Workers’ Party MP calls for an alternative to high-stakes exams to support students’ individual learning needs.
SINGAPORE: During a recent Parliament session, Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim introduced the idea of a “Flexible Through-Train Program for Schools” aimed at easing the stress of traditional testing for students. The proposal, which would allow students to bypass the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), is designed to help those who find exams stressful and need a learning pace that better suits their abilities.
Jamus Lim, who represents Sengkang GRC, highlighted that tests are a significant part of Singapore’s educational system and the global approach to education. He suggested an alternative pathway, the “10-Year Through-Train Program” (10 YTS), which would let students progress from Primary 1 to Secondary 4 without taking the PSLE. For those who choose this route, the first major exam would only take place in Secondary 4, offering a less stressful start to their academic journey.
In a speech during the debate on the Ministry of Education’s budget on February 28, Jamus Lim emphasized the differences in students’ learning paces, with some children advancing quickly and others developing more slowly, later thriving as “late bloomers.”
He criticized the PSLE for placing immense pressure on 12-year-olds, questioning whether such a high-stakes test at such a young age truly contributes to a child’s development. He asked, “Is it a building block that imbues a sense of accomplishment, or is it a stumbling block to their self-confidence?”
The proposed through-train program would offer families greater flexibility by allowing them to opt out of the PSLE, providing an alternative path that adapts to the individual learning needs of their children.
In a March 9 post, Lim shared his personal connection to test anxiety, mentioning that his wife, like many others, finds tests stressful. He explained that for students who experience test anxiety, exams often fail to accurately measure their abilities and instead become a source of discouragement. “For some, tests serve as motivation, but for others, the mere thought of exams can be demotivating,” he noted.
Lim pointed out that some universities have moved away from requiring entrance exams, and companies like Google no longer place emphasis on degrees or grades. Instead, they value other qualities like skills and experience.
As a professor himself, Lim expressed his belief that modern education should focus on teaching critical thinking and data analysis skills, which are not well captured by traditional exams that prioritize memorization. He emphasized that the bypassing of the PSLE would not mean abandoning performance assessments, as alternative methods such as specialized tutoring and additional instructional time could be more effective.
Lim concluded that the key to fostering educational success is nurturing strong teacher-student relationships based on care and dialogue, rather than simply rewarding the ability to recall the correct answer.
