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http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,215263,00.html?
SOME HINDU PARENTS UPSET
Why set exams on eve of Deepavali?
Schools free to set the dates, says ministry spokesman
By Veena Bharwani
September 29, 2009
DEEPAVALI is just around the corner.
It is a time when Hindu families come together for prayers and festivities.
But not all students will be getting into the festive mood this year. Some have examinations scheduled on the eve of Deepavali, which falls on 17 Oct, a Saturday.
And some Hindu parents are upset.
The New Paper confirmed that at least three schools - Queensway Secondary, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACSI) and Dunearn Secondary - have scheduled their year-end examinations in the week before Deepavali.
Said one parent who declined to be named: 'I don't think schools in general hold examinations on the eve of Chinese New Year.
'The school has many Hindu students, so why can't they be more sensitive towards them?'
Her son, who is a Year 1 student doing the Integrated Programme in ACSI, will be sitting for two papers - Higher Tamil and Science - on 16 Oct.
The parent, who is in her 40s, added: 'I did approach the management to ask them to change the date of the exams. But so far, they are sticking to it.
'It's not just one paper. He has to sit for two major papers. Isn't there a Ministry of Education policy that advises schools against holding school-based examinations on the days before and after such festivals?'
A ministry spokesman said schools are free to set the dates of school-based examinations.
The spokesman added in an e-mail response: 'For school-based examinations which fall before or after a festive public holiday, schools are advised to exercise judgement when setting these dates.'
Said the woman's 13-year-old son: 'It is not fair. There are quite a few Hindu students in my grade.
'We finish after 2pm on the 16th, which is quite late. We should be given more time off.'
Added another parent, whose son is in his third year in ACSI: 'My son didn't tell me he has examinations on the eve of Deepavali. I heard this from another parent.
'Nowadays, many kids don't take these festivals seriously, and some of them think it is okay not to participate in the celebrations.'
Added the 52-year-old technician: 'We want to try and get our kids involved so they do not lose touch with this important festival.
'With all the preparations going on at home, my son will get distracted and may not be able to study properly for the examinations. This is not fair to him.'
Year-five students in the school will also be sitting for computer science and music on 16 Oct.
ACSI did not respond to The New Paper's queries, though we called and e-mailed the school repeatedly.
Planning
Queensway Secondary principal Cecilia Lim said the school did take the festive holiday into consideration before planning the examinations.
Madam Lim said in an e-mail response to The New Paper: 'For the eve of Deepavali on 16 Oct, the school examinations committee had taken care to ensure the papers scheduled would end early so that the students could be dismissed before 10am.
'Additionally, more content-based papers were scheduled earlier, 12-15 Oct, so that the exams on 16Oct would be largely skill-based and oral exams.'
The school is reviewing the exam schedule to see how it can cater to the needs of their students.
Dunearn Secondary, which had originally scheduled its year-end examinations on the eve of Deepavali, is bringing the date forward.
Said principal Wong Lok Oon: 'It was an oversight on my part and we have already fixed it.'
Originally, two examinations - mathematics and design and technology - were to take place on 16 Oct. Now there will be no examinations that day.
Taken into account
Other principals and educators The New Paper spoke to said they take religious festivals into account when planning school-based examinations.
But sometimes it is not possible to accommodate all requests.
Shuqun secondary principal Adolphus Tan said: 'Look at the A- and O-level exams. Sometimes, these exams fall on the day before Deepavali. The Examination Board can't afford to give too many concessions as the time-table is already very tight.'
Shuqun secondary will be holding the year-end examinations in the beginning of next month.
Another teacher, who declined to be named, said: 'It is not possible to accommodate everyone. Once students leave school and go on to university, the rules will change again.'
The 30-year-old added: 'Once I was sitting for the university exams during the fasting month. I sat for two papers back-to-back and there was no concession made for Muslim students.
'I accepted it as I knew that it is not possible for the university to please everyone.'
