Ex-NMP Calvin Cheng makes the point about the JC mergers that no one wants to talk about

This time, he's absolutely right.

Jeanette Tan | April 24, 2017, 01:59 PM

Anyone who follows socio-politics on Facebook would know that Calvin Cheng is undoubtedly a polarising character.

Sometimes he says things we strongly disagree with, but on issues like the collapsing of eight JCs into four, we can't help but find ourselves nodding our heads in agreement with him.

Cheng articulated his view in two Facebook posts — the first was on Saturday:

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"MOE says that they chose the JCs to merge by geographical spread.

This is PR spin. But PR spin has to be believable. As many have pointed out, Hwa Chong and NJC are right across the road from each other.

It is obvious that the JCs chosen were the least popular by cut-off points. There is nothing wrong with that. So just admit it instead of spinning an incredulous story.

Note: someone has messaged me to point out that all 8 are non-IP non-mission Government JCs. Which explains inclusion of Anderson."

Indeed. We pointed this out last week, too:

Click image to go to our article

Another group of bloggers pointed this fact out as well. Another point they made segues into what Cheng notes: that the schools chosen were all non-IP, non-mission, government JCs.

That's why St Andrew's and Catholic JCs were spared the chopping board, for instance.

ST forum letter

There was then Straits Times forum letter published on Monday morning from one Ong Kim Lee, which carries this crucial section:

Screenshot from forum letter page

Indeed, why did the MOE open up a new JC so recently (the one everyone is still struggling to pronounce) when now it has to collapse eight JCs into four?

We also want to know the answer to this question.

Which, incidentally, might possibly have been provided by Cheng, in his latest post on his Facebook page:

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"The Government may need to avoid sounding elitist but I don't.

Birth rates have fallen and in choosing which JCs to close, one has to go with the least popular JCs. That is, the ones with the highest cut off points. Elite JCs are highly competitive — there will always be more demand than supply.

Merging Hwa Chong and RJC is thus a ridiculous idea.

Why the new JC Eunoia? It's not a normal JC. It is being set up as another elite JC to take in IP students from several elite secondary schools - Catholic High, St Nicholas, SCGS.

Civil servants won't be able to give you this reply of course. But it's the truth."

 

Here are other articles you should check out.

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This video of a couple going through adult things together will hit you right in the feels

 

More of our stories on the eight-JC mergers:

7 of the 8 JCs involved in the merger had 7 of the 8 worst cutoff points in 2016

Here’s how the internet reacted to news of the merger of 8 JCs into 4 in 2019

Innova JC to merge with Yishun JC in 2019: 8 JCs to merge into 4 JCs

 

Top photo of Pioneer JC from Google Street View

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