School timings

[wannamove]

I have noticed that kids leave home around 6.30am - 7.00 am and return only by 6.30pm or so. I am talking about primary school aged kids (7-10 year olds).

Are such long hours common in both public schools and International Schools? How long are the classes generally? Are after-school activities optional? or are they mandatory?

Thank you

[Brooklynjenn]

It depends on the school, how many kids are on their route, and how far they travel. Mine get on the bus at 7:50 and return at 4. If they do an after school activity they get home at 4:50.

[nutnut]

It's also the School, some schools run a double shift type system, where kids go early (7am start) and finish early (but then end up doing enrichment classes that their pushy parents force them into....) Others Start in the afternoon (midday) and finish at around 7pm and still do Enrichment classes after school due to their pushy parents.

It's all down to the school, the school year, the bus schedule (as advised by Jean) and they Extra curricular as well as the Enrichment classes (read pushy tutoring classes)

I've seen kids leaving for school at 5:45am and I've seen school kids still travelling home at 8pm.

Most International Schools have a "normal" western schooling time, like 8:45 - 3:30 or similar and again it depends on the bus schedule and where you live.

My kids have a very similar routine to Jean's, 7:45 and home by 4.

[wannamove]

It depends on the school, how many kids are on their route, and how far they travel. Mine get on the bus at 7:50 and return at 4. If they do an after school activity they get home at 4:50.

Thank you! I know my little one is just 2.5 years old but I was getting worried about her spending nearly 12 hrs a day at school.

[wannamove]

It's also the School, some schools run a double shift type system, where kids go early (7am start) and finish early (but then end up doing enrichment classes that their pushy parents force them into....) Others Start in the afternoon (midday) and finish at around 7pm and still do Enrichment classes after school due to their pushy parents.

It's all down to the school, the school year, the bus schedule (as advised by Jean) and they Extra curricular as well as the Enrichment classes (read pushy tutoring classes)

I've seen kids leaving for school at 5:45am and I've seen school kids still travelling home at 8pm.

Most International Schools have a "normal" western schooling time, like 8:45 - 3:30 or similar and again it depends on the bus schedule and where you live.

My kids have a very similar routine to Jean's, 7:45 and home by 4.

So these "enrichment courses" are optional right? The routine your kids have seem "normal" and I am glad it is not 10+ hrs a day at school.

Thank you nutnut

[Brooklynjenn]

At our school they are optional. I think they are at the others. At our school, kids can't do them until they are 5-6 years old, the younger grades can't participate. Also, ours has an optional half day program for nursery and pre-k that gets out at 12:30. They don't have to do full day until KG1, which is 4-5 year olds.

[nutnut]

Thing is you can get the Enrichment classes and Extra and Co Curricular classes mixed up fairly easier.

Enrichment classes are usually held by external companies to "help" kids with their academic studies and are not anything to do with the school. Most local kids seem to be forced into a number of these depending on their levels in each class etc and tend to come home late in the evening looking half asleep only to get up 8 hours later and start again...

Extra Curricular and co-curricular tend to be things like cookery, football, pottery, chess club etc etc etc, things that are there for enjoyment of the kids and are often run by the school or arranged by an external brought in to the school, my kids school are the same, you can't do them until you are 5-6 years old and then it depends on places, but 1 or 2 a week maximum is normal level, they then finish about an hour later than normal.

You can probably tell by the way I've written this, but I am against excessive enrichment classes for primary age kids, but the local schools often breed this kind of attitude, it comes from the Kiasu thing in Singapore IMO.

Good luck, it's a minefield!

[wannamove]

Thing is you can get the Enrichment classes and Extra and Co Curricular classes mixed up fairly easier.

Enrichment classes are usually held by external companies to "help" kids with their academic studies and are not anything to do with the school. Most local kids seem to be forced into a number of these depending on their levels in each class etc and tend to come home late in the evening looking half asleep only to get up 8 hours later and start again...

