prime news 쐽 THE STRAITS TIMES FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 2009 PAGE A6

VJC plans
to admit
Sec 1
students
BY CHIA YAN MIN
VICTORIA Junior College (VJC) has pro-
posed a change to its current integrated
programme which will see it admitting
Secondary 1 students, a decision that has
sparked ire among Victorian alumni.
VJC, which currently runs a four-year
integrated programme admitting stu-
dents at the Sec 3 level, submitted a pro-
posal to the Ministry of Education about
two weeks ago indicating that it hopes to
extend its programme to six years, and ad-
mit Sec 1 students to the school.
If approved, this proposal will put VJC
in direct competition with Victoria
School (VS), with which it is affiliated,
Dr Balakrishnan (fifth from left) taking part in the YOG Countdown Run, which involved 365 students running 365 laps around the school’s 400m track over 365 minutes. The run started at 5.55pm say some of its alumni.
yesterday and was expected to finish at midnight, in time to start the 365-day YOG Countdown. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The move would be similar to what the
National Junior College has implemented,
as it too has started to admit Sec 1 stu-

Sports School offers IB

dents directly this year.
Other institutions that have imple-
mented integrated, or through-train, pro-
grammes include the Raffles schools and
Hwa Chong Institution.
Temasek Junior College is the only oth-
er junior college that offers a four-year

to retain top students

Through-train will allow
them to pursue sports
as well as studies
BY LEOW SI WAN
ANOTHER avenue to further their stud-
ies without compromising on sporting
pursuits.
This is what Secondary 1 students
starting next year at the Singapore
Sports School (SSP) can look forward to.
From 2010, academically inclined stu-
dents will be able to take advantage of a
six-year International Baccalaureate Di-
ploma Programme (IBDP), which will en-
ables them to bypass the O-level exami-
nation.
Addressing reporters at the school yes-
terday, SSP’s principal Deborah Tan said
a through-train programme will benefit
young athletes who wish to attain higher
qualifications.
Rather than leaving SSP to enter a jun-
ior college to sit for their A-level exami-
nations – a move that could potentially
disrupt training and sporting potential –
top students can now stay on in the
school and “pursue sporting and academ-
ic excellence concurrently”.
SSP students graduating at the end of
four years now have three options: at-
tend a junior college, or stay on in the
school to study in through-train pro-
grammes with Republic Polytechnic and
the School of Health Sciences at the
Auckland University of Technology.
Mrs Tan added that a handful of stu-
dents leave the school to study at other
institutions.
Explaining why the school opted for
the IBDP, she said the choice was made
after conducting a thorough study of the
most widely used university qualifica-
tion examinations here, including A lev-
els.
The IB programme, unlike the A lev-
els, offered two sittings – one in May
and another in November.
She said this offers flexibility for ath-
letes who have to take part in major
sports meets at certain times of the year.
The programme is also internationally
recognised, she added.
Minister for Community Develop-
ment, Youth and Sports Vivian
Balakrishnan said that with this full suite
of services, the SSP will probably be the
best sports school in the region and that
it will benchmark itself to sports schools
at an international level.
Dr Balakrishnan was at the school yes-
terday, participating in its Youth Olym-
pic Games Countdown Run.
He added: “For too long, athletes in
Singapore have been forced to choose –
either you just focus on your work or you
focus on your sporting career...I don’t
want to make our athletes face such com-
promises in the future.
“This is about flexibility...providing
options and allowing the child to mature
and develop his or her talent in his own
time.”
Indeed, some former students and cur-
rent SSP students, who are not eligible
for the IBDP, expressed their disappoint-
ment.
Said Gail Chia, a SSP alumnus who is
now studying at Raffles Junior College:
“When I first heard about the pro-
gramme, I was like ‘I missed it! Why are
they only offering it now?’
“But on further thought, I am not
very sure if I would have chosen to stay
on in the sports school even with the IB
programme because coping with sports
and studies is not easy.”
The 18-year-old jumper, who broke
national jumping records at the National
Junior Championships in 2005, said that
her training had to take a back seat be-
cause of her studies.
For SSP student Shahrir Mohd Anuar,
16, not being able to study in the IB pro-
gramme is a wasted opportunity.
The Sec 4 student, who is the school’s
top sprinter, added that bypassing the O
levels would help in a young athlete’s
progression into a national sportsman.
More teachers will be employed for
the new diploma programme, although
exact numbers have not been decided.
The school is looking at a minimum class
size of 20 for its first batch.
To parents such as Mr Yee Kah Chee,
47, the IB diploma option is another plus
point for the school.
The engineer is considering enrolling
his 12-year-old son, who plays table ten-
nis, in the school.
He said: “It is excellent – the six-year
programme is similar to the
through-train offered by notable schools
so now there are more options availa-
ble.”
siwan@sph.com.sg
programme similar to VJC’s.
Some alumni are concerned that if im-
plemented, the programme will pose a
threat to Victorian heritage and unity.
“We are disappointed that they have
gone ahead with the proposal,” said Mr
Quak Hiang Wai, spokesman for the Old
Victorians’ Association, the alumni associ-
ation for both VS and VJC.
“This will split the Victorian family
apart and lead to unnecessary competi-
tion, as there will essentially be two sec-
ondary schools.”
He noted that the committee of the
alumni association is not opposed to the
integrated programme, but is taking issue
with VJC’s decision to “go its own way”.
“In fact, we are all for a merger be-
tween VS and VJC...for an integrated pro-
gramme, as long as the school’s heritage
is preserved and VS remains a single-sex
school,” said Mr Quak.
VJC intends to enrol both male and fe-
male students in its six-year programme,
if it is approved.
When asked about VJC’s decision to ex-
tend its four-year programme, vice-prin-
cipal Audrey Chen said the school be-
lieves there are significant educational ad-
vantages in having an uninterrupted
six-year programme.
She added: “Regardless of the outcome
of the proposal, VJC will continue to
maintain close ties with VS and work in
partnership to keep the Victorian spirit
strong.”
Both Ms Chen and VS principal Low
Eng Teong declined to comment on the
alumni’s concerns.
chiaym@sph.com.sg

Mr Gumpert (left) and Mr Han posing with the Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI, which will go to the winner of The Straits Times:
A Part of My Life contest. ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

Your chance to win this car

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