Academic and Other Considerations in Streaming of Primary School Students

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education (a) whether primary school students are streamed into different classes for the following year based on their academic results; (b) if so, what is the rationale for doing this; and (c) if they are not streamed into different classes based on academic results, what other criteria are used instead.

Primary schools aim to create a rich learning environment for students to learn holistically. Schools strive for diverse form classes, with a good mix of gender, race, nationality and learning ability. Schools also keep these classes together for at least two years. At upper primary levels, because of Subject-Based Banding and students taking different subject combinations, schools may band students in broad teaching groups.