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Education in Singapore

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Education in Singapore Ministry of Education

Minister Ng Eng Hen

National education budget (2006)

Budget: S$6.966 billion

General Details

Primary Languages: English

System Type: Curriculum

Total: 95.4

Enrollment

Total: 532225

Primary: 290261

Secondary: 213063

Post Secondary: 28901

v d e

Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), whichcontrols the development and administration of state schools receiving


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government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of

private schools. For both private and state schools, there are variations in the

extent of autonomy in their curriculum, scope of government aid and funding,

tuition burden on the students, and admission policy.[1]

Children with disabilities attend special education (SPED) schools run by

Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs), which are partially funded by the

Ministry of Education. Education spending usually makes up about 20 per cent of

the annual national budget, which subsidises state education and government-

assisted private education for Singaporean citizens and funds the Edusave

programme, the costs for which are significantly higher for non-citizens.

In 2000 the Compulsory Education Act[2] codified compulsory education forchildren of primary school age, and made it a criminal offence for parents to fail

to enroll their children in school and ensure their regular attendance.[3]

Exemptions are allowed for homeschooling or full-time religious institutions, but

parents must apply for exemption from the Ministry of Education and meet a

minimum benchmark.[4]. Special needs children are automatically exempted

from compulsory education.

In Singapore, English is the first language learned by half the children by the

time they reach preschool age and becomes the primary medium of instructionby the time they reach primary school. English is the language of instruction for

most subjects, especially mathematics and the natural sciences; the official

Mother Tongue languages are generally not taught in English, although there is

provision for the use of English at the initial stages. Certain schools, such as

secondary schools under the Special Assistance Plan (SAP), which encourages a

richer use of the mother tongue, may teach occasionally in English and another

language. A few schools have been experimenting with curricula that integrate

language subjects with mathematics and the sciences, using both English and a

second language.

Singapore's education system has been described as "world-leading" and in 2010

was among those picked out for praised by the British education minister Michael

Gove.[5]

Nuvola Singaporean flag.svg

Singapore English

Sports

Transport


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edit box

Contents

[hide]

* 1 Kindergartens

* 2 Primary education

o 2.1 Foundation stage

o 2.2 Orientation stage

o 2.3 Primary School Leaving Examination

* 3 Secondary education

o 3.1 Grade and scoring systems

o 3.2 Co-Curricular activities

+ 3.2.1 Uniformed Groups

+ 3.2.2 Performing Arts

+ 3.2.3 Clubs and societies

o 3.3 Gifted Education Programme

o 3.4 Integrated Programme

o 3.5 Admission to post-secondary institutions

* 4 Pre-university

o 4.1 Junior college

o 4.2 Centralised Institute

* 5 Diploma and vocational education

o 5.1 Polytechnics

o 5.2 Institute of Technical Education

* 6 Universities

* 7 International and private schools

* 8 Home Tuition

* 9 Education policies


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o 9.1 Meritocracy

o 9.2 Bilingualism (Mother Tongue)

o 9.3 Financial assistance

+ 9.3.1 Financial Assistance Scheme

+ 9.3.2 Edusave Merit Bursary

* 10 Development and future plans

o 10.1 Student exchange programmes

* 11 Statistics

o 11.1 Key statistics

o 11.2 Education qualification of population

o 11.3 Schools and Enrollment

* 12 International comparisons

* 13 Criticisms

* 14 References

* 15 External links

[edit] Kindergartens

Kindergartens in Singapore provide up to three years of pre-school for children

ages three to six. The three years are commonly called Nursery, Kindergarten 1

(K1) and Kindergarten 2 (K2), respectively.

Kindergartens provide an environment for children to learn how to interact with

others, and to prepare them for formal education at primary school. Activities

include learning language and numbers, development of personal and social

skills, games, music, and outdoor play. Children learn two languages, English and

their official mother tongue (Chinese, Malay, or Tamil). Many private or church-

based kindergartens might not offer Malay or Tamil, so non-Chinese pupils might

also learn some Chinese in these kindergartens.

The kindergartens are run by the private sector, including communityfoundations, religious bodies, and civic or business groups. There are more than


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200 kindergartens registered with the Ministry of Education. Kindergartens are

also run by child care centres as well as international schools.

[edit] Primary education

Primary education, normally starting at age seven, is a four-year foundation

stage (Primary 1 to 4) and a two-year orientation stage (Primary 5 to 6). Primary

education is compulsory and free, though there is a fee of up to SGD 13 monthly

per student to help cover miscellaneous costs.

[edit] Foundation stage

The foundation stage is the first stage of formal schooling. The four years, from

primary 1 to 4, provide a foundation in English, mother tongue (which includesChinese, Malay, Tamil or a Non-Tamil Indian Language (NTIL)) and Mathematics.

Other subjects include Civics and Moral Education, arts and crafts, music, health

education, social studies, and physical education, which are taught throughout

Primary 1 to 6. Science is taught from Primary 3 onwards.

[edit] Orientation stage

All pupils advance to the orientation stage after Primary 4, where English

Language, Mother Tongue and Mathematics are taught at the appropriate levelaccording to the pupil's ability. Schools are given the flexibility to develop their

own examinations to match pupils with the levels that suit them. The streaming

system has been adjusted: previously, pupils were divided at Primary 5 to the

EM1, EM2 and EM3 (English and Mother Tongue at 1st, 2nd and 3rd language

respectively) streams, but since 2008 they are streamed according to subject.

They can take their Mother Tongue at the higher, standard or foundation levels;

Science and Maths can be taken at the standard or foundation levels.

[edit] Primary School Leaving Examination

Main article: Primary School Leaving Examination

At the end of Primary 6, the national Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)

is held. The examination determines whether the student is ready to leave

primary school by passing; places in secondary schools are allocated according

to students' performance in the examination.

[edit] Secondary education

Students having assembly in the hall of Nan Hua High School.


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Raffles Institution (Secondary), the oldest school in Singapore.

The Ministry of Education Language Centre.

Based on results of the PSLE, students are placed in different secondary

education tracks or streams: "Special", "Express", "Normal (Academic)", or

"Normal (Technical)"

"Special" and Express are four-year courses leading up to the Singapore-

Cambridge GCE O' Level examination. The difference between these two courses

is that in the "Special" stream, students take 'Higher Mother Tongue' (available

for Chinese, Malay and Tamil only) instead of 'Mother Tongue'. A pass in the

Higher Mother Tongue 'O' Level Examination constitutes the fulfilment of the

Mother Tongue requirement in Singapore, whereas Normal Mother Tongue

Students will have to go through one more year of study in their Mother Tongue

after their 'O' Levels to take the 'AS' Level Mother Tongue Examinations and fulfil

the MOE's requirement. A foreign language, either French, German, or Japanese,

can be taken in addition to the mother tongue or can replace it. This is especially

popular with students who are struggling with their mother tongues, expatriates,

or students returning from abroad. Non-Chinese students may also study

Chinese and non-Malay students Malay as a third language. This programme is

known as CSP (Chinese Special Programme) and MSP (Malay Special

Programme). Mother Tongue teachers conduct these lessons in school after

usual hours. Students of Higher Mother Tongue languages are allowed to have

up to two points taken off their O-level scoring,[6] a scoring system discussed

below where a lower value is considered better, if they meet set benchmarks.

