Several netizens have expressed their support for an appeal urging parents to affirm their children as the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results were announced today.
98.4 per cent of the 39,672 Primary 6 pupils who sat for the PSLE did well enough to progress to a secondary school. Of these students, 66.6 per cent are eligible for the Express stream, 20.6 per cent made it to the Normal (Academic) course, and 11.2 per cent are eligible for the Normal (Technical) course.
Writing on Facebook, netizen Vicknesh Rajamohan offered four tips to parents and relatives on how to deal with their children’s PSLE results. His post have received over 250 likes so far.
Rajamohan appealed: “P6 pupils would have received their results today. As adults, we can shape the way an entire future generation thinks. If you know of your nieces, nephews, friends’ children who are getting their results, please take the following into consideration.”
Urging adults to affirm their children and prioritise their well-being, Rajamohan recalled that a late uncle’s affirmation of him when he received his PSLE results as a child changed his outlook on life.
Read Rajamohan’s post in full here:
P6 pupils would have received their results today. As adults, we can shape the way an entire future generation thinks….
Posted by Vicknesh Rajamohan on Wednesday, 21 November 2018
In case you cannot read the above:
“P6 pupils would have received their results today. As adults, we can shape the way an entire future generation thinks. If you know of your nieces, nephews, friends’ children who are getting their results, please take the following into consideration.
“1) Don’t let your first question be about the T-Score. That should not be the aim. Ask them how they are feeling? Check in on the child’s well-being.
“2) Don’t ask them whether they can get into a “good school”. This is Singapore. Every School is indeed a good school. Ask them whether they have any schools in mind which would suit their interests and strengths beyond academics.
“3) Affirm them. Pls affirm them. I remember feeling sucky when I got 21 points for my O levels. It was not bad, but I just missed getting into a JC by 1 point. And I knew my late uncle would have been disappointed. But the phone call I had with him changed everything. He asked me how I was feeling and what my plans were. Just before ending the conversation, he told me something he had never said before. “Well done Vicky. Congratulations. I mean it. I’m proud of you.” I will never know if he meant it, but it made a world of difference to me at that point.
“4) Last but not least, it is human nature to be inquisitive about the child’s T-Score. But respect the Child. Ask them if they are comfortable sharing their score with you and whether they mind. And don’t need to respond by comparing. Just say something motivating like, “all the best and I’m sure you will have fun in secondary school.”
“Mental health issues are underreported and underrated in Singapore and it usually starts young. Let us use moments like these to inspire and encourage.”