Editorial, The Straits Times, 4 Nov 2012
It is a well-meaning gesture by OCBC Bank to support family life. However, its move to give employees time off to help their children prepare for their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is not a wise one and should not become the norm. While catering to the expressed needs of employees, bosses should also give a thought to wider concerns. Much has been aired publicly about easing exam stress for young children. Offering perks like "PSLE leave" will just compound the stress level as parents may just end up hovering over their children all day long, and pass on their anxiety to them.
It would be far better for employers to help staff see parenting in a well-rounded way and offer flexible work arrangements so they can spend time nurturing their children all year round. Revision work might pick up in the months leading up to the examination but a balanced study routine can help avoid the intensive coaching associated with exam stress.
One reason many parents consider the PSLE a do-or-die examination is the perception that all life chances are determined by the child's final score. The OCBC's PSLE scheme will only feed parents' fears.
What employers should also consider is how they can demonstrate their willingness to not overly focus on exam grades when recruiting staff. Considering the candidates' all-round abilities and experiences will help to signal strongly to students and parents that more diverse skills are required for companies to succeed in global markets.
Academic success should not be devalued, of course, but a wider recognition of other forms of achievements should be taken into account as well. When this is widely practised, there might be less of an obsession with so-called "top schools" and greater acceptance of the Education Ministry's mantra that "every school is a good school". Delivering on this will be critical if parents are to ease up.
Debate over PSLE revived
By Phua Mei Pin, The Straits Times, 3 Nov 2012
By Phua Mei Pin, The Straits Times, 3 Nov 2012
What it's all about
THE annual stress-fest for 12-year-olds and their parents - better known as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) - has been an especially hot topic this year, with calls being sounded to scrap it or make it less stressful.
This week, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam revived the debate when he suggested relooking the way the PSLE differentiates between pupils.
The former education minister noted that the PSLE's exact scoring system sorts Primary 6 pupils even more finely than the way students in Secondary 4, who receive a letter grade for their exams, are sorted.
This, he observed, made it "inevitable that parents and teachers will place great emphasis on preparing their children for the PSLE".
What's the buzz?
MR THARMAN'S comments come amid a debate over the PSLE and the stress it causes.
Many parents agree with him, arguing that the scoring system should be changed to ease the pressure on their children. But a minority fear that transparency and objectivity will suffer if a broader grading system is used.
The debate has also seen revived calls to scrap the PSLE, though no serious alternatives have emerged and most people are still of the view that it is needed to assess pupils' ability for entrance into secondary schools.
The latest round of discussions also comes just a week after OCBC Bank announced that its staff can carry forward 10 to 15 days of leave to help their children sitting the PSLE the following year. That too had sparked debate over whether this was fuelling the PSLE stress, or making it easier for parents.
Why it matters
SINCE 1960, when it was introduced, the PSLE has become a rite of passage for Singaporean students and their families.
Many parents have been known to quit their jobs or take long leave just to coach their children for the exam.
Critics, however, feel that 12 years of age - at which Primary 6 pupils take the exam - is too young for such high stakes to be in play. In Singapore's competitive environment, PSLE results are sometimes seen as not only determining the secondary school a pupil gets into, but also his junior college, university and, ultimately, his career.
Some have also questioned the exam's impact on social mobility, noting that some children may lose out because they have less access to tuition and other enrichment programmes.
The PSLE debate has come into even sharper focus in recent weeks, as Singaporeans have been questioning long-held definitions of success, happiness and fulfilment during the ongoing national conversation.
What's next?
DAYS after Mr Tharman made his comments, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said a review of the PSLE is under way, although he stressed that it would not be a short-term quick fix. His ministry will be getting feedback from parents, and indications are that the review will cover the issue of how PSLE results are calculated and used.
Meanwhile, the latest batch of Primary 6 pupils will get their PSLE results soon. The verdict on the exam itself may take longer but, in the light of recent political messages and parents' heartfelt pleas, a scorecard may not be far off.
SOUNDBITE
We should look to see how we can reduce this over-pressure we have on a single examination and a single grade.
-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in an interview in September with The Straits Times' current affairs website Singapolitics
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