The Ministry of Education Language Centre (MOELC) provides free language

education for most additional languages that other schools may not cover, and

provides the bulk of such education, admitting several thousand students each

year.

Normal is a four-year course leading up to a Normal-level (N-level) exam, withthe possibility of a fifth year followed by an O-level. Normal is split into Normal

(Academic) and Normal (Technical). In Normal (Technical), students take

subjects of a more technical nature, such as Design and Technology, while in

Normal (Academic) students are prepared to take the O-level exam and normally

take subjects such as Principles of Accounting. In 2004, the Ministry of Education

announced that selected students in the Normal course would have an

opportunity to sit for the O-level exam directly without first taking the N-level

exam.


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With the exception of schools offering the Integrated Programme, which leads to

either an International Baccalaureate Diploma or to an A-level exam, most

students are streamed into a wide range of course combinations at the end of

their second year, bringing the total number of subjects they have to sit at O-

level to between six to ten, with English, Mother Tongue or Higher Mother

Tongue Language, Mathematics, one Science and one Humanities Elective being

compulsory. Several new subjects such as Computing and Theatre Studies and

Drama are being introduced in tandem with the Ministry of Education's revised

curriculum. Subjects usually taken at O-Level are:

Languages group:

1. English Language

2. Mother Tongue Languages (Chinese Language, Malay Language and Tamil

Language)

3. Non-Tamil Indian Languages (Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu

languages)

4. Higher Mother Tongue Languages (Higher Chinese Language, Higher Malay

Language and Higher Tamil Language)

5. Foreign Languages (French, German, Japanese)

6. Asian Languages (Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia)

7. Other Third Languages [Chinese (Special Programme), Malay (Special

Programme)]

Humanities group:

1. Humanities electives (History/geography/literature electives and social

studies)

2. History

3. Geography

4. Literature in English

5. Chinese literature

6. Malay literature


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7. Tamil literature

8. Higher art (Art Elective Programme)

9. Higher music (Music Elective Programme)

10. Principles of Accounting

Mathematics & Science Group:

1. Mathematics

2. Additional mathematics

3. Physics

4. Chemistry

5. Biology

6. Combined Sciences (any two from Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

7. Integrated Sciences

Others:

1. General art

2. Design and technology

3. Music

4. Computer Applications

5. Elements of Office Administration (until 2008)

6. Elements of Business Skills (2009 onwards)

7. Food and nutrition

8. Religious studies (Confucian Ethics, Buddhist Studies, Islamic Religious

Knowledge, Bible Studies, Sikh Studies, etc.)

9. O-Level School-Initiated Electives [OSIEs] (Economics, Computer Studies,

etc.)


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The list above is not exhaustive, and does not include new subjects such as

Computing and Theatre Studies and Drama, or less common subjects, such as

Integrated Sciences.

Compulsory Subjects for a GCE 'O' Level candidate

1. English Language

2. Mother Tongue (Chinese, Tamil, Malay, Others)

3. Mathematics (Elementary)

4. Combined Humanities (SS+GEOGE/HISE/LITE/ECONSE)

5. Science (Either 1 combined science or 2 pure sciences)

6. One other subject (Art, POA, DnT, FnN etc.)

Candidates must take at least 6 subjects which must include the above core (EL,

MT, MA, HUM, SCI) subjects.

[edit] Grade and scoring systems

Most schools commonly follow the kind of grading system awarded at the

Singapore-Cambridge GCE "O" level examination, which a student sits at the end

of four or five years of secondary education, taking at least 6 subjects. The level

of achievement in each subject is indicated by the grade obtained, with A1 being

the highest achievable grade and F9 the lowest:

* A1/A2 (Distinction)

* B3/B4 (Merit)

* C5/C6 (Credit/Pass)

* D7 (Sub-Pass/fail, that is, passing at a lower standard in the exam or fail)

* E8/F9 (Fail)

A student's overall academic performance is measured through several points

scoring system (such as the L1R5, L1B5 and L1R4 scoring system) depending onwhich type of post-secondary institution a student is intending to apply for. Each


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grade has a point value respective to it, for example, with grade A1 being 1

point, A2 being 2 points, and B3 being 3 points. Thus, the fewer the points

obtained, the better the score. For example, in the L1R5 scoring system, the

student's L1 or first language (either English or Higher Mother Tongue Language)

and R5 or relevant 5 subjects (which must include at least one from the Science

& Mathematics group, one from the Humanities group, and excluding subjects

such as Religious Studies, Mother Tongue "B" and CCA). Consequently, an L1R5

score of 6 points is considered the best score attainable for entrance to a Junior

College. A student requires an L1R5 score of below 20 points to be eligible for

Junior College. On top of that, students must also pass English and Mother

Tongue.

For non-major examinations, several schools use a Mean Subject Grade (MSG)

scoring system, while schools running the Integrated Programme (IP) may also

use the Grade Point Average (GPA) scoring system.

[edit] Co-Curricular activities

"Co-Curricular Activities" (CCA) are compulsory at the secondary level, where all

pupils must participate in at least one core activity, and participation is graded

together with other achievements throughout the four years in a scoring system

known as LEAPS ("Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation, Service").

There are many co-curricular activities offered at the secondary level, and each

student is judged based in these areas. Competitions and performances are

regularly organized. Co-curricular activities are often categorized under the

following: Uniformed Groups, Performing Arts, Clubs & Societies and Sports &

Games. Students may also participate in more than 1 CCA.

[edit] Uniformed Groups

The main uniform groups are NCC (National Cadet Corps), NPCC (National Police

Cadet Corps), NCDCC (National Civil Defence Cadet Corps), St John Ambulance

Brigade, Red Cross Youth, Singapore Scout Association, Girl Guides, the Boys

Brigade and the Girls Brigade. Students are expected to learn drills and must

wear the respective uniforms.

This is to prepare male students for National Service (NS) when they reach the

age of 18. Besides military drills, they also learn skills such as team-bonding and

first-aid.

[edit] Performing Arts


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Performing Arts CCAs vary from school to school, although most will include the

Choir, Military/Concert/Symphonic Band, Chinese Orchestra, Dance groups for

different ethnic cultures, Drama and Debate. Most are oriented towards

performing and the musical arts.

[edit] Clubs and societies

There is a broad range of clubs and societies, ranging from Singapore Youth

Flying Club to Robotics, Media and Infocomm Clubs and martial arts.

