EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES RECORD CARDS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (Particulars)

Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Education (a) when his Ministry decided to introduce Extra-Curricular Activities Record Cards for students in secondary schools, and what is the cost involved in some of the schools for printing those cards; (b) whether any officer or group of officers were assigned by his Ministry to work out the details for the implementation of such a scheme; and, if not, what arrangements have been made to ensure the uniformity in the maintenance of such records in every secondary school; (c) why his Ministry considers it not necessary to issue a circular when introducing such an important scheme; and (d) what steps have been taken to rectify the confusion that has been created among the principals and staffs of secondary schools by conflicting telephone instructions on the introduction and subsequent cancellation and reintroduction of such scheme.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): Sir, it is regretted that a certain amount of confusion arose over the introduction and subsequent suspension of the use of cards to mark the attendance of pupils at extra-curricular activities. The original intention was to introduce a system of recording attendance without involving expenditure for a trial period, at the end of which a decision would be taken whether a standardised printed card should be introduced. Only then would a circular on the subject be issued to schools. Unfortunately, owing to the lack of precise instructions, there was confusion over the conduct of the experiment and. a telephone message had to be relayed to schools to suspend the trial use of attendance cards pending further instructions.

The Physical Education Advisory Committee of my Ministry is currently studying the problem and reviewing the whole scheme of awarding marks for extra-curricular activities. The revised scheme will ensure that, whilst pupils are encouraged to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities, there is no excessive participation at the expense of their academic achievement and progress. Marks will be awarded fairly to reflect the effort put in and the quality of the performance. Such marks will be recorded in the report books of the pupils and converted into grades. The final grades obtained in extra-curricular activities in Secondary Four can be used in place of the grades obtained in an academic subject in the School Certificate Examination for purposes of applying for admission to Pre-University classes.