By Jane Ng

THE mixed reaction by parents to the recent recommendation to do away with exams in the first two years of primary education has got some MPs worried.

They are particularly concerned that the introduction of regular tests on topics learnt will be more stressful than having the traditional two major exams in a year.

But Senior Minister of State for Education Grace Fu stuck to her guns, reiterating the need to move away from an overly strong emphasis on exams at the lower primary level.

Ms Fu, who heads the committee that did the review on primary education, also said that exams can be eased in at Primary 2 for schools that are ready.

Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) was one of several MPs yesterday who said parents were worried that the topical tests for each subject would create even more stress for children.

'The worry is that teachers who have been accustomed to an emphasis on academic achievements and school ranking may make these tests as gruelling as semestral examinations.'

She cited her daughter, who is in Secondary 3 and in an integrated programme in which students skip the O levels and go on to take the A levels after six years.

She felt that taking mini-tests as opposed to major year-end exams was even more demanding and stressful for her daughter.

Dr Ong Seh Hong (Marine Parade GRC) also said the recommendation would not achieve its purpose if pupils still had to sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in Primary 6.

'If the end product of primary education is examination-based and result-oriented, parents would continue to steer their children towards doing well in the PSLE,' he added.

Mr Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) said parents felt that without exams, there would be no objective way of assessing whether their children had learnt everything needed at those levels.

'The concern centred on wanting to know whether their child was learning and progressing, and would be prepared for major examinations like the PSLE in Primary 6,' he said.

Assessment by the teacher would be subjective and might not give an accurate gauge of the child's progress, he added.

Ms Fu said schools would be encouraged to explore the use of other forms of assessment that put more emphasis on learning than on grades alone.

'Different modes of assessment are also useful in providing richer information on the learning of pupils, as a key purpose of school-based assessment should be to provide timely and holistic feedback to our pupils and parents,' she said.

Education Minister Ng Eng Hen also touched on the issue, citing the experiences of Denmark and South Korea. These countries are now thinking of introducing exams.

However, Dr Ng said exams should not be the only measure of success.

'Our students should be developed holistically if they are to be better able to excel in life and their careers,' he said.

'An over-emphasis on exam grades as the only outcome of education can be detrimental. This is especially so for lower primary students, who can be discouraged from forming good habits of learning or lose confidence because of unrealistic expectations.'

He also reassured parents that the Education Ministry will ensure that there is no drop in standards of performance for PSLE subjects if the recommendation goes through.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on February 11, 2009.