Regardless Of Grades: Why Are Singaporeans So Obsessed With PSLE?

[@kyuning4461]

I really have to compliment CNA. It is the only local channel that still remained relevant over the years. The CNA insider series is really well done indeed.

[@wallstreetzoomer]

@monipenny408 Why do you think that? I am genuinely interested. I know all western medias are propaganda but CNA seems to be wholly owned by Tamasek Holdings.

[@abovemediocrity245]

@monipenny408and you prefer propaganda from?

[@abovemediocrity245]

@monipenny408 how do you know CNA is a “US sponsored propaganda channel”? And why did you watch it if you don’t believe in it?

[@abovemediocrity245]

@monipenny408 Don’t need you to help me buddy, just help yourself, stop spewing nonsense about US propaganda sponsored content if you nothing to back it up

[@mainuleaccount6320]

@monipenny408 So what country do you define as "not sponsored propaganda". Using your logic, I can say that RT News is one of the best Russia sponsored propaganda channel based out of Russia... CGTN is one of the best Chinese propaganda channel based out of China. There is no clear cut country when it comes to propaganda levels. I certainly do not agree with US propaganda, but other countries are spreading just as much

[@KennethChooTV]

Diana Ser is the best person to host this as her child is also having PSLE. I think it is a good wake up call for MOE & Parents to relook into the way they handle the PSLE stress. It is a good documentary for parents to see themselves from another POV. The kids’ post PSLE feedback is very important.

[@John_Smith_86]

Clickbait by her though

[@ichokefinals]

the most surprising part of the video is that some primary schools actually give their students chairs to sit on in the hall

[@akashsreedharan]

NOTYING JUMPSCARE

[@Aidanhatessquan]

🤔🤨

[@akashsreedharan]

@@Aidanhatessquan NO BUT WHY ARE THE CUBERS ALL HERE LMAO

[@ichokefinals]

@@akashsreedharan i was so confused when i saw my notification

[@ichokefinals]

@@akashsreedharan i have hw that i dont want to do

[@fruitsandosss]

there needs to be a follow up documentary (with 80s and 90s kids) on whether a fixation on external validation early in life creates happy and fulfilled adults… do they eventually become soulless automaton zombies ✨✨~alienated from the self~ ✨✨… or are they too busy projecting intergenerational academic trauma on their own kids to have a sense of self

[@xiaohaolin6464]

Well said

[@no-xz8te]

Literally both. This country sucks

[@l_ifeefi_l1998]

They became materialistic and forgot everything bout the importance of human relationship. Everything is based on selfish needs and interests. We shall the consequence of their thinking in their children when they grow up...

[@neorenjie]

Those 80s and 90s parents are now the ones giving their kids tuition 7 days a week.

[@SohanMahajani]

The fact that teachers segregate children based on their intelligence in a classroom and that the teachers also read out the scores in front of the entire class is really depressing. No child should be placed under so much pressure and humiliation; it's inhumane.

[@John_Smith_86]

There is a reason we are the 3rd richest country on the planet. Hard work

[@SohanMahajani]

@@John_Smith_86 Look at the nuance between hard work and abuse. You can motivate students to attain success or you can rid their self-worth and ruin ones' childhood for the means of engineering savants.

[@John_Smith_86]

@@SohanMahajani One should ideally avoid abuse. But extreme pressure is not necessarily abuse, and in any case, is quite essential towards PSLE success. You are likely not gonna be a top scorer if you are taking it casually.

[@SohanMahajani]

@@John_Smith_86 Now I agree. I believe it is important to expose children to the pressure of an exam so they know how to handle such a feeling in other stressful experiences. I am not implying the Singaporean curriculum and educational system is flawed, but some of their principles enforced by some teachers can be amoral. However, I still believe the children should undergo the PSLE exam.

[@augustadwamena1193]

@@John_Smith_86 well said, there are too many whinos and whingers in the comment section..some of them want to enjoy what Singapore has become,but criticise the methods Singapore used to become a country of excellence...who wants to live in a mediocre society???I don't because it has too many negatives.

[@angsua4965]

14:49 the kid put a smile icon next to his ‘play’ time on his tight study schedule 😢 crazy to think that for some children, ‘playing / free time’ is a privilege.

[@akashsreedharan]

yeah, and note this is the holidays, the 2nd longest holiday in the year

[@MDVNORI]

It technically is a privilege

[@cvcubes8578]

​@@MDVNORI It should never be a privilege that your child isn't so stress for School that they have time to just be a child I can't imagine what it's like just when you want a child to focus on just studying and never actually going outside to play It's never really fun seeing all your friends go home after school and hang out with their family and play well you're still stuck at a tutoring center doing more work on top of the homework you already get at school and the fact you're at school for 8 hours kid should not have to go to school for 8 hours and then Go immediately to a tutoring center and would take it more work until the 8 hours of work they did at school seems a little insane especially for primary school kids

[@kittoesdoesrandomstuff]

⁠@@cvcubes8578nah, even the parents and families are busy in singapore so the child would probably end up doing a sport that the parents signed them up for or start watching kdrama or anime during freetime or something else lmao (or an instrument) the teachers also put a lot of pressure on us when it comes to studying for the exams (not just psle) also primary school is six hours and secondary school is about seven hours (not including mandatory after school activities) also, they also wouldnt really see their friends go and have fun because their friends go to tution too lmao

[@cvcubes8578]

@@kittoesdoesrandomstuff It should not be the norm for kids to be stressed out about school especially when you're in primary secondary makes more sense because you need to be good in order to get into a good college in order to have a good job in the future but a child in primary school shouldn't be so stressed and have so little time to be a kid That's not fair on them

[@janemuses3031]

No wonder gen Z is the most unhappy cohort and stressed out too. I recall studying for my PSLE a month prior and it was stressful but nothing like the prep these kids go through. You'd think after all these years and access to global cultures that Asian parents would have a better understanding of what it really takes to succeed in life is not book smarts.

