More students get to play, but parents question if National Schools Games move is necessary

SINGAPORE – Teachers welcomed greater match exposure for students in inter-school sports but some parents wondered if the authorities are going overboard in attempts to reduce stress levels in the education system by redesigning the National School Games Junior Division.

While parents acknowledged the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) efforts, they said the pressure students face on the academic and sports fronts are different.

On Wednesday (Jan 24), Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng said competitions under the National School Games Junior Division – open to students aged nine to 11 – will be redesigned to reduce the “perceived stakes” in sports contests and increase playing opportunities.

For a start, a two-tier competition system has been implemented for rugby.

Under the traditional competition structure, schools compete in a round-robin format, with the top two schools from each group advancing to the next stage of the competition. But under the new system, schools that are knocked out in the round-robin stage will continue to compete at the “second-tier” level, while those that top their groups will advance to the “first-tier”.

Ms Chew Yen Ping, who has two children studying in Jurong West Primary School, said it is “natural” to feel pressure in a sports contest.

“Because it is a competition, it’s about winning or losing and that is well accepted,” said the 40-year-old senior account executive.

“But studying isn’t a competition. If you don’t do well in PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exam), it should not look like you’re losing. Such thinking is rooted here, so MOE can make changes to reduce the pressure in learning. But they should understand that it’s different from sports.”

Housewife Fiza Jaafar noted pressure may come less from sports competitions, and more from schools wanting to chalk up achievements.

“That is how they attract students to enter their schools, by winning this title or that title. So, perhaps schools have to change their views about sports competitions first,” said the 41-year-old, whose son is in Primary 6 at Chua Chu Kang Primary School.

Construction manager Yap Wee Leong, 32, said the three-tier competition system might make students complacent and less competitive.

“They might not try as hard knowing that if they lose, they can just go to the second-tier competition. I guess the teachers have to explain to them properly how all these changes are supposed to help them,” said Mr Yap, who has a daughter studying in Frontier Primary School.

But Mr Abdul Rashid, whose son is in Primary 6 at Mee Toh School, felt otherwise. Regardless of the tier of competition, students would still want to win “if they are true… athletes”.

“And if they don’t get into the first-tier this time round, they will try to get into it in the next year. So, if they pick themselves up, they will learn the meaning of resilience,” said the 42-year-old sales manager.

Teachers welcomed the change.

Mr Mohd Hafeez Mohd Kassim, a physical education teacher at North View Primary School, said a three-tier competition would give more students match exposure and allow different students to be fielded at the different tiers.

“I played in school teams before and it’s sad not to be chosen to be part of the (first) team. So, by redesigning the competition like that, your substitutes need not be benched all the time. They get to play and improve their skills,” said the 34-year-old.

Mr Khairil Anuar of St Andrew’s Junior School said the current competition format can be harsh.

Once a school loses in the earlier rounds, it is completely out of the competition and students who have been training for months may feel their efforts have gone to waste.

“Just like that, their season is over,” said Mr Khairil, who is the head of department for physical education and co-curricular activities.

“By having a format like the three-tier competition, students can still participate in the other tiers and that can motivate them to do well.”