Apart from enjoying a status of famous shopping and tourism destination, Singapore is also emerging as a place for pursuing higher education. The pro-high technology policy of the government has invited billion of dollars of foreign investment in the fields of biotechnology, IT and research. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for controlling the development and administration of the schools and various government-funded educational institutions. In case of private schools, the MOE plays a crucial supervisory and advisory role. Education mainly revolves around the interests of the students. The teaching and pedagogical system follows a flexible approach that helps the students in developing their potentials and aptitudes.
Kindergartens
The pre-school stage for the children aged between 3 and 6 years usually spans three years when the kids learn to interact and are prepared for the formal education at higher level. The main activities of Kindergartens include development of interaction skills, games, learning language, numbers and music. Basically, private sector runs the kindergartens.
Primary education
The primary education generally includes the four-year foundation stage and two-year orientation stage. This is described as the first and basic stage of formal education. At the end, the primary school leaving examination is held to determine the ability of the student whether s/he is eligible for attending the secondary schools. The first four years of education includes health education, arts and crafts, social studies, physical education, music and more.
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Secondary education
The education streams or tracks of the secondary education system depend on the student's performance in the primary school-leaving examination. It includes 'Special', 'Express', 'Academic' and 'Technical'. Apart from English, the other languages include mother tongue, foreign languages and other third languages. Subjects at the secondary level include humanities, mathematics and science, as well as others such as general art, elements of business skills, design and technology and more. The integrated programs of the secondary level education allows the students to engage in enrichment activities.
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Scoring system of education
The achievement level of the students in different subjects is marked by the following grades:
- A1- A2: Distinction
- B3 – B4: Merit
- C5 – C6: Credit or Pass
- D7: Passing with lower grades or fail
- E8 – F9: Fail
Junior colleges at the pre-university level
There are almost 18 Junior colleges that are designed to provide the students with an alternative to the three-year programmes. Junior colleges offer two-year programmes for the upper-stream students who are willing to pursue a university degree. The elective programmes offered at the Junior colleges includes humanities, arts, music and language.
Universities in Singapore
The universities basically provide undergraduate and post-graduate courses as well as research programmes. In Singapore, there are two full-fledged public universities, namely, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, and two private universities, namely, Singapore Management University and SIM University. Many overseas students are looking forward to Singapore as a destination for pursuing higher studies.
International schools in Singapore
Singapore plays host for many International schools. These schools generally do not give admissions to Singapore students as they are meant for overseas students. If you wish to study in Singapore, do explore the opportunities through these schools.
Last but not the least, the education system in Singapore also indulges in and encourages heavily co-curricular activities, performing arts, youth clubs and societies for overall development of personality of the students.
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