新加坡：教育副部长戴维·neo周二（9月29日）表示，取消小学毕业考试（PSLE）或直接入学制度（DSA）可能会将压力转移到其他方面，并传递错误的信号。
SINGAPORE: Removing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or Direct School Admission (DSA) could shift pressure elsewhere and send the wrong signals, Second Minister for Education David Neo said on Tuesday (Sep 29).
neo指出，例如，如果采用“直接升入中学”的模式（即跳过PSLE），竞争压力可能会转移到小学一年级的入学环节，从而降低学生选择符合自己兴趣和发展需求的中学的机会。
For instance, a through-train model that skips the PSLE could shift competition to Primary 1 admission, and reduce students’ ability to choose a secondary school that suits the interests and needs they develop later.
他同时强调，如果完全废除DSA制度，压力可能会重新回到PSLE上，并错误地传达出“只有考试成绩才重要”的观念。
Scrapping the DSA programme entirely could send the pressure back to the PSLE and wrongly signal that only academic results matter, he said.
在2026年政策研究学会的论坛上，neo表示教育部将重点审视那些加剧教育“竞争”的环节，尤其是小学到初中的过渡阶段。
Speaking at the 2026 Institute of Policy Studies forum, Mr Neo said the Ministry of Education (MOE) will look at the parts of the system that fuel the education "arms race" the most, including the transition from primary to secondary school.
neo指出，这一阶段的学生面临最大的压力；在教育部与公众的交流中，PSLE和DSA问题经常被提及。
Young students face the "most acute" pressure at this stage, he said, noting that the PSLE and DSA often come up in the ministry's engagements with the public.
neo引用了一项最新研究，该研究表明家长们希望为孩子提供更全面、更均衡的教育。研究还显示，家长的压力有所增加，许多家庭在补习和课外辅导上投入了更多的时间和金钱。
Mr Neo cited a recent study which found that parents want a broader, more holistic education for their children. It also showed that parental stress has increased, with families spending more time and money on tuition and enrichment.
他表示，许多家长希望培养全面发展的人才，而不是为了下一个学术目标而过度优化每一个决策。
Many parents want to raise well-rounded children without optimising every decision for the next academic milestone, he said.
neo问道：“那么，我们的教育体系该如何让家长们相信：孩子的全面发展并不一定以牺牲学业成绩为代价呢？”
“How, then, can our education system assure parents that holistic development need not come at the expense of success – especially where the stakes feel highest?”
neo补充说，PSLE有三个主要目的：评估学生对小学课程的掌握程度、为学生的中学升学提供依据，以及根据学生的学科水平为他们安排合适的中学。
PSLE: LOWERING THE STAKES Most parents feel the most pressure at the PSLE and many people suggested ways to lower its stakes, said Mr Neo. The PSLE serves three purposes – assessing a child’s understanding of the primary school curriculum, providing a basis for secondary school placement and matching students to subject levels in secondary school, he added.
一些人提议取消、推迟甚至将考试改为可选。其他人则建议扩大最高分段的分数范围，这样学生就不必“追逐每一分”。
Some proposed removing, postponing or even making the exam optional. Others suggested widening the top score bands so students do not have to "chase every mark".
一些人还对学生的中学分配方式提出了想法。“许多人认为，更深层的答案在于加强更多学校，这样家庭就不会觉得有必要把孩子送进少数几所公认的好学校，”他说。
Some also had ideas on how students are posted to secondary schools. “Many felt that the deeper answer lies in strengthening more schools, so that families do not feel the need to get their children into a handful of perceived good schools,” he said.
黄先生说，虽然每个想法都回应了某种担忧，但也可能制造新的压力。
While each idea addresses a concern, it may also create new pressures, Mr Neo said.
他问道，什么可以取代小六会考成绩作为中学分配的依据：抽签、就近入学还是直通车模式。更多抽签可能增加不确定性和焦虑，而就近入学可能因按居住地聚集学生而加剧社会分层。
He asked what could replace PSLE results as the basis for secondary school posting: balloting, proximity or a through-train model. More balloting could increase uncertainty and anxiety, while proximity could worsen social mixing by clustering students according to where they live.
直通车模式则会引发一个问题：哪些小学应该与更受青睐的中学挂钩。他补充说，如果小六会考评分变得更粗放，更多学生将获得相同的分数。
A through-train model would raise the question of which primary schools should be linked to the more sought-after secondary schools. If PSLE scoring becomes more blunt, more students will have the same score, he added.
“对于每一项提议，我们都应该问：它是否会给孩子更多学习、探索和成长的空间？它是否会维护公平并保持高标准？它是否会帮助家庭更关注学校是否适合自己的孩子？它又可能在哪些方面转移竞争和压力？”DSA：它如何变成“第二战场”黄先生说，DSA计划旨在认可学生在考试成绩之外的天赋和潜力，这一点在今天仍然有价值。
“For every proposal, we should ask, will it give children more room to learn, to explore and to grow? Will it preserve fairness and maintain high standards? Will it help families focus more on a school’s fit for their child? Where might it displace competition and stress?”DSA: HOW IT BECAME A "SECOND FRONT" The DSA programme was introduced to recognise students' talents and potential beyond exam results, and this remains valuable today, said Mr Neo.
但对一些家庭来说，它已成为“军备竞赛”的第二战场。孩子们可能一边准备小六会考，一边打造DSA作品集，以确保进入心仪的学校。
But for some families, it has become a second front in the "arms race". Children may prepare for PSLE while building a DSA portfolio to secure a place in a preferred school.
