and conditions of the agreement are explained to each applicant before they sign, weak students are given counselling and coaching and those who fail the teaching practice module are given a second chance. Miss Siti took a re-examination at another primary school in July. When she got her results in December, it was still bad news.
'I stared at the computer screen for a very long time - the letter 'F' kept flashing across my mind.
'After a while, I dashed around my room to look for any documents which might help me, but it was useless,' she said.
Miss Siti showed The New Paper a copy of numerous assessments done on her repeat practicum last July. She had scored some C (average) grades.
There was an overall B (good) grade for one of her practical assessments by her co-operating teacher.
In it, an experienced teacher, assigned to give the trainee guidance and support, commented that Miss Siti had planned the day's lesson well, managed the class well, and that she had gone to every student who needed extra attention.
But this was just one assessment.
When she was failed the practicum, Miss Siti was crushed.
'One teacher may think that I'm a good teacher, but another may not,' she said.
'Grading is after all done based on each individual's standards.'
NIE and MOE did not respond to our queries on the grading.
But she clung on to hope, and wrote a letter to NIE on 23 Dec, begging for another go at her practicum.
She said: 'I went for the same interviews, sat for the same exams and attended the same classes as my course mates.
'If I didn't acquire the necessary skills, how could I have stayed on the course for almost four years?'
NIE rejected her appeal, listing 'weaknesses' like poor classroom and time management, and late submissions of lesson plans.
DEVIATING FROM LESSON PLANS
She admitted deviating from the lesson plans occasionally because she felt the need to spend more time on areas which students didn't understand.
'Teachers have to be flexible and adapt to the students' needs, and not follow the lesson plans so rigidly just because we planned them,' she said.
'That's what what teaching is all about - to make sure the students understand.'
She has begun repaying the $76,706.32 that she owes MOE.
An MOE officer told her the amount covered salary earned, tuition fees and interest.
She made her first payment of $7,700 - a loan from her grandmother - to MOE on 15 Feb. And she is proposing to pay $200 every month annually.
MOE has apparently agreed to this being a long-term repayment plan provided she makes regular payments in her first year.
'I think it'll take me at least 40 years to repay the entire amount, with a yearly interest of 6 per cent,' she said.
She recently found a job as a teacher at a childcare centre, where she receives $750 a month. To supplement her income, she works as a private tutor, making about another $100.
Her father, a taxi-driver, makes just enough for the family's expenses, and doesn't have savings to help her pay off her bond.
Indeed, despite the bond repayment, she gives her parents $200 every month.
The eldest of three children said she used to give half the allowance she drew from MOE to her parents for household expenses.
In her final year, she was getting just over $1,500 a month.
Despite her failure, Miss Siti is determined to pursue a career in teaching.
Armed with only an O-level certificate, she admits that she is stumped when interviewers ask about her failed NIE stint.
'It's embarrassing - I spent four years at NIE, but ended up with no diploma and a huge debt.'
She added: 'I still love teaching.'
=============================================================
I cannot believe that MOE is so damn mean. Still got to charge interest. Like totally no compassion. I don't know why I am beginning to feel that I cannot stand the government. I cannot stand the Ministries and the civil servants. And they should not even be called civil servants in the first place coz I don't really feel served by them. Not at all.
Just feel disappointed with some cold-blooded policies. Want to say/write more but.. Oh well. There's no 100% freedom of speech here.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Diana has finally passed her driving test. Congrats to her =) Feel happy for yet I am not happy myself. Many things going on. Communication needs to be improved yet it's hard if it's one-sided.
Anyway, I feel that I am distancing myself from others.. sort of maybe. I am not really doing it on purpose just that currently I feel that there's a lot going on and others cannot help me. Hm.. I'm just not in the mood to go out or what. I just wanna be left alone till things are settled.
Monday, July 4, 2011
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