Column No : 3257

NORMAL (TECHNICAL) STUDENTS

5.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Education (a) how will the more capable among Normal (Technical) students be helped to make it into the Normal (Academic) stream; and (b) in the last 10 years how many Normal (Technical) students left school with (i) Institute of Technical Education (ITE), (ii) Secondary 4 (Normal) and (iii) Secondary 5 (Normal) qualifications.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: (a) Schools monitor the academic performance and progress of all Normal (Technical) students from Secondary 1. Those who display the aptitude and ability for academic courses are coached and given additional assignments to help motivate them to continue to do well in their studies.

(b) Since the first graduating cohort in 1997, 6 cohorts* of Normal (Technical) students have completed their secondary education. On average, based on the Secondary 1 cohorts of Normal (Technical) students:

(i) About 84% (5,936 students)+ graduate with Secondary 4 (Normal) qualifications;

(ii) About 47% (3,519 students)^ later graduate with ITE qualifications;

(iii) About 3% (221 students)# graduate with 'O' Level qualifications.

• Each cohort consists of an average of 7,046 students.

+ Average of figures for 1994-1999 cohorts (6 cohorts).

^ Average of figures for 1994-1996 cohorts (3 cohorts).

Average of figures for 1994-1998 cohorts (5 cohorts). Secondary 5 (Normal) students sit for "O"

level examinations.

• Each cohort consists of an average of 7046 students.

+ Average of figures for 1994 - 1999 cohorts (6 cohorts)

^ Average of figures for 1994 -1996 cohorts (3 cohorts)

Average of figures for 1994 - 1998 cohorts (5 cohorts). Sec 5 (Normal) students sit for "O" levels examinations.

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