Sec 5 studies less popular as new paths to poly open

21 Dec 2015

The Straits Times, 21 Dec 2015 - Article featured the year-long Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) and the two-year Direct-Entry-Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (DPP) as alternative routes for post-secondary education that are available to Normal (Academic) students. The PFP is a one-year preparatory course that covers English, mathematics, and domain-specific modules such as life sciences or physics. If a student passes all the modules, he will move on to the first year of his chosen diploma. SP’s PFP student Lee Jing Hua, who hopes to study Aerospace Electronics opined on how the PFP is helping him to realise his aspirations. Mr Patrick Phang, SP's course vice-chair for the PFP shared how the programme's curriculum is similar to that of the O levels and how students learn about science concepts through simple experiments and pop quizzes in a small group size. Mr Phang also shared the various safety nets that SP has put in place to help students pass their PFP. In the same article,  Andrew Tan who is in the second year of SP’s Diploma in Computer Engineering shared how the DPP was an alternative pathway to him as he preferred more hands-on work. Under the DPP, students spend two years in a Higher Nitec course in ITE and are guaranteed a spot in a polytechnic if they meet the minimum grade point average, which is between 2.5 and 3.0. Article also mentioned a NP student who is doing her PFP as well as the various measures RP has in place to prevent PFP failures.