10 Things to Take Away from our DSA Webinar

Last Saturday, the team at Zenith Academy organised a webinar titled “DSA as a Pathway to Success” to parents who are considering DSA for their kids.

We've had hundreds of primary school parents signing up for this webinar, and hopefully we were able to share useful insights.

For those who couldn't make it: Don't worry - our team distilled 10 takeaways for parents below.

1. Meet the Speakers of our DSA Webinar:

• Our webinar speakers are educators with experience in DSA - both as teachers involved in the programme and even their own experiences as students going through DSA.
• As a bonus, we also invite a Sec 1 student to share about his DSA experience.

2. Understanding the Why and How Behind DSA:

• DSA was introduced to broaden how we assess students, especially in areas outside of academics.
• DSA was first implemented in universities and then progressively distilled across the rest of the education system.
• Moving forward, DSA aims to further broaden its requirements to reflect a holistic view on education.

3. Key Numbers Behind DSA:

• Each student can apply for up to 3 different schools for their chosen talent area.
• Successful DSA placements have been steadily increasing in the past few years, the holistic shift of our education system.
  

4. Demystifying the DSA Interview:

• Questions are aimed at assessing student reactions to new and unfamiliar situations, relating to their talent areas.
• The best way to prepare for this is to engage your child in similar questions in your day-to-day interactions, as opposed to spotting questions and memorising model answers.

5. Planning Ahead as a DSA Applicant:

• While the application process occurs during P6, a successful DSA application takes up a significant time commitment. As parents, you should start identifying and nurturing talent areas as early as possible.

6. Key changes to DSA, simplified:

• DSA is now centralised into MOE's DSA online portal, unlike previously where the application process was specific to different schools.
• The most important date to note would be May, where applications take place.

7. Hear from Joel, 13, a successful DSA applicant:

• DSA was an additional avenue for him to secure a place in his preferred secondary school.
• Having confirmed his secondary school placement 1.5 months before PSLE, it provided him relief in an otherwise high-stress period.
• Looking back, Joel says that the most important thing to consider is the 4-year commitment to one's chosen DSA route. As parents, it is on you to assess that your child is prepared for their chosen pathway.

8. How You Can Help, as a parent:

• Clarify and familiarise yourself with the administrative details, so that your child can focus solely on the application.
• Understand the DSA programme and ensure that you know what you and your child are signing up for.

Summary:

The DSA represents a key evolution of Singapore's education system - towards one where each student is assessed holistically for their areas of interest, talent, and competencies.

We believe that DSA is a wonderful avenue for any child to further interest in the talent area they are passionate about, and nurturing a learning journey that places equal importance to aspirations both in and out of the classroom.

For parents, we should also understand that nurturing talent requires time and effort over the years, and not something that can necessarily be taught or imposed.

If this webinar was helpful towards you and your child's education journey, let us know!