Singapore's Quality Education System

education system in singapore

The goal of the Education Service in Singapore is to mould the future of the nation, by moulding the people who will determine the future of the nation.

Singapore's high level of academic achievements are mainly attributed to an education system that is well-organised and relevant to the changing needs of a forward-thinking economy.

Introduction

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore looks into the education system, maintaining and continuously improving its already world-class education service.

The school curriculum places a premium on creativity and independent thinking, as well as an emphasis on mastering the fundamental elements of all major disciplines.

There is provision of at least ten years of general education, six years in primary school and four years in secondary school.

Flowchart

Primary Level (Ages 6-12)

Our primary school system is a flexible one which allows every student to develop himself fully. The overall aim of primary education is to give the student a good grasp of English, the mother tongue and mathematics.	Subjects offered at Primary School include English, mother tongue and mathematics and other subjects such as Science, Art & crafts, music and physical education.	At the end of Primary 4, the student will be assessed on his performance in English, the mother tongue and mathematics.
Based on this assessment, the school will recommend one of three language streams (EM1, EM2, EM3) the student should attend in Primary 5.	EM1 is for students who have done well in English, the mother tongue and Mathematics. At EM! they will learn English and the mother tongue at a higher level (i.e. Higher Chinese, Higher Malay or Higher Tamil).	The majority of pupils will be recommended for the EM2 stream which teaches English and the mother tongue (Chinese, Malay or Tamil).
If the student is less able to cope with languages and Mathematics, he/she will be recommended for the EM3 stream, offering foundation English and the mother tongue at basic proficiency level.	At the end of Primary 6, students will sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), a national examination that assess the suitability for secondary education and place the student in the right secondary school course, one that matches his learning pace, ability and inclinations.

Secondary Level (Ages 13-16)

	Students are placed in the Special, Express or Normal course according to how they perform at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).		Students in these 3 courses share the following core subjects: English language, Mathematics, Physical Education and Civics & Moral Education. Other subjects include: History, Geography, English Literature, Art & Craft, Design & Technology, and Home Economics.		In addition, they will learn civics and moral education, music and physical education as non-examination subjects.
	At the end of the Special, Express (4 years) and Normal course (5 years), students will sit for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'O' Level Examination.		The examination is conducted jointly by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and the Ministry of Education, Singapore.		From here, able students are given the choice of a wide variety of options for post-secondary education.

Post-Secondary (Ages 17 onwards)

Those who are academically inclined and have the necessary GCE 'O' level qualifications may apply for pre-university education at the junior colleges, centralised institutes and pre-university centres. This course of studies leads to the GCE 'A' level examination. Admission to the universities will depend on performance at this examination.
Junior College
Junior Colleges offer a 2-year pre-university course while centralised institutes offer the same course over a 3-year period. At the end of the course, students will sit for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education 'Advance' (GCE 'A') Level examination.	Admission into local universities is mainly based on GCE 'A' level examination results, although from 2002, American SAT scores will also be an admission requirement.	Students may chose to do a maximum of 4 of the following subjects in addition to the General Paper and Mother Tongue: Literature, Economics, History, Geography, Art, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Science, Further Mathematics, Computing and Accounts.