The Dec 30 Straits Times reported that Simran Kaur had jumped as her father was checking her results in the Primary School Leaving Examination with her school. Simran's result meant she was on the borderline between being sent to a Normal (Academic) or a Normal (Technical) secondary school. According to the paper, she had changed her score to make it appear she had gained a place in the Express stream.

The case is the latest to highlight the intense pressure on Singaporean children to do well at school. Surveys of 9-12 year-olds have found that one in three them find life not worth living because of the fear of academic failure.