SOME HINDU PARENTS UPSET
Why set exams on eve of Deepavali?
Schools free to set the dates, says ministry spokesman
By Veena Bharwani
September 29, 2009
DEEPAVALI is just around the corner.
It is a time when Hindu families come together for prayers and festivities.
But not all students will be getting into the festive mood this year. Some have examinations scheduled on the eve of Deepavali, which falls on 17 Oct, a Saturday.
And some Hindu parents are upset.
The New Paper confirmed that at least three schools - Queensway Secondary, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACSI) and Dunearn Secondary - have scheduled their year-end examinations in the week before Deepavali.
Said one parent who declined to be named: 'I don't think schools in general hold examinations on the eve of Chinese New Year.
'The school has many Hindu students, so why can't they be more sensitive towards them?'
Her son, who is a Year 1 student doing the Integrated Programme in ACSI, will be sitting for two papers - Higher Tamil and Science - on 16 Oct.
The parent, who is in her 40s, added: 'I did approach the management to ask them to change the date of the exams. But so far, they are sticking to it.
'It's not just one paper. He has to sit for two major papers. Isn't there a Ministry of Education policy that advises schools against holding school-based examinations on the days before and after such festivals?'
A ministry spokesman said schools are free to set the dates of school-based examinations.
The spokesman added in an e-mail response: 'For school-based examinations which fall before or after a festive public holiday, schools are advised to exercise judgement when setting these dates.'
Said the woman's 13-year-old son: 'It is not fair. There are quite a few Hindu students in my grade.
'We finish after 2pm on the 16th, which is quite late. We should be given more time off.'
Added another parent, whose son is in his third year in ACSI: 'My son didn't tell me he has examinations on the eve of Deepavali. I heard this from another parent.
'Nowadays, many kids don't take these festivals seriously, and some of them think it is okay not to participate in the celebrations.'
Added the 52-year-old technician: 'We want to try and get our kids involved so they do not lose touch with this important festival.
'With all the preparations going on at home, my son will get distracted and may not be able to study properly for the examinations. This is not fair to him.'
Year-five students in the school will also be sitting for computer science and music on 16 Oct.
ACSI did not respond to The New Paper's queries, though we called and e-mailed the school repeatedly.
Planning
Queensway Secondary principal Cecilia Lim said the school did take the festive holiday into consideration before planning the examinations.
Madam Lim said in an e-mail response to The New Paper: 'For the eve of Deepavali on 16 Oct, the school examinations committee had taken care to ensure the papers scheduled would end early so that the students could be dismissed before 10am.
'Additionally, more content-based papers were scheduled earlier, 12-15 Oct, so that the exams on 16Oct would be largely skill-based and oral exams.'
The school is reviewing the exam schedule to see how it can cater to the needs of their students.
Dunearn Secondary, which had originally scheduled its year-end examinations on the eve of Deepavali, is bringing the date forward.
Said principal Wong Lok Oon: 'It was an oversight on my part and we have already fixed it.'
Originally, two examinations - mathematics and design and technology - were to take place on 16 Oct. Now there will be no examinations that day.
Taken into account
Other principals and educators The New Paper spoke to said they take religious festivals into account when planning school-based examinations.
But sometimes it is not possible to accommodate all requests.
Shuqun secondary principal Adolphus Tan said: 'Look at the A- and O-level exams. Sometimes, these exams fall on the day before Deepavali. The Examination Board can't afford to give too many concessions as the time-table is already very tight.'
Shuqun secondary will be holding the year-end examinations in the beginning of next month.
Another teacher, who declined to be named, said: 'It is not possible to accommodate everyone. Once students leave school and go on to university, the rules will change again.'
The 30-year-old added: 'Once I was sitting for the university exams during the fasting month. I sat for two papers back-to-back and there was no concession made for Muslim students.
'I accepted it as I knew that it is not possible for the university to please everyone.'