[edit] Gifted Education Programme

Main article: Gifted Education Programme (Singapore)

The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) was set up by the Ministry of Education

in 1984 amid some public concern to cater to the intellectually gifted students.

As of 2005, the schools participating consisted of 9 primary schools Anglo-

Chinese School (Primary), Catholic High School (Primary), Henry Park Primary

School, Nan Hua Primary School, Nanyang Primary School, Rosyth School, Tao

Nan School, St. Hilda's Primary School, and Raffles Girls' Primary School. Seven

secondary schools originally started the programme, but with the introduction of

the Integrated Programme, most have folded the GEP programmes into their IP

curriculum. The two remaining secondary GEP schools are Anglo-Chinese School

(Independent), an independent all-boys IB School, and Dunman High School, amixed autonomous government school; the autonomous all-boys Victoria School

had to suspend GEP classes due to low enrolment, with GEP students preferring

IP schools.

Pupils enter the programme through a series of tests at Primary 3, which will

identify the top 1 per cent of the student population. A second selection used to

be conducted at Primary 6 for those who do well in the PSLE, but this was

discontinued after it was found to be too difficult for these students to catch up

with the programme. In the programme, pupils are offered special enrichmentprogrammes to cater for their needs. However, not all students in GEP are

successful. Some are not accustomed to the fast pace of study which affects

their performance in the core subjects and may choose not to continue the

programme at the secondary level.

The Secondary School Gifted Education Programme was discontinued at the end

of 2008 as more students take the Integrated Programme (IP).[7]

[edit] Integrated Programme


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Main article: Integrated Programme

Hwa Chong Institution was the first school in Singapore to offer the Integrated

Programme.

The Integrated Programme, also known as the "Through-Train Programme" (

), is a scheme which allows the most able secondary students in Singapore to

bypass "O" levels and take "A" levels, International Baccalaureate or an

equivalent examination directly at the age of 18 after six years of secondary

education.

The programme allows for more time to be allocated to enrichment activities. By

bypassing the GCE "O" level examinations, the students are supposedly given

more time and flexibility to immerse themselves in a more broadly-based

education. In addition, the students enjoy more freedom in the combination of

subjects between Year 1 - 4 as compared to their non-IP counterparts. Generally,

only the top performers (usually from Special, and sometimes Express, stream)

are eligible to be part of the IP programme. This will ensure that the main body

of the students pursue their secondary education at their own pace by first

completing a 4-year "O" level course before going on to a 2-year "A" level

education (as opposed to a 2-year "O" level and 4-year "A" level education).

As a result, schools operating the IP programme allow their students to skip the

"O" levels at Secondary 4 and go straight into junior colleges (JCs) in Year5/JC1.

The Integrated Programme or the International Baccalaureate Diploma

Programme has become an increasingly popular alternative to normal secondary

education as it is seen to have moved away from the emphasis on the mere

sciences, a side effect from the post-independence need for quick and basic

education, to more refined subjects such as philosophy or political science, as

well as the fact that scientific concepts are more heavily emphasised than

before, as it is judged on the work of the student, rather than through an

examination. The programme is more project-based and students are expectedto be independent learners.

The first batch of IP students sat for the revised GCE "A" Level or International

Baccalaureate Diploma examinations in 2007.

Some of the schools which offer the IP / IB programmes in Singapore are:


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* Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (IP - IB)

* Dunman High School (IP + Bicultural Studies Programme)

* National Junior College (IP)

* NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (IP - NUS High School Diploma)

* Nanyang Girls' High School (IP + Bicultural Studies Programme)

* River Valley High School (IP + Bicultural Studies Programme)

* Temasek Junior College (IP + Chinese Language elective Programme)

* Hwa Chong Institution (IP + Bicultural Studies Programme)

* Raffles Institution (Junior College) (IP)

* Raffles Girls' School (Secondary)

* Raffles Institution (Secondary)

* Victoria Junior College (IP)

[edit] Admission to post-secondary institutions

Upon completion of the 4- or 5-year secondary school education, students(excluding IP students) will participate in the annual Singaporean GCE 'O' Level,

the results of which determine which pre-universities or post-secondary

institutions they may apply for. Pre-university centres include junior colleges for

a two-year course leading up to GCE 'A' Level, or the Millennia Institute for a

three-year course leading up to GCE 'A' Level. Both junior colleges and the

Millennia Institute accept students on merit, with a greater emphasis on

academics than professional technical education. Students who wishes to pursue

for a professional-centred diploma education go on instead to post-secondary

institutions such as the polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education

(ITE).

Admission to a two-year pre-university course at junior colleges after graduating

from secondary school is determined by the L1R5 (first language + 5 relevant

subjects) scoring system. This scoring system is based on the 'O' Level subject

grades, which range from A1 (best) to F9 (worst). The candidate adds the

numerical grades for six different subjects: English (or another language taken at

the 'first language' level), a Humanities subject, a Science/Mathematics subject,

a Humanities/Science/Mathematics subject, and two other subjects of any kind.

The best L1R5 unmodified score is therefore 6, for a student with A1 grades in

six subjects which meet the criteria.


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Students scoring 20 points and below may be admitted for either a Science or

Arts Course. In addition, a student must also achieve at least a C6 grade, which

is 50% or higher, in the GCE 'O' Level English Language and Mathematics papers

in order to qualify for junior college admission. Pre-university centres that areparticularly associated with academic excellence, however, usually expect

students to attain points in the single digits, in order to be admitted. This is

because the system is merit-driven, with places given to those with lower scores

first.

For admission to a three-year pre-university course at the Millennia Institute, the

L1R4 (first language + 4 relevant subjects) scoring system is used, and students

are expected to score below 20 points to be admitted. Students may opt for any

of the science, arts or commerce streams when pursuing a three-year pre-university course.

For students seeking admission to diploma courses in polytechnics, the L1R2B2

(first language + 2 relevant subjects + 2 best subjects of any kind) scoring

system is used. However, students will also be required to meet specific

prerequisites outlined by the different polytechnic schools they are applying for.

Students applying for courses in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

Colleges will also have an independent scoring system, depending on the course

they are applying for.

Bonus points can be deducted from a student's raw score, thus lowering it. These

bonus points may come from either scoring an 'A' or 'B' grade in CCA, taking

Higher Mother Tongue Language and obtaining a minimum of 'D7', or through

affiliation (for feeder schools). Bonus points are capped at 4, except for those

applying to schools offering Chinese Language Elective Programme (CLEP) or

Malay Language Elective Programme (MLEP).

[edit] Pre-university

The pre-university centres of Singapore are designed for upper-stream students

(roughly about 20%-25% of the cohort) who wish to pursue a university degree

after two to three years of pre-university education, rather than stopping after

polytechnic post-secondary education.

There are 18 Junior Colleges (JCs) and a Centralised Institute (CI), the MillenniaInstitute (MI, established 2004), with the National Junior College (NJC, established


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1969) being the oldest and Innova Junior College (IJC, established 2005) the

newest.

