Why parents think PSLE is critical

I REFER to last Saturday's report ('PSLE levels playing field: MM Lee') about the importance of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and its impact on the education system.

Parents place a heavy emphasis on the PSLE because of the array of different educational avenues awaiting the pupil once he leaves primary school.

The PSLE decides the quality of a child's learning environment in the next five to six years, which is crucial in moulding him as an individual.

A key question one must ask is: How can we expect a 12-year-old child to understand the importance of this examination to his educational future?

Some argue that the O-level examination offers students a second chance to get into a good junior college or polytechnic programme.

I beg to differ. If the child does not do well in the PSLE, his learning environment in secondary school may not help him realise his hidden potential.

Furthermore, the tendency to gauge an individual's worth on the basis of the secondary school he attends is likely to further erode a child's self-esteem.

As for JC entry, the chances are becoming slimmer as a larger share of places in the best colleges are locked in for integrated programme students from the better secondary schools.

So it should not surprise anyone that it is becoming even more vital for a child to perform well in the PSLE.

While the PSLE may have its merits, it is obvious that it is an examination that discriminates against late bloomers.

It is unfair to place such an extreme burden on 12-year-old children who may not understand the gravity of the PSLE's implications.

Shalaka Nanda Kumar (Miss)