PSLE success stories
They scored high marks in the PSLE but
school is not just about exams for these
12-year-olds
Pathlight kindled love of
maths
By JANICE
TAI
AT TIMES, Sherman Ho
finds it hard to focus when it comes to doing homework.
The 12-year-old, who has attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger syndrome, either
daydreams or figets and prances around his room.
But put the popular Murderous Maths book series in
front of him, and his attention will be captured for hours on end.
The fun facts and mathematical puzzles sparked his interest. He
went on to represent Singapore at a recent Maths Olympiad and
emerged fourth in the Asia-Pacific.
Yesterday, he was also the best Primary Schhol
Leaving Examination (PSLE) performer among his cohort at Pathlight
School.
He scored 273, with A stars in English, Maths and
Science,. Pathlight students are exempted from Mother Tongue
subjects. His score is the highest so far in the school's
eight-year history.
He hopes to go to NUS High School to pursue his
love for maths: "I love algebra, it is easy, just manipulating the
equations."
Pathlight, for children with autism, has 712 pupils
who can move on from Primary 6 to secondary classes at three
mainstreamschools it has partnered.
When he was three, Sherman's mother Alice Wee
noticed that he would bang his head on walls and lie down on the
floors of shopping malls when he did not get his way. She placed
him in Pathlight after he was diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger, a
form of autism, at about five years old.
"It was the best decision I ever made. The teachers
cared and supported us with his behavioural problems," said Mrs
Wee, 41, an insurance specialist.
Of the 73 Pathlight pupils who sat the exam, 88 per
cent passed and are eligible for the Express, Normal (Academic) and
Normal (Technical) streams.
While proud of her son's achievement, Mrs Wee said:
"No one will remember his PSLE score after tomorrow. What matters
is that he will be happy, have friends and a job."
Home, The Straits Times, Friday November 23 2012, Pg
B2