MOE tweaks PSLE English Language paper for 2015 cohort

Primary Four pupils will face a revised English Language syllabus next year. In addition, the English Language Paper for the PSLE will be tweaked for the 2015 PSLE cohort.

Being an ex-teacher in school, I find that the textbooks and workbooks written for the previous syllabus are inadequate to address the learning needs of the pupils. Of course, they are even more inadequate when it comes to preparation for the PSLE.

MOE came up with the revised English Language syllabus in 2010. The STELLAR programme is aligned to the syllabus and is designed to address the learning needs of the pupils. As part of the programme, English is taught through stories and texts that appeal to children, with explicit grammar instruction. I think the STELLAR resources are gems.

Questions on parents' minds will likely be: Are schools ready for the changes? Are teachers equipped with the necessary skills to implement the changes?

There will definitely be some teething problems. I sincerely hope that MOE will look into teacher training to better equip teachers with the necessary content knowledge and skills so that they can impart their knowledge to their young charges. Why do I say that?

Let me share with you two situations that occurred last year. One of my P6 tutees was questioned about his use of a fragmented sentence in his composition. He had deliberately used the fragmented sentence for impact. Another P6 tutee was questioned when she used personification in her story. They were from different schools. The two children were confused as they were taught literary devices in my English classes and they had come across similar phrases in the story books that they had read. They wondered why they were questioned by their teachers.

I can understand why the above situations occurred. Some of the English teachers may not have taken English Literature in secondary schools. Hence they may not be as aware of literary devices as the rest of the teachers who have taken the subject before.

To implement the revised syllabus effectively, we must first ensure that the teachers are on a level playing field. The two anecdotes are a clear indication that at the moment, the playing field is not level yet. If we read through the revised 2010 English syllabus, in the focus area of writing,  pupils are expected to be able to appreciate and use literary language (metaphors, similes etc) at the Upper Primary level. Instead of being lauded for using literary devices, the two kids were questioned by their teachers.

The revised 2010 English syllabus clearly outlines the learning outcomes at the different levels. I am excited about its implementation. Let's hope that with adequate teacher training, all the children benefit from its implementation.

Click on the following link to read the announcement made by MOE on the tweaking of PSLE English Language Paper for 2015:
MOE tweaks PSLE English Language paper for 2015 cohort - Channel NewsAsia

Click on the following link to find out about the revisions that will be made to the PSLE English Language Examinations.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/files/2012/09/annex-b-pri-el-curr.pdf