Regardless Of Grades: Why Are Singaporeans So Obsessed With PSLE?

The move towards reducing Singapore’s emphasis on grades started over 25 years ago but in recent years, Singapore’s Education Ministry introduced a slew of aggressive changes in efforts to relieve student stress and to ‘spark joy’ in learning.

But to what extent have these measures shifted the needle in our pursuit of what’s considered ‘good grades’? Even as schools reduce their emphasis on exams and promote the joy of learning, the country’s booming tuition and enrichment industry continues to fuel an academic ‘arms race’ outside of school grounds.

This documentary investigates how our pursuit of grades is affecting our children, and we view it through the lens of families preparing for what’s considered the all-important Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). Why is this the make-or-break exam for 12-year-olds? For the first time, we lift the lid on this national exam, with never-before-seen footage of how questions are set, and exam papers marked.

00:00 PSLE results day
02:17 Social experiment: The biggest source of stress for PSLE kids
09:00 Why do parents place so much importance on PSLE?
20:27 Booming tuition and academic enrichment industry
26:19 How is a PSLE paper set?
28:23 How to get better marks for PSLE?
35:44 Impact of Achievement Levels system on secondary school choices
36:10 Countdown to PSLE
43:54 How can parents make PSLE less stressful for kids?

ALSO WATCH:

============
About the show: This documentary investigates how our pursuit for grades is affecting our children, and we view it through the lens of families preparing for what’s considered the all-important PSLE.
=============
#psle #education #exam #students #result #grades

For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER

Follow CNA INSIDER on:

[kyuning]

I really have to compliment CNA. It is the only local channel that still remained relevant over the years. The CNA insider series is really well done indeed.

[ichokefinals]

the most surprising part of the video is that some primary schools actually give their students chairs to sit on in the hall

[SohanMahajani]

The fact that teachers segregate children based on their intelligence in a classroom and that the teachers also read out the scores in front of the entire class is really depressing. No child should be placed under so much pressure and humiliation; it's inhumane.

[angsua]

14:49 the kid put a smile icon next to his ‘play’ time on his tight study schedule 😢 crazy to think that for some children, ‘playing / free time’ is a privilege.

[fruitsandosss]

there needs to be a follow up documentary (with 80s and 90s kids) on whether a fixation on external validation early in life creates happy and fulfilled adults… do they eventually become soulless automaton zombies ✨✨~alienated from the self~ ✨✨… or are they too busy projecting intergenerational academic trauma on their own kids to have a sense of self

[KennethChooTV]

Diana Ser is the best person to host this as her child is also having PSLE.

I think it is a good wake up call for MOE & Parents to relook into the way they handle the PSLE stress. It is a good documentary for parents to see themselves from another POV.

The kids’ post PSLE feedback is very important.

[cccyy]

Its true. Less criticism, more encouragement. It will really make a long way. When we look back, we want the children to feel that they have gone through the tough times together WITH the parents and not feeling alone.

[Ivanheim]

The most beautiful parent is the one who never sends her children to tuition. She is not stress at all and her kids looks happier! Facts.

[Ziiqing]

We went through PSLE ourselves too, so more or less we know how the stress can be on the next generation. I am not a parent myself but I wouldn't go crazy for my child's primary sch education. It definitely sets a foundation for our future but it does not mean the future will be set by your performance in just this exam. Rather than overemphasizing on academics I would want my child to build on his or her passion, studies will come next but a balance of play and work must be there. As adults we don't work everyday or all the time, so why should we expect kids to only study and sleep 🤣.

[bancrusher]

I'd rather kids have self-imposed stress, but because kids are unable to see the importance of education, parents end up causing stress for their children, yet I do not believe direct rewards are sustainable and ruins character,
I think self-imposed stress takes you the long way in education marathon

[janemuses]

No wonder gen Z is the most unhappy cohort and stressed out too. I recall studying for my PSLE a month prior and it was stressful but nothing like the prep these kids go through. You'd think after all these years and access to global cultures that Asian parents would have a better understanding of what it really takes to succeed in life is not book smarts.

[whoopee]

In the span of their lifetime, PSLE is really just a minute part….. it’s sad that these children have to be put through this. I hope that emphasis should be put on what you can still achieve in spite of your PSLE results. (Personally I did not do well in my PSLE) My partner and I decided not to live in singapore anymore because we did not want our kids to have to go through this…

[spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace]

25:56 the way the mother ignores her child

[guang-wen]

This is absolutely insane to see kids so young feel the pressure of standardized tests and to prep so much. But you really can't argue with Singapore's results.

[chloesa]

I'm so captivated by Diana Ser's mannerism. Also, another great video by CNA Insider!

[siminkuo]

The kids featured here are relatively well-spoken and their parents can afford tuition, assessment books etc. I wish they could also do a side feature on kids who who struggle in school - how PSLE was like for children like those in the "Don't Call Us Beaten" series (which was a favorite of mine). Their perspectives and experiences would likely be very different.

[nisarahmadho]

A very insightful episode. Full of wake up calls and parenting reflections. Well done CNA!

[janeloh]

Well done CNA team & Diana! In this era, we've robbed children off their joy and enrolled them to the rat race of chasing non-stop. Since when did we take learning for granted and turn it into a dread? We need to find the joy & appreciation of learning!!

[jin_asap]

I have been a tutor for over 15 years. Kids already face stress and rigidity in schools and from parents, so I try to make my classes light-hearted but still productive.
I saved this video, 1 as a reference for how my partner and I on how to treat our kid(s) in the future, and 2, because it is very well made. The pacing, multiple camera angles, B-rolls, and all the small details that go into this video are great.
Well done CNA Insider!

[bd]

i love how the children shared their honest opinion, i can feel the stress they going through. anyway congratulations to all, you did yourself proud and complete those examinations.