Excuse me, what investigation is this????

I sent an email to the feedback unit of MOE, asking them to clarify "Can a foreign student who has only grade 5 standard be admitted to Secondary 1 Express?"

Mrs Komathi Suppiah, Head Admission/Operations, School Placement & Scholarship Branch of MOE replied the next day, "Hi, in order for us to investigate the matter, cld you let us know the name of the foreign student?" I gave her Kimberly's particulars.

On 8th February 2003, my husband and I were in Bangkok on a business trip. On 10th Februay around 4pm, my hubby received a call from Andy. He sounded flustered and told hubby, the principal, Mrs Yap-Chou Weng Ha and vice-principal Mrs Kong of Bedok North Secondary School sent for Kimberly 4 times, to ask her if she had completed Grade 6. The parents were told to go to the school the next day. The parents were expecting bad news. Andy told my hubby that I had to call the school to explain as I was the 'source of the complaint'. I didn't.

I was supposed to return on 12th February but I came back a day earleir. When I checked my emails that day, I found a reply by Komathi on 10th February that read :

"We have investigated and note that the Highest Educational Level completed by Kimberly is grade 6 and not grade 5. She can be admitted to Secondary 1 as she is within permissible age and has passed the school placement test for secondary one admission."

Another email on 11th February read,

"Just to let you know that the school has reconfirmed that the child has completed only grade 5. We will follow up with the school accordingly."

Ridiculous!!! What sort of investigation took place???? What a joke!

What is the penalty for giving false information or lying to a civil servant? A fine or Jail. What's the penalty if a civil servant lies? I'm curious to find out.