[@calicoluvr]

yup too stressed and unhappy until we went on to release our anger on a foreigner after the exam 😭 it's not right but this really shows how much pressure is put onto us and psle-takers. we care so much about making a small careless mistake, turning it into a huge deal

[@cccyy376]

Its true. Less criticism, more encouragement. It will really make a long way. When we look back, we want the children to feel that they have gone through the tough times together WITH the parents and not feeling alone.

[@krollpeter]

I was actually shocked to learn how little the parents actually know abut the school life of their children.

[@Ziiqing]

We went through PSLE ourselves too, so more or less we know how the stress can be on the next generation. I am not a parent myself but I wouldn't go crazy for my child's primary sch education. It definitely sets a foundation for our future but it does not mean the future will be set by your performance in just this exam. Rather than overemphasizing on academics I would want my child to build on his or her passion, studies will come next but a balance of play and work must be there. As adults we don't work everyday or all the time, so why should we expect kids to only study and sleep 🤣.

[@paulinlim5465]

Good grades are good if your child can achieve them. But character building and resilience are even more important, in my opinion.

[@abovemediocrity245]

“good grades” are useless, if they are good there’s no need to bring in foreign talents for top jobs

[@ultramebiusman]

​@@paulinlim5465 workplace see certificate 1st... after employment then see character.. so no matter how good your character are without certificate no employer will see 😂😂😂

[@bancrusher]

I'd rather kids have self-imposed stress, but because kids are unable to see the importance of education, parents end up causing stress for their children, yet I do not believe direct rewards are sustainable and ruins character, I think self-imposed stress takes you the long way in education marathon

[@arsenal_84]

it came later for my case like my mum always commented I'm a late developer. Well life is a box of chocolates anyway. Just too bad my mum is a tiger mum with endless comparisons with others.

[@renderz8435]

Mine came on right after my parents stopped stressing me out. The change in their behaviour was what scared me and gave me the wakeup call

[@anneeli3089]

@@renderz8435UNO reverse 😂

[@azurevlogslegit]

no, education doesn't even have any importance if it's a fucked up school system

[@Ivanheim1]

The most beautiful parent is the one who never sends her children to tuition. She is not stress at all and her kids looks happier! Facts.

[@Star-r3c6s]

Agreed. My kids have no tuitions too n doing psle this year . All the $$ saved from tuitions are well spent traveling to far countries like Europe instead for them

[@ysngngys7753]

but flood them with tonnes of assessment bks?.😂

[@claretheworm]

north american kids can also be high achievers, lol that's quite the stereotype you have of north american kids. Not everyone is shooting real bullets and becoming tiktokers@monipenny408

[@thebestbees]

@@Star-r3c6sagreed! Memories from traveling are far more important than just spending $$$ on grades

[@Star-r3c6s]

@@ysngngys7753not everyone can afford tuitions

[@nisarahmadho]

A very insightful episode. Full of wake up calls and parenting reflections. Well done CNA!

[@whoopee075]

In the span of their lifetime, PSLE is really just a minute part….. it’s sad that these children have to be put through this. I hope that emphasis should be put on what you can still achieve in spite of your PSLE results. (Personally I did not do well in my PSLE) My partner and I decided not to live in singapore anymore because we did not want our kids to have to go through this…

[@BrianNg-xx6bo]

A level will be like a few hours part instead, only 2 years and deciding on what faculty to choose from, or what are being possible. University faculty more or less determines one's lifetime career. Each phrase means being around even stronger classmates.

[@John_Smith_86]

It is. If you can perform well despite your PSLE, you are still rewarded. But how likely is that, all else being equal?

[@nethra..s]

@@BrianNg-xx6bo A levels is really easy-- I don't think these kids should be stressing so much. I assure you, that anyone can ace A levels with just 3 months of intense study before the exam and I'm telling this from personal experience. Feel like singaporeans raise their children to follow rules and delgations they end up becoming super narrow minded there is a reason why singaporean entrepreneurs are in lack

[@chloesa4487]

I'm so captivated by Diana Ser's mannerism. Also, another great video by CNA Insider!

[@janeloh6064]

Well done CNA team & Diana! In this era, we've robbed children off their joy and enrolled them to the rat race of chasing non-stop. Since when did we take learning for granted and turn it into a dread? We need to find the joy & appreciation of learning!!

[@bd1982]

i love how the children shared their honest opinion, i can feel the stress they going through. anyway congratulations to all, you did yourself proud and complete those examinations.

[@ErikAdiguno]

Difficulty levels: 1. Novice 2. Average 3. Hard 4. Expert 5. Professional 6. Nightmare 7. Asian 8. Singaporean

[@somethingelse9228]

Singapore, China, South Korea, India come in the same category

[@SachaAlary]

@@somethingelse9228well said

[@siminkuo7916]

The kids featured here are relatively well-spoken and their parents can afford tuition, assessment books etc. I wish they could also do a side feature on kids who who struggle in school - how PSLE was like for children like those in the "Don't Call Us Beaten" series (which was a favorite of mine). Their perspectives and experiences would likely be very different.

[@jin_asap]

I have been a tutor for over 15 years. Kids already face stress and rigidity in schools and from parents, so I try to make my classes light-hearted but still productive. I saved this video, 1 as a reference for how my partner and I on how to treat our kid(s) in the future, and 2, because it is very well made. The pacing, multiple camera angles, B-rolls, and all the small details that go into this video are great. Well done CNA Insider!

[@skyla2258]

I took my PSLE in the 90s. I can honestly say, no blue cones for me at all. I grew up in a single-parent home and my mom had to work everyday. She did put me in tuition lessons here and there, but i was pulled out after a month or two. I never had tuition from p4 to p6 after that. I had scored full marks for my tests and exams here and there, but more vividly, I remember playing catching with my neighbours and washing the school pond during "ECA" after school (was in the gardening club and loving it). Those were the fun and carefree days. Hahaha

[@spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace]

25:56 the way the mother ignores her child

[@poorpotato7623]

SPG turned tiger mum

[@macse_pingu]

that child didnt get interviewed after getting the results o_O

[@krollpeter]

Ignore? She literally rejects him! This scene is horrible.

