Underlying the advice to opt for the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) seems to be the principal's lack of understanding of Secondary 5 students. When my cohort of N-level students opted to go on to Secondary 5, we were fully aware of the challenges and difficulties that lay ahead, and the risk that most of us could fail.

Telling these students that they should opt for ITE is to say they have made a bad decision, shooting their confidence to bits. This does not speak well of an educator whose job is to guide students towards their goal.

It is sad that the principal is unable to grasp the fact that these are 17-year-olds who have exercised their right to choose their academic path. Individual counselling would have elicited more respect for the principal.

Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew's comment on the fragility or otherwise of young people reflects inadequate knowledge and understanding of child psychology. Such 'advice' often have repercussions on the young people's adult lives, affecting their self-esteem and the choices they make.

Marissa Teo Ruishan (Miss)
The writer is in her honours year at SIM University