ETHNIC CLASSIFICATION FOR PSLE RESULTS

ETHNIC CLASSIFICATION FOR PSLE RESULTS: 4.

Mr Viswa Sadasivan asked the Minister for Education why is there a need to announce PSLE results along ethnic categories.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Education (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, after each national examination, various ethnic groups and their corresponding language media show keen interest on the identity of the top students from each of their respective communities in order to recognise and celebrate their achievements. The Ministry has therefore been

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releasing listings of the top students from the major races in national examinations since the 1990s.

This practice is consistent with our overall approach of regular release of national examination results by ethnic group since 1988. This provides feedback to the various communities on how their students have fared and to monitor the effectiveness of their programmes.

Mr Viswa Sadasivan (Nominated Member): Sir, I see the value of ethnic category-based results to ethnic self-help groups, for example. Could the Ministry consider at the mass media level when the information is released to the general public – in other words, the announcement to the public – that it is presented as a whole instead of being divided along ethnic lines? I am concerned about students, in particular ethnic communities, who may not have fared as well. Can I have a response from the Government, please?

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Mr Speaker, there is no sinister reason why we communicate this along ethnic lines. Basically, like myself, when the Malay community performs well and the top students are announced, I celebrate just like my community does, and even my wife, when she opens the newspaper in the morning. I think this practice is consistent. We will continue with it. We are celebrating for the four races – Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian – 98% of the community in Singapore.