Fine Line

As much as it would sound weird, coming out from me, I have to say that education in Singapore sarks.

The requirement of the 'O' Levels for Junior Colleges have gone to dizzying lows. MOE has gone cuckoo with their attempts to make Singapore's generation of young to have a good foundation. Hey, if you don't believe me, look below.

Requirement for admission into VJC = L1R5 of 4 and below

The only way to deduct 'points' from your L1R5 is to be affliated with that school you want to go, e.g being there for the first two months. CCAs are not counted in VJC's case, and so... all over Singapore, we shall find people shouting...

"Hey, look! I got straight A1s for all my subjects, but I didn't manage to get into VJC. Oh no!"

Do you know how absurd it is? To get a perfect score, and not being able to get into the College or Poly you want? It's stupid. It's not logical. It's crap. And this makes me worry. A lot. How can you sleep at night, knowing that the slightest mistep, the slightest mistake you make can and will plunge you into the valley of broken dreams and destroyed lives? 1 A2 and your chance of entering VJC is cut by 50%. Another A2, and VJC becomes impossible. I hate education now.

That would mean that getting 1 A2 for both your English and Humanities will ensure that your hopes of getting into a good JC will die. It's not simple to get a perfect score, but that is what you are going to have. There is no room for error, no mistakes to make, nothing to catch you when you fall. Precision is needed. Survival of the smartest. And I, for one, hate this fight.

Stressful life it is in Singapore. As much as I hate to cut down on my other activities, such as notecharting and fanfiction writing, it seems that I have to do so, in order to survive this crucial phase in my life. They say it would be all worth it in the end, but to sacrifice so much time and laughter, for another two years of pencil and paper, I doubt it.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This isn't widely accepted, though.

The below poem, of course, is an exaggeration.

The bridge is riddled with holes
It sways largely with every step
The only route between the moon
And the shining sun
Where the fruits of labour lie in wait for us.

But the bridge hangs above a bottomless pit
One of dashed hopes and broken dreams
Every step you take is a leap of faith
Every second you wait is a moment of fear
And when you fall...

It goes on... for an infinite time
Your screams and whimpers join the echoes
Of those that fell before you.
The light taunts you as it moves further upwards
Destiny eludes you as it searches for someone else

You are just another victim
Among the other casualties of a broken system
Your fate is sealed
The cliff wall is sheer
Nothing more you can do

Vanish into the darkness..., failed one...