[@musicly1876]

@@macse_pinguhe’s P5

[@bd1982]

just sad....

[@Lord-DJ]

I am British and an ex headteacher and would like to make the following comments. In the 1990s I had a school full of quality parents like the one depicted in your programme. However, change happened. Wales, for example, scraped their final exam for 11 year olds and this was followed by an immediate reduction in PISA scores. Yes, try not to stress your children out too much over examinations yet be aware that your country is where it is because of the commitment and dedication of your entire community; don’t dumb down or you will begin to fail like the West.

[@guang-wen]

This is absolutely insane to see kids so young feel the pressure of standardized tests and to prep so much. But you really can't argue with Singapore's results.

[@OGtruthserum]

I prefer the Finland education instead. It's similar to Vietnamese education before communist. We were taught to think critically instead of memorizing a bunch of factoids. Each school day was only six hours with a one-hour lunch break where students can even leave school.

[@John_Smith_86]

There is a reason we are the 3rd richest country on the planet. Hard work

[@John_Smith_86]

@@OGtruthserum Yea, but didn't your global ranking dropped drastically?

[@OGtruthserum]

@@John_Smith_86 Education does not equal happiness.

[@John_Smith_86]

@@OGtruthserum Money, from a good education, can buy you quite a bit of happiness though.

[@cktan2739]

My daughter struggled with primary school math model. Just made it into Express stream in secondary school. Scored all distinctions for her O levels this year including Math and A Math through her persistence and diligence. Parents, the PSLE does not define your child. They will blossom in their own ways academically or non-academically.

[@jimw8615]

Not every child end up like yr girl

[@abcxyz7529]

"Grades do not matter. But I'm still going to brag about them." The truth is the only thing that matters is your degree/diploma that's being used to land your first job, after that you can chuck it in the trash. I've never even read past the resumes of candidates beyond their last employment, let alone grades they got eons ago. Anyone above fresh hire listing their university grades is immediately filtered into the garbage bin.

[@DavidPalmer707]

8:11 - The 7th kid who balanced three upside-down green cones has a bright future in politics. 🙃

[@Ataraxy-m6s]

NAWRRR 😂 I WOULD DO THAT TOO

[@Treelia]

Bookstores in Singapore are closing down. The only one surviving is the one with focus on assessment books. If bookstores show off our culture, it really shows that we are an exam nation. 🤔

[@christineng9986]

Really love Diana Ser❤ She is the most effectively bilingual switching from English to Mandarin effectively⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@rayngmelb]

While I don't hold a position to comment on Singapore's education system and culture, I appreciate their perspective. My child's educational journey in the West, characterized by a relaxed system and minimal tutoring, led to remarkable outcomes. Despite playing throughout primary and secondary school years, my child secured admission to one of our country's top universities, ranked within the global top 60. In a highly sought-after, technical course underscores his achievement. However, it raises an essential question: Is the rigor of Singapore's education system, driven by limited resources and a high student-to-resource ratio, worth the potential trade-off of a lost childhood? Western education prioritizes holistic development, critical thinking, and creativity-qualities increasingly vital in an AI-driven world with abundant information access. Educators emphasize understanding concepts over mere rote memorization, recognizing that talent and creativity cannot be manufactured. Education transcends mere numbers and accolades; it shapes hearts and minds. As parents, let's celebrate our children's growth and guide them wisely. Education isn't merely a destination; it's a constellation of moments that shape their futures.

[@jayshen84]

From a Macro perspective, the system works. Without this pressure cooker, a small island like ours would not produce so many world-class professionals that achieve so much in the world. The system mirrors the Singapore situation where our size and limited resources means that we as a nation are "taking PSLE" in the global market everyday. I would argue that the Singapore system is not any more stressful and high pressure than any top school in any global city. In fact, I would even go as far to say we have already done our best to be more well-rounded. So the high pressure system is not the problem, the problem is the way we parents are measuring success by comparing with others. Parents should spend more time to asses the child and set stretch yet realistic expectations according to the child's ability and potential. A healthier way is to apply the pressure on the kid to maximize their potential in the type of intelligence they have and not compare them with others.

[@rayngmelb]

@@jayshen84 The whole problem lies in parents pressuring their kids without considering their actual abilities. They all believe their children are gifted or can be trained to be gifted. They think that mere training will transform their kids into geniuses.

[@nichtpeter9589]

Similar systems can also be found in the west. For example, I completed the "Grundschulabitur" in Bavaria at the age of 10 - a series of 22 tests in German, Mathematics and Science for 4th graders which determine the type of secondary school you will be placed. My parents did not put a lot a lot of pressure on me, but others certainly did. There has been a lot of criticism, but studies have shown that these tests do indeed lead to children reading books more often, but also doing sports/music, even several years later. It is a strict system, but there definitely are some merits to it.

[@rayngmelb]

@@nichtpeter9589 How long ago was that?

[@nichtpeter9589]

@@rayngmelb That was back in 2009. As far as I know, the system is still in place right now.

[@JeddtheJedi]

At least in my experience, a lot of Singaporean society is about everyone trying to quantify and measure others, trying to fit everyone into a box and determine another person's worth so they can decide how that person should be treated and what they might or might not deserve.

[@marvint480]

Singaporeans love to compare. Scores, Money, Watches, Handbags. Practically anything. Aren't Singaporeans in general sad and pathetic?

[@20pointer]

wow true

[@Nigel3005]

Hello Sir. Isn't that what employers do in the interview and year-end appraisal process - evaluate and choose the best candidate/employee with the highest worth? So why shouldn't society and the parents react in the same manner if that's how the working world works?

