Ho Ching chimes in on PSLE results-slip debate, says unpaid fees can be resolved ‘creatively’ without withholding original slips

SINGAPORE — Amid a spirited public debate on the issue, prominent figures such as Temasek Holdings chief executive Ho Ching have chimed in on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE's) practice of withholding original Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results slips from students due to school-fee arrears.

Among other things, Madam Ho disagreed with the practice and suggested ways that schools could creatively resolve the arrears by providing students with opportunities to earn some allowance, which can be used to pay for school fees. These include doing simple tasks such as tutoring their juniors, becoming Physical Education assistants, manning the bookstore or helping out in the school library.

“This way, kids can earn allowances to pay for their school miscellaneous fees, if their families run into trouble, buy books, food or toys,” Madam Ho wrote on Facebook.

The issue came under the spotlight last week, after MOE responded to media queries on a viral Facebook post by activist Gilbert Goh. The note claimed that a student — who owed outstanding school fees — needed the original results slip to apply for admission into a secondary school.

In its reply, MOE debunked the claim that the original results slip was needed for admission application.

The ministry also reiterated that the withholding of the original results slip was a longstanding practice which stems from “the underlying principle that notwithstanding the fact that the cost of education is almost entirely publicly funded, we should still play our part in paying a small fee, and it is not right to ignore that obligation, however small it is".

Since then, several readers have written in to TODAY to express their views on the matter.

Mr Steve Yong Kui Sen questioned the ministry’s move of “punishing an innocent child for his or her parent’s inability to pay fees”, while Mr Wong Shang Hong stressed the need for parents to set good examples.

On Saturday (Nov 30), retired Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan wrote on his Facebook account that the “entire issue betrays the fact that we are getting effete”.

“This is politically incorrect and I expect to be attacked. So attack. It is still effete. What happened to the ‘rugged society’?” he questioned.

Madam Ho responded to Mr Kausikan’s comments, saying that she had a different take on the matter.

“The pre-teen kid has studied and worked hard for her PSLE,” she said. “We should give her, her PSLE certificate. Go after the parents by all means for their debt, but why inflict this on the child?”

Madam Ho, who is also the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, noted that when families run into trouble, they can be overwhelmed, and "may not even think of their kids or their kids’ school miscellaneous fees”.

She added that it would be a different matter altogether for older students who are capable of asking for help, or of taking up simple part-time jobs to earn some pocket money, and paying their school fees.

“I think schools can be creative in helping to solve this, and create a rugged society as well,” she said.

“Teachers and school staff can also go (the) extra mile when kids can’t pay their miscellaneous fees — go visit their families at home to find out what is happening, and call for social workers to help if needed.

"I know of many teachers who go that extra mile when students are absent, or turn up late frequently, et cetera,” she added.