Primary School Students Tested beyond Syllabus Topics

Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Minister for Education whether Primary schools are entitled to test students beyond what they teach and, if so, what is the rationale for allowing this.

The Minister for Education (Mr Heng Swee Keat): Mdm Speaker, each subject has a syllabus which specifies the content and learning goals. The syllabus provides a common reference point for teaching and learning, and for assessment. Based on the syllabus, teachers plan lessons or enrichment activities, depending on the profile of their students.

To help students apply concepts that they have learnt, a teacher may use contexts outside the syllabus. However, when setting tests and examinations, concepts beyond the syllabus should not be assessed in test or examination questions.

MOE does not recommend the testing of content and skills beyond what is specified in the syllabus. National examinations are set within the scope of the syllabus and we advise schools to set their tests and examinations within the scope as well. ****

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh): A supplementary question, Mdm Speaker. I thank the Minister for the answer. My question is related to the on-going and never-ending debate on tuition. Could I ask whether the MOE is looking at ways to reduce the dependence on tuition, including setting a realistic amount of content being taught in our schools, and, therefore, ensuring that teachers are able to complete the syllabus comfortably?

Mr Heng Swee Keat: Mdm Speaker, I think the Member's question is specifically on whether the testing is appropriate. I think this is a separate subject which has been discussed at length and I think that this has been answered before and I do not think that this is the appropriate occasion.