Recognise efforts, whether PSLE results are good or bad

We should celebrate that more of this year’s Primary Six cohort could go to secondary school (“Record 98.4% PSLE students make it to secondary school”; Nov 25).

While the recent discourse has decried how the Primary School Leaving Examination is a torment for parents and children alike, we should be careful not to swing the pendulum to the other extreme.

Generations of us have taken the exam; it has given us anxiety and even sleepless nights. Putting our 12-year-olds through this regimen seems premature, even unkind. Letting them learn at their own pace and find their strengths seems sensible.

It is inspiring that illustrious figures have proven that PSLE scores had little bearing on their subsequent success. It shows that our system is fair to late bloomers and those who are less academically inclined.

Perhaps setbacks early in life spurred them to greater heights. We applaud them, but we should not decry excellence per se. We should not level down and celebrate mediocrity to save some quarters from hard feelings.

Good students should be given due recognition for their efforts. It reinforces values in our young, such as hard work and determination, which will carry them through life.

It cannot be that excellent students must shy away from their good work and hide in anonymity. We should not develop a stigma to studying well and acing exams. The vocal should not hold us back from living good values.

We should not demonise or blame the system whenever things turn sour for us. Our young should not believe that they are victims of sorts when poor results are caused by lack of effort.

Disenchanted, vocal parents who organise themselves may wrongly encourage this thinking. While we showcase those who made good despite hindrances, we should also give those who scored well equal limelight.

In that way, we truly celebrate each child as unique, whether his or her results are good or not so good, and we love them all the same.