Number of days of closure at primary schools

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang, Nee Soon GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education for each year in the past 10 years (a) what is the median number of days a primary school is closed outside of the school holidays; and (b) what is the median number of days a primary school ends earlier than the regular dismissal time outside of the school holidays.

Response

1. MOE consciously ensures that we minimise loss of curriculum time and minimise inconvenience for parents without alternative caregiving arrangements. Aside from 12 weeks of school holidays per year, primary school students are notified in advance and do not report to school for another 12 days for PSLE marking, PSLE Oral and Listening Comprehension Examinations, school exam results processing and significant school events such as parent-teachers conference.

2. Schools may dismiss students earlier on the eve of events such as National Day and Children's Day. There are 4 such events in a year.

3. For all these days, school-based student care centres remain open for students.