Singapore Education System

Singapore’s education system is considered the most progressive and advanced education system in the world. It aims to help students to develop into lifelong learners. Its core is unity and primary education is compulsory in the country city under the Compulsory Education Act (CE Act) 2000.

In this article today, we are going to discuss Singapore’s Education system, its history, and the major contributions of Lee Kuan Yew in this specific sector in detail.

History Of Singapore Education System

To understand the modern education system of Singapore, it is needed to discuss about the history of the education system of Singapore.

• Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles opened the Singapore Institution (now Raffles Institution) in 1823. It marks the start of education in Singapore during British rule.
• Different types of schools were built, including Malay schools, Chinese and Tamil schools, and English schools.
• Malay schools were free, while English schools charged fees. They were mainly run by the missionaries.
• Chinese and Tamil schools mainly taught their respective languages.
• During World War II, so many students dropped out that created a backlog after the war.
• In 1947, the Ten Years Programme for Education Policy was introduced. It was declared to prepare for self-governance and universal education.
• During the 1950s and 1960s, a “survival-driven education” system was introduced.
• It was focused on building a skilled workforce to reduce unemployment.
• Bilingualism became official in 1960, with English as the main language for national unity and practical reasons.
• Universal education for children of all backgrounds began, although school quality varied.
• The first Junior College was opened in Singapore in 1969.

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Modern Education System Of Singapore

After the independence, education was the top priority for Singapore. As the country city has limited natural resources, they need to build up a knowledge-based economy. In the 1980s, as Singapore’s economy improved, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew focused on the quality of education. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew realised that to education system is the backbone of any society. To develop a corruption-free efficient system, it is needed to provide top-class education from the grassroots level. This led to the development of a Multicultural Singapore. Here are the major steps as mentioned below.

• Schools changed to offer different learning options, including vocational training and two streams in secondary school i.e. Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical).
• The Gifted Education Programme was started for smart students.
• The education system focused on teaching things like national education, creative thinking, and using computers.
• Schools got more freedom to decide what to teach, and they started to think of “excellence” in broader ways, not just about grades.
• Singapore now wants its universities to bring in money by attracting students from other countries.
• The government hopes to grow the education sector to be a bigger part of the economy.

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Singapore Kindergardens

In Singapore, the kindergardens offer generally three years of preschool for kids(Age 3-6) i.e. Nursery, Kindergarten 1 or K1, and Kindergarten 2 or K2.

• They help kids learn to socialize and prepare for primary school, teaching language, numbers, and personal skills through activities like games, music, and outdoor play.
• Children also learn English and their Mother Tongue language (Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil).
• Kindergardens are mostly private.
• They generally run by groups like community foundations, religious organizations, or businesses.
• There are over 200 registered with the Early Childhood Development Agency.
• Some agencies are the part of child care centers or international schools.

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Primary Education in Singapore

Primary education is mandatory in Singapore. It begins at the age of seven and consists of a four-year foundation stage with a two-year orientation stage. It is compulsory under the Compulsory Education Act 2000.

• Those who are homeschooled or attending full-time religious institutions, or have special needs, they do not need to have primary education.
• During the foundation stage, students learn English, mother tongue (like Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil), Mathematics, and Science.
• They also study subjects like Civics and Moral Education, arts, music, and physical education throughout all six years.
• Science is introduced from Primary 3 onwards.
• English is taught as the first language due to its importance in global communication.
• Bilingualism is important, and students pick a second language (Mother Tongue) when they start school, unless they are exempt.
• The teaching of Mother Tongue Languages has evolved to focus more on listening and speaking skills.
• After Primary 4, students move to the orientation stage and are streamed based on their abilities.
• The streaming system has evolved, with a shift to “Subject-based banding” since 2008, allowing students to take subjects at different levels based on their performance.
• At the end of Primary 6, students sit for the national Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
• Based on their results, they choose and are assigned to secondary schools either through merit or the “Direct School Admission” scheme, which admits students based on special talents.

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Singapore’s Education System – Secondary Education

Secondary education in Singapore is public. It is compulsory until a student has reached at the age of 16 years. After the primary education, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). After that become elligible and placed into the different streams. Secondary schools gives them admission based on their PSLE results.

