PSLE RESULTS FOR 1981 (Schools with highest rate of improvement)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education which five primary schools have shown the highest rate of improvement in their PSLE results for 1981 as compared to the results for 1980 and whether he knows the reasons for their good performance.

The Minister of State of Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education): Sir, our records show that the following five primary schools have registered the highest rate of improvement in their PSLE results not just from 1980 to 1981 but over the past three years. They are:

1. Elling North Primary School

2. Kallang Primary School

3. Cantonment Primary School

4. Kembangan Primary School

5. Bukit Ho Swee East Primary School. In this analysis (Cols. 347 - 348) the Ministry omitted those schools which have only one or two PSLE classes as being unrepresentative. analysis - PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVING EXAMINATION (Cols. 347 - 348)

Several factors can account for the good performance of these schools. The key factor appears to be the principal. The principals of these schools, and I may add also of other good schools, are men and women who have the leadership and professional vision to initiate special projects such as reading, mathematics or remedial teaching. They are able to convince their teachers that such hard work can bear fruit.

For example, the principal of Elling North launched a crash programme in English in 1979. Children were tested to see if they had acquired certain skills expected at each level. Remedial or corrective measures were provided for pupils who were discovered to be weak. In Kallang Primary School the principal initiated a creative English programme which has achieved remarkable results with children from poor home environments. The principal of Cantonment Primary School introduced special methods to teach Mathematics which improved the Mathematics results in the school significantly.

As for Kembangan Primary School, the hon. Member for Kampong Kembangan is familiar with the Partners in Education Project which involves the teachers, parents and community leaders. The attention which the school has received through the project has motivated teachers and pupils to improve their performance.

Committed and motivated teachers can do much to help the pupils in their schools. In the five schools that I have mentioned, the yearly improvements in PSLE results are due to the efforts and dedication of both their principals and teachers. The same can be said of schools which have year after year obtained consistently good results.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi (Kampong Kembangan): Sir, noting the important role of school principals in their effort to upgrade the school performance in PSLE in so far as the primary schools are concerned, would the Hon. Minister of State inform the House whether the Ministry has further plans to ensure that the school principals will acquire better skills in management and also will have a wider scope of ingenuity and initiative in searching for projects which can help to upgrade the performance of schools?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, the answer to the question is "Yes". My Ministry is looking into the possibility of organizing courses which will help school administrators, including principals, in their duties and in improving their leadership in the running of schools.