[edit] Junior college

Main article: Junior college (Singapore)

Junior colleges in Singapore were designed to offer an accelerated alternative to

the traditional three-year programme, but the two-year programme they offer

has become the norm for students pursuing university education. JCs have also

become synonymous with prestigious education. The Public Service Commission

and other coveted scholarships (such as the FireFly, A*STAR and the President's

Scholarship) are largely or exclusively reserved for these students.

JCs accept students based on their GCE "O" Level results; an L1R5 score of 20

points or less must be attained for a student to gain admission. JCs provide a 2-

year course leading up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level ("A"

level) examination. The CI accepts students based on their GCE "O" Level results;

an L1R4 score of 20 points or less must be attained for a student to gain

admission. The MI provides a 3-year course leading up to the Singapore-

Cambridge GCE Advanced Level ("A" level) examination.

[edit] Centralised Institute

The Centralised Institutes accept students based on their GCE "O" level results

and their L1R4 score (which must be 20 points or below). A Centralised Institute

provides a three-year course leading up to a GCE "A" level examination. There

were originally four Centralized Institutes: Outram Institute, Townsville Institute,

Jurong Institute and Seletar Institute. Townsville Institute and Seletar Institute

stopped accepting new students after the 1995 school year and closed down

after the last batch of students graduated in 1997.

There currently remains only one Centralised Institute in Singapore, the Millennia

Institute, which was formed following the merger of Jurong and Outram

Institutes. Additionally, only Centralised Institutes offer the Commerce Stream

offering subjects such as Principles of Accounting and Management of Business.

The standard of teaching and curriculum is identical to that of the Junior

Colleges.

[edit] Diploma and vocational education

[edit] Polytechnics


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Polytechnics in Singapore provide 3-year diploma courses and, they accept

students based on their GCE "O" level, GCE "A" level or Institute of Technical

Education (ITE) results.

Polytechnics offer a wide range of courses in various fields, including

engineering, business studies, accountancy, tourism and hospitality

management, mass communications, digital media and biotechnology. There are

also specialised courses such as marine engineering, nautical studies, nursing,

and optometry. They provide a more industry-oriented education as an

alternative to junior colleges for post-secondary studies. About 40% of each

Secondary 4 cohort would enrol in Polytechnics.[8]

There are five polytechnics in Singapore, namely:

* Singapore Polytechnic

* Ngee Ann Polytechnic

* Republic Polytechnic

* Nanyang Polytechnic

* Temasek Polytechnic

Graduates of polytechnics with good grades can continue to pursue further

tertiary education at the universities, and many overseas universities, notably

those in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, give exemptions for

modules completed in Polytechnic.

Polytechnics have also been actively working with many foreign universities to

provide their graduates a chance to study niche University Courses locally. For

example, Ngee Ann Polytechnic has engaged with Chapman University in the

U.S. to provide a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Producing for graduates of the

School's Film and Media Studies department. Nanyang Polytechnic, likewise, has

tied up with the University of Stirling in Scotland to provide a course in Retail

Marketing.

[edit] Institute of Technical Education

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) accepts students based on their GCE

"O" level or GCE "N" level results and they provide 2-year courses leading to a


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locally recognised "National ITE Certificate." There are 10 ITE Colleges in

Singapore. A few ITE graduates continue their education at polytechnics and

universities. ITE students are sometimes seen as being less capable and possibly

less successful than polytechnic or JC students. Recent speeches by Prime

Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister of Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam

have pointed out that there can be different definitions and types of success, in a

bid to work towards a more inclusive society. However, this has mostly been lip

service, with little concrete action being taken to give ITE students greater

recognition or address the stigmatisation that exists.[citation needed] This is

admittedly a difficult job as such views have been ingrained in society for many

years.

ITE provides three main levels of certification:

* Master National ITE Certificate (Master Nitec)

* Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher Nitec)

* National ITE Certificate (Nitec)

There are also other skills certification through part-time apprenticeship courses

conducted jointly by ITE and industrial companies.

[edit] Universities

See also: List of universities and colleges in Singapore

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants

academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both

undergraduate education and postgraduate education.

Singapore currently has two full-fledged public universities (National University

of Singapore & Nanyang Technological University), and two full-fledged private

universities (SMU & UniSIM). However, UniSIM accepts only adult learners in

general, so A-level and Diploma students may apply only to SMU, NUS, NTU,

several foreign university offshore campuses, and more than ten other private

tertiary institutions offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

The Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore eachhave more than 20,000 students and provide a wide range of undergraduate and


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postgraduate degree programmes including doctoral degrees. Both are also

established research universities with thousands of research staff and graduate

students.

A third university, Singapore Management University (SMU), opened in 2000,

focusing on business and management courses. The fourth university, privately-

run SIM University (UniSIM), opened in 2005. Both private universities are funded

by the government.

The University of New Brunswick, Queen Margaret University, The City University

of New York, Baruch College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Aventis School of

Management, Curtin University of Technology & University of Wales Institute,

Cardiff have established offshore campuses in Singapore to provide local andforeign (in particular, Asian) students the opportunity to obtain a Western

university education at a fraction of the cost it would take to study in Canada,

the UK, the U.S.A. or Australia. University of New Brunswick College, Singapore,

Queen Margaret University, Asia Campus, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Asia

began operations in Singapore between 2007 and 2008, with the Curtin

University of Technology Singapore Campus & University of Wales Institute,

Cardiff: Asia Campus due to join them in December 2008.

The government has planned the fourth public university, Singapore University ofTechnology and Design (SUTD), to meet the rising demand for university

education. It will start its operations at Changi in 2011.[9]

A fifth public university Singapore Institute of Technology to be started in 2011

was announced in 2010. The university is intended as a university for polytechnic

graduates[10].

[edit] International and private schools

Building of ACS (International), one of the newest international schools.

Due to its large expatriate community, Singapore is host to many international

schools, one of which, the Singapore American School has one of the largest

intakes of international students in the world. Most employers in Singapore pay

part or all of their employees' children's school fees. International and private

schools in Singapore generally do not admit Singapore students without

permission from the Ministry of Education.


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However, on 29 April 2004 the Ministry of Education permitted two new

international schools to be set up without permission being needed to admit

Singapore students. These schools must follow the compulsory policies set by

the Ministry such as playing the national anthem and taking the pledge every

morning, as well as following the nation's policies on bilingualism. Both of these

schools are private school arms of two renowned schools -- Anglo-Chinese School

(International) and Hwa Chong International. The school fees are around 15 to 20

percent lower than those of foreign international schools. Their intake is mainly

Singaporeans, with nationalities from various countries including Malaysia, India,

People's Republic of China, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam,

Netherlands, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

The Council for Private Education (CPE)

Established under the Private Education Act, the Council for Private Education is

a statutory board empowered with the legislative power to regulate the private

education sector. In addition to its role as the sectoral regulator of private

education institutions, the Council facilitates capability development efforts to

uplift standards in the local private education industry.

