MUMBAI STAR

On Friday 21 Sep, my eyes were still in bad shape although I was optimistic the redness should have gone away by today. Anyway still reported to school and helped SIS downloaded the SSS Timetabling software brought over by Boon Long. Seemed that SIS had timetabling problems just before it started. I had worked on this software more than 10 years ago during PMS (Pupil Management System) years when I was the PMS Coordinator. Not a problem installing it but I am trying to recall the steps involved churning the school timetable. Suddenly, the past seems to rush back. Yes I think I can manage it and will help the school with the program.
Here are some insights into life at SIS, its’ set-up, teaching culture, teachers and their methodolgy, the students and life at SIS in general:
SIS adopts Singapore textbooks and education format for Years 1 to 8, equivalent to Primary 1 to Secondary 2. Years 9 to 10 students prepare for the International General Certtificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE) whereas our Sec 3 an d Sec 4 are prepared for the GCE “O” Level exams. Our JC1 and 2 are equivalent to their Years 11 and 12 respectively but our students sit for the GCE “A” Level here as they sit for the International Bacclaurette Diploma.
All teachers here are Indian nationals except for 3 Aussies, 1 American and 2 Singaporeans.
Teachers need to pay close attention to class disruption by students moving in and out of class when lessons start..which Singapore teachers are particular about
Class management skills can be improved further.
The teachers here do not set lots of homework, if any is set at all...which by our standards, is too few and far between.
The students are mostly of above average ability and they speak their minds which Singapore students can learn from.
They treat the class teacher as their mentor and friend and are respectful of them at all times.. our students must adopt this.
They participate actively in class, engage the teacher in active discussion, unlike the passiveness of Singapore students.
I have not seen any student walking to school here. Most are fetched to SIS by the fleet of cars (mostly MPVs) belonging to the school. A few of them are driven to school by their parents or drivers. Many students are boarders - they live on the top floor of the classroom block!
All students have a morning break at 10.20am (like our recess), have lunch at 12.20pm. On top of these, boarders have breakfast at 7.20am, tea at 4.20pm and dinner at 7.20pm after which they have a 2-hour study time. Students are served all their meals which are prepared by specially hired chefs. Dr Vanitha remarked it looked similar to what she saw in Harry Porter films.
Teachers are more concerned that students know the formula and how the answer is obtained rather than teaching students to understand what and why they are learning the concepts.
There is a lack of clear-cut standard procedures in going about getting things done. I suppose the school has just started and these are gradually being put into place.
Students do not have co-curricula enrichment programmes in the afternoons as yet.
The school is huge. Rooms are all air-conditioned. Each has a projector and a desktop computer on the teacher’s table. Besides the usual library, science and computer laboratories, it has a kindergarten, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a game-room, a huge playing field and lots of greenery.
Teachers do not have much resources to help them carry out creative and innovative lessons.
Pace of life as a teacher in SIS is pretty slow. Maths teachers find the Singapore syllabus very demanding and know that they will not be able to completely cover all aspects.

Late morning, BoonLong and I went to the airport to pick up Mr Suparman Adam, a retired principal who is on a look-see mission and most likely be taking up position at SIS Mumbai. Mr Suparman and I had worked together in the National Schools’ sepak takraw Sub-Committee many years ago when I was Head of PE. In the evening after school, I brought him over to my apartment together with Dr Vanitha and BoonLong. We made plans to go for an outing at the safari park here the next day which is Saturday.

So, today, the four of us (the two Singaporean teachers were not free as one (Elvin) is still down with fever and the other (Sumi) had to meet the datelines for the maiden SIS newsletter targeted to be issued end of next month) set out for the Sanjay Gandhi Park. Deer and monkeys roam freely in the park. Visitors are allowed to feed the animals! BoonLong and I went up the Kanheri Caves. Kanheri means black mountain. There are 109 rock-cut temples and are dated from 1BC to 9AD, lining the sides of the mountain.. Most of them are Buddhist Viharas meant for residence, study and meditation. The climb was steep and at times slippery. We even had to trudge through “lallang” (tall grass). We could see Mumbai city skyline at some points. The four of us and some local school students went on a specially-protected bus to view lions and tigers roaming the area. But all we saw was a white Sumatran tiger and two majestic lions lying by the fork of the road during the 45 minute ride.... couldn't expect much for the Rs50 (S$2) ticket to ride on the bus and the ride was bumpy too!

The group then headed for the “Orchard Road” of Mumbai. Had lunch at a huge shopping centre, much like our Plaza Singapore. At the food court (much like ours with clean seats and wide-screen LCDs), I had my best Singapore dish since I landed in Mumbai – Singapore Noodles, cooked like maggi mee and Hokkien mee with chicken and vegetables and yes ! there were lots of green chilli and red chilli paste.

Then we crossed over to HyperCity , which is a huge supermarket comparable to our Carrefour. Bought some bread and fruits for the week.

Returned to apartment at about 4pm and had a short nap which did wonders to my eyes…the redness is clearing away! Yippee!

BoonLong and Suparman left for the airport at 8pm for their 12.30am flight back to Spore.