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The Singapore education system offers many choices for your childs next phase of learning in a secondary school. The choices you and your child make will inuence his secondary school experience during this crucial period of adolescence in developing the passion for learning, shaping his character and preparing him for further
education. It will also shape his career aspirations, readiness to take on the responsibilities of an adult and a citizen, and his ability to overcome challenges in life and be successful in his own way. This booklet is designed to help you understand Singapores secondary school education landscape, the
courses available and the steps you need to take to ensure that your child gets the best out of his next phase of education one that takes into account his aptitudes and interests, and is best able to bring out his strengths. It also highlights important considerations in the secondary school postingprocess.
Contents
3 The Singapore Education Landscape 5 An Education that Develops a Broad Range of Skills for Life 6 A Fun and Well-Rounded School Life 7 A Tailored Learning Journey Begins 8 Catering to the Needs and Interests of your Child 10 Programmes that Match your Childs Interests 14 Scholarships and Financial Assistance Schemes 16 Choosing a School for your Child 17 Submission of Options 18 Final Thoughts
PRIMARY
7-12 years old
SECONDARY
4-5 years
13-16 years old
6 years
SPECIALISED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 4-6 YEARS SPECIAL EDUCATION: PRIMARY PRIVATELY FUNDED SCHOOLS 4-6 YEARS
EXPRESS 4 YEARS
GCE O LEVEL
POST-SECONDARY
17-22 years old
WORK
1-6 years
DIFFERENT
TO
PATHWAYS
ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS**
UNIVERSITIES
WORK
GCE A LEVEL
POLYTECHNICS 3 YEARS
* Pre-vocational course enables trainees to have an earlier start in vocational training, and delivers a customised, hands-on curriculum that prepares them for subsequent training at a technical or vocational institution like the ITE. ** Alternative Qualifications refer to qualifications not traditionally offered by the majority of mainstream schools inSingapore.
*** Continuing Education and Training (CET) is designed for adult learners or companies looking to upgrade the skills and knowledge of theiremployees.
Active Contributor
who is able to work effectively in teams, is innovative, exercises initiative, takes calculated risks and strives forexcellence.
Self-directed Learner
who questