When interviewed by The Straits Times, the principal explained that her intention of advising her Secondary 5 students to seek transfers to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) was merely to give them a 'wake-up call'.

But she contradicted herself by saying, 'Some...who don't qualify for poly will end up in the ITE anyway, so they might as well go direct to the ITE.'

Of the five students who spoke to The Straits Times, only one thought the principal meant well.

Parents who were trying to motivate their children were also demoralised.

It is apparent that the principal has not done a careful audience analysis before determining the appropriate 'wake-up' strategy.

Moreover, the act of displaying students' results in full view of the class is more likely to undermine their self-esteem and confidence than to 'impress upon them that they have to work hard'.

The principal may also have inadvertently helped to fuel the misconception that the ITE is the place to go for students who are not hardworking or who are poor academically.

The ITE is an institution that offers an alternative curriculum aimed at equipping students with practical skills that are in demand in industries. It should not be seen as a dumping ground.

Many ITE graduates have excelled in the job market or higher institutions of learning.

Students must be clear that they would not do well at the ITE unless they are committed to working hard and improving academically.

As the students have already been enrolled in her school, the

immediate task of the principal should be to see how best she could help them achieve their goal of making it to the polytechnic.

It is not for her to judge whether her students are better off going to the ITE, especially considering that over 80 per cent of her Normal-stream students qualified for the polytechnics last year.

There have also been numerous cases - some of which were reported in the media - of students who did well academically despite faring poorly initially.

As a former school dropout who eventually made it to university, I urge the students not to be disheartened and to give their aspirations their very best shot.

Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim

PRINCIPAL'S TASK

As the students have been enrolled in her school, the immediate task of the principal should be to see how best she could help them achieve their goal of making it to the polytechnic. It is not for her to judge whether they are better off going to ITE.