NORMAL (TECHNICAL) AND NORMAL (ACADEMIC) STREAMS (Criteria for transfer)

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NORMAL (TECHNICAL) AND NORMAL (ACADEMIC) STREAMS:

(Criteria for transfer): 2.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Acting Minister for Education (a) what are the criteria for Normal (Technical) students to be transferred to the Normal (Academic) stream and the levels at which such transfers can take place; (b) whether these criteria will be reviewed to allow more opportunities for Normal (Technical) students who have the inclination and aptitude to switch streams; and (c) what is the percentage and number of Normal (Technical) students who are transferred to the Normal (Academic) stream per year over the past five years.

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The Acting Minister for Education (Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, students from the Normal (Technical) course may be transferred to the Normal (Academic) course if they display the interest and aptitude for academic courses. Students need to attain an average score of 70% or higher for all subjects in the Normal (Technical) course to be eligible for the transfer. Most transfers take place at the end of Secondary 1 so that the students would have adequate time to adjust to an academic course and prepare for the 'N' Level examinations at Secondary 4.

In addition, Secondary 4 Normal (Technical) students may be promoted to the Secondary 5 Normal course if they obtain grade 1 in English and Mathematics as well as grade 3 or better in one other subject at the 'N' Level examinations at the end of Secondary 4.

In the last five years, an average of 350 Normal (Technical) students, or about 4.9% of each Secondary 1 Normal (Technical) cohort, were transferred to the Normal (Academic) stream each year.

Dr Amy Khor has asked if these criteria will be reviewed to allow more opportunities for Normal (Technical) students, who have the inclination and aptitude, to switch streams. The criteria for transfer seek to ensure that only academically-inclined students, who can benefit from an academic course, will qualify. We should not equate success for Normal (Technical) students with transferring to an academic stream. Progress up the path of technical education is an achievement no less valid than moving up the academic pathway. We will continue to encourage and help Normal (Technical) students, whose needs and abilities are best catered to by a technically-oriented education, to progress as far as possible in their studies, to post-secondary education in ITE and beyond.

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MOE is conducting a review on the Normal (Technical) curriculum, its delivery and its assessment system. The review will consider how we can better gear the Normal (Technical) programme for our technically-oriented students.

To introduce greater flexibility within the Normal (Technical) course, we will also allow Normal (Technical) students with relatively strong abilities in certain subjects to proceed faster in those areas. They will be able to offer 1-2 Normal (Academic) subjects in areas in which they have particularly strong strengths. This flexibility allows us to better cater to some of our students' diverse abilities. We are already doing the same for Normal (Academic) students who have, from this year, been allowed to do two 'O' level subjects at Secondary 4.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah): Firstly, could the Minister comment on the performance of the Normal (Technical) students who get transferred to the Normal (Academic) stream?

Secondly, I would like to ask the Minister if he could confirm that it would be difficult, if not, impossible to get transferred from the Normal (Technical) to Normal (Academic) at the Secondary 2 level even if at Secondary 2 level, the student actually complies with the 70% pass mark for all subjects.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: On the first question, because we allow Normal (Technical) students to be transferred to a Normal (Academic) stream only when it is clear that they have the academic aptitude and interest for an academic course, the students who have been transferred have been able to do reasonably well in the Normal (Academic) course. I do not have the exact data with me but they have in general not failed.

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On the second question, there are a few students who are transferred at Secondary 2. The numbers are small and that is not surprising because most students in fact show aptitude by the end of Secondary 1. In fact, in primary school, at the end of Primary 5, those students who are capable of coping with the EM2 course, are already transferred at that point. On an exceptional basis, some students are transferred in Secondary 2. The teachers and the schools have to be convinced that the students are able to cope with an academic course. But, like I have said, it is not surprising that the numbers are small.