Singapore’s Minister of Education Ong Ye Kung feels that young children shouldn’t see learning as a competition, but as a form of self-discipline. This is why Ong has decided to abolish exam rankings and instead focus on a child’s own level of achievement, apart from that of his or her peers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new system introduced by the minister, pupils will be graded according to broad achievement bands. Report cards\/books will not longer include a student’s position in relation to the class, failing marks, and subject grades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an address to some 1,700 school leaders this week,\u00a0Ong said: “I know that coming in first or second, in class or level, has traditionally been a proud recognition of a student’s achievement. But removing these indicators is for a good reason, so that the child understands from young that learning is not a competition, but a self-discipline they need to master for life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister of Education said that teachers will continue to gather information about pupils’ learning through discussions, homework and quizzes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n