Longer schooling time

Sixth form classes will be using a brand new syllabus in 2011. The schooling time will be extended, from 7.30 am to 4 pm. The syllabus will be executed in a 2-semester system.

As of this year school principal can implement at their own discretion the longer schooling time for sixth form classes. Feedback from pupils shows that most schools with sixth form classes in my town are going to go ahead with the new schooling time and that means teachers and pupils will have to stay until 4 pm for three or four days in a week as Friday will not be affected by this new system, starting this June.

Quality of teaching and learning should be the priority rather than the duration of school time. School principals usually are helpless in ensuring teachers to be competent in their job, especially those teachers who teach higher forms as principals in government schools cant choose which teacher they want like professional football team managers who can bid for the good players. With the new salary incentive given to those who teach higher form ( teachers who teach sixth form classes are given extra allowance or given the opportunity to move one grade up their salary scale ), those who used to refuse to take up the responsibility of teaching higher forms by giving reasons that they were not competent enough would rush to claim that they were the experts in the respective subjects. It will be a total waste of time if the pupils were to stay with these not so competent teachers for longer hours.