[@JeddtheJedi]

​@@Nigel3005 Your worth as a person and your character shouldn't be determined in that way. A person is more than their academic performance or their productivity at work. I wouldn't want my personality to be judged based on my usefulness to a company. If you have the same relationship that you have with your parents as you have with your employer, as your comment is suggesting, I think that's unfortunate - but I guess a lot of Singaporean parents do treat their children like their employees. A society where those are the only things that matter is fundamentally unhealthy.

[@ZeeZeeNg]

@@Nigel3005 Precisely it is because the current system is broken and has lost touch with humanity. Imagine if one day you are unable to conform to society because of illness, disability, or other unforeseen circumstances that are not because of lack of effort. Does that mean you are less worthy and do not deserve to be treated with decency?

[@elvian9492]

in my opinion, i like to think of moe "changing the game while the ending remains the same" when it comes to PSLE. i think that's why students and parents alike are still stressed despite the changes made to the scoring and streaming system over the years. cuz ultimately, PSLE is PSLE lah, it still defines the school you go to regardless of whatver weird system you implement

[@mustafaaustinpowers5748]

At the end of the day,they only care about your grades 😪

[@BookwormBelle]

These parents are so dedicated. Yet, they are putting an immense amount of pressure on their children. I think more parents should be like Gwen, Ashley’s mother. Put more trust in your children, they are already 12. If they need help, they will ask for it. If you want to put them for tuition, you don’t have to put them in for all subjects. Now, with the Subject Based Banding (SBB) in many Secondary School, it’s so much less stressful. Unfortunately, my batch in my secondary school is the last batch without SBB so many students who have a lower understanding of a particular subject are struggling. Being out in a lower group (I.e. G2) is not the end of the world. It’s helping you/your child learn at a more appropriate pace and the teachers are trained to teach G2 or G1 students so that they can help them learn better. In fact, my parents do not know how to do much of P6 questions so they couldn’t help me. Of course, I had math and Chinese tuition but most of the time, I study by myself. I didn’t do assessment books or practice papers and I got quite a decent mark of AL11 in total for PSLE. Of course I wanted to get an AL9 but PSLE is a small milestone. People aren’t going to look at it when recruiting people for jobs, sometimes they don’t even look at your O-level results. Don’t sweat it P6s! You can do it! 💪💪❤❤ Parents, have more faith in your children.

[@bd1982]

way to go, book worm belle!😀

[@BookwormBelle]

@@bd1982 thank youu!! ❤️❤️

[@ownthegame3]

some parents are too kiasu and obsessive about grades... crazy to some extent. some kids looks stressed not all kids are good in English, 2nd Lang., Maths and Science and being good in these subjects do not mean success at all kids who do not do well in PSLE can do well in subsequent exams and careers too. PSLE does not determine our lives chill....

[@5StackNinjaFam]

Cause that is how Asian thinks, they will compare even in poly is also comparing

[@alien13579]

western parent and even their education minister understands fully that a person cannot be good in everything. you look at the teacher, they're mostly teaching 1-2 subject and not all the subject but asian parents expects their child to masters of every subjects which doesn't make any sense at all

[@MamaJeanMontessoriMusic]

Diana, thanks for this honest/realistic documentary, informative (but at the same time, very stressful) for me as an American mum of 3 Singaporean little ones. My primary education in the States was extremely fun... I can't think of anything super stressful about it: raised money for an animal shelter by selling eggrolls (learned about caring for a cause and finance in a realistic project), we went on week long school trips (learned about science/nature) ...snorkeling at Catalina Island for 1 week, hiking and learning about flora and history in Yosemite for 1 week, created new inventions (I had to invent something that would make life easier), sang in musicals (learned about music, acting, and performance through that), made ice cream (science/cooperation skills)... played a lot...... Great memories and I feel I learned through having lots of fun. I eventually got into a good undergrad, studied/worked abroad for 6 years, then went to an Ivy League school for graduate school..... my exam scores were not so great (because I get exam anxiety), but I believe the schools weighed a lot more on my life experience expressed in my written statement and solid letters of recommendation of my character and values. I wish Singapore schools weighed a lot more on those aspects, the holistic growth of the child. I am still trying to understand why it's so important kids need to cram so much for exams when their childhood is only one time... I understand parents do it bc of love... and I understand future opportunities are important....... but I personally would hate so much tuition on weekends or afterschool (I never went to tuition as a kid)... so would hesitate sending my kids to it....

[@yuppyhoo]

we need a radical re-think of our education system. Doing well academically doesn't guarantee that you will do well in your career and vice versa; so publishing grades is not necessary. We need to get to a place where learning in school is enough and then ban all tuition centres/teachers. Whilst parents is a source of stress, equally so is the school. My daughter studied in Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School as it was walking distance and the school was super competitive and a source of stress because of the school ranking by MOE (they even qualify your eligibility for ECA). Ironically, we didn't choose MGS (closer to us) because they are just as bad for expelling my relative whose grade would lower their school's overall results & ranking.

[@thetruegoji]

I am a Sec 1 kiddo this year, and after seeing this little documentary, I feel happy for these people who did better than me. (I got AL20 BTW) For the P5s and P6s this year, do work hard and try your best. Good luck.

[@Superscam-wv4ov]

PSLE doesn't matter and neither does o levels. You have access to resources that allow you to learn other topics like photography or mixing audio tracks. So learn what you are interested in and you will find that it will be more useful to you later in life than finding the gradient of a point on a curve, for example. If you don't do well, don't worry. This education system isn't suitable for everyone.

[@abramswee]

you better buckle up, Singapore is not a place where you can kick back and rest on your laurels.

[@wrongamount]

@@abramsweewho are you to tell anon that? I didn't study much in secondary school and still end up working as a food ingredient researcher. If the kid has talent in other aspects such as music, scholarships to NAFA or even julliard are possible too

[@iceyyl3mon]

I’m also sec 1 this year :)

[@bd1982]

i''m happy for you, as you made it through as well!

