It’s official! With the release of my youngest son’s PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examinations) results three days ago, I’ve finally severed any direct contact as a parent to this odious national exam.
What a relief!
Now when I say odious, I do mean it. You only have to google the words “PSLE”, “parents”, “students”, and “Singapore” to read all about the gripes and grouses connected to this all-important national exams (the first of a few!) that children here in mainstream education must go through.
Or just read this article published earlier this year and watch your pulse race up the proverbial scholastic ladder!
PSLE — prized ticket to future success?
It’s true that in the last decade, there have been attempts by the Ministry of Education, especially the latest three years ago to minimise the “importance” of this high stakes national exam among our 12-year-old students, their teachers and, I would say especially, the parents.
However, decades of built-up and messaging about how doing well early will set students on their best possible pathway to future success and glory, isn’t easily wiped from the minds of generations of parents who desire only the best for their kids.
Unfortunately, as a parent myself in this competitive society, I’m not any much different, though I dearly wish I was. I too am often guilty of drumming home to my kids the importance of doing well for exams. And on occasions, to do so a tad too emphatically!
It’s not that I am obsessed with grades (at least I don’t think so). And not because I’m an educator by profession (in any case, I teach in tertiary institutions, not PSLE levels).
It’s just that, when you (as a parent and adult) have for better or worse a wider view of the jobs landscape in this nation’s first-world economy than students and kids, it can be hard to look the other way completely. To simply look more at building character and forging skills to develop relationships; enjoying sports and meaningful hobbies and activities outside of the classroom, than the academic side of things.
Doing well academically is still a prized ticket for many. One that is more likely to assure future success here and in many places around the world.
PSLE – What’s the big deal?
There’s been more talk in recent years of moving away from looking at academic grades. Yet many still harp on it.
Especially PSLE.
For me though, what made it a “big deal” this week collecting his results was two-fold.
One was that I actually got to witness the moment. I couldn’t with my eldest three years ago, thanks to my work exigencies (which I’m still sore about).
Second was just soaking in the atmosphere in the assembly hall where results were released on Wednesday.
That was truly, for me and many parents with me, a sweet moment to witness.
But in actual fact, the sweet moment came for all of us a week before.
You see, a week before, my son had a near-miss. Having unfortunately contracted chicken pox a few days beforehand, he nearly missed his own Primary 6 Graduation Ceremony on November 14! Thankfully the doctor gave him the all-clear just in time for him to join his cohort and be part of a momentous occasion.
And it was a momentous one indeed!
As you can see from the first image below, his school pulled out all the stops to decorate the assembly hall like it was prom night, complete with colourful balloons, dressed up dining tables that looked like they belong in a wedding banquet, and getting all the students to dress to the nines.
There was much festivity that night as the whole cohort went upfront to perform a mass song and dance. The awkward movements. Gangly stances. All married with the joyful smiles on little faces, only added to the uniqueness of that night, making it one to remember.
Truly, PSLE isn’t a big deal. No siree.
But the way that it brought a cohort of beautiful children and their dedicated parents, siblings, teachers and principals together after six gruelling years, is.
And that alone I believe is an experience worth its weight in gold-plated memories!
So here’s hoping that when people look upon pictures like the ones below and think “what’s the big deal”, they will come to realise for themselves that it is a big deal.
Not for a passing PSLE grade, but for a great passing moment in time.
When hearts and minds connect and share an unbreakable bond of remembrance, solidarity and celebration!
