Primary School Admission Is Not Fair, But Inevitable: MM Lee

Meritocracy should take a backseat in the primary school admission system as high regard for the social economic status and background of the student should take the limelight. Discuss this argument and identify the desired outcomes of education.

I disagree that the high regard for the social economic status and background of the student should take the limelight in the primary school admission system instead of meritocracy to a certain extent as I believe that it is inevitable.

At the age of six when students are enrolled into the various primary schools, how do we adopt meritocracy to the situation? From my understanding, meritocracy is based on the ability and talent of a person. If we were to apply meritocracy to the primary school admission system does it means that we have to start assessing the students’ abilities at the age of six? In Singapore’s education system, students are already required to go through the PSLE, O levels’ and A levels’ or other examinations in their tertiary education. With Singaporeans being dubbed with the reputation of “Kiasu” (fear of losing), parents could make their children start preparing for their “primary school admission assessment” at the age of four or five. Children will not be able to enjoy their childhood as a carefree soul anymore. I feel that it is too much to dump so much pressure on these young children.

So this is where the social economic status and background of the students come in place. I’m from Raffles Girls’ Primary School, I was enrolled through balloting. I had classmates who lived a stone’s throw away from our school and there were students whose mother or sister have studied in the very same school but that does not determine how well the student would fare in her PSLE.I agree with Mr. Lee that the PSLE helps to assess the students’ performance and sort them accordingly. PSLE is taken at the age of 12, I believe that most students are more matured to be assessed of their abilities. There are people in the elite primary schools who do not fare so well at their primary school leaving exams and there are students who do really well in neighbourhood schools. Personally, I believe that your background and your primary school does not determine where you would go in the future.

However, it is argued that bright students who come from less fortunate backgrounds would have a chance to attend good schools if they do well in the PSLE. The problem comes about where goods schools have better teachers and the students there just get better. While students in the “lesser” primary schools suffer as they might be influenced easily and be less willing and interested in studying. Therefore in my opinion, the best solution to the primary school admission system is to set a guideline for elite schools. There should be a “limit” for priority registration and the elite schools should set aside a higher number of intake for students who come from an average family. In the end, the desired outcome is all singaporeans to be given a fair chance of having a good education.