It’s interesting to see the repeat of a drama that happens from time to time. First, pupils came out of PSLE crying after the mathematics paper. Angry parents start writing to newspapers and ringing up MOE to complain. The examination board chief has to come out and say that the paper was no more difficult than other years.

In the first place, why are the students crying? It’s obviously because parents and teachers are stressing them. Schooling is no longer fun anymore. I don’t mean to say that it was just fun when I was in primary school but I remember grades never seemed so important. In fact, I remember always being sent out of the class and having my exercise books flung out of the classroom door because I often did not do homework.

I honestly don’t recall how PSLE was like. All I remember was that I couldn’t wait for the PSLE to be over because it meant I could go and play soccer everyday. In fact, I think soccer was more important than my PSLE. I know I was a naughty boy back then and perhaps I should have been more disciplined but hey, I think I enjoyed my primary school days.

Of course, I do not advocate such naughty behaviour. I probably will give my own kid an earful for that. What I think parents should do is to tell kids to try their best and if the paper comes out to be really ‘difficult’, assure the kids that it will not be a problem. There are years where papers have been difficult but students still got into good secondary schools. If everyone does so badly, all the good schools are going to close shop because nobody can qualify!

Chill. Things will work out fine.