On finding the perfect secondary school

It's the time of the year again, when PSLE results are out, and parents and children get involved in choosing a secondary school for the next 4 or 5 years of academic life.

I came across this article "There is no perfect school for a child" published on The Electric New Paper, Singapore, on 24 Nov where columnist Santokh Singh offers some advice on factors worth considering, in choosing your first-choice secondary school.

Results

No doubt the first factor that comes to your mind. The child and school must be intellectually compatible.

Personalities

Nothing concrete to describe this but the closest I can go is going with your feelings. How does it feel like stepping into the school compound? What is the ambience? Talk to the teachers and principal. Check out the canteen.

Background information

Santokh Singh described this factor as "the 'relatives' who tell you things that the 'prospective in-law' may not". For me, I came from a JC with a reputation youngsters described as "the JC with the highest pregnancy rate!" Yet every time I step into a taxi, many taxi uncles describe it as "hao xue xiao! (Very good school)".

CCAs

What is 4 years of secondary life without CCA. Does the school provide the CCAs which the student enjoys?

Distance

Where I'm studying right now, the train ride to school every day is a "journey to the west!". Even after alighting at boon lay, students from my school have to take a certain 179, to go west some more! So it's as west as it can be. Anymore west and we'd be in the SAF live firing area. Take it from me that, long distance travelling is tiring. Especially when the stop that you board your bus/train only allows for standing room.