On 20 May 2010,The Council for Private Education (CPE) has registered the first

batch of private education institutions (PEIs) under the Enhanced RegistrationFramework (ERF). Following the launch of the new private education regulatory

regime on 21 Dec 2009, all PEIs within the regulatory scope of the Private

Education Act are required to register with the CPE under the ERF. Under the

Enhanced Registration Framework, private institutions must meet requirements

relating to their managers, teachers, courses and examination boards. Out of

308 which applied, less than a third were given the stamp of approval and

students are relieved that their school has made the mark. Only 63 ERF

applications have been evaluated by the CPE, of which 36 PEIs have been

registered for a period of four years, and 26 PEIs have been registered for one

year. The registration period awarded to a PEI is dependent on its degree ofcompliance with the Private Education Regulations.

The following PEIs have been awarded four-year registration period under the

ERF

* Bulleted list item

* Academies Australasia College


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Academy Of Human Development Advent Links-Sauc Education Centre Ascensia

Academy Asia Institute Of Management At-Sunrice Academy Aventis School Of

Management BMC International College City College CSM Academy International

Curtin Education Centre East Asia Institute Of Management ERC InstituteInformatics Academy Insworld School International School Of Design &

Technology Ivy Education Centre Kaplan Higher Education Academy Kaplan

Learning Institute Learning Capital College Management Development Institute

Of Singapore Marketing Institute Of Singapore Training Centre MDIS College

Parkway College Of Nursing & Allied Health PSB Academy SAA Global Education

Centre SGP International Management Academy Shelton College International

Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute Of Business Singapore Institute Of

Management Singapore Institute Of Materials Management SSTC School For

Further Education STET Institute TMC Academy Tourism Management Institute Of

Singapore Yuvabharathi International School

[edit] Home Tuition

Parents are seeking additional help at home to improve their children's grade

and to empower them with the latest practical education strategies to achieve

their full potential academically.

[edit] Education policies

[edit] Meritocracy

Meritocracy is a basic political ideology in Singapore and a fundamental principle

in the education system which aims to identify and groom bright young students

for positions of leadership. The system places a great emphasis on academic

performance in grading students and granting their admission to special

programmes and universities, though this has raised concerns about breeding

elitism.[11] Academic grades are considered as objective measures of the

students' ability and effort, irrespective of their social background.[12] Having

good academic credentials is seen as the most important factor for the students'

career prospects in the job market, and their future economic status.[13]

Curricula are therefore closely tied to examinable topics, and the

competitiveness of the system led to a proliferation of ten year series, which are

compilation books of past examination papers that students use to prepare for

examinations.

[edit] Bilingualism (Mother Tongue)


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Bilingualism, or mother tongue policy, is a cornerstone of the Singapore

education system. While English is the first language and the medium of

instruction in schools, most students are required to take a "Mother Tongue"

subject, which could be one of the three official languages: Chinese, Malay or

Tamil. A non-Tamil Indian may choose to offer Tamil or a non-official language

such as Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi or Urdu. Mother Tongue is a compulsory

examinable subject at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and the

GCE "N", "O" and "A" level examinations. Students are required to achieve a

certain level of proficiency in their mother tongue as a pre-requisite for

admission to local universities. Students returning from overseas may be

exempted from this policy.[14]

The bilingual policy was first adopted in 1966.[15] One of its primary objectives

is to promote English as the common (and neutral) language among the diverse

ethnic groups in Singapore. The designation of English as the first language is

also intended to facilitate Singapore's integration into the world economy.[16]

In recognition of Singapore's linguistic and cultural pluralism, another stated

objective of the bilingual policy is to educate students with their "mother

tongues" so that they can learn about their culture, identify with their ethnic

roots, and to preserve cultural traits and Asian values.[15] Within the Chinese

population, Mandarin is promoted as a common language and other Chinese

dialects are discouraged,[clarification needed] to better integrate[clarificationneeded] the community. In 1979, the Speak Mandarin Campaign was launched

to further advance this goal.[17]

[edit] Financial assistance

Education policy in Singapore is designed to ensure that no child is left behind in

education even if they do not have the financial capacity to pay school fees.

Therefore, school fees in public schools are heavily subsidized, so that students

pay as little as SGD 13 for fees.[18] In addition, there are many possibleassistance schemes from either the government or welfare organisations to help

students cope with finances during their studies. Some of these are listed below.

[edit] Financial Assistance Scheme

The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is an MOE programme to provide

financial assistance for education to low income families with monthly household

income of less than SGD 1,500 or SGD 1,800, depending on the number of

children in the household.[19]


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Students eligible for FAS receive a full waiver of miscellaneous fees, and partial

subsidy on national examination fees. They may also enjoy full or partial fee

subsidy if they are in Independent Schools. In 2005, there were 15,000 recipients

of FAS; MOE is expecting this number to increase to 33,500 following an

enhancement of the FAS in 2006.[19]

[edit] Edusave Merit Bursary

Main article: Edusave

Each year, the Edusave Merit Bursary (EMB) is given out to about 40,000

students, who are from lower-middle and low-income families and have good

academic performance in their schools.[19]

[edit] Development and future plans

[edit] Student exchange programmes

About 120 of the 353 primary and secondary schools in Singapore have some

form of exchange programmes which allow students to visit overseas schools. In

2005, the Ministry of Education set up a SGD 4.5 million School Twinning Fund to

facilitate 9,000 primary and secondary school students to participate in these

exchange programmes, particularly in ASEAN countries, China and India.[20]

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Key statistics

Sources:

* Yearbook of Statistics Singapore, 2004[21]

* Singapore Budget 2006[22]

* Education Statistics Digest 2009[23]

Government budget for education SGD 5.2bn (2005)[22]

at 19.3% of total budget, 3.1000053453467 of GDP

Ratio of students to teaching staffs (Primary) 21.4 pupils (2009)[23]

Ratio of students to teaching staffs (Secondary) 17.9 pupils (2009)[23]


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Enrolment ratio, aged 620 years 87.4% (2004)[21]

Literacy rate (aged 15 years and above) 94.6% (2004)[21]

Mean years of schooling (aged 25 years and above) 8.8 years (2004)[21]

[edit] Education qualification of population

Source: Census 2000.[24]

Resident non-students aged 15 years and over by highest qualification attained

Highest qualification attained Population (2000)[24] Percentage (2000)[24]

Angle Sector (2000)[24]

Total 2,277,401 100.0% 360.0

No qualification 445,444 19.6% 70.6

Primary - PSLE 276,542 12.1% 43.6

Lower secondary - Sec 1-3 248,598 10.9% 39.2

Secondary - 'N' & 'O' levels 560,570 24.6% 88.6

Upper secondary - 'A' level, Nitec & Higher Nitec 226,275 9.9% 35.6

Polytechnic - Diploma 140,970 6.2% 22.3

Other Diploma 112,371 4.9% 17.6

University - Degree, Masters & Ph. D 266,631 11.7% 42.1

[edit] Schools and Enrollment

Source: Singapore Education Statistics Digest 2008[23]

