Latest news with #studentcouncil
CNA
a day ago
- General
- CNA
'The more internships, the better': Why some secondary school students are starting the hustle early
SINGAPORE: While many teenagers spent their March school holidays catching up with friends, Secondary 4 student Aloysius Lim had a different plan. Instead of hitting the badminton courts with his friends, the 16-year-old was busy interning – his first experience in the working world. The Temasek Secondary School student, an ex-student council president and former captain of the school's softball team, spent two months interning at social enterprise Make the Change. It initially felt "strange" to turn down his friends' social invitations because he had to work, he said, especially as some friends did not understand why he was doing an internship at his age. But the question he asked himself was: "Why didn't I start earlier?" FROM STUDENT PROJECTS TO REAL-WORLD PURPOSE Aloysius' interest in social innovation – finding novel solutions to pressing social needs – began when he designed interactive booths to promote healthy living at a school event. He realised he wanted to make a "tangible difference" in people's lives. Still, internships did not cross his mind until a chat with his school's education and career guidance counsellor, who encouraged him to apply to Make the Change. It didn't occur to him that internships were an option for secondary school students, Aloysius said, adding that students are used to schools organising everything for them. "But it's important for us to recognise that you can create these opportunities for yourself. You don't have to wait for your school to initiate it; you don't have to wait for your school to hand you an invite on a silver platter." Aloysius' internship was meant to be a week-long programme, during which he represented the social enterprise at a youth festival and facilitated discussions at a workshop. But he chose to extend it for another two months while attending school, determined to complete a project he had been working on. ONE INTERNSHIP AT A TIME Aloysius is part of a small but growing group of secondary school students proactively seeking internships – often unpaid – as a way to gain work experience and explore career paths early. Sarah, a Year 4 student at Raffles Girls' School (RGS) who spoke under a pseudonym, shares the same mindset. She sought out her first internship in Year 3, shadowing a nephrologist or kidney specialist at a primary care family clinic. "(For) a lot of people, the reason why they start internships maybe in JC is because they're not really sure which field they're interested in,' she said. But Sarah had always been "obsessed" with health since she was a child and knew she was interested in medicine as early as lower secondary. During the June school holidays this year, she interned at a dental clinic to explore another medical specialisation. Observing different practitioners helped her understand the daily work of various doctors, Sarah said. But she also has a more practical reason for pursuing these internships – they look good on university applications, especially for overseas institutions, as they show commitment to the field. "The more internships, the better. You do one every holiday, you'd have five or six by the time you go to university,' she said. Both of Sarah's internships lasted five days, which she felt was enough to gain insight into each role. Neither Sarah nor Aloysius was paid for their internships, but both said the experience was more valuable than financial compensation. SUPPORTIVE PARENTS, CHALLENGES FACED Parental support has been key for both students. Aloysius said his mother had "no qualms" about his decision to intern, knowing he was passionate about the cause. Though she doesn't speak English well and found it hard to fully grasp the nature of his work, she gave him full freedom to pursue it. Sarah also received support from her family – particularly from her father, who helped her secure her first internship. Primary school teacher Evelyn Wu, a 47-year-old mother of three, remembers her own internship experience well. When she was in Secondary 3, she did a week-long work attachment in a lab that studied bacteria, fungi and viruses. That one week, she said, was unforgettable and confirmed her decision to pursue science. Ms Wu, who teaches science and math, now encourages her three daughters to pursue similar hands-on experiences. But securing internships can be challenging for secondary school students. Her eldest, 15-year-old Nadia Sze en Shahnawaz, said she hopes more companies would be open to taking on secondary school students as interns. The Secondary 4 student from CHIJ (Toa Payoh) wanted to intern at a pet shelter during the June holidays. She applied to various organisations but was told she had to wait until she was 16. "I basically could not find anything at all," she said. "There was nothing for me to do." Nadia hopes to become a marine biologist and is aiming for a research scholarship in polytechnic – a key step towards her dream university in Australia. She was willing to take on any internship or work attachment to build experience, even outside her area of interest. "I'm completely aware of the fact that there might be some problems in taking in secondary school students, because I mean, we aren't adults yet. So I can understand from that point of view,' said Nadia. "But I wish there were more opportunities for me to do certain things that I wanted