Singapore Schools Shake Things Up to Beat the COVID‑Viral Tide
In a bold move that’s pulled the plug on a few exams, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has decided to cancel the year‑end exams for Primary 3 and 4 students. That means no test‑day stress and more time for kids to catch up after COVID‑related disruptions.
What’s the New Schedule?
- Monday, Oct 11 – Primary 3 to 6 pupils go back to in‑person classes.
- Wednesday, Oct 13 – Primary 1 and 2 students join the classroom revival.
- Primary 5 – Their year‑end exams stay on track, though they’ll run under tight safety measures.
About 70,000 kids will feel the bite of this change. Parents will get a clearer picture of how their child is faring under Singapore’s newly introduced Achievement Level scoring system – a handy gauge before the big PSLE showdown.
Why Cancel the Exams?
MOE says pulling the exams allows everyone—a lot of learning time, plus a chance to “recover” from the COVID shake‑up. It’s the first time a year‑end exam has been scrubbed since the pandemic began.
Other Class‑Room Shifts
Since September 27, Primary 1‑5 and special‑education students have been doing home‑based learning (HBL) to keep the 12‑year‑olds safe from the vaccine‑uneligible crowd. The school‑holiday plan eases this a bit:
- From Oct 18 to Oct 22 – No school, no HBL (except for special‑education kids).
- In Oct 22 – The day after the PSLE marking, schools close for a holiday.
Parents of Primary 1‑5 must run an antigen rapid test (ART) at home on Friday or Saturday (Oct 8 or 9) before sending the results via a link from the MOE. That’s to put a check on any lingering spread.
Teaching Without Exams
Without the Primary 3 and 4 exams, schools will lean on a whole bunch of mid‑year assessments. That means:
- Report kids’ progress and give feedback.
- Guide pupils on whether they should tackle STAND‑R or FOUNDATION levels for subjects—as early as Primary 5.
What About Tuition and Enrichment Centres?
Face‑to‑face instruction for ages 12 and under in private tuition and enrichment set‑ups could resume from Monday. Yet the ministry nudges these centres to keep doing classes online whenever possible.
Private schools targeting similar pupils to primary schools should follow the same guidelines, including phased returns and student self‑testing.
Extra‑Curricular Pause
All co‑curricular and after‑school activities—including secondary and junior college options—are still on hold until the new summer term.
There’s a lot to digest, but the overarching theme is simple: take it easy for the kids, catch up on learning, and keep the community safe.