[@PZXZP]

I somehow managed 52 assessment books before my PSLE in the 80s + an active ECA schedule. It wasnt forced & there was no tuition back in the day. The childhood memory of knuckling down when it mattered has become a useful life lesson which i dont look back with regrets...

[@mohmeegaik6686]

So glad Singapore is rethinking the stress on the young as new research shows stress, lack of sleep & endless homework affect the brains.

[@pandecocojam]

I'm from the Philippines and I think stress, the way it is mentioned in the experiment is limited in view. Not all stress is bad. I don't know how the producers framed stress to these children. The host, as I see it, sounds patronizing in some parts when she was talking to the parents. These kids actually have good living conditions compared to many of their Asian counterparts. I'm wondering how much the producers took into account the highly competitive job market in Singapore and in the other urban centers in Asia. These kids are getting good guidance from their parents, in my opinion, because they are being realistically prepared for the future. A happy life, whether you're a child or an adult, is not the absence of stress. It's in your ability to thrive despite stress. I live in a city where it's hard to get a good paying job even for those who finished college. Not having the skills to land a high salary is going to create long term stress when you're an adult. It will also discourage you from having children because you won't be able to afford taking care of them.

[@abramswee]

mental health can destroy anyone even if they are fed with good food and high living condition. My late cousin committed suicide over her sec school results 20+ years ago.

[@SPIndustriesF23]

These kids are throwing their childhood away all for a future which might not even be there for them because your countrymen are coming here and stealing jobs away from us locals. You don't have the right to tell us how to raise our kids when the rich and elites here are doing everything in their power to leech off our country's stability while they continue to find ways to cheap out at the cost of Singaporeans!

[@yp8839]

I agree with you that certain stress level is good. The problem lies with the parents. Some signed up their kids with tuitions even for subjects their kids are doing well; this is overdoing. I know of a mother who signed up only tuition for the subject her child is weakest in. Her child enjoyed his school, enjoyed even going for his tuition class. That's the way to go. It is never one size fits all. 😊

[@koopakid6951]

Wait a minute... The presenter's child took PSLE last year and she attended the discussions of questions setting meeting for Maths also? Hmmm...

[@simonteo2689]

she attended the review of the paper which was after the PSLE.

[@tancharlotte-jayne4157]

I used to ace pure chem and I would get A1/ A2 even for prelims, but I ended up getting B3 for o level pure chem. I know i could have done better but I will never forget what my pure chem teacher said to me when I shared my result with him. ‘who ask you never study harder’ when pure sciences and emath took up like 70% of my revision schedule. the expectation teachers set on you the moment you achieve a certain grade is very true.

[@YNQI]

i had psle that year!! i can relate to a lot of the families interviewed. it was very, very stressful.

[@enojjonota1677]

And this is the happiest nation in Asia.

[@claretheworm]

lol yeah it definitely isn't xD, i'm singaporean who escaped after Secondary 3

[@py5277]

dont believe everything you read. lolx

[@adeafeningdistance8539]

Probably for boomers, not younger people

[@Jim_Colbert]

Bulls*it...living in singapore is stressful..

[@WeiYinChan]

@@Jim_Colbert I don't think anyone think singapore isn't stressful but other Asian countries are just as bad if not worse...

[@singlerlim5086]

As a person who went through the education system, I feel that it is never ending because after PSLE there is O/N levels, then A levels etc. My opinion is that kids shouldn't be too stressed out for their PSLE as even going to an average secondary school doesn't mean you can't do well for O/N Levels. Especially at the age of 12, parents really shouldn't be pushing them so hard.

[@puterihumaira]

I'm a parent of school-going children, and I don't relate to what most of these parents are saying. The measurement of success differs in different families. The linear thinking of 'good grades = good schools = good grades = good degree = good employment' seems very constricting and limiting, not responding well to the world we live in. I love how the non-tuition parent featured here nurtures her children. I wish them continued resilience in life. To the other featured children, I worry for their well-being, and I wish them congruence.

[@ahmadghufran8117]

honestly, it feels like its a mentality thing. Even minister vivan balakrishan had to apologize for his remarks to Leon Mun Wai. There is this obsession about what school you can enter and how threre are so called good schools and bad schools. That puts pressure on parents and then the pressure goes to their kids. Obviously the intention might come from a good place of the parent wanting the child to do well, but sometimes it comes off as way too much stress and pressure is being placed on the child. There are also parents who love to 'flex'/boast about their child which maybe indirectly puts pressure on parents they will pressure their kids more to not lose face or to look good. This is just an andecdote of mine.

[@f.p1758]

Not rly abt ur comment. I see u mentioned tt ppl say good sch n bad schs. I rmb tt was a essay qn giving during my a lvl yrs. Bcos I went to a supoosedly underperforming jc, i nvr cared abt good or bad sch. But its cool that they brought up the subject.

[@jefferytay3225]

Lol, it's funny you said that. I always tot that Indian kid looks and talks like Vivian. 🤣 After seeing me say it, tell me you don't think otherwise 🤭

[@jefferytay3225]

The Indian boy looks and talks like Vivian right? You can't unsee this 🤣🤣🤣

[@jimw8615]

Vivian is a disgrace. Childish to begin with. tan CJ is another clown. Both from AC.

[@John_Smith_86]

Stress comes from within. Just honestly reply, yes, my child did very poorly in the PSLE compared to yours. Like that lah! You shamed of your own kid ah?

[@kianomics1614]

To the kiddos, well done for finishing PSLE. Remember, life is more than just school! Enjoy life!

[@layoutkimsstudio2341]

my father was a educator back then, i did not do very well in school. by the time college comes.. he enrolls me to art school . he saw me always looking at pictures in books, drawing in my spare time. art school is where i found happiness and a home to express myself. i am currently practicing my art course professionally and i am just happy everyday to do what i love.

