I REFER to yesterday's letter by Mr David Soh Poh Huat ('School hols should not mean more classes'') and the report on Monday ('School holiday? What holiday?').

I am puzzled as to why parents object to their children attending special classes during the June vacation.

It is pertinent to point out to parents that schools go all out to conduct such classes for the benefit of the students.

While the June vacation falls smack between the academic terms, it is by no means intended to allow our students to have complete relaxation by doing nothing or going on jaunts.

Those students attending graduating classes must keep up their momentum to prepare for their year-end final examinations.

The extra classes may help them perform beyond their perceived limitations.

This is especially so for mathematics and languages where a long break may hamper students' performance.

Once students are out of touch with these subjects over a long period, they will encounter serious difficulties in catching up in class.

The Singapore education system is unlike those in other countries where students are forced to attend 'cram schools'' so that they can earn places in prestigious universities.

Parents should thank school principals and teachers for conducting vacation classes and remedial sessions with the sole purpose of ensuring that students will do well in their examinations.

Pampering our children during the June vacation seems like an attractive proposition, but let us ask ourselves about the long-term ramifications of such a soft option.

No teacher or principal would go out of his or her way to hold mid-break classes if it were not for the benefit of the students.

Good teachers and school principals always conduct themselves in a manner befitting the ethos of their profession.

Whilst The Straits Times report and the letter by Mr Soh focused on schools conducting classes during the June vacation, we ought to be aware that schools also conduct enrichment programmes and related leadership workshops for the benefit of the students.

I am sure that schools will allow parents the discretion to opt out of these programmes and the special classes if parents seriously object.

But such parents must also undertake to accept responsibility if their children fare poorly in their examinations.

Kudos to our motivated professionals for their selfless dedication in the education of our children in schools and junior colleges.

S. Ganesamoorthy