• Secondary education in Singapore offers three tracks: “Express”, “Normal (Academic)”, and “Normal (Technical)” until 2023.
• Starting from 2024, students will be divided into G1, G2, and G3. The division will be done by based on the Subject-Based Banding scheme.
• “Express” track leads to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O Level examination in four years.
• “Normal (Academic)” track prepares students for the Normal (Academic) level (N(A)-level) exam in four years, with an option for O-level exam in the fifth year.
• “Normal (Technical)” track leads to the Normal (Technical) level (N(T)-level) exam in four years, focusing on technical subjects.
• Students choose their courses based on their PSLE results and participate in Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) as part of their education.
• The Integrated Programme (IP) allows students to skip “O” levels and proceed to A levels.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma, or an equivalent exam after six years of secondary education.

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Post Secondary Institutions

After completing secondary school, students (excluding the Integrated Programme) take the O level exam. It determines their eligibility for post-secondary institutions. Pre-university options include junior colleges for a two-year course leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE A Level or the International Baccalaureate

• Diploma, or the Millennia Institute for a three-year course leading to the A Level.
• Admission to junior colleges is based on the L1R5 scoring system.
• Admission to Millennia Institute is based on the L1R4 system.
• Polytechnics offer specialized education with a focus on applied learning, and students receive a diploma upon completion of their courses.
• Admission to polytechnics is determined through the ELR2B2 scoring system.
• In 2023, about 80% of A level and IB students enrolled in local universities, with plans to increase the participation rate to 60% by 2025.

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Junior Colleges and Centralised Institutes

Junior colleges (JCs) in Singapore offer a two-year programme leading to the GCE Advanced Level (A level) examination. They also offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma that serves as a pathway to university education.

• Admission to JCs is based on GCE “O” Level results.
• Students need to achieve an L1R5 score of 20 points or less.
• Centralised Institutes also offer a three-year course leading to the GCE A level examination.
• The Millennia Institute is the only remaining Centralised Institute in Singapore.
• They formed from the merger of Jurong and Outram Institutes.
• It offers the Commerce Stream in addition to standard subjects.
• Centralised Institutes maintain the same teaching standards and curriculum as Junior Colleges.

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Polytechnics

Singapore’s first polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, was established in 1954. Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic were established in the 1990s. Here are some details as mentioned below.

• Polytechnics offer 3-year diploma courses and admit students based on their GCE O Level, GCE N(A) Level.
• Institute of Technical Education (ITE) or the GCE A level results are needed to get an admission in these colleges.
• They provide a wide range of courses that ranges from engineering and business studies to tourism and hospitality management.
• It also offering a more industry-oriented education compared to junior colleges.
• Approximately 40% of each Secondary 4 cohort enrols in Polytechnics.
• Many polytechnic graduates further their education at local or overseas universities, often receiving exemptions for modules completed during their polytechnic studies.

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Universities in Singapore

There are two type of unversities in Singapore i.e Autonomous Universities and Private Education Institutions. Here are some details.

• Singapore boasts six autonomous universities, including the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), both ranked among the top 20 globally.
• The third university, Singapore Management University (SMU), established in 2000, offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs.
• Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) were set up to meet the increasing demand for higher education.
• Several foreign universities have established campuses or centers of excellence in Singapore, offering diverse educational opportunities.
• Additionally, international schools cater to the expatriate community in Singapore, offering various curricula such as British, IB, American, and Indian.
• Singapore has implemented regulations through the Committee for Private Education (CPE) to ensure quality standards in the private education sector.
• Japanese residents in Singapore are served by the Japanese Supplementary School Singapore (JSS) weekend education program.

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FAQs on Singapore Education System

What is the educational system in Singapore?

In Singapore, the system includes six years of primary school, followed by four to six years of secondary school, and one to three years of postsecondary school. The curriculum for primary schools is common for all students in years one to four.

What is the university system in Singapore?

Singapore has five Autonomous universities, namely the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Technology & Design, Singapore Institute of Technology and one comprehensive private university: SIM University.

What do you think of Singapore education system?

Singapore education has frequently been hailed as among the best globally. News sites have consistently placed Singapore as a top hub for education, besting other developed countries such as Finland, Canada, Sweden, France, Belgium, etc.

What is unique about Singapore education system?

The bilingual policy, a cornerstone of our education system, requires students to offer two languages: English Language and an official Mother Tongue Language. This enables them to connect with people from different backgrounds in a multi-cultural environment, and allow them to thrive in a diverse, globalised world.

Why is Singapore successful in education?

Singapore attributes its high-performing education system in large part to its bilingual education policy, particularly taking with English as the medium of instruction in all schools since 1987; and with all subject content matter being taught using English.