[@pyschannel30]

PSLE > 127 NT LEVEL EMB1 > 6 Goes to NITEC > GPA 2.5 Goes to Higher NITEC > GPA 3.7 Goes to Temasek Poly > GPA 3.15 Never really had a Tuition in my life 🤷🏻‍♂️ was dyslexic somemore. Did pretty decent in life. Dont really see a need for the stress given in PSLE.

[@guru6831]

School is but the beginning. Education should be a life-long process (and pleasure).

[@John_Smith_86]

It is. But try not to fail on your first step

[@ZARUSI]

even though i was born in singapore. my parents moved to south africa when i was young and then came back but was always put in international school because they think psle is too difficult and i would have struggled. i have been doing well.

[@windydragon6522]

You were lucky to have gone to an international school.

[@ZARUSI]

@@windydragon6522 thanks. so did you do psle then? i thin you must have seen china. their system is worse than psle.

[@arsenal_84]

International sch kids are more communicative minus the bullying part.

[@ZARUSI]

@@arsenal_84 i mean yeah local schools in singapore are quite bad. i mean i dont mean to offend those who are local schools but they do illegal things like vaping and bully people. i had a friend who used to be in the local school curriculum in Singapore and he was indian and was being racially bullied by chinese student boys. i was kind heart broken by his story and at the same time he was forced to join a gang.

[@arsenal_84]

@@ZARUSI as a local Chinese, I was bullied in my younger secondary school years which was a neighborhood school. The indians in my school are quite well behaved, they seldom get into gangs or create trouble whereas the Malays and Chinese will get into gangsterism more frequently. Back then at 16, teens in my school were starting to smoke hence I view vaping as a lesser evil. So not all schools are the same in SG that's why tiger parents would want their kids to go to a branded school instead.

[@juznikon]

Give the kids a break parents. There are more stressful road ahead no one need to start stressing them so earlier. Results are important but the right attitudes towards life is equally important.

[@akashsreedharan]

this system sucks, it's crazy bad when you compare it to pretty much any other country, and psle marking schemes make it such that you don't need talent you parents just need to dump a ton of money on tuition, talent and psle score at this point has almost no correlation

[@John_Smith_86]

There is a reason we are the 3rd richest country on the planet. Hard work

[@akashsreedharan]

@@John_Smith_86 hard work to the point you trade off a lot of mental health doesnt seem like a good idea

[@John_Smith_86]

@@akashsreedharan It is the will of the people. Freedom to choose. Thus it has been so, for 3000 years

[@ivyhuang1024]

This is why our government is addressing mental health issue which announced back in Feb 2024 with top priority. 65% parents send their kids to 3-4 classes, 6% 5 classes and above. These parents are stressing their kids mentally to the limit and it not healthy. Even our president Tharman told the media, he spend most of his school time in sports rather than studies/exam and yet he still can do well. Parents should not force/pressure their kids to meet their expectation, every kids are different and stop comparing.

[@pry4849]

Waiting for the n level and o level version of this documentary

[@patrickyuchaorongwrps4713]

Lessgooo Ayra! 🎉

[@rongxianglin3528]

OK, nag less, encourage more. I'll remember this and practise what is preached.

[@duck-abc]

nahh thats crazyy

[@rashminable]

My heart goes out to Caleb. He's stuck in a pressure cooker environment, without nurturing. So sad...

[@ssr6731]

Let kids be kids....don't stress them..focus on being a good human instead at 12 years of old

[@John_Smith_86]

There is a reason we are the 3rd richest country on the planet. Hard work

[@LinhNguyen-iz3de]

This video is so interesting with a lot of surprising information. I never ever known about any primary exams that are so stressful like this. In my country, parents usually have paid leave due to their child sick. No one leaves for their child primary exams.

[@noice8723]

Stress can be eradicated by removing tuition and kiasu parents, it’s as easy as that. I am a sec 4 student this year (in Singapore) and never had a single tuition in my life, nor do I have kiasu parents. Removing all these unnecessary stress imposed on children may at first seem like we are setting these children up for failure. However, I do believe that this will encourage children to find self motivation to work hard in school to achieve good grades (personal experience). Self inflicted stress is much more effective than externally-imposed stress. That’s my take on this.

[@MarcusLee-lm2wx]

I think tuition can be helpful, but only if it's needed. Some people have a difficulty with some subjects and need additional help from tuition

[@silverchibaboom]

I have a P6 kid myself. I don't think removing the mid-year exams is helping as the finishing line of primary school is still the same - PSLE. Inevitably, I also feel the anxiety during this period. At the same time, I'd think the stress that the parents are facing is mainly about them flexing their children's results if they perform well. The pressure can really take a toll on some of these kids as my child shared with me on what some of the classmates are going through.

[@fungsia5549]

Competition, comparison among peers, overly focusing on grades from young will teach kids to be small minded and be focused only on pursuing material fulfilment above everything else. What kind of adults will they grow up to become?

[@khokl9288]

The kind that makes Singapore competitive and thrive for success

[@user47362]

​@@khokl9288 yet our graduates are passed up for cheaper foreign graduates, not sure if the quality is worth it in the eyes of private businesses

[@arsenal_84]

Yup, it develops the sinkie pawn sinkie culture. And ppl wonder what sinkies cannot be united cause it starts from young age.

[@fashionempress]

​@@khokl9288maybe. But are they happy and emotionally healthy?

[@SPIndustriesF23]

@@khokl9288 Success and competitiveness but for who? Only the rich and elite get to enjoy the fruits of our labor, meanwhile every year Singaporeans getting retrenched because companies want to have record profits every fiscal year. We teach kids so hard at so much cost and even then no guarantee of success in life. Singaporeans like you should kindly fark off faster!