to do, because there really isn't a lot that I can do as of right now to build up my portfolio." Aloysius landed his internship at Make the Change after he wrote to the organisation and cleared two interviews. Sarah's journey was more difficult. She spent four months applying to hospitals and clinics, all of which turned her down. She ended up enlisting her father's help, who linked her up with a doctor he knew at the primary care family clinic. She asked that the name of the clinic not be published as she was unsure if it was open to taking in other student interns. Her second internship at the dental clinic was easier, thanks to support from her school. RGS encourages its students to explore work attachment opportunities through its Work Experience Programme. Year 4 students are invited to apply for attachments with partner organisations across different sectors. "These experiences help them gain greater clarity about their interests, values and strengths, and how these may align with different career pathways," the school said. The programme is supported by alumni, parents and the wider school community. While participation is voluntary, the school said interest has remained strong over the years. Participants are required to complete a reflection exercise after their attachment to process what they have learnt and consider how it may shape future choices. What age can you start working in Singapore? In Singapore, the legal minimum working age is 13 years old, with restrictions. Those aged 13 to 15 may only engage in "light work in a non-industrial setting" such as serving drinks or cleaning. They may work in industrial settings like construction or manufacturing only if family members are also employed there. Between 15 and 16, they may work in both non-industrial and industrial settings. But in industrial settings, employers must inform the Ministry of Manpower and submit a medical report within 30 days of their employment. LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Make the Change, where Aloysius interned, has seen an increase in applications as schools encourage students to learn outside the classroom. 'We are one of the few that allow secondary school students and offer them a great experience, enabling them to learn and make an impact," co-founder Pedro Aguirre said. The social enterprise, which focuses on community empowerment through design and education, introduced its Young Changemaker internship programme in 2018 after receiving requests from schools and students. The programme is open to students of all ages, but the majority of secondary school students who apply are from upper secondary, said Mr Aguirre, who oversees the programme. Make the Change hosts about 40 student interns each year, mostly during the June or end-year holidays. Around half are referred by schools, while the rest apply on their own. Internships typically last one to three weeks – what Mr Aguirre describes as the ideal duration for the "best learning experience".
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Parents criticise school skirt ban that restricts girls' ‘femininity'
Parents at a secondary school have pushed back against a new uniform policy they say does not treat boys and girls equally. Newhouse Academy, in Greater Manchester, announced earlier this year that it would ban skirts. Parents complained, and a consultation was held, but the school is going ahead with its trousers-only policy, despite the objections. One parent told the Manchester Evening News that 'parents should challenge this ruling'. The parent said: 'This ban disregards the female students and their right to express their femininity. 'Schoolgirls as young as 11 forced to wear trousers and look like a boy is not embracing the two genders equally.' Another parent added she 'would never have considered this school' for her daughter, who starts in September, had she known about the change. The school told families that from the autumn, both 'boys and girls will be expected to wear plain black school trousers' as it intends to 'move away from skirts being a part of the girls' uniform'. It said: 'While there is no legal demand for us to consult on uniform changes, we wholly recognise that it is important that any such decisions are not made in isolation. We had a formal listening period that anyone was able to respond to. 'We have worked closely with the student council, staff have been given an opportunity to have their say and it has been discussed at the relevant levels in our governance structure. 'We even extended our original listening period to allow more parents to share their views. In fact, the type of trousers that students will wear has also been decided by the students themselves. 'We are sorry that a small number of people do not agree with this uniform change, but it is a decision that we have had significant support for. It is also something that has worked well at other schools.' The move towards trousers for all students is not uncommon, and several other schools have faced backlash for the policy. The Telegraph reported in 2019 that Priory School in Lewes, East Sussex, had introduced a similar change, requiring all students to wear trousers from Year 7 in order to create a gender-neutral uniform. Similarly, Huttoft Primary and Nursery School in Lincolnshire removed a red gingham dress from its uniform, originally saying it was to create a gender-neutral uniform. Following a backlash, it claimed it was to 'reduce costs for parents'.
