stratification

In my course of work, I've had to be very mindful of how the education system has classified our secondary school students:
- NA (Normal Academic)
- NT (Normal Technical) or
- E (Express)

In truth, the NA and NT students cannot grasp concepts that Express students can. Having come from very good schools myself, I have always taken for granted that simple mental sums, for example, are a breeze. But I forget that I'm from the Express stream. Well, actually, make that Special, cos I took Higher Chinese.

Hence, having been exposed to so many NA and NT students from the start of work, I inadvertently experienced a culture shock when I helped a colleague with her work at a good all-girl primary school. In just two hours of having games in a drop-in room we started for them, I counted at least four different nationalities - Thai, Polish/American, Indonesian, Filipino. I hear there're Brazilians and Africans too. Fwah. Exotic man.

As young as 7 years old, these girls exude a confidence that I've not seen in a long time. They speak fluent English and they spell beautifully. They are even perfectly articulate when they argue with you. These are the girls who grow up in educated and at least middle-class families. Judging by the variety of nationalities, this is probably the school where many expats send their daughters to as well.

These are also the girls who will never end up in the NA and NT streams later on in their lives. These are the girls who know that dreams can be reached.