[@LiewZC-cf6et]

I feel like I am doing nothing while other people is literally studying so intensely and I am here to take my PSLE this year and I am still looking at this documentary videos 😅

[@Fiaa1239]

Real but I'm so scared

[@SpiralZ-Tuberculosis]

​@@Fiaa1239it's okay, try to do some revisions but not to much to not be stressed take breaks, if your bad at a subject try to do your best on it and study

[@pieceofcornreal]

Don’t do subject you’re good in as much as your weaker ones

[@pieceofpiepie]

les go!!! someone finally understands us

[@Crazywomantwo]

one has DSA-ed into the school, one has affiliation - so why do they still stress the kids so much?

[@petergunawan24]

Brought back memories of my own experience dealing with PSLE 31 years ago. I come from a blue-collar family. And PSLE back then allowed for upward social mobility. From the video, it looks like an arms race today. I'm not sure if I would be able to do as well if I sit for the PSLE now. My parents won't be able to afford to send me to such expensive after-school enrichment activities and classes. Back then, I got into one of the top secondary schools. The teachers kept harping that we were the top 3% of the PSLE cohort. Parents in the video are correct when they say the secondary school you go to can influence how your educational journey would turn out since practically everyone in my school did well for their O and subsequently A-levels. I've been away from Singapore for 13 years now, and I'm glad that my daughter does not have to go through such a stressful environment at a very young age. Wonder if they still ask questions on coins and rate of filling tanks now for math 😓.

[@manikyum]

Where are you now and what do you do

[@petergunawan24]

@@manikyum I'm in China now, working for a Chinese company.

[@manikyum]

@@petergunawan24 do you think china should invade Taiwan?

[@jarreddo]

Watched this as a 37 yo and it still gave me PTSD. Even in my 30s, I'd still have nightmares from time to time about my school exams. Some were so bad, I'd wake up delirious and convinced I hadn't studied enough my math or Chinese 😂

[@HeyMJ.]

@CNA Thank you for investigating important issues re children’s education; significantly impacting students, society & economy globally. In the United States, the lack of space for academically advanced students in GT, AP, Honors & assoc’d courses often causes classroom overflow with students spilling-out into the hallway. Students are willing to sit on classroom & hallway floors; working independently & collaboratively with cohorts in order to succeed, graduate with honors, and attend their university of choice. 🇺🇸

[@Vmr48765]

Go for it kids, you can achieve anything if you work hard :) awesome! Love spirted compitition ❤

[@beomkomap]

No choice. Hard work will pay off eventually if you are strong. I was playing only and now just an ordinary auditor while my friend who was working super hard last time became a doctor 😢

[@g0ldenexperience]

From a personal perspective, the stress came from aiming to go to the Express stream and not Normal stream (especially when all my siblings went to Express). I had to study Primary 7 and 8, which caused another different set of stress and proving my existence. All in all that was 1990 when I took my PSLE.

[@epicobass1931]

Because of their hardwork and dedication. We tourist get to enjoy the wonderful land of changi airport

[@camel_102]

All the Singaporeans I met are smart, efficient, and knowledgable and they were promoted within the company quickly. These kids will thank themselves when they get older.

[@Ne3dTh3r4py]

I'm glad that Diana was the one that hosted this. It's a sad reality we live in, the fact tht this is the norm in this modern world(even in the past)... I hope and I am wishing to be a balance parent in the future. But I'm scared to have a child, I'm worried if I turned out this way due to the influence of .y parents..Afterall, they say (sometimes) History repeats itself.

[@jessicag630]

Their value of education and hardwork is admirable nevertheless. If a student studies in an international school with Singaporean curriculum, you can see how different his comprehesion, logical and analytical skills are compared to students from other schools. But, if your child is not academically capable, you'd better consider sending him to schools with other curriculum which level is less chalenging.

[@claretheworm]

ugh i just wanna go up to all these kids and give them a big ass hug and assurance that they are doing fking great.

[@zYMz]

Abit of modern reference. Streaming of PSLE is kinda like the kdrama pyramid game. Not that extreme but preferential treatment do exist. Lets not discredit merit but the academic structure had no correlation with success in life. It just gives your child a false impression of how life works. Which is why many graduates fail to comprehend and get demoralised when the working world operates differently. We should focus more on sustainable growth habits that can be used beyond every milestone.

[@neutroyaz]

I pray for the canteen auntie's health - unsung hero! And even correcting their behaviour - the best!

[@BrianNg-xx6bo]

At my time my school was already having tuition classes every Saturday do everyone, thus no time for tuitions at home. Took the PSLE at the 90s, students from the EM1 class were trying their best to get into Chinese High, Raffles, etc.

[@jkohero]

Thanks CNA. I'm more stressed now after watching this😂

[@SSmarzuq]

From kids age to old age stress stress, money money, no escape. Yet blessed to be living in the best country in the world

[@PhucNguyen-ym8ko]

I can feel the stress through the video

[@susanngin3481]

Well spoken by those 3 students. Its a good documentary programme being host by well knwn Diana Ser. Thanks to CNA for conducting such a knowledgeable programme to let parents aware of challenging PSLE tat their chdrn face.....tks for sharing.

[@OGtruthserum]

Excellent video!

[@skyskifr]

As a student in primary school I find this very relatable cause parents always do this whenever I don’t score as well as I expect although throughout the months my mother expection is lesser but still she expects me to score higher

[@ansonljy988]

I've never been in tuition from primary school all the way through sec school. But maybe this is due to my stream or group of friends, so i don't really have a say. Just lucky my parents don't stress me out. Through my experience of no tuition, i really agree with the parent who said this really helps the child to cultivate independence since you got no extra help. Sometimes i do go onto SLS (Students Learning Space) to use their resources to help myself due to the independence i gained from this practice of no tuition, but other than that if you really can't do the question or just don't understand, maybe asking your teacher to have a small 1-1 session after school will help you understand better as it helped me. However, through all this, i still felt that tuition maybe could have helped, i just couldn't bare seeing other parents spending so much just for their children to attend tuition, and i didn't want to add that additional burden to my parents. 😊

[@StudyWithBritney]

lots of kids have told me the same sources of stress :(

[@Gabriel-y2o]

Parents need to reallize excelling in schooll doesn't mean anything. What matters is the passion they have on whatever it is they want t pursue, cuz if they're genuinely passionate enough, they will excel in whatever it is they want to pursue. BUt forcing them to learn stuff they really don't enjoy with stress and pressure as the only motivation is a recipe for resentment and regret.

