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‘Longstanding practice’ to withhold original PSLE results slips due to unpaid school fees: MOE

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Tuesday (Nov 26) reiterated that the withholding of original Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results slips due to school-fee arrears is “a longstanding practice”.

The Ministry of Education reiterated that the practice of withholding the original result slip was "not about recovering the money".

The Ministry of Education reiterated that the practice of withholding the original result slip was "not about recovering the money".

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SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Tuesday (Nov 26) reiterated that the withholding of original Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results slips due to school-fee arrears is “a longstanding practice”.

MOE’s remarks, which were made in response to media queries, came after a viral Facebook post claimed that a student — who owed outstanding school fees — needed the original results slip to apply for admission into a secondary school.

MOE also debunked the post, saying: "The child will still receive a copy of the results, just not the original results slip, and she can still apply for secondary schools and will progress like all students."

"In the case highlighted by the Facebook posts, the parents did not pay miscellaneous fees for two years despite several reminders, and did not put in any application for MOE or school-based financial assistance, which would have covered all the costs," the ministry said.

In a Facebook post on Monday, activist Gilbert Goh said the student had received only a photocopy of her PSLE results slip because she owed S$156 in school fees due to financial problems. Among other things, Mr Goh said MOE’s practice was "rubbing salt into the wound of poverty".

Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian also chimed in, quoting Mr Goh’s post on his Facebook page and describing the situation as "very bad”.

In its response to media queries, the ministry said that those behind the viral posts were “trying to call into question the intention and values of MOE”.

“Our educators, parents and members of (the) public will have to decide whether MOE’s action is fair and educationally sound, and what the lesson of this teachable moment for our children is,” MOE said.

Every year, MOE’s funding for each primary school student comes to about S$12,000. Each student co-pays S$13 of miscellaneous fees per month, the ministry said.

"Further, students from lower-income families can apply for financial assistance that covers their miscellaneous fees, uniforms, textbooks, transport and school meals," MOE added. "If it is about money, then the easier solution would be to reduce subsidies and financial assistance."

It reiterated that the practice of withholding the original results slip is "not about recovering the money". Instead, it 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".

The ministry added: "We hope parents support us in reinforcing this message."

MOE also stressed that financial circumstances should not be allowed to become an impediment to a student’s progress. The priority of its educators and institutions is to “ensure that students grow and can fulfil their potential”.

Related topics

Ministry of Education PSLE poverty Education

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