COVID19 and National Examinations: next steps

With the COVID19 situation getting better, it is likely that we will be exiting the current Phase 2 heightened alert soon. Cautious optimism is warranted insofar as unlinked cases are still relatively high in terms of moving averages: there might be an exacerbation of the situation anytime and we are still on the knife-edge.

Various students have asked me: what will happen to their national exams if the COVID19 situation gets out-of-hand again in Singapore?

There are various possibilities:

1. Postponement of the national exams to early next year;

2. Continuation of the national exams but under strict safe distancing conditions;

3. Taking of Prelim results or a combination of Prelim and Mid-Year exam results;

4. Subject teacher's projection of grades with option of appeal (using the Prelim results) or veto from higher authority if teacher's projection is dubious - this was done in the UK; or

5. Any combination of the above, taking the better grade - this was done to some extent in the UK

Whatever it is, we urge students to take their studies very seriously as the situation is very volatile and MOE may have to take unprecedented steps to safeguard our students' and parents' welfare.

If the vaccine suits your risk profile, be sure to get vaccinated. The more willing people taking the vaccine, the likelier we are to get out of this cumbersome situation and resume our normal life.

If, in the worst case, the vaccine causes deleterious protein aggregates or RNA-DNA transcription, this is irreversible but given high vaccination rates in the developed world, I have utmost faith in the scientific community's ability, with the help of increased government funding, to find a solution to such complications.

Prepare for your exams as best as you can. Start now. And get vaccinated as soon as you can if you are comfortable with the risk-profile.