MY DAUGHTER is in Secondary 2. In her recent year-end report, she received an overall 'Fail' despite scoring 70.2 per cent in her overall results. She obtained an A1 in English but a D7 (48 marks) in Higher Chinese.

I just learnt that it is the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s policy that a student who is in the Special Stream must pass both English and Higher Chinese in order to achieve an overall 'Pass', regardless of her performance in the other subjects.

If my husband and I had known about the policy, we would not have encouraged our daughter to take Higher Chinese.

I would like to seek MOE's clarification on this policy. I find the policy unfair as the medium of instruction for all other subjects is English.

Students are invited to opt for Higher Chinese based on their PSLE scores. Nowhere was it mentioned that a fail in Higher Chinese would constitute an overall 'Fail'. Most parents and students are aware that failing English would constitute an overall 'Fail' but unaware that it applies to Higher Chinese too.

To be fair to students, MOE needs to inform parents and students of this policy before they opt for Higher Chinese.

Margaret Wo Siew Kee (Mdm)

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