Peony:

What is the real reason to do away with it???

Stress? If it is stress, then go back to basics. As parents, we have something to do about it BEFORE PSLE to manage stress.

I'm glad I did it my way, kept stress to a minimum by planning everything including how I intended to manage stress.

And enough of this mainstream vs GEP \"discrimination\". It's not where u are that makes u a success, it's how u best make of it. Everywhere u go, there'll be gaps. U can complain or u can do something about it.

For those who have been thru it, ask yourself, did you prepare for all aspects (including the health & emotional aspects) or are just analysing all these now?

For those who will face PSLE next year, my advise is to know that it is indeed tough emotionally for parent and child and balance is key. Plan how you intend to do that.

For me, we planned to (and did so) plug gaps early. And when the going got tough towards the end, DD rested and played more as compared to most others slept later and studied harder. This is a pattern we always had. In fact she even gets more \"pampering\" around exam time. Hence she always had a healthy perception of exams. No fear, anxiety and minimal stress as she did not have negative associations to it.

By the way, my child is from mainstream. Not brilliant but with early planning and this forum to help us, she did it. As such I do think that we can make PSLE a positive experience for the child to teach them how to manage time and all other challenges.

JMHO

Peony:

What is the real reason to do away with it???

Stress? If it is stress, then go back to basics. As parents, we have something to do about it BEFORE PSLE to manage stress.

I'm glad I did it my way, kept stress to a minimum by planning everything including how I intended to manage stress.

And enough of this mainstream vs GEP \"discrimination\". It's not where u are that makes u a success, it's how u best make of it. Everywhere u go, there'll be gaps. U can complain or u can do something about it.

For those who have been thru it, ask yourself, did you prepare for all aspects (including the health & emotional aspects) or are just analysing all these now?

For those who will face PSLE next year, my advise is to know that it is indeed tough emotionally for parent and child and balance is key. Plan how you intend to do that.

For me, we planned to (and did so) plug gaps early. And when the going got tough towards the end, DD rested and played more as compared to most others slept later and studied harder. This is a pattern we always had. In fact she even gets more \"pampering\" around exam time. Hence she always had a healthy perception of exams. No fear, anxiety and minimal stress as she did not have negative associations to it.

By the way, my child is from mainstream. Not brilliant but with early planning and this forum to help us, she did it. As such I do think that we can make PSLE a positive experience for the child to teach them how to manage time and all other challenges.

JMHO

Unfinished_Math:

I disagree to do away with PSLE. We need a system to gauge, and I do not believe the alternative will be better (less stress for our kids). I fear it would prob be worse.

Song22:

Without PSLE, we may have another set of problems. In China, I think most if not all cities do not have central national exam for entry to secondary school hence, the kids there need to get as many \"certificates\" as possible to \"differentiate\" them from the rest if they want to go to better school; or you know, to get entrance by \"Guang Xi\". Many are taking different types of competitions and most kids are taking Math Olympiad classes. Parents need to send them to different secondary schools for entry test (like DSA?!) during the 2nd semester of the final year...like, can you imagine taking your kids to dsa every other week... :nailbite:

tankee:

if there is no standardised assessment, how to determine who gets to go which school?

phtthp:

curious .... are there a lot of Japanese & Korean kids studying in our local primary schools here ?

Kodomosuki:

Only person giving them stress, is their parents.

ksi:

Kodomosuki:

In Japan , children are tested at secondary 4 .

No streaming in primary school. No examination from p1-p6.
Parents over there do send their children for enrichment classes to excel their talent in music n art. Since no pressure from school, children in Japan very talented n creative. They have more room to think n create n develop their talent.
Some children are late boomer and Sg system may not do justic on them .
Do away with PSLE to allow children to develop their talent and creativeness .
Stress is the greatest joy killer:)

Maybe I am outdated? Perhaps can someone explain why the youths suicides in Japan is pretty high if they are so stress-free?

Kodomosuki:

In Japan , children are tested at secondary 4 .

No streaming in primary school. No examination from p1-p6.
Parents over there do send their children for enrichment classes to excel their talent in music n art. Since no pressure from school, children in Japan very talented n creative. They have more room to think n create n develop their talent.
Some children are late boomer and Sg system may not do justic on them .
Do away with PSLE to allow children to develop their talent and creativeness .
Stress is the greatest joy killer:)