Should the Expanded Direct School Admission (DSA) Scheme Be Revised or Upheld

Expansion of Singapore's Direct School Admission (DSA) Scheme

With the extension of Singapore's Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme, more pupils will be able to enroll in their preferred secondary schools. The DSA plan is a program that allows pupils to enroll in Secondary 1 before they complete their primary school leaving exams. Initially, the initiative was intended to provide intellectually strong elementary students with immediate admission to prominent institutions without the need for them to take their tests. Furthermore, the scheme permitted schools to admit students before their PLE results were released as long as they excelled in athletics or the arts. This means that many Singaporean students were being locked out of being enrolled in their desired schools because of the set conditions.

Inclusion of Non-academic Students in the DSA Program

However, after the expansion, it is inclusive of all outstanding students not only academically strong students but also non-academic students.

Benefits of the Expanded DSA Program

The new expanded DSA program allows the schools to admit both non-academic students who are good in co-curriculum activities like sports and other talents and arts, as well as academically strong students. The extension of the DSA program in Singapore to include non-academic students is a great idea for all students because, despite their differences in academics, they can all have a chance to get admissions in their desired top schools and continue with their studies without the restriction of taking an entrance exam. Therefore, the Expanded Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme should remain the way it is for it to accommodate all students in top grade schools Singapore, both academically strong and non-academic students. The current DSA scheme offers a holistic education to all students in Singapore.

Equal Opportunities for All Students

All students are entitled to be given a chance to study in their preferred top schools without any restrictions. The previous DSA scheme denied students an opportunity to join top secondary 1 schools because it only accommodated those students that are gifted in sports and arts (Bookworm, 2016). Moreover, it deprived the bright students a chance to exploit their abilities in class because after all, they had the talent to show and join secondary (Asian parent, 2017). However, with its expansion to include all students, from those with top academic talents and those top in arts and sports talents, all Singaporean students will have a chance to secure a slot in premier schools early enough. Moreover, students will now focus on both their education and their talents because there will be a competition for excellence. Hence, the expansion of the DSA scheme should be upheld because schools need all students to make them complete.

Diversity and Excellence

Social and economic issues might have influenced the extended DSA scheme, which curtails its effectiveness. Nevertheless, we should note that its ultimate objective is to have diversity in our top schools with students who are academically strong, talented, and non-academic (Yang, 2017). If students who are talented in sports and arts alone are allowed to join the top schools, then what kind of students will the secondary schools be releasing to the world. The nation needs all types of citizens, those talented in sports, arts, and academically, and denying non-academic students a chance to join top schools is denying them an opportunity to improve on their studies and their talents, and this is against the objective of giving education to all citizens in Singapore.

Importance of Diversity and Collaboration

The inclusion of all students in the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme in Singapore, regardless of their academic abilities and sports and arts will draw a varied group of students in addition to injecting more diversity in the students in top universities (Davies, 2016). When students with diverse talents are put together in the same schools, they will be able to extend their talents in both sports and academics to their fellow students, and this means that the top Singaporean schools will produce the best students.

Counterarguments

Opponents argue that the DSA scheme expansion is a terrible idea because the non-academic students who are given the opportunity to get to the top schools will eventually fail to cope with the standards and drop out of the schools. They further argue that the DSA program should be allowed to go back to its initial purpose, which is "let in students gifted in arts and sports" (Davie, 2016). According to Davie, the program's admission criterion was only for students who were active in arts or sports, and this should remain the main purpose of the DSA scheme. Nonetheless, while it is true that the DSA scheme's primary goal was to get students with talent in sports or arts admitted to top schools without taking entrance exams, admitting all students without such restrictions creates diversity into the senior secondary schools. Moreover, since there will be students who have different talents in arts and sports as well as those who are academically talented in the schools, they will work together in helping each other, and this will help them to excel in both their studies and talents ultimately. Therefore, expanding the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme in Singapore is an excellent idea because the top schools will produce all-round students who have excelled in both their academics and their talents.

Promoting Holistic Education

In addition, those against the DSA scheme expansion further argue that including non-academic students in the DSA program will make the talented and academically strong students feel jealous and discouraged because they worked hard to get the enrollment into their dream schools. They further contend that including the non-academic and non-talented students in the DSA scheme will contradict the core objective of the system and it will deny more talented student in arts and sports the chance to shine (Lee, 2016). Moreover, Calvin Young argues that students with high academic abilities already have a chance of qualifying for top schools with their PSLE results (2017). However, the opponents should note that including all students would promote a holistic education where students in Singapore are given a chance to demonstrate achievements both in their academics and in talents.

Promoting Equality and Opportunities

Whee Kiem notes that "a holistic education includes the arts, sports, music and also academic studies" and so pupils from the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) should not be locked out of the DSA scheme (2016). Furthermore, it is true that students with robust academic capabilities will have a chance by passing their PSLE exams, but they can lose their chances if the talented students have flooded the institutions. According to Mummy Wee (2015), the current DSA scheme incorporates both the academic and non-academic talent. Therefore, there are equal benefits to both sides, and for this reason, the expansion should be upheld.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the expansion of the DSA scheme in Singapore has brought different reactions from several stakeholders. There are those who insist that it should be upheld by allowing applications from academic, talented, and non-academic students while others argue that it should be revised to meet the core objective of the initial old DSA scheme. Even though both sides have valid arguments, it is evident that the new extension of the DSA scheme is the best decision for Singaporean students because it offers them a holistic education. With the new DSA scheme, all students will be allowed to join top secondary schools because it will enable applications based on both academic, non-academic strength, and talent.

References

Asianparent. (2017, n.d). Five things you need to know about direct school admission (DSA) for your school-going child [Article]. Retrieved from: https://sg.theasianparent.com/five things-you-need-to-know-about-direct-school-admission-dsa-for-your-school-going child/

Bookworm, L. (2016, March 01). Is Direct School Admission (DSA) Beneficial [Blog] Retrieved from http://mylilbookworm.blogspot.co.ke/2016/03/is-direct-school-admission-dsa.html

Davie, S. (2016, March 30). Schools, stop the 'kiasu' practice of using DSA to 'chope' bright kids [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/schools-stop-the-kiasu practice-of-using-dsa-to-chope-bright-kids

Lee, P. (2016, January 28). 3 Unhealthy Trends Plaguing Education: Denise Phua [Article] Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/3-unhealthy-trends plaguing-education-denise-phua

Mummy Wee (2015 July 15). School Stories #12: DSA. Yet another initiative parents have warped [Blog] Retrieved from http://www.mummyweeblog.com/2015/07/dsa-yet another-initiative-parents-have.html

Whee Kiem, W. T. (2016, April 8). Don't Shut Bright Kids out of DSA [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/dont-shut-bright-kids-out-of-dsa

Yang, C. (2017, March 17). Parliament: DSA Scheme for Pupils to Enter Secondary 1 Directly to be Expanded [Article] Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-dsa-scheme-for-pupils-to-enter-secondary-1-directly-to-be-expanded