MOE said : It's an oversight.

Kimberly was finally asked to leave Bedok North Secondary School. Her parents started launching personal attacks on me. They asked their kids to send emails to all my wards, "Tell your parents to call my parents because they have something to tell about Mrs Tan." They also invited my wards to their house to swim, and that was during the SARS period when Singapore schools were closed. They did so many things and the harrassment got so bad that I finally had to fight back.

Kimberly was accepted by Telok Kurau Primary School to Primary 5. Her younger sister, Cindy was there. Cindy didn't complete Primary 2 but was accepted into Primary 3 class. Andy and Christine didn't inform MOE or the school Cindy also didn't pass the required level. They lied to two schools.

Komathi wrote in another reply to my query on 17th February 2003:

When we conducted the initial investigations, the school had confirmed the child did complete Primary 6. However the school after verifying the pupil's actual document confirmed that the child indeed completed Grade 5 and half of Grade 6, as correctly pointed out by you.

Just to reiterate the Foreign Students must complete the previous level before they can be considered for admission to the next level.

The school didn't verify foreign students' documents. We informed BNSS immediately of Kimberly's Grade 5 qualification but the school didn't heed our warning. It went ahead because the decision-makers thought they were the authority.

I informed MOE about Cindy Uy Tan on 4th April. Mrs Lilian Cheong, then Head, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs Division replied on 17th April 2003 :

MOE is looking into the admission of Cindy U Tan to Telok Kurau Primary School and will take appropriate action where necessary.

Mrs Lilian Cheong took up a new posting and the matter was promptly forgotten. I emailed again, to a Yu Mei Balasingam-Chow who took over as Head of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs Division. She replied on 30th July 2003.

With regard to your complaint against the Principal and Vice-Principal of Bedok North Secondary School, we would like to say that MOE takes a serious view of any allegations regarding improper school management. We have thoroughly investigated the incidents referred to in your email of 4th April 2003.

Acting on the information you provided in February 2003, MOE found that Bedok North Secondary School had mistakenly admitted Kimberly Uy Tan. The school had offered Kimberly a place based on her having met the age criterion and her performance in the school assessment tests, but overlooked the criterion of a minimum Grade 6 for admission to secondary one. When alerted to the oversight, the school promptly informed Kimberly's parents and requested Kimberly to leave the school. Kimberly was subsequently admitted to Primary 5 at Telok Kurau Primary School.

We wish to add that schools are aware that they need to ensure that the foreign students admitted are placed at an appropriate level and are able to benefit from the education they can offer. MOE has reminded schools of the need for care in checking the relevant information and documents when receiving applicants for admission.

We would like to reiterate that our officers have acted on your feedback with professionalism and care, and have not acted against you in any way.
Yet 'oversight' cases still happened and are happening.

In December 2003, Cedar Primary School offered a foreign student Primary 5 level when he didn't even complete grade 3. Reason for the offer : No more vacancies for Primary 4.

Pei Tong Primary School offered Primary 4 level to the same foreign student. It's a no-brainer which school the parents would take.

An oversight. No. Definitely not. How can there be so many oversights in our schools? How do the Principals, VPs, staff, AMs and OMs work? Carelessly?

The constant harassment from Kimberly's parents caused me to see a psychiatrist at Changi General Hospital. Then I received the death threat in my mail box. I fell into depression and was advised to be warded for observation. I was going through Hell. One day, I decided rather than get defeated, I should snap out of it and take things into my hands.

I went to see a Minister.