Subject-Based Banding in Primary Schools Provides Flexibility for Learning

We refer to Ms Ni Xuanqing's letter ("Subject-based banding in primary school does more harm than good", 12 Jan) on the potential pitfalls of this system.

Subject-Based Banding (SBB) was introduced in primary schools in 2008. It gives students the option of offering subjects at Standard or Foundation level at Primary 5 and 6, based on their strengths and aptitudes in each subject. This enables students to stretch their potential in the subjects that they are strong in while building up fundamentals in the subjects that they need more support in. Teachers have found that SBB has allowed them to better pace their lessons to suit the differing needs of students, thus not discouraging students, but rather enabling students to be more engaged in each subject.

Under SBB, Primary 5 and 6 form classes comprise students offering a mix of Standard and Foundation subjects. This provides students with the opportunities to interact with peers of different abilities. Grouping students of different subject combinations in the same form class has also diminished concerns about labelling and stigmatisation.

Students who do well in Foundation Subjects are offered to do them at a higher level in Secondary 1. In fact, with the positive outcomes of SBB on student learning and morale, MOE is expanding it in secondary schools such that streaming will be replaced with Full Subject Based Banding from the Secondary 1 cohort in 2024.

Ms Liew Wei Li
Deputy Director-General of Education (Schools) and Director of Schools,
Ministry of Education