“真正的兴趣于是可能变成一种入学策略。培训开始得更早，竞赛承载更高的利害关系，一些学生最终精疲力竭，要求退出该计划，”他说。
“A genuine interest can then become an admissions strategy. Coaching starts earlier, competitions carry higher stakes, and some students eventually burn out and ask to leave the programme,” he said.
一些家长还担心，资源更充裕的家庭能够负担其他人负担不起的专业培训。
Some parents also worry that families with more resources can afford specialised training that others cannot.
教育部收到了关于缩减或取消“DSA”（学生发展评估）的建议；也有人主张应扩大该评估的范围，以便更全面地评估学生的能力。还有人建议将各类教育资源或人才培养项目更均衡地分配到各所学校中，或者注重学生的天赋和兴趣，而非那些可以通过强化训练来提升的技能。
MOE received suggestions to scale back or abolish DSA, while others argued it should be expanded so students can be assessed more holistically. Others proposed spreading places or talent areas more widely across schools, or recognising aptitude and interest rather than skills that can be intensively coached.
“虽然观点各异，但它们都指向同一个问题：如何在不将所有学生的兴趣都转化为招生策略的情况下，公正地识别他们的优势呢？”Neo先生指出，如果过度限制“DSA”的评估范围，可能会让人误以为考试成绩是唯一重要的评价标准；而如果扩大评估范围，又可能会让许多家庭为了让孩子在竞争中脱颖而出而不得不投入更多资源。他强调：“过分强调学生的天赋可能会导致评估结果变得主观且不公平。”
“The views differ, but they point to the same question. How can DSA recognise different strengths credibly without turning every interest into an admissions strategy?”Narrowing DSA too much may send the message that exam performance is the only achievement that counts, while broadening it may create more areas where families feel compelled to invest just to compete. Placing greater emphasis on aptitude could make assessment more subjective and seem unfair, Mr Neo said.
“因此，我们的目标并不是增加或减少‘DSA’的评估内容，而是将人才识别与学生的真正发展联系起来。”
“So the goal is not more or less DSA. But it is to reconnect talent recognition with genuine development,” he said.
Neo先生进一步解释道：“孩子应该能够自由地选择自己喜欢的运动项目，而不必担心这些运动是否能帮助他们获得奖牌或充实他们的‘DSA’档案；孩子也应该能够自由地学习音乐，而不必觉得每一节课都是为了获得证书而存在的。家长在选择学校时，不应觉得这是在为孩子的未来‘命运’做决定。”他表示，目前家长仍然认为某些学校更优秀，而另一些学校则不然。教育部必须向家长们保证：在整个教育体系中，无论是在哪所学校，都能提供优质的教学、丰富的成长机会以及可靠的成才路径。
“A child should be able to enjoy a sport without being asked whether it will produce medals or whether it will contribute to their DSA portfolio. A child should be able to learn music without every lesson building towards a certificate.”SCHOOL CHOICE NEED NOT FEEL LIKE DESTINY Parents still see some schools as good schools, and others as less so, said Mr Neo. MOE must assure them that strong teaching, rich development opportunities and credible routes to success exist across the system, not only in a few schools.
“如果家长们相信整个教育体系中的学校都能帮助孩子茁壮成长，那么任何一次招生结果所带来的影响都会减弱。”Neo先生认为，家长仍然会有自己的偏好选择，不同学校在历史、文化和课程设置上也存在差异；但选择学校不应该被视作为决定孩子命运的决定。他希望构建一个能让家长更加放心、不再过分看重考试成绩、而是更注重学生全面发展的教育体系——因为这样的教育体系才能真正为孩子的“长期成功”打下基础。
“If families trust that schools across the system can help their child thrive, then any single posting outcome will carry less weight," he said. “Parents will still have preferences, and schools will still differ in history, culture and programmes. But choosing one school over another need not feel like choosing a destiny.”MOE wants to build a system that gives parents confidence to place less emphasis on achievement and more on holistic development, knowing this will prepare their children for "long-term success", he said.
“让我把话说清楚：我们并不反对孩子们努力奋斗，也不是在提倡降低教育标准，”他补充道。
“Let me be clear: We are not against striving. Nor are we talking about dropping standards,” he added.
他认为，孩子们应该学会设定目标、面对挑战，并从失败中恢复过来。不过，“健康的努力方式”与“无休止地追求高分”是截然不同的。Neo先生指出，如果从幼年时期就开始追求微小的进步（即那些微不足道的成绩提升），那么每一个决定都可能显得极其重要，从而削弱了孩子们对学习的兴趣。
Children should learn to set goals, meet challenges and recover from setbacks, he said. "But healthy striving is different from endlessly chasing the last mark." Chasing marginal gains from a young age can make every decision seem disproportionately consequential, leaving less room for a love of learning, said Mr Neo.
“因此，我们的目标并不是要完全消除教育中的竞争、压力或失望情绪——这既不现实，也无法让孩子们为未来的生活做好充分准备，”他说。他还提到，一些减少了或取消了重要考试的国家发现，这些压力会以其他形式重新出现。
“Therefore, our aim is not to remove all competition, stress or disappointment from education. That would not be realistic, nor would it prepare our children well for life,” he said, noting that other countries that reduced or removed major exams found that the pressures re-emerge in other ways.
“我们的目标是确保竞争不会成为一种占据孩子全部精力的东西，从而阻碍他们培养那些对未来发展至关重要的品质。”
“Our aim is to ensure that competition does not become the all-consuming thing that crowds out the pursuit of qualities that our children need to flourish.”