Students who've fallen behind in school get fresh hope for the future

Students who've fallen behind in school get fresh hope for the future

It's just past 6pm and teenagers have started streaming in at the void deck of Block 329 Clementi Avenue 2.

They come armed with school books, pencil cases and broad smiles on their faces.

Almost instinctively, they greet full-time social worker Ms Charmaine Tan at a glass door as they enter the function room premises of Students Care Service (Clementi Centre) and sit at tables in small groups.

Since 2013, Ms Tan, 26, has organised night study sessions in the lead up to examination periods at the social service organisation's Clementi Centre for students who have fallen behind in their studies at school.

Those who come, come willingly, and many leave, inspired and motivated to do better at school.

And what started out as a modest group of 15 students every Wednesday night has now grown to become a 50-strong group wanting to see change in their lives.

Since March this year, the sessions are conducted every week instead of just when exam stresses kick in, due to demand from the students, who may not necessarily come from troubled backgrounds.

Ms Tan told AsiaOne: "We are really talking about boosting the motivation, the confidence and preparedness of the students in terms of handling academic challenges, so it's not so much about teaching them how to get their As."

"Some of these students fall behind quite badly such that they lose focus in studying. Imagine being the only student out of a class of 30 who doesn't feel able to catch up."

That is where her two-hour-long night study sessions have made an impact on the lives of students who do not have private tutors to coach them outside of school.

Each session is run by "coaches", who are volunteers from Clementi Youth Sparks, under the National University of Singapore's Community Service Club, as well as friends of Ms Tan who are looking to do something meaningful with their spare time.

There, they not only tutor the students in academic subjects they are weak in, they also encourage them to set goals in life and draw out plans to achieve them.

During each session, students have to fill a log book, called a Study Buddy, where they set goals for themselves to achieve during each session. Their coaches also provide written feedback in these log books to track their progress.

Ms Tan said: "I've asked (the students) why they come here. Maybe it's really about building a habit for them and the rapport with the people here. Sometimes they just need a change of environment."

Students Care Service's Clementi Centre reaches out to students from schools in the Clementi and West Coast community, and engages the schools to get the word out about the night study sessions.

Luke, 16, who is sitting for his N-Levels this year, said that he has seen his academic test scores go from single digit figures, to now in the 60-plus range.

He hopes to go to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and pursue a course in digital video and audio production.

He said: "There are no words to describe how much I've changed because of night study. My attitude in class and my study habits have changed. I was really lazy in the past but now I'm slowly starting to pass my subjects."

Likewise, his schoolmate Salihuddyn, also 16, said he used to be easily distracted by the things around him such as the TV, the computer and the fridge.

"I didn't have any sense of time management at home. The coaches are the ones who taught me how to have my own time management schedule. It has motivated me to stick to a schedule, but sometimes, like once a week, I won't follow it at all," said the aspiring nurse with a laugh.

Luke chimed in: "Our exams really decide our future so if we don't do well, we let our future down."

sujint@sph.com.sg

AsiaOne has adopted Students Care Service (SCS) as the official corporate social responsibility beneficiary for 2016 and will continue to support the organisation as its official media partner.

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