Review easier admission into affiliated secondary schools, JCs for fairer system

I refer to this week’s Talking Point, “Unfair advantage for school alumni?”

With the recent move to reserve admission places for children without connections to the primary school, the Government seems to be listening to the people and understand the need to bridge the social divide between the privileged few and most Singaporeans.

Yet, the measure seems insignificant as long as the Government does not go further to make competition fairer at every level of the education system. The “discount” for entry into affiliated secondary schools and junior colleges must be reviewed.

Pupils can enter an affiliated secondary school with a lower Primary School Leaving Examination score than those of other pupils. What is the logic in that? Four years later, the same pupil could get another “discount” from an affiliated junior college.

Removing these “discounts” would make it a more just and equal platform for all, and send the right message to Singaporeans that hard work and meritocracy, not alumni networks, are cornerstones for building a democratic society.

It would also serve as motivation for pupils who did not do well enough at PSLE to get into the secondary school of their choice. The coveted JC place would seem a reachable goal.