This is higher than Singapore's national pass rate of 97.7 per cent.

Health Sciences polytechnic graduates who have completed National Service earn the highest median monthly gross salary of S$2,610, according to the 2015 Graduate Employment Survey.

A survey of 500 parents, conducted by The Straits Times and research company Nexus Link, found that only a third agreed that tuition actually pulled up academic performance by "a noticeable extent".

MOE also unveils new Edusave Skills Award for students in polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), which looks to recognise students who have demonstrated "excellent application of course-specific skills as well as soft skills in the course of their studies".