The Review Geek
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Review Geek
I Am A Running Mate – K-drama Episode 7 Recap & Review
Final Statement Episode 7 of I am Running Mate starts with the red team taking another hit when a video of Won-dae losing his cool over a football match surfaces on the internet. His popularity drops to 39 per cent while Sang-hyeon's increases to 48 per cent. However, the talk and bickering between the red and blue teams caused more students to boycott the elections. Ui-jun and a few members of Won-dae's campaign team chose to quit active participation in the campaigns. The final rally begins on the day of the elections. Both teams are bummed out because of the recent fights and personal jabs at other students that are potentially harming their academic lives. Ji-hun is called to the disciplinary committee because of the forgeries. Simultaneously, Gyeong-tae is banned from participating in the election campaigns. Emotions and tensions run high during the final rally. When Won-dae's team sneakily posts his campaign poster over the blue team's posters on their dais, a fight breaks out between the two teams. Due to the physical confrontation, statistics show that a significant percentage of students, 25 per cent, chose to boycott the elections, 48% supported Won-dae, and 47% supported Sang-hyeon. The police show up and pick up Jae-won. It turns out that the previous night, Hyeon-jin had traced the IP address of the anonymous social media account to the college student Hee-chan. Jae-won, Sang-hyeon, and Hyeon-jin had confronted Hee-chan and offered to buy his phone and laptop, but he refused. Hee-chan picked a fight with them, and Jae-won was forced to fight back. At the police station, Jae-won's mother tries to plead with Hee-chan, but they refuse to listen to Jae-won and his mother. Tensions remain high in the school as they prepare to listen to the final speeches from the candidate. The first to give a speech is Won-dae. In his remarks, he apologises for the bickering, the slander, the fights, and the fake news that his team was involved in during the election campaigns. Won-dae chooses to throw Gyeong-tae under the bus by promising the school that, if elected, he will hold him responsible for all the destruction and the wrongs he committed during the elections. Won-dae says that Gyeong-tae did everything alone, and only he will be held accountable. Gyeong-tae breaks down and runs out of the hall in tears. Won-dae's underhanded tactics continue until the last minute. When Sang-hyeon takes the stage, he is well-dressed and intelligent, which catches the students' attention. Two students egg him just as he starts his speech. Sang-hyeon panics as the students had knocked a water bottle over his tablet, and it shut down. Without a speech, Sang-hyeon wants to quit. Se-hoon goes on stage to help Sang-hyeon, but he scolds him. He is angry because Se-hoon being on stage embarrasses him further. Earlier, Sang-woo confessed to Se-hoon that their meeting at the café was not a coincidence, but he had it all planned, including Joon-gyu and his mother, talking him into believing Sang-hyeon needed him. Therefore, on stage, Se-hoon gives Sang-hyeon an idea. For them to win the elections, Sang-hyeon has to let it all go and seem crazy. Se-hoon advises him to confess to everything and show his two-faced character. Sang-hyeon crashes his expensive tablet and speaks what is on his mind. Tae-oh explains to the students watching from class that Sang-hyeon took a different approach from Won-dae. While Won-dae chose to paint himself as a saint and push all the blame to Gyeon-tae, Sang-hyeon embraced his narcissistic character by taking all the responsibility upon himself for all the underhanded campaign tactics used by his team. In this regard, Sang-hyeon thanks his supporters for standing with him even when he scolded them and got angry. He apologises to Jeong-hui since he chose her as a running mate, knowing she was smart and could win over the teachers. Sang-hyeon tells the truth about the party and adds that he has held a few like those. He says that he secretly recorded Se-hoon's conversation about Ji-hun, leaked it, and apologised to Ji-hun. At the end of the episode, Sang-hyeon takes the blame for all his team did during the elections. He asks the school to hold him responsible and let him atone for his sins by serving them diligently for the following year. The Episode Review Sang-hyeon is so good at manipulation. He got all of us, and the surprising thing is that his speech almost felt sincere. Wow! Won-dae might just end up losing his election because he betrayed the one person who stood by him through everything. From the perspective of the voters, they might lose trust in him after seeing how fast and coldly he threw Gyeong-tae under the bus. At this point, the voters will be choosing one of the lesser evils between the two. If you were a student, who would you vote for? Well, let's jump into the finale and see who will win!
