Leading with heart: A chief marker's journey

Behind every national examination is a community of dedicated educators working quietly to ensure that every student is assessed fairly. One such educator is Mdm S Anitha, former Vice Principal of Xingnan Primary School, who spent six years as Chief Marker for the PSLE English Paper 2. Now retired, she looks back on a role defined not just by rigour, but by genuine care.

A role rooted in purpose

Mdm Anitha with students from Xingnan Primary School

For Mdm Anitha, the weight of the Chief Marker role was never lost on her. "Each year, I have been reminded of the importance of fairness, precision, and integrity in upholding our national assessment standards," she says. "It has always been fulfilling to know that our collective effort upholds the integrity and the trust placed in the national examination system."

Marking with intention

Mdm Anitha's approach to preparing her team stood out. Rather than simply reading through the passage, she would annotate it in different colours, highlighting key connections to help markers develop a quick, deep understanding of the text.

Ms Ellen Ang, Head of Department for English Language at Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School and one of Mdm Anitha's Assistant Chief Markers (ACMs), describes the impact: "It helps the markers really understand the passage very quickly without having to do the laborious task of reading it passively."

A team built on trust

Mdm S Anitha (in red) with her trusted team of Assistant Chief Markers

Over the years, Mdm Anitha cultivated a cohesive team where preparation became almost self-sustaining.

Mrs Ming Kum, Principal of Palm View Primary School and a Marking Centre Supervisor who worked alongside Mdm Anitha, highlights how Mdm Anitha also navigated the shift from physical script marking to onscreen marking. "She brings with her a wealth of experience. Her clarity of instructions is one. Her personality is one that is very down to earth, very warm, and very sincere."

A legacy that endures

A heartfelt send-off for Mdm Anitha from the marking team at Zhangde Primary School.

What colleagues remember most is Mdm Anitha's ability to connect the work to its larger purpose. Ms Yusnita Mohd Taib, Lead Teacher for English Language at West Grove Primary School, recalls how she rallied the team around their shared mission while never losing her personal warmth. "What glues all of us together is that personable warmth, love, and care that we share as a fraternity of teachers and markers across schools in Singapore."

Behind every PSLE script is a student's future. Mdm Anitha carried that responsibility with both rigour and heart — shaping not just marking standards, but the culture of assessment itself.

To hear her story in her own words, watch the full interview on SEAB's YouTube channel.