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Since the announcement that Singapore’s Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be revamped to cater to more students, questions about equal distribution of resources and the added burden on teachers have come up.
Steven Chia and Crispina Robert put these questions to Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and Ong Kong Hong, divisional director of curriculum planning and development at the ministry.
Here’s an excerpt from the conversation:
Steven Chia:
Then we have to ask, because this is one issue, or one exam, or one test that everyone talks about – that four-letter one -PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination).
People are saying, if that’s the case, if we want to have this sort of learning experience, then why do we still have this one big exam, which basically tests a 12-year-old kid one day for that one paper, and his next few years of his life is determined by that one exam.
Is this something that we would consider relooking at?
Minister Chan Chun Sing:
Well, we always do this thought experiment, and this (is) also related to how we teach and how people get selected into P1 (Primary 1). Supposedly, if we do away with our PSLE, what does it mean, right? If the mindset doesn’t change, (and) we all still want to chase after a certain few schools, then that pressure will just be transferred from Secondary 1 or P6 to P1. Because supposing (it) is a 10-year experience, right? Then in P1, you’ll be even worse.
Now, if we have the mindset that whatever exam it is, whether is it P1, P2 … or 6 … what’s the real purpose of the exam? The real purpose of the exam is not so much to sort people out into different schools, per se. The real purpose of any exam is to help our learners be in a suitable environment for their next lap of their learning journey. So just now, using our example, you know your kid is, on average, a good kid, but he’s not exceptionally talented one way or the other.
Crispina Robert:
Basically, will you send him to RI (Raffles Institution)?
Mr Chan:
Or will you send him to somewhere you know generally his ability is around the 9, 10, 11 range, or will you send him to another school that perhaps is in the 12, 13 range? You know your child for the last six years. You know his aptitude; you know his abilities. You know that he’s generally around 10, and he comes home and says, “I have a 4.” Now, Steve, what will your choice be?
Steven:
So, you know, he’s generally around 10, is it? I mean, I’ll probably still send at least a 7, 8 kind of environment.
Mr Chan:
But it’s above his level, right?
Steven:
Still above his current 4, that’s right. But because we think the potential is there, right? And because we always think better of our kids …Crispina:
If I had to be honest, if I had a chance for my kid to go to RI, that kid is going to RI.
Steven:
Even though he may suffer while being there …Crispina:
We’ll see if he suffers … But Minister, what would you (do) … I know you are an alumnus of RI.
Mr Chan:
I will share with you the experience of an alumnus. I will say this, what is the correct answer really depends on your child. If your child is really someone who strives, someone who is a fighter, that even if it’s a bottom of the class, he will make his way up, then by all means, send him to the aggregate score of a 4 to 6 school.
What if he’s not that character and he’s just comfortable, like what both of you mentioned earlier, working with people around the same ability group, and he’s comfortable at (overall score) 10 schools? Why not send him there?
So actually, the answer depends on the child’s abilities and interests, but you asked another very important question, and my final answer, (the) correct answer, is not so much whether you go for the (overall score) 6, 4 to 6 or 10 or 12. I say the final answer should be, where does your child want to go?
Crispina:
You see, we always forget to ask the children.
Mr Chan:
We always try to make decisions for our children. But sometimes, we forget that they are the ones who have to take ownership of their decision. But of course, today, we are in a different age. Nowadays, we will always worry whether our child at that age can make those decisions.
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