If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.
Direct School Admission (DSA)
DSA can help your child gain early admission into the school of his choice.
The programme gives talented kids a chance to gain early admission to secondary schools and junior colleges before taking national examinations such as the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) or GCE O levels.
According to Jackeline Carter, a trainer, and founder of J Carter Centre, some secondary schools also offer DSA opportunities to Secondary 2 students who want to transfer to an Integrated Programmes (IP) school from Secondary 3.
DSA was introduced in 2004 and all secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore are allowed to offer DSA.
This includes secondary schools that offer the following streams: Normal Academic/ Express (20 per cent of Secondary 1 enrolment via DSA) and IP (30-35 per cent of Secondary 1 enrolment via DSA).
Specialist secondary schools (SIS) such as NUS High School, School of Science and Technology (SST), Singapore, School of the Arts (Sota), and Singapore Sports School take in all of their students through DSA.
Apply to schools that are aligned with your child’s values, personality and abilities
Before you decide which schools to apply to, it’s important to know the type of students they are after, says Chng Hock Huat, chairman of the Gifted & Talented Education Group.
“For example, if the school is known for its outgoing and outspoken students, then your shy, introverted child probably wouldn’t be a good match for it. I suggest finding out what the culture of the school is like before deciding if that school is the right fit for your child.”
But it’s not just your child’s values and personality you need to factor in. Hock Huat says your child must also have what it takes to do well academically if he gets a place in the school of his choice.
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Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission
If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.
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