[@HurricaneBacklash]

Well said!

[@maureenng2973]

The 25 marks (visualisation questions) that differentiate students into A1 - A4 demands the most effort that is not worth putting into because pattern recognition can be an innate ability. The time spent on tuition and other exercises can be used for outdoor activities or building social skills. The govt should highlight that PSLE is indeed a sieve to differentiate but companies are still using it for their hiring.

[@agoodlif3]

Wow, watching this stressed me out 😢. I understand the parents but don’t push them too much. They need to rest too

[@MontaguStudios]

This is horrifying to watch. These kids should be worrying about this stuff in secondary (high school) and University, not primary (elementary).

[@CB-yr4hq]

It's interesting but sad to see how much preassure these young kids get just to get into a good secondary school coming from someone living in Australia. I also found it crazy how the teachers announce the ranking of students. I think that would have really lowered my self-esteem.

[@aidk5750]

I like the documentary and Diana Ser but just a random thought: why was she allowed into the exam setting meeting if her daughter took PSLE last year?

[@ysngngys7753]

Dun expect ur kids to do it when u parents cant do. if u can expect them to score full marks, they can expect u to become CEO of ur company in e same duration; any failed to is a failure and no excuses.

[@John_Smith_86]

The parents only want excellent marks. And many of these parents are in fact high-ranking employees

[@pahkk]

Education is to give life to individual ego, not to kill or mould it in order to produce mass army of industrial warriors. That is what distinguish modern society from early modern era, say 1945. What you believe family value is not family value but post facist value which is the same all over the asian countries especially South Korea where it is very hard to find human dignity. No ego = no dignity = no freedom = more slavery = definite HELL The childhood and schools are to give them freedom and encourage personality. And the society is to accept diverse individuality and to be the place where diverse people to communicate without barriers.

[@Aidanhatessquan]

Haha I was also thinking about why she used such a serious analogy

[@pahkk]

@@Ponta-The-Panda Thanks for you sincere discussion and I really appreciate it. But still I stick to my opinion by following argument from your perspective. “fostering critical thinking, promoting social cohesion, and preparing individuals for participation in society.” This idea is to develop on healthy development of individuality “the collective responsibilities and values that contribute to a harmonious and equitable society.” Also same as healthy individuality is critical to develop the “healthy collectivism”. Without it, it will easily be twisted into collective dictatorship or fascism. “overly simplistic” Simplicity is the way of modern science which has better to see it that way than to see them too complicated to lose what it is. “oversimplifies the complexities of human identity and societal structures” Does this mean that you are giving up this challenge by saying it is too complex? "Social norms" is to come after the base of healthy individuality. The absence of equality for “political systems, economic opportunities” as you mentioned is due to the lack of healthy individuality that overkilled individual egos of young children and the lack of recognition of these “complexities” by adults in those society who are over indulged in capitalistic competition. Again thanks your comment.

[@tannie9755]

I think you should do one on a level as the source of stress is quite different though the weight of stress is much larger. Like now, my parents don’t even care about my grades. The main source of stress would be coming from myself, comparing myself to other students/ seniors. In primary school, my parents are the ones that sent me to tuition but now I’m begging them to send me to tuitions. And as I know tuitions are expensive, it’s posing even more stress on myself. - coming from a 18 year old student, with poor grades, in the midst of preparing for mid years, prelims and a levels, unsure about my future, disappointed and frustrated at myself. P.s. I’m even thinking of taking a gap year to retake my a levels as a private candidate. And also anyone who has any tips please please please share them. I really need it. Idw to be a failure to myself.

[@lolz2435]

These children are way way more mature than I am. They understand the importance of hard work, they are obedient to their parents' teaching, they are humble, they understand how PSLE can prepare them for the future. They are already starting to think of their secondary school life. Kudos to them.

[@thewhambam]

I feel like preparing for O levels was less stressful than for PSLE 😅 maybe its because by then parents would trust that their child would study on their own instead

[@Sun-sf2sf]

You're missing one big component of this study or questionnaire--- Stress caused by PEER PRESSURE. That's a huge factor with kids these days. And it sucks that teachers/educations resort to shaming students who don't do well. I thought the goal is to uplift children to succeed. The education system needs to change, our children are not "cage" animals in a pressure cooker. We need to invest more in our education system--maybe look at Finland instead of manufactured grit found in Asian countries.

[@CaraLim]

A good documentary but I do hope that CNA will have the courage to show the extreme downside of academic stress. Though smaller in numbers, there are kids who needed psychological support, therapy, medication or even worse, kids who commit suicide due to academic pressure.

[@higherwesoarsmallerweappea8507]

Buat warga tetangga di pulau seberang sana Gimana kalau adek2 melipir aja dulu sebentar ke Indonesia buat belajar SMP .. nyantai belajarnya lalu ke Canada.. buat SMA .. nyantai juga belajarnya.. ntar kuliah nya gratis di Jerman .. ngak bisa nyantai,, tapi seenggaknya gratis.. balik2.. berarti udah bisa Bahasa Indonesia, Prancis (di Kanada ny di daerah yg pake Prancis), Jerman... dan tentunya Inggris + Bahasa Ibu udah bisa 5 bahasa.. pasti ngak terkalahkan... networknya juga sudah networking 4 negara.. jadi gampang buat bisnis