Regardless Of Grades

The move towards reducing Singapore’s emphasis on grades started over 25 years ago but in recent years, Singapore’s Education Ministry introduced a slew of aggressive changes in efforts to relieve student stress and to ‘spark joy’ in learning.

But to what extent have these measures shifted the needle in our pursuit for what’s considered ‘good grades’? Even as schools reduce their emphasis on exams and promote the joy of learning, the country’s booming tuition and enrichment industry continues to fuel an academic ‘arms race’ outside of school grounds.

This documentary investigates how our pursuit for grades is affecting our children, and we view it through the lens of families preparing for what’s considered the all-important PSLE. Why is this the make or break exam for 12-year-olds? For the first time, we lift the lid on this national exam, with never-before-seen footage of how questions are set, and exam papers marked.