There will be no year-end examinations for Primary 3 and 4 students. The Ministry of Education (MOE) made the announcement in a press release in an effort to allow more time for curriculum recovery, due to disruptions brought on by COVID-19.
This will be the first time that exams have been cancelled since the pandemic began last year.
MOE Announces Cancellation Of Year-End Exams For Primary 3 and 4 Students
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In the ministry’s statement on Thursday (7 October), they confirmed that the year-end exams for students from Primary 3 and 4 will be cancelled.
MOE adds that schools can draw on information from a range of school-based assessments that were conducted throughout the year to report the learning progress of students.
They will also be able to provide feedback and make recommendations on a student’s subject combination where necessary.
Meanwhile, the year-end examinations for Primary 5 students will continue under safe management measures. This is to allow both students and their parents to get a better understanding of the student’s learning process in relation to the Achievement Level scoring system, “prior to taking the PSLE next year.”
In-Person Classes For Primary Schools To Progressively Start Next Monday
MOE also clarified in their press release that face-to-face classes for Primary 3 to 6 students will resume from Monday (11 October). This will be followed by students from Primary 1 and 2 on the following Wednesday (13 October).
The ministry said they will progressively bring Primary 1 to 6 students back to school “to ensure physical schooling resumes in a safe manner.” This is in line with MOE’s approach to minimise prolonged home-based learning where possible for the “socio-emotional wellbeing of students.
Students from special education schools will also be provided with more details on the phased return of students.
As for Co-Curricular Activities and other after-school activities, MOE said these will continue to be suspended for all levels including secondary schools, Junior Colleges and Millenia Institute.
Image source: iStock
More Safety Measures To Take Place In Schools Announced In MOE Press Release
To ensure the safety of all students and school staff, parents of Primary 1 to 5 students should undergo an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) swab on their children at home.
This should be done either on Friday (8 October) or Saturday (9 October) before returning to school. They should then report the results via a link sent to them.
For the 2021 PSLE Marking Exercise that will be held from 18 to 21 October, primary school students will not be required to report to school during this period. There will also be no home-based learning to be conducted.
The day after the PSLE Marking Exercise–which will be on Friday (22 October)–has also been declared a school holiday for primary schools. MOE added that all primary school students will return to school from 25 October.
“MOE will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and implement additional measures to keep our school environment safe, where necessary,” said the ministry.
Source: MOE, The Straits Times
Lead image source Facebook / Chan Chun Sing.
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