The Review Geek
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
I Am A Running Mate – K-drama Episode 5 Recap & Review
Monster Episode 5 of I Am A Running Mate starts five days before the elections with Sang-hyeon's team holding their rally. The whole school is talking about Se-hoon's accident. Gyeong-tae thinks that the accident is staged to help Se-hoon get pity votes. Ui-jun disagrees and warns Gyeong-tae about spreading fake news. Sang-hyeon's team picks up the momentum at the rally. They are more prepared and more enthusiastic. However, when Won-dae's team took the stage, they staged a skit of one of their pledges: set up an umbrella rental in school for rainy days. Yu-Gyeong and Ji-hun stage the skit together, which makes Se-hoon angry. The blue team (Sang-hyeon) are stunned by the red team's (Won-dae) efforts. Regardless, Sang-hyeon's popularity increases to 47 per cent while Won-dae's drops to 52 per cent. Later, Tae-oh tells Se-hoon about his important findings. Earlier, Tae-oh had gone to the music room to complain to the teacher about using singing to grade their exams. He thinks some students are disadvantaged since being a singer is a talent. While waiting for the teacher to finish talking to a student in her office, he saw a note on the table. It contained a list of top performers in their class, and beside each name were notes on why they were or were not suitable candidates. Se-hoon's note said that he was not an appropriate candidate since his reputation was ruined, but he would be a great tool to bring in pity votes. Tae-oh then saw Won-dae take the note and his notebook, meaning the notes were his. Se-hoon's anger towards Won-dae increases. Sang-hyeon and Se-hoon join one of Won-dae's campaigns for an interview. Later, they walk into the election office to find Gyeong-tae submitting some posters of Won-dae that were to be used for a media interview the next day. Sang-hyeon is angry because Joon-Gyu had failed to inform him about the media interviews. He thinks Won-dae is cheating as he uses his Brave Citizen award to manipulate the media. However, Joon-Gyu thinks that everything Won-dae does is within the boundaries of the election competition. Se-hoon tries to encourage Sang-hyeon, but Sang-hyeon only gets more irritated. He scolds Se-hoon for doing nothing to help the campaign. He says that all Se-hoon does is talk, watch, and cheer on his friend Ji-hun. Sang-hyeon tells him to stop talking and do something. That night, Se-hoon sneaks into the elections office and destroys Won-dae's posters. The following morning, Joon-Gyu calls the red and blue teams about the disfigured posters. Gyeong-tae tries to say that the blue team is responsible, but Se-hoon retaliates. He accuses the red team of staging everything to frame the blue team, just like Gyeong-tae had spread the news that Se-hoon's accident was faked for charity votes. Joon-gyu warns the teams to stay low-key as they investigate the issue. Won-dae calls Gyeon-tae aside after the meeting and punishes him for disrespecting the seniors right before a teacher. He warns Gyeong-tae to behave better and not to do anything that harms the red team's image. Following the vandalism of their posters, the red team holds a silent protest for the third rally. They hold up posters asking the school to investigate and punish the trespassers. The blue team continues their push for premium pledges by promising each student a smartwatch if they win the elections. By the end of the rally, the blue team's popularity had declined to 41 per cent, the red team to 47 per cent, and 11 per cent of the students were boycotting the elections. The following day, Gyeong-tae posts a declaration of guilt implicating Se-hoon in the sexual harassment picture he had drawn of Yu-Gyeon. Se-hoon is enraged and plans to confront Gyeong-tae, but Jae-won stops him on Sang-hyeon's orders. Yu-gyeong confronts Gyeong-tae for bringing up the issue again and humiliating her. Gyeong-tae says he would do anything to crash Se-hoon for Won-dae since he is a traitor. Later, Gyeong-tae meets up with Won-dae, who applauds what he did. Won-dae says that Ji-hun and Yu-Gyeong are not important to him since they are his backups. However, Gyeong-tae is like Won-dae's shadow, so he is more important. At the end of the episode, Se-hoon calls Jong-su to meet in the bathroom. Se-hoon is fuming with anger that he can barely breathe. He angrily yells at Jong-su, telling him to do anything to Gyeong-tae to ensure he stops messing with him. He even suggests hitting him with a motorbike or killing Gyeong-tae. The Episode Review What a turn of events! Se-hoon's crash-out was so unexpected that it shocked us to the core. You can also see that Jong-su is concerned since he never expected Se-hoon to ask him such a thing. The stress of the election is getting to everyone and bringing the worst out of all of them. Whatever Gyeong-tae did, violence is not the solution. Won-dae was wrong for slapping him. We are seeing these candidates and their supporters in a new light, and it is not good. Se-hoon is committing crimes and brazenly denying it. Sang-hyeon is showing his hidden, deeply unsettling side, and Won-dae is slapping his number one supporters. The only ones who have their acts together are Yu-gyeom and Jeong-hui.
