WE REFER to the letter by Mrs Lee-Huan Ai-Min ('2-in-1 textbooks not a good idea', Dec 25), who asked for separate printing of textbooks and workbooks for primary school books on Civics and Moral Education (CME) and Health Education (HEd).

Lessons in CME and HEd are conducted through group discussions and role-play. Pupils are encouraged to pen their personal reflections and learning via the stories, scenarios and other activities into a journal, the Pupils' Book. As the syllabuses of CME and HEd focus on experiential learning, there are thus no textbooks for these two subjects.

The Pupils' Book may appear to parents as a 2-in-1 textbook. But it is actually a journal for pupils to document their personal learning journey in these two areas throughout their six years in primary school. Feedback and suggestions from teachers and pupils were actively sought when the Ministry designed the Pupils' Book for CME and HEd. Many have found the format of the Pupils' Book a useful platform for meaningful learning for our pupils in these two areas.

We thank Mrs Lee-Huan for her feedback.

Low Khah Gek (Madam)
Director, Curriculum Planning & Development
Ministry of Education

This article was first published in The Straits Times on January 06, 2009.