7 PSLE, N-Level students affected on Sep. 30 by EWL train disruption

As the East-West Line (EWL) train disruptions enter the sixth day, seven candidates sitting for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and N-Level exams were affected on Sep. 30.

According to the School Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), this is out of 41,000 candidates sitting for the 2024 PSLE exams, 5,700 candidates for the N(A)-Level science exams and 5,400 candidates for the N(T)-Level Mathematics and N(A) Additional Mathematics exams.

There were also papers in the morning and afternoon of Sep. 30.

7 affected by train disruption

"For the morning examinations, five candidates, comprising one PSLE candidate and four GCE N(A)-Level candidates, were late for their examinations due to the train disruption," said SEAB in response to Mothership's queries.

"Of the four GCE N(A)-Level candidates, three are private candidates."

For the afternoon examinations, SEAB stated that two candidates, one of whom was a private candidate, were affected by the train disruption for the N(T)-Level paper.

No candidate was late for the afternoon N(A)-Level paper.

"All seven candidates arrived before the end of their paper at their assigned centres and were given time to settle down and sit for the full duration of the papers," said SEAB.

On Sep. 26, five PSLE students were late for their exam due to train disruptions. They arrived before the paper ended, but they were also given time to settle down and the full duration of the paper.

Out of the five candidates, one sat for the examination in a different examination centre.

Will not be penalised

SEAB said on Sep. 25 that students taking the PSLE written examinations from Sep. 26 to Oct. 2 "will not be penalised for being late to their examinations due to train service disruptions".

According to a SEAB spokesperson, affected students who reach the examination centre before the end of the paper will be given the full duration.

The spokesperson added that there are existing arrangements for such situations and that students have been briefed.

Candidates are also advised to contact their schools if they are affected by the train disruption, and SEAB will work with the schools to support the candidates.

Regular service has resumed

Regular train services on the EWL between Jurong East and Buona Vista will resume on Tuesday (Oct. 1) from the start of passenger service hours, said LTA on Sep. 30.

Regular train services on the EWL between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations were disrupted for six days, starting on last Wednesday morning (Sep. 25).

The MRT disruption happened when a Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train that had been in service for over 35 years developed a fault.

As it was being withdrawn, it damaged the tracks, including the running rails and a third rail supplying power to the train.

LTA and SMRT said that after their engineers worked through the night, they found "extensive damage" to the track and trackside equipment.

Top photos via MOE/Facebook & SMRT/Facebook