Drop-out Rate among Students Enrolled in Integrated Programme

27 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Education (a) for each of the past five years, how many students who were originally enrolled in the Integrated Programme (IP) had dropped out of IP; (b) what are the main reasons for the same; and (c) what steps have been put in place to help students opting to drop out of IP after completing Secondary 3 to join schools offering "O" Level examinations as Secondary 4 students.

Mr Chan Chun Sing: Over the past five years, 3,900 students were admitted into the Integrated Programme (IP) on average each year. Around 200 students, or 5% of each cohort, left the programme before completing Year 4. The majority of these students chose the "O" Level pathway while a large proportion of the remaining students relocated overseas.

As most IP schools also offer "O" Level classes, students moving out of IP can choose to remain in the same school. For those transferring to other Secondary schools, transfers are, typically, completed before the end of Year 3, to give students sufficient time to prepare for the "O" Level examinations in the new school environment. The receiving schools provide academic bridging and socio-emotional support to help the student cope with the changes and adjust to the new school environment.