The Review Geek
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
I Am A Running Mate – K-drama Episode 2 Recap & Review
Bow Out Before the Applause Fades Episode 2 of I Am Running Mate starts 26 days before the student council elections. Se-hoon, along with Jeong-hui, is now Sang-hyeon's vice president. Joon-Gyu, the teacher in charge of the elections, calls them for a meeting at the office. Since Sang-hyeon has a complete team with two running mates, he becomes candidate one. Won-dae has only one running mate, Yu-Gyeong, so Joon-Gyu gives him one week to find the boys' representative. Se-hoon has not talked to Dae-won since he decided to change camps and has ignored his calls. Therefore, Se-hoon has a panic attack when they meet at the election office. After school, Sang-hyeon and his friend Mi-na take Se-hoon out to have fun. Se-hoon decides to take Won-dae's call when he keeps calling while at the restaurant. He lies that he has always been close to Sang-hyeon, so he decided to become his running mate when asked. After the meal, Sang-hyeon gifts Se-hoon with his smartwatch, which makes Se-hoon feel valued, believing that Sang-hyeon is a good person. The following day at school, Yu-gyeong confronts Se-hoon about recommending her to Won-dae and then quitting on them. Se-hoon still chooses not to explain himself to her and insists he did not betray them. Regarding the school choir, Se-hoon says that he will not quit since the choir and the elections are two different things. After Se-hoon leaves, Yu-gyeon notices that Ji-hun is popular among the students, so she asks him whether he wants to run for the school council. At the end of the school day, Sang-hyeon suggests that Se-hoon have a face-to-face conversation to clear up any misunderstandings. Se-hoon listens in on a conversation between Won-dae and Yu-hyeon and realises that they are not bummed that he changed his mind. Instead, Yu-Gyeon thinks his leaving was a good idea, and they already have other candidates to consider. After hearing this, Se-hoon decides not to talk to Won-dae. Later, Se-hoon and Jeong-hui meet at Sang-hyeon's family restaurant to discuss campaign strategies. Sang-hyeon is impressed by their suggestions but worries that Se-hoon might share pledges similar to what he discussed with Won-dae. Se-hoon assures them that his plans are different and even shares the screenshots of the messages exchanged between him and Won-dae as proof. Twenty-four days to the election, a conflict arises between Gyeong-tae and Se-hoon. A demeaning picture of Yu-gyeong that Gyeong-tae had drawn in one of their choir lessons is found inside the music files. Se-hoon had accidentally forgotten to remove the picture, and Gyeong-tae had written his name on the back of the photo. Luckily, Gyeong-tae does not get disciplinary action but a warning and apologises to Yu-Gyeong. Gyeong-tae confronts Se-hoon for ratting him out and betraying Won-dae. Se-hoon gets a new nickname from the students: 'the rat', while Gyeong-tae becomes 'the pervert.' During the elections for the choir captain, Won-dae suggests that Se-hoon should be the next captain. The reason why Won-dae suggests Se-hoon is that he arrives early at the choir to tidy up. He also says that the choir and the student council are different, so he does not hold a grudge even if they are rivals in the school elections. The teacher invites Se-hoon to speak since no one else stands up to be his opponent. Won-dae tells Se-hoon that he has forgiven him when he goes up to give a speech, and the students find Won-dae favourable for suggesting a rival. Se-hoon starts his speech by saying that he was ashamed that a simple reason like tidying up the choir room could get him to become a captain. He thinks it is unfair to other members with more serious roles, such as those who organise the music sheets, distribute snacks, those in charge of group messages, edit videos, and play the piano. Se-hoon says that Won-dae's words are disappointing. Se-hoon adds that he is tone-deaf and unsuitable to become choir captain and nominates Yu Ui-jun, saying that he is loyal, a good singer, and has a passion for music. Before his speech, Se-hoon received a message from Ji-hun telling him he had decided to join Won-dae as his running mate. At the end of the episode, Se-hoon writes a withdrawal application from the choir. In his letter, he says that he is happy for the applause he got for his efforts, but he no longer wants to be applauded for mere efforts. He chooses to bow out before the applause fades. The Episode Review It is getting messy, and we are here for it. Won-dae and Yu-gyeong know exactly what they are doing by asking Ji-hun to join them. It is too early to tell if this will cause a rift between the friends, but time will tell. The thing about politics is that it is a dirty game. To win, one must compromise a lot. We are just beginning, so the gloves are not yet out. Won-dae tried to use Se-hoon during the choir elections to create a favourable image of himself. Se-hoon clocked it and handled it diplomatically, like a pro. We also have to take a moment and discuss Gyeong-tae's actions. What he did to Yu-gyeong was wrong, and he should have received a severe punishment. It is annoying when such incidents are not handled with the severity they deserve. Yu-gyeong deserved better.
