University admission by PSLE percentiles

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ang Mo Kio GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education in the past 10 years, how many students from each PSLE cohort successfully entered university, broken down according to their PSLE results that are (i) in the 60th to 75th percentile (ii) in the 50th to 60th percentile (iii) in the 30th to 50th percentile and (iv) below the 30th percentile.

Response

1. Our education system provides students with multiple pathways and opportunities to pursue an education best suited to their needs, interests and strengths. Students may attend university and pursue an academic education, or develop skills and technical expertise through other pathways. PSLE results need not and should not be the only determinant of the future success of any pupil.

2. Notwithstanding, the data requested by the member is as follows:

1. The proportion of students who gained admission to local publicly-funded degree courses increased steadily from 23% for the 1997 PSLE cohort to 31% for the 2006 PSLE cohort, in tandem with expansion of university places.

2. From 1997 to 2006, the proportion of PSLE cohort with results in the 51st to 75th percentile, and admitted to publicly-funded degree courses, increased from 24% to 38%.

3. The corresponding figure for those whose PSLE results are in the bottom half increased from 4% to 10%.