NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (Re-sitting of Pharmacology examination)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Chiam See Tong -

Mr Chiam See Tong: To ask the Minister for Education why was it necessary for third year medical students of the National University of Singapore to re-sit the Pharmacology examination on 18th March 2000 when they had already sat for it on 13th March 2000.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Question No. 18, Sir.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Sir, on 15th March, during the debate on the financial estimates for my Ministry, Dr Wang Kai Yuen had already raised this matter, and I had replied to Dr Wang that I would leave the NUS to handle the matter, and that the University would take such matters seriously in order to ensure that the integrity and reliability of the assessment system, including examinations, is maintained, and if there is a mistake, that the University would correct it, in order to restore confidence in the system.

Sir, the NUS has indeed investigated the matter. It set up an inquiry committee to investigate the error resulting in the wrong set of essay questions being used for the 3rd year Pharmacology examination on 13th March 2000. On 20th April, it made public the findings of the inquiry and the actions taken against the University staff concerned.

NUS has also explained why students had to re-sit the essay section of the examination paper. The error resulted from human error. NUS will reinforce the checks that are already in place in the current examination system to prevent a re-occurrence of such a mistake.