Type of School Number of schools (2008)[23]

Kindergarten 200+ (2004)

Primary Government 133

Government-aided 41

Secondary Government 120

Government-aided 28

Independent 5

Specialised 1


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Mixed Level1 Government 5

Autonomous 3

Independent 6

Junior College

Centralised Institute Government 9

Government-Aided 4

Independent 1

1. This category includes Full School, 6th Form School and JC Plus.

Type of School Enrollment (2008)[23] Number of teachers (2008)[23]

Primary 272,097 12,723

Secondary 201,531 10,454

Mixed Level1 30,981 2,112

Junior College

Centralised Institute 24,232 1,997

1. This Category include Full School, 6th Forms School and JC Plus.

[edit] International comparisons

International educational scores (1997)

(13-year-old's average score, TIMSS

Third International Math and Science Study, 1997)

Countries:

(sample) Global

rank Maths Science

Score Rank Score Rank

Singapore 1 643 1 607 1


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Japan 2 605 3 571 3

South Korea 3 607 2 565 4

Czech Republic 4 564 6 574 2

England 18 506 25 552 10

Thailand 20 522 20 525 21

Germany 22 509 23 531 19

France 23 538 13 498 28

United States 24 500 28 534 17

Source: 1997 TIMSS, in The Economist, March 29th 1997.

Singapore students took first place in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 TIMSS Trends in

International Mathematics and Science Study. They used Singapore Math Primary

Mathematics series. The national textbooks have been adapted into a series

which has been successfully marketed in North America as a rival to Saxon math

and an alternative to controversial reform mathematics curricula, which many

parents complained moved too far away from the sort of traditional basic skills

instruction exemplified by Singapore's national curriculum.

[edit] Criticisms

Critics of the education system, including some parents, state that the education

system is too specialised, rigid, and elitist. Often, these criticisms state that

there is little emphasis on creative thinking, unlike education systems in other

societies, such as those in the United States.[citation needed] Those defending

the current education system point out that Singaporean students have regularly

ranked top when competing in international science and mathematics

competitions and assessments. Detractors believe this is more an indication of

students' skills in using rote to prepare for a certain style of competition orexamination than of their ability to think critically.

In response to such concerns the Ministry of Education has recently introduced a

greater focus on creative and critical thinking, and on learning for life-long skills

rather than simply learning to excel in examinations. However, this is still not the

case and many Singaporean children are pressured on by their parents and

teachers to do well in studies.


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There have also been complaints about excessive educational streaming at a

young age. A popular local film, I Not Stupid, highlights the competitiveness of

the system and the social stigma that students struggling with studies have to

face. The best students are streamed into the best and normal classes, while the

others are streamed into the foundation class, where teachers usually allow

them to get worse, since they are part of the "ungifted" class.

Supporters of the system assert that the provision of differentiated curricula

according to streams since the late 1970s has allowed students with different

abilities and learning styles to develop and sustain an interest in their studies.

This ability-driven education has since been a key feature behind Singapore's

success in education, and was responsible for bringing drop-out rates down

sharply.

In recent years, while streaming still exists, various refinements to the policy

have been made. There is now greater flexibility for students to cross over

different streams or take subjects in other streams, which alleviates somewhat

the stigma attached to being in any single stream. Furthermore, the government

is now starting to experiment with ability-banding in other ways - such as

subject-based banding in Primary Schools instead of banding by overall

academic performance.

By contrast, standards-based education reform in the United States seeks to

eliminate tracking by setting one high standard and expectation for all. The

principle of continuous improvement is thought to enable success for all

students, although in most states, all groups still achieve at different levels in

the current and foreseeable future. Mathematics reform in North America was

driven by the NCTM standards in a direction away from mastery of basic skills.

[edit] ReferencesEducation in Singapore

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Its factual accuracy isdisputed.Tagged since October 2008. It may betoo long. Some content may need to be summarized or split. Tagged

since July 2010.

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June 2010.

Education in Singapore
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Ministry of Education

Minister Ng Eng Hen

National education budget(2006)

Budget: S$6.966 billion

General Details

Primary Languages: English

System Type: Curriculum

Total: 95.4

Enrollment

Total: 532225

Primary: 290261

Secondary: 213063

Post Secondary: 28901

vde

Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), which controlsthe development and administration ofstate schoolsreceiving governmentfunding, but alsohas an advisory and supervisory role in respect ofprivate schools. For both private and stateschools, there are variations in the extent of autonomy in their curriculum, scope ofgovernment aid and funding, tuition burden on the students, and admission policy.[1]

Children with disabilities attend special education (SPED) schools run by Voluntary WelfareOrganisations (VWOs), which are partially funded by the Ministry of Education. Educationspending usually makes up about 20 per cent of the annual national budget, which subsidisesstate education and government-assisted private education for Singaporean citizens and fundsthe Edusaveprogramme, the costs for which are significantly higher for non-citizens.

In 2000 the Compulsory Education Act[2]codifiedcompulsory education for children ofprimary schoolage, and made it a criminal offencefor parents to fail to enroll their childrenin school and ensure their regular attendance.[3] Exemptions are allowed forhomeschooling orfull-time religious institutions, but parents must apply for exemption from the Ministry ofEducation and meet a minimum benchmark.[4]. Special needs children are automaticallyexempted from compulsory education.

In Singapore, Englishis the first language learned by half the children by the time they reachpreschool age and becomes the primary medium of instruction by the time they reachprimaryschool. English is the language of instruction for most subjects, especially mathematics andthe natural sciences; the official Mother Tongue languages are generally not taught inEnglish, although there is provision for the use of English at the initial stages. Certainschools, such as secondary schools under the Special Assistance Plan (SAP), whichencourages a richer use of the mother tongue, may teach occasionally in English and anotherlanguage. A few schools have been experimenting with curricula that integrate language

subjects with mathematics and the sciences, using both English and a second language.
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Singapore's education system has been described as "world-leading" and in 2010 was amongthose picked out for praised by the British education ministerMichael Gove.[5]

Singapore English

Sports

Transportedit box

Contents

[hide]

