Forum: Modify PSLE instead of scrapping it
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From the Opinion piece “ Intense PSLE preparation can cause significant, long-lasting psychological harm to children
The authors passionately argue against testing children at 12, but what is the right age? Comparing this with other countries is also inappropriate as they have vastly different schooling systems.
I feel parents are objecting to the PSLE because, despite spending money on tuition, their children are unable to ace the “special question” set in the mathematics examination. This, in itself, speaks volumes of the exam’s rigour.
Given the above, parents should start to reconsider how much they want to invest in tuition and free up time for their children for play and experiential learning. Parents should also realise this education “arms race” is a lose-lose proposition.
As much as some students will carry the trauma into adulthood, I am sure there are others who will tell you the PSLE was probably the easiest exam they have taken.
Perhaps, instead of scrapping the PSLE, we should relook this milestone and see how to scale or modify it, given that spending money on tuition is not always effective and can cause mental anxiety.
Teaching children to strategise and accept they cannot solve all problems on the spot are definitely life skills that will serve them well when they grow up.
Dennis Ang Bak Hwee
