Flunked exams, still ended up in MIT - The ST Interview 2nd June 2010

I met Mr Lee Kwok Cheong some years ago while he was still the CEO of NCS. He is a genuine foreign talent, very much needed by our country, that contributes to our nation, created a legacy by transforming NCS (National Computer Systems) into a regional IT powerhouse. The impression Mr Lee left on me at that time - one of those Singapore government PSC scholars. A very humble, friendly and approachable person.
I only realised that I was wrong this morning when I read The Straits Times - ST Interview. As reported, Mr Lee actually flunked in his Hong Kong's equivalent of the PSLE and had to repeat his exams. But his faltering first steps in education (in Hong Kong)did not stop him from excelling in his studies later. In 1973, he won a place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to pursue a double degree in management and computer science.
I wonder if any of our pupils who flunked their PSLE exams today, will by default stream to study in the "Normal-Technical" course, will ever have the opportunity to further their studies like Mr Lee. Will such pupils have a second chance to prove themselves under our education system? Our present MOE policy of aggressive streaming at too young age, ranking and branding of the schools, is unhealthy in the development of creative and independent thinking next generation of Singaporeans, much less to ever aspire to become successful entrepreneur like Mr Lee Kwok Cheong. Late developers like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein have no place in Singapore under the present education system!