Why PSLE in Singapore is only the start

This article is timely because I just attended a Post-PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) Conversation on “Who’s Taking PSLE” by The ETCeteras and the PSLE results for 2013 have just been released. For some, they may jumping over the moon as they will be able to enter the school of their choice, for others it may be despair as they may just miss the boat by a single point.

As a married man with no kids yet, I may not be able to understand the stress levels which today parents may face or the actions that they undertake during their child’s PSLE year such as taking leave to prepare the examinations with their child, enrolling their child for crash course enrichment programs and looking for special food recipes which will boost their child’s studying abilities etc.

Many of my colleagues and friends told me straight in my face, “Wait till you become a parent and you will know the stress of PSLE.”  It may be true and perhaps my actions will be more drastic when I become a father one day.

However, with Singapore’s progression & affluence and the availability of so many educational pathways today, should we still view PSLE as a do or die examination mission?

Let us examine Singapore’s education system say, 25 years ago. What choices do we have? It is either you make it past PSLE, progress to secondary school or to Vocational & Industrial Training Board (VITB), currently known as Institute of Technical Education (ITE). In those days, students faced a certain stigma attending the VITB.

Fast forward to present, even though if you did not enter the secondary school of your choice, you would still have many choices and opportunities beyond post-secondary education, not to mention the opportunities available within private education sectors.

I am not undermining the importance of PSLE. It is important and a certain level of stress for a child could actually help in certain ways for his future development.

My point here is PSLE is only the beginning of a 12 year old child’s development. If he or she does well, very good, if he or she does poorly, let’s examine why, evaluate all viable options and move on.

The mindset of if you do not do well in PSLE, you are destined to fail in life should be removed. I did not score well for my PSLE, went to a neighborhood secondary school and subsequently completed my post-secondary and overseas university education.

Personally, I feel I did quite well in life and my achievements are not as bad as one would have imagined upon seeing my PSLE scores.

Of course, there are parents who have much higher expectations of their child and we have to respect that.

Finally, for those who did well enough to enter the school of their choice, congratulations! For those who did not do as well, do not despair, keep your chin up and keep going!