Update on Removal of EM3 Stream in Primary School

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education with the removal of the EM3 stream in primary schools, what have been the effects on students, teachers and parents respectively.

In 2008, the Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced Subject-Based Banding in primary schools, in place of streaming by the entire course. This enables the child to focus on and stretch his potential in subjects that he is strong in, while building up the fundamentals in the subjects that he needs more support in.

Today, the great majority of students take up all Standard Subjects, or a combination of Standard and Foundation Subjects. We believe that this has helped raise the confidence and motivation of students, while customising education to their aptitudes and pace of learning.

There are also more opportunities for interaction among students across the different subject combinations, as a form class can have students of several subject combinations. Concerns about labelling and stigmatisation have diminished. Teachers find that students are more engaged and can better pace their lesson to suit students’ learning needs. Parents have been very supportive of Subject Based Banding.