Don't worry, MOE tells PSLE students affected by MRT delays
A travel chit issued by SMRT following Friday (Aug 18) morning's delays on the North-South and Downtown Lines. The PSLE oral examinations were slated to start at 8am, but train services on both lines only resumed normal service after 9am. Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Assuring students who missed their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) oral exams on Friday (Aug 18) morning due to major train delays, the Ministry of Education (MOE) told them not to worry and that arrangements had been made for those who arrived late.
"If you've been delayed on the way to school this morning, please don't worry," the ministry said in a Facebook post. "Just let your school know. If necessary, you will be able to take the exam at a later time.
The ministry added that students did not need to pick up any excuse letters at the MRT stations to prove they were late. This came as staff at some MRT stations were seen giving out "travel chits" to students which indicated the timings which they entered and exited stations affected by the train delays on Friday morning.
Twin disruptions on the train network snarled the Friday morning commute, with the Downtown and North-South Line experiencing major delays due to signalling faults.
The disruptions on both MRT lines lasted about three hours before the faults were cleared after 9am. At one point, beginning at about 6.25am, services on the entire Downtown Line was disrupted.
Thousands of commuters heading to work and students due for their PSLE oral exam at 8am were affected.
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School student Shalini who took the train from Bukit Batok to Bishan was among those hit by the train delays.
(Click to enlarge. The 2017 PSLE oral examination timetable. Source: MOE)
Students were supposed to report to school at 7.15am, but she reached school only around "eight plus", and she took her English Language oral exam around "nine plus".
"I was rushing to go to school and felt angry and anxious about (the train being slow). (My) teacher called me and said not to worry, you'll still be allowed to take the exam," she said.
Ahead of MOE's Facebook announcement, students could be seen joining the long queues of people asking for excuse slips at various passenger service centres on the affected lines around 8am.
Netizens on MOE's Facebook page commented that some students were told to leave their phones at home for PSLE, and would have been unable to see MOE's announcement.
"In some schools, students have been asked to leave their mobile phones at home during the PSLE," said Ms Shirley Ong Tan. "I think there should be some flexibility in that. In the case of an emergency, (the students) can still call for help."
Other netizens noted that the disruption would cause additional stress to students taking their examinations.
"A student will already have jitters for (their) exams. Add this on and more strain and stress on them," said Facebook user Anusha Anusha.
