PSLE? PLEASE...
I CAN'T
TAKE IT
ANY
MORE
One boy turns hysterical after being
hothoused for PSLE for a year. Others refuse to go to school,
suffer from insomnia or cut themselves to cope with Primary 6
stress
REPORT: FOO JIE
YING
ON WEEKDAYS, he stayed up late to complete his homework and
past-year exam papers.
On weekends, the Primary 6 student would be whisked off
to other non-academic classes.
This was his schedule to prepare for the Primary School
Leaving Examination (PSLE).
Dozing off on car rides was his way of catching up
on sleep.
This went on for nearly a year, before the boy broke down
and went hysterical, said psychologist Daniel Koh.
It was only then that the 12-year-old's parents realised
that they had pushed him over the edge.
By then, it was too late.
Every child reacts differently to exam stress, said Dr
Ken Ung, a senior consultant at Adam Road Medical Centre.
It could be in the form of unexplained insomnia,
stomachaches, and headaches. In more extreme cases, it could drive
children to cutting and scratching themselves, he said.
Yesterday, The New Paper reported that a Pri 6 boy
apparently wrote a letter saying he was stressed out by the coming
PSLE exam before he went missing for three days.
The boy was found on Thursday and reunited with his
family.
Mrs Bernadette Lim, 43, admits to giving her son too much
stress when he was in Pri 6 last year.
She arranged for a tutor for every subject that year
although he did not have any problems with his school work.
"He was always an above-average student," said the
housewife.
"But I wanted him to do better to get into a top
school."
Only when he refused to go to school did she realise that
something was wrong.
Now, instead of engaging tutors for her son on her terms
she checks with him regularly to make sure he is coping well in
school.
While stress is inevitable when it comes to major exams
like the PSLE, child psychiatrist Brian Yeo said parents shall be
conscious the message they are sending to their children.
"Some parents unconsciously stress our their children
With their thoughts, actions and behaviour," he said.
One such instance is comparing the child with other
children.
"You may not overtly say so, but the child is
affected."
Singapore Children's Society's youth services
director,
Dr Carol 'Balhetchet, said parents need to manage their
expectations.
She cited an example of a boy who did well enough in PSLE
to get to a secondary school that was slightly above average.
His parents, however, wanted him to retake his PSLE so
that he could get into a top schooL
"I think that's very unfair," said Dr Balhetchet.
Tinkle Frieqd Helpline Coordinator Goh Ii Shan came
across a mother who cried when her son got an aggregate of251 for
PSLE.
"She was expecting him to obtain much higher marks, so
251 was considered low to her," said Ms Goh.
She noted, however, that such parents are in the
minority.
Different perspective
To help parents battle this stress, Dr Yeo tries to show
them a different perspective when it comes to exams like the
PSLE.
"While it is important to do well in school, at the end
of the day, PSLE is a bridge to the child's next stage in life,"
said Dr Yeo.
"It is okay so long as you can do sufficiently well to
enter the next stage."
To make sure children do not burn out under exam stress,
Dr Ung emphasises the importance of balance.
"Stress comes when balance is lost. If the kid is working
hard, he or she should be allowed down time to play hard and
relax," he said
Dr Balhetchet agrees. She saw no point in depriving
children of the freedom to do what they want.
"We might as well put our children in little prisons,
give them books and put in some food," she said.
CALL FOR HELP
Singapore
Children's Society
Tinkle Friend:
1800-274-4788
Weekdays:
9.30am-11.30am,
2.30pm-5.30pm
Samaritans of
Singapore (SOS):
1800-221-4444
(24 hours)
Youth Line:
6336-3434
Weekdays,
8.30am-6pm
News, The New Paper, Saturday, August 18 2012, Pg 2-3
PSLE should be abolished. It's way too stressful for the kid. They
are just 12 years old!