RULING ON 'N' LEVEL STUDENTS TAKING 'O' LEVEL EXAMINATIONS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (i) if he will give the cogent reasons for the recent ruling that only students who scored an aggregate of 8 points in the G.C.E. 'N' level examinations would be allowed to take the G.C.E. 'O' level examinations against the advice of school principals that it should be 12 points; (ii) why was the announcement delayed until two weeks before the students took the 'N' level examinations; and (iii) whether the ruling would result in the transfer of more students to vocational training.

Dr Tay Eng Soon: The Member for Anson has not comprehended the issue. There is no change in the criterion of allowing a pupil to go on to Secondary 5 Normal to attempt his G.C.E. 'O' level. It stays at 8 points to be based on the first language and two other subjects, with a minimum of grade 3 for the first language.

The change announced on 29th August, 1984 concerns only the criterion to allow a pupil to repeat his G.C.E. 'N' level examinations in school. The criterion recommended by a committee of principals was based on an aggregate of 12 points for first language and 2 other subjects. Subsequently, studies based on the results of specimen Cambridge G.C.E. 'N' level papers administered to our pupils showed that the criterion should be changed to 9 points.

The timing of the announcement before the examinations would not have adversely affected the pupils. The announcement was concerned only with the criterion for repeating the G.C.E. 'N' level in school. No student preparing to sit for an examination would be doing so just for the purpose of repeating it.

A survey carried out by the Ministry of Education among the Secondary 4N students before the announcement showed that two-thirds of the students were in favour of either going on to skill training or joining the job market. Many school leavers today recognise that vocational training will lead to a good job and a career as a skilled worker. With or without the announcement, many would be opting for vocational training.