11 Jul 2005

Title: MOE clarifies issue on NE show

1. We thank Hapsah A (“Give madrasah students the same opportunity”, BH Forum, 2/7) for her suggestion that the National Education Show, which is a preview of the National Day Parade, be made available to students from the madrasahs and non-national schools.
2. The National Education Show is funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE).  It aims to instil a sense of pride and patriotism in our younger children and it builds on the common space that MOE has provided as part of the national school system. As an MOE programme, it is therefore currently made available only to Primary Five students in national schools.
3. Nevertheless, we agree that the celebration of our country's birthday is a good way to promote unity among our young.  Students from madrasahs and private schools, as well as students in other levels of national schools, can still participate in the National Day Parade as spectators.

Lau Peet Meng
Deputy Director
Planning Division
Ministry of Education