My daughter is in P3 at SMPS, and she’s been expressing a strong desire to become a prefect. As parents, we’ve been actively supporting and grooming her for this role since the beginning of 2023. Beyond her academic pursuits, we’ve had daily discussions about leadership qualities and values.


Her teachers consistently praise her, highlighting her proactive nature, independence, and team spirit in the report book. She’s known for extending a helping hand to friends and volunteering in class—qualities we believe align with a leadership role.

Recently, however, she wasn’t selected as one of the 5 prefects in her class. Witnessing her disappointment after putting in tremendous effort and stepping out of her comfort zone is heartbreaking. I spoke with her form teacher, who mentioned her excellent behavior and academic performance but noted occasional distractions in class.

Despite this feedback, I strongly believe she deserves a chance to at least try out for the prefect training. I’m concerned about the impact this experience might have on her confidence going forward.

At this juncture, I’m unsure about the next steps. Would it be appropriate to appeal to the Head of Department (HOD)? Your guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated.