Selection of Books in the Approved Textbook List for Primary Schools

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education (a) how are textbooks used by Primary schools selected by the Ministry for inclusion in the Approved Textbook List (ATL); (b) whether Primary schools are allowed to select textbooks outside of the ATL as their primary text for a subject; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that all textbooks used by Primary schools are of a uniform and sufficiently high standard to meet the demands of examinations, especially the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education whether the textbooks used by Primary schools are comprehensive enough to cover all the curriculum content examined during the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) without the need for supplementary content and/or materials provided by teachers or tuition centres.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: All textbooks have to be reviewed by a panel of professionals, including MOE curriculum specialists, school teachers and university academics before they are included in the MOE Approved Textbook List (ATL). The review ensures that the content and skills levels in the textbooks are aligned to the subject syllabuses and examinations. In addition, the review ensures that the content in the textbook is current, accurate and appropriate to local and international contexts.

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Most schools would use textbooks from the Approved Textbook List. Schools which decide to use textbooks outside of the Approved Textbook List have to review the materials to ensure that the content and skills levels are aligned with those in the syllabus, and are appropriate.

For the PSLE, besides knowledge of content, the test items require students to demonstrate understanding and application of concepts. Questions based on concepts may not always use the same examples in the textbooks. In a Science test item, for instance, the concept of speed may be illustrated by a moving car or a running man.

Textbooks serve as a base, and teachers also use supplementary materials to augment and enrich learning, and for additional practice so as to enhance student understanding of concepts. For example, for students who require more help to learn grammar items in the English Language, schools could produce learning materials to meet this need. Or Science teachers could use videos to demonstrate visually the concept of boiling point. Teachers would use supplementary materials judiciously to meet the specific needs of the students.

MOE assists by developing teaching resources to support the teachers. Together, the textbooks and the instructional materials provided by the teachers will be sufficient to cover the curriculum content required for the PSLE examinations.