1 Kindergartens 2 Primary education

o 2.1 Foundation stage

o 2.2 Orientation stage

o 2.3 Primary School Leaving Examination

3 Secondary educationo 3.1 Grade and scoring systems

o 3.2 Co-Curricular activities

3.2.1 Uniformed Groups 3.2.2 Performing Arts

3.2.3 Clubs and societieso 3.3 Gifted Education Programme

o 3.4 Integrated Programmeo 3.5 Admission to post-secondary institutions

4 Pre-universityo 4.1 Junior college

o 4.2 Centralised Institute

5 Diploma and vocational educationo 5.1 Polytechnics

o 5.2 Institute of Technical Education

6 Universities 7 International and private schools 8 Home Tuition 9 Education policies

o 9.1 Meritocracy

o 9.2 Bilingualism (Mother Tongue)

o 9.3 Financial assistance

9.3.1 Financial Assistance Scheme

9.3.2 Edusave Merit Bursary 10 Development and future plans

o 10.1 Student exchange programmes

11 Statisticso 11.1 Key statistics

o 11.2 Education qualification of population

o 11.3 Schools and Enrollment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Govehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Govehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Life_in_Singapore&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Kindergartenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Primary_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Foundation_stagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Orientation_stagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Primary_School_Leaving_Examinationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Secondary_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Grade_and_scoring_systemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Co-Curricular_activitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Uniformed_Groupshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Performing_Artshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Clubs_and_societieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Gifted_Education_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Integrated_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Admission_to_post-secondary_institutionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Pre-universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Junior_collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Centralised_Institutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Diploma_and_vocational_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Polytechnicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Institute_of_Technical_Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Universitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#International_and_private_schoolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Home_Tuitionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Education_policieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Meritocracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Bilingualism_.28Mother_Tongue.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Financial_assistancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Financial_Assistance_Schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Edusave_Merit_Bursaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Development_and_future_planshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Student_exchange_programmeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Statisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Key_statisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Education_qualification_of_populationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Schools_and_Enrollmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuvola_Singaporean_flag.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Govehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Life_in_Singapore&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singaporehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Kindergartenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Primary_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Foundation_stagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Orientation_stagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Primary_School_Leaving_Examinationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Secondary_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Grade_and_scoring_systemshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Co-Curricular_activitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Uniformed_Groupshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Performing_Artshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Clubs_and_societieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Gifted_Education_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Integrated_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Admission_to_post-secondary_institutionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Pre-universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Junior_collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Centralised_Institutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Diploma_and_vocational_educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Polytechnicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Institute_of_Technical_Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Universitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#International_and_private_schoolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Home_Tuitionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Education_policieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Meritocracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Bilingualism_.28Mother_Tongue.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Financial_assistancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Financial_Assistance_Schemehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Edusave_Merit_Bursaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Development_and_future_planshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Student_exchange_programmeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Statisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Key_statisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Education_qualification_of_populationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Singapore#Schools_and_Enrollment


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12 International comparisons 13 Criticisms 14 References

15 External links

[edit] Kindergartens

Kindergartens in Singapore provide up to three years ofpre-school for children ages three tosix. The three years are commonly calledNursery,Kindergarten 1 (K1) andKindergarten 2(K2), respectively.

Kindergartens provide an environment for children to learn how to interact with others, andto prepare them for formal education at primary school. Activities include learning languageand numbers, development of personal and social skills, games, music, and outdoor play.

Children learn two languages, English and their official mother tongue (Chinese, Malay, orTamil). Many private or church-based kindergartens might not offer Malay or Tamil, so non-Chinese pupils might also learn some Chinese in these kindergartens.

The kindergartens are run by the private sector, including community foundations, religiousbodies, and civic or business groups. There are more than 200 kindergartens registered withthe Ministry of Education. Kindergartens are also run bychild care centres as well asinternational schools.

[edit] Primary education

Primary education, normally starting at age seven, is a four-yearfoundation stage (Primary 1to 4) and a two-yearorientation stage (Primary 5 to 6). Primary education is compulsory andfree, though there is a fee of up to SGD13 monthly per student to help cover miscellaneouscosts.

[edit] Foundation stage

Thefoundation stage is the first stage of formal schooling. The four years, from primary 1 to4, provide a foundation in English, mother tongue (which includes Chinese, Malay, Tamil ora Non-Tamil Indian Language (NTIL)) and Mathematics. Other subjects include Civics and

Moral Education, arts and crafts, music, health education, social studies, andphysicaleducation, which are taught throughout Primary 1 to 6. Science is taught from Primary 3onwards.

[edit] Orientation stage

All pupils advance to the orientation stage after Primary 4, where English Language, MotherTongue and Mathematics are taught at the appropriate level according to the pupil's ability.Schools are given the flexibility to develop their own examinations to match pupils with thelevels that suit them. The streaming system has been adjusted: previously, pupils weredivided at Primary 5 to the EM1, EM2 and EM3 (English and Mother Tongue at 1st, 2nd and3rd language respectively) streams, but since 2008 they are streamed according to subject.
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They can take their Mother Tongue at the higher, standard or foundation levels; Science andMaths can be taken at the standard or foundation levels.

[edit] Primary School Leaving Examination

Main article: Primary School Leaving Examination

At the end of Primary 6, the national Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is held.The examination determines whether the student is ready to leave primary school by passing;

places in secondary schools are allocated according to students' performance in theexamination.

[edit] Secondary education

Students having assembly in the hall ofNan Hua High School.

Raffles Institution (Secondary), the oldest school in Singapore.
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The Ministry of Education Language Centre.

Based on results of the PSLE, students are placed in different secondary education tracks or

streams: "Special", "Express", "Normal (Academic)", or "Normal (Technical)"

"Special" andExpress are four-year courses leading up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O'Levelexamination. The difference between these two courses is that in the "Special" stream,students take 'Higher Mother Tongue' (available for Chinese, Malay and Tamil only) insteadof 'Mother Tongue'. A pass in the Higher Mother Tongue 'O' Level Examination constitutesthe fulfilment of the Mother Tongue requirement in Singapore, whereas Normal MotherTongue Students will have to go through one more year of study in their Mother Tongue aftertheir 'O' Levels to take the 'AS' Level Mother Tongue Examinations and fulfil the MOE'srequirement. A foreign language, eitherFrench,German, orJapanese, can be taken inaddition to the mother tongue or can replace it. This is especially popular with students who

are struggling with their mother tongues, expatriates, or students returning from abroad. Non-Chinese students may also study Chinese and non-Malay students Malay as a third language.This programme is known as CSP (Chinese Special Programme) and MSP (Malay SpecialProgramme). Mother Tongue teachers conduct these lessons in school after usual hours.Students of Higher Mother Tongue languages are allowed to have up to two points taken offtheir O-level scoring,[6] a scoring system discussed below where a lower value is considered

better, if they meet set benchmarks. TheMinistry of Education Language Centre (MOELC)provides free language education for most additional languages that other schools may notcover, and provides the bulk of such education, admitting several thousand students eachyear.

Normalis a four-year course leading up to aNormal-level (N-level) exam, with thepossibility of a fifth year followed by an O-level. Normal is split intoNormal (Academic) andNormal (Technical). In Normal (Technical), students take subjects of a more technical nature,such as Design and Technology, while in Normal (Academic) students are prepared to takethe O-level exam and normally take subjects such as Principles of Accounting. In 2004, theMinistry of Education announced that selected students in the Normal course would have anopportunity to sit for the O-level exam directly without first taking the N-level exam.

