The Government's moves to ease the concerns of parents of primary school pupils are laudable.
However, it also needs to address the tremendous stress that comes with preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), and how some pupils become demoralised in the process ("No signs of end to exam stress"; Aug 25).
As an author of maths assessment books, I am passionate about cultivating a love for the subject in children.
In Primary 5 and 6, pupils are exposed to so many types of questions that they find it hard to cope, despite understanding the basic concepts.
It would be better if children master concepts in the syllabus, rather than tackle so many types of questions without mastering the basics.
Maybe this is why many pupils lose interest in the subject and just focus on scoring well.
Exam questions should be confined to what is taught in the textbooks and in class, with slight modifications to test the pupils' understanding of the basic concepts and their application.
It is difficult for the average pupil to tackle so many unfamiliar questions, including those requiring inference and visualisation, especially in an exam setting.
Interesting and stimulating questions can be confined to enrichment classes, making it enjoyable for children to pursue the subject at a deeper level.
The authorities should also consider releasing past PSLE exam papers, so the public can suggest ways to improve the questions.
Sandhya Sundar (Mrs)
*Article first appeared on ST Forums (10 Sept)