NATIONAL SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS (Standards)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: To ask the Minister for Finance, Minister for Education and Minister for Health (a) whether the standards of the Primary School Leaving Examination and the General Certificate of Education Ordinary and Advanced level examinations have been raised with the implementation of the Goh Keng Swee Report of 1979, and (b) whether examinations have been over-emphasized in the present education system.

Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee: Question No.4.

Dr Tay Eng Soon (for the Minister for Finance, Minister for Education and Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the standards of the various national examinations (such as the Primary School Leaving Examinations, the General Certificate of Education at 'N', 'O' and 'A' levels) have been maintained.

Examinations are not over-emphasized in the present school system. The Ministry strives to give pupils an all-round educa- tion by encouraging them to take part in extra-curricular activities such as art and music programmes in addition to spending time on their lessons. Sir, examinations are necessary to assess the academic progress of students. The Ministry will continue to use examinations to determine a student's ability and level of proficiency.