With the exception of schools offering the Integrated Programme, which leads to either anInternational Baccalaureate Diploma or to an A-levelexam, most students are streamed into a

wide range of course combinations at the end of their second year, bringing the total numberof subjects they have to sit at O-level to between six to ten, with English, Mother Tongue or
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Higher Mother Tongue Language, Mathematics, one Science and one Humanities Electivebeing compulsory. Several new subjects such as Computing and Theatre Studies and Dramaare being introduced in tandem with the Ministry of Education's revised curriculum. Subjectsusually taken at O-Level are:

Languages group:

1. English Language2. Mother Tongue Languages (Chinese Language, Malay Language and Tamil

Language)3. Non-Tamil Indian Languages (Hindi,Bengali,Gujarati, Punjabi,Urdulanguages)4. Higher Mother Tongue Languages (Higher Chinese Language, Higher Malay

Language and Higher Tamil Language)5. Foreign Languages (French, German, Japanese)6. Asian Languages (Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia)7. Other Third Languages [Chinese (Special Programme), Malay (Special Programme)]

Humanities group:

1. Humanities electives (History/geography/literature electives and social studies)2. History3. Geography4. Literature in English5. Chinese literature6. Malay literature7. Tamil literature8. Higher art (Art Elective Programme)9. Higher music (Music Elective Programme)10. Principles of Accounting

Mathematics & Science Group:

1. Mathematics2. Additional mathematics3. Physics4. Chemistry5. Biology

6. Combined Sciences (any two from Physics, Chemistry, Biology)7. Integrated Sciences

Others:

1. General art2. Design and technology3. Music4. Computer Applications5. Elements of Office Administration (until 2008)6. Elements of Business Skills (2009 onwards)

7. Food and nutrition
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8. Religious studies (Confucian Ethics, Buddhist Studies, Islamic Religious Knowledge,Bible Studies, Sikh Studies, etc.)

9. O-Level School-Initiated Electives [OSIEs] (Economics, Computer Studies, etc.)

The list above is not exhaustive, and does not include new subjects such as Computing and

Theatre Studies and Drama, or less common subjects, such as Integrated Sciences.

Compulsory Subjects for a GCE 'O' Level candidate

1. English Language2. Mother Tongue (Chinese, Tamil, Malay, Others)3. Mathematics (Elementary)4. Combined Humanities (SS+GEOGE/HISE/LITE/ECONSE)5. Science (Either 1 combined science or 2 pure sciences)6. One other subject (Art, POA, DnT, FnN etc.)

Candidates must take at least 6 subjects which must include the above core (EL, MT, MA,HUM, SCI) subjects.

[edit] Grade and scoring systems

Most schools commonly follow the kind of grading system awarded at the Singapore-Cambridge GCE "O" level examination, which a student sits at the end of four or five yearsof secondary education, taking at least 6 subjects. The level of achievement in each subject isindicated by the grade obtained, with A1 being the highest achievable grade and F9 thelowest:

A1/A2 (Distinction) B3/B4 (Merit) C5/C6 (Credit/Pass) D7 (Sub-Pass/fail, that is, passing at a lower standard in the exam or fail) E8/F9 (Fail)

A student's overall academic performance is measured through several points scoring system(such as the L1R5, L1B5 and L1R4 scoring system) depending on which type of post-secondary institution a student is intending to apply for. Each grade has a point valuerespective to it, for example, with grade A1 being 1 point, A2 being 2 points, and B3 being 3

points. Thus, the fewer the points obtained, the better the score. For example, in the L1R5scoring system, the student's L1 or first language (either English or Higher Mother TongueLanguage) and R5 or relevant 5 subjects (which must include at least one from the Science &Mathematics group, one from the Humanities group, and excluding subjects such asReligious Studies, Mother Tongue "B" and CCA). Consequently, an L1R5 score of 6 pointsis considered the best score attainable for entrance to a Junior College. A student requires anL1R5 score of below 20 points to be eligible for Junior College. On top of that, students mustalso pass English and Mother Tongue.

For non-major examinations, several schools use a Mean Subject Grade (MSG) scoringsystem, while schools running the Integrated Programme (IP) may also use the Grade Point

Average (GPA) scoring system.
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[edit] Co-Curricular activities

"Co-Curricular Activities" (CCA) are compulsory at the secondary level, where all pupilsmust participate in at least one core activity, and participation is graded together with otherachievements throughout the four years in a scoring system known as LEAPS ("Leadership,

Enrichment, Achievement, Participation, Service"). There are many co-curricular activitiesoffered at the secondary level, and each student is judged based in these areas. Competitionsand performances are regularly organized. Co-curricular activities are often categorized underthe following: Uniformed Groups, Performing Arts, Clubs & Societies and Sports & Games.Students may also participate in more than 1 CCA.

[edit] Uniformed Groups

The main uniform groups areNCC(National Cadet Corps),NPCC (National Police CadetCorps),NCDCC (National Civil Defence Cadet Corps), St John Ambulance Brigade, RedCross Youth,Singapore Scout Association, Girl Guides, the Boys Brigade and the GirlsBrigade. Students are expected to learn drills and must wear the respective uniforms.

This is to prepare male students for National Service (NS) when they reach the age of 18.Besides military drills, they also learn skills such as team-bonding and first-aid.

[edit] Performing Arts

Performing Arts CCAs vary from school to school, although most will include the Choir,Military/Concert/Symphonic Band, Chinese Orchestra, Dance groups for different ethniccultures, Drama and Debate. Most are oriented towards performing and the musical arts.

[edit] Clubs and societies

There is a broad range of clubs and societies, ranging from Singapore Youth Flying Club toRobotics, Media and Infocomm Clubs and martial arts.

[edit] Gifted Education Programme

Main article: Gifted Education Programme (Singapore)

The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) was set up by the Ministry of Education in 1984

amid some public concern to cater to the intellectually gifted students. As of 2005, theschools participating consisted of 9 primary schools Anglo-Chinese School (Primary),Catholic High School (Primary), Henry Park Primary School,Nan Hua Primary School,

Nanyang Primary School,Rosyth School, Tao Nan School, St. Hilda's Primary School, andRaffles Girls' Primary School. Seven secondary schools originally started the programme, butwith the introduction of the Integrated Programme, most have folded the GEP programmesinto their IP curriculum. The two remaining secondary GEP schools are Anglo-ChineseSchool (Independent), an independent all-boys IB School, and Dunman High School, a mixedautonomous government school; the autonomous all-boysVictoria Schoolhad to suspendGEP classes due to low enrolment, with GEP students preferring IP schools.

Pupils enter the programme through a series of tests at Primary 3, which will identify the top1 per cent of the student population. A second selection used to be conducted at Primary 6 for
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education in singapore baca

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