Extra Curricular and co-curricular tend to be things like cookery, football, pottery, chess club etc etc etc, things that are there for enjoyment of the kids and are often run by the school or arranged by an external brought in to the school, my kids school are the same, you can't do them until you are 5-6 years old and then it depends on places, but 1 or 2 a week maximum is normal level, they then finish about an hour later than normal.

You can probably tell by the way I've written this, but I am against excessive enrichment classes for primary age kids, but the local schools often breed this kind of attitude, it comes from the Kiasu thing in Singapore IMO.

Good luck, it's a minefield!

Totally understand - time to start gathering information. I figured I will start 3-4 years in advance so that I can be prepared. I am with you on the "enrichment classes" and that is the reason I was worried about the long hours. IMHO, kids below age 10 do not need to spend more than 8 hours at school (this includes breaks, PE and stuff)
Just my views

Thanks again

[Brooklynjenn]

I completely agree. My six year old does swimming and art after school. She gets too tired at the end of the day to do much academically. I would only do "enrichment" if she were struggling and needed a tutor. Fortunately this is not a challenge we have. I agree with Nutnut, it seems to be mostly locals putting in the long hours, but I am sure there are exceptions.

[nakatago]

I agree with Nutnut, it seems to be mostly locals putting in the long hours, but I am sure there are exceptions.

That's to condition them for the corporate world where working long hours is equated with being a good worker, even though studies have shown that working more than 40 hours a weeks regularly is detrimental.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I'm tellin' ya, it's a dog's life out der!

[wannamove]

I agree with Nutnut, it seems to be mostly locals putting in the long hours, but I am sure there are exceptions.

That's to condition them for the corporate world where working long hours is equated with being a good worker, even though studies have shown that working more than 40 hours a weeks regularly is detrimental.

The corporate world here seems insane. The husband is in calls with people who live in Singapore at 1am! This seems to be a normal almost everyday experience. Strange! We are still getting used to this 60+ hour work week - sigh it is just Tuesday!

[wannamove]

I completely agree. My six year old does swimming and art after school. She gets too tired at the end of the day to do much academically. I would only do "enrichment" if she were struggling and needed a tutor. Fortunately this is not a challenge we have. I agree with Nutnut, it seems to be mostly locals putting in the long hours, but I am sure there are exceptions.

Struggling at the age of 6? What does that mean? As long as the child enjoys the learning process I would say there is a lot of time to catch up.I still have not understood why 6 year olds need to be in enrichment classes. Maybe I just have a rosy picture of school and education system.

I am all for sports or music or art after-school IF the child seems to enjoy it. I know often children prefer to do some activity because their friends do them.

Well I have few years before my daughter hits primary school and it should be interesting to see how my views on these topics evolve over time

[Brooklynjenn]

My six year old is in grade one, and they learn reading in kindergarten and simple math in kindergarten. If by this point in the school year she was having difficulty reading at grade level or was having trouble with math, which now is adding up to 100, telling time, counting coins, measuring and subtracting, it could indicate a learning issue and she might need more practice than other kids. I don't think that would be unreasonable. Personally as long as she is grade level I think that is ok, but I have friends who are more of the tiger mom sort. When she arrived in Singapore she was behind, although back home in CA she was excelling. Now she has caught up to her peers here. Someone who moved from a less academic school might very well need extra help to catch up, even in grade one, as crazy as that sounds.

[nakatago]

I agree with Nutnut, it seems to be mostly locals putting in the long hours, but I am sure there are exceptions.

That's to condition them for the corporate world where working long hours is equated with being a good worker, even though studies have shown that working more than 40 hours a weeks regularly is detrimental.

The corporate world here seems insane. The husband is in calls with people who live in Singapore at 1am! This seems to be a normal almost everyday experience. Strange! We are still getting used to this 60+ hour work week - sigh it is just Tuesday!

I think the only country worse off is Japan. Korea and the US, probably but no personal experience.

And the Chinese Singaporeans* call the Australians lazy for wanting to leave work by five!

* never heard something similar from the Malay and Indian Singaporeans.