Rich-poor resources gap in education: What can we do?

Hi everyone, 

This is Gao Xian.

Awkward Transitions is working to level the playing field between the rich and the poor in education. We understand the difference in resources and opportunities for the rich and the poor, for elite schools and neighbourhood schools and we hope to take action to help these students in need.

We notice the growth of many new tuition and academic initiatives in Singapore for the poor but we do realise that there is much more to "resources" and "opportunities" that elite school students get than neighbourhood school students other than academic help. Hence, I decided to start Awkward Transitions to level the playing field after having conversations with friends from "better" schools that the seniors actually come back to their alma mater to share their experience and knowledge about future educational pathways to their juniors.

However, I believe much more can be done for the students who miss out on these resources and opportunities. What I would hope you would share with us would be "What do you think poor students/neighbourhood school students lack in resources and opportunities as compared to their richer or elite counterparts?"

What are the soft skills "training" some students are not exposed to?

After some brainstorming, research and conversations with friends, we've come up with a list of ideas but we thought would be useful to students and would like the public to share with us your comments on whether would you like to obtain these skills or do you find them relevant and useful but lacking for students in some schools . 

1) Future educational pathway advice ( JC, Poly, ITE, Others)
2) Career Counselling / Life planning
3) School/Work/Organisational attachments
4) Resume writing, Interview Skills, Personal essays for appeals/special admissions/scholarships.
5) Study skills, study location suggestions and how to create a conducive studying environment.
6) Financial planning. 
7) Presentation and public speaking skills.
8) Project management skills ( Chairing meetings, writing minutes, organising projects etc.)
9) How to work as a team / Be a team player

I was even thinking of having a section for CCA advice / What did you learn from your CCA. Do you think these would be useful? Which one do you think would be most applicable to students?

Do post your comments to facilitate discussion. We need more comments from Current Secondary/Poly/JC/ITE/Other institution students about what they need! 

Thanks !

We are a bunch of enthusiastic youths eager to make a difference and to promote meritocracy and equal opportunity. Awkward Transitions is a youth-for-youth project, where we give future educational advice(JC,Poly,ITE,Other institutions) to secondary school students through school talks, career booths and online support from our diverse network of ex-JC,Poly,ITE and students from other institutions. 

Do visit our website at awkwardtransitions.weebly.com and support our cause at www.facebook.com/awkwardtransitions