Junior colleges will no longer share detailed academic results with their A-level cohorts

A Shift in Focus: Singaporean JCs to Stop Releasing A-Level Cohort Data

Starting in 2025, singaporean junior colleges (JCs) will no longer publicly disclose their A-level cohort performance data. This collective decision by all 17 participating JCs and Millennia Institute aims to move the education system away from an overemphasis on academic grades and towards a more holistic approach to student development.

Previously, schools woudl share detailed facts about cohort performance across various subjects, including the number of top scorers. This data was often published on school websites,creating a culture of comparison and emphasizing quantifiable academic achievement.

This shift comes in the wake of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program ceasing the release of data on perfect scores in May 2023. The IB association, based in Switzerland, cited the need to discourage comparisons among students, schools, and communities as the reason for this change.

Mr. Aaron Loh, Principal of Raffles Institution, explained the rationale behind this decision. “This is to signal that we value our students’ holistic development rather than any one-dimensional measure of achievement, and that we want to celebrate their journey as individuals and as a graduating cohort,” he said.

Mr. Pang Choon how, Principal of Nanyang Junior College, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach. “In addition to congratulating students for their hard work and achievements, we will be highlighting some of the distinctive stories depicting resilience, service to the community and the grit to overcome challenging circumstances,” he said.

While the move aims to shift the focus, some students express concern about the potential impact. “I will be more stressed out waiting to see my name appear on the screen as one of the students who did well, even if I didn’t expect it. Plus it’s natural to wonder if you’re part of that percentage who got a distinction for a particular subject,” shared one student.

Another student, Mr. Kayden See,voiced his disappointment about losing access to aggregate performance data. “Students are usually interested in the median scores and how many scored 90 RP (rank points). This information can either give you affirmation that you have done well,or provide you with the motivation you need to improve,” he explained.

However, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing expressed his approval of the move, stating on his Instagram page, “This sends a clear signal about how our schools value a student’s overall growth, rather than just narrow, static definitions of success.”

This critically important change in how A-level results are handled highlights a broader shift in educational priorities, emphasizing personal growth, well-roundedness, and individual achievement over standardized comparisons.

What are the potential implications of this change on the future of academic competition and achievement within the JC system?

Archyde Exclusive: A Conversation on JC A-Level Outcomes – Past, Present, and Future

interviewing Mr. Aaron loh, principal of Raffles Institution, and Ms. Pang Choon How, Principal of Nanyang Junior College

In an exclusive interview, the principals of two of Singapore’s premier junior colleges discuss the important shift in how A-level cohort performance data will be handled, starting from 2025.

Q: What led to this collective decision by Singapore’s JCs to stop publishing detailed cohort data?

Mr. Aaron Loh: The excessive focus on academic grades has created a culture of comparison among students and schools. We believe this is detrimental to students’ holistic growth. We want to foster an environment that values each student’s unique journey and achievements, not just a few top scorers జ.

Q: Ms.Pang, how will this change affect the way current students and parents perceive and react to A-level results?

Ms. Pang Choon How: Initially,there might potentially be a sense of loss as they won’t have the detailed cohort data for comparison. Though, we hope they’ll focus more on celebrating thier personal growth and achievements. We’ll highlight individual stories of resilience and service,not just grades.

Q: How do you respond to students’ concerns about the potential stress associated wiht not knowing their cohort’s performance?

Mr. Loh: While we understand these concerns, we believe the removal of publicly available cohort data will lead to a more relaxed and less competitive learning environment. We encourage students to focus on their own progress rather than comparing themselves to others.

Q: Why do you think this change is ‘critically important’, as Education Minister Chan Chun sing put it?

Ms. Pang: This change fosters a culture where personal growth and well-roundedness are celebrated over standardized comparisons. It’s a clear signal that schools value students’ overall development, not just their academic achievements.

Q: How do you envision this shift will affect JC admissions in the near future?

mr. Loh: We hope to see a shift in how students approachtheir studies.They should focus on learning for the sake of growth, not just for marks. This would benefit not just students, but the JC system as a whole.