A Parent's Perspective on Navigating PSLE in Singapore

In Singapore, parents often find themselves navigating a maze of tuition centers, enrichment classes, and supplementary programs to ensure their children are well-prepared—particularly in the run-up to major examinations like PSLE.

Today, we speak with Lena, a parent who shares her experience and insights into managing her children's academic journey in their PSLE year.

Interviewer: Hi Lena! Hope you're having a good Saturday afternoon so far. Could you start by giving us a quick self-introduction please?

Parent: Yes. I'm Lena, and I'm the mother of two Primary Six children. I founded my lifestyle brand Luulaa and am the fashion editor at Her World Singapore.

Interviewer: Amazing, thank you for joining us today. Could you share with us your approach to your children's education, especially in the lead-up to the PSLE?

Parent: My kids attended Zenith's PSLE booster classes recently and found them to be super helpful. Perhaps I can share what I had hoped these classes could do for them and what I was looking for before the PSLE?

Before the PSLE, I was focused on finding specific classes because my P6 kids already had regular tuition, like every other kid. I only started English tuition this year at the British Council because they were already good at English. So, it was more about giving them an extra boost in their Math and Science subjects.

After the midterms in P5, I was concerned because they didn't do very well. They were struggling to get the best grades, so I felt they could use a more intensive revision. When I spoke to their tuition teachers, they told me we needed to go into full revision mode. That’s when I started looking for more targeted classes, and then Zenith Academy reached out about their PSLE booster classes.

I thought it was great because I didn't know something like that existed. I initially thought I had to sign them up for a full-term tuition plan, but this was a one-off class, which was much more time-efficient.

Interviewer: I see! How did your children react to the booster classes? Did they enjoy them? Did you notice any changes?

Parent: Yes, their first booster class was for Science. I asked my son what they learned, and he said it was quite a lot, even though three hours felt long. But he also said it was fun and that they learned additional tips beyond what their current teachers were teaching. I liked that the classes covered what they learned from Primary 5 as well, which is what I was looking for.

The way you segregate the topics is helpful because it lets me understand what they’re revising. Then I can communicate that to their regular tuition teachers for lesson planning. The intensive classes are like a revision of what they did in Primary 5 and 6, refreshing their memory and helping them improve in their weaker areas. I found that to be very useful.

Interviewer: It sounds like the booster classes were a good fit—we're glad it helped, and thanks for sharing that! We are curious, could you share with our readers about the factors you consider to be important when choosing tuition or enrichment classes?

Parent: Yes, definitely. I think it’s crucial to understand how the teachers teach and the learning environment. Almost every place offers the same curriculum and materials, so the rapport between the teachers and students is what really matters. The lesson needs to be engaging because can you imagine sitting through two hours on a weekend for something you’ve already been taught in school? It has to be more than just rote memorisation and repetition.

Discipline is important, too, but you don’t want the child to fear learning or dislike academics because they fear the teacher. It's key that the teacher understands how to manage a child's motivation levels by being able to switch between being firm and engaging.

During our time, no one cared about your mental health or stress levels, but now, as parents, we’re much more aware of these issues. I always check in with my kids to make sure they’re not overwhelmed and encourage them to relax after intensive sessions.

Interviewer: This is great! I'm sure your twins will do well at their PSLE. Best of luck! To conclude, could you share some parting thoughts for parents and students who are embarking on their PSLE journey?

Parent: I'm an advocate for independent learning. I believe that children should learn to complete their homework or revisions without us constantly reminding or hovering over them.

Let them make mistakes and learn from the repercussions. I have applied this method with my twins since P1.

During PSLE, my twins have schedules they planned themselves, and on the calendar, they write down their own progress—so that both me and their dad can monitor their progress from there. The schedule is based on trust.

So far, our kids say that this is the best way as they can learn at their own pace. It's also great as they can reflect on the work they have put in each month and be proud of their effort and discipline.

It's natural for parents to be stressed for PSLE, but I believe we should trust and allow our kids to take the lead in their own academic journey.

I believe it’s a good foundation and it would help with goal-setting and their career trajectory in the future.

Final remarks

Navigating the educational landscape in Singapore can be challenging, especially with the high stakes of exams like the PSLE.

In this interview, this parent highlights the importance of targeted, engaging, and affordable education options, as well as the need for open communication between parents, students, and educators.

As we continue to explore different ways to support our children’s education, it’s clear that a holistic approach, one that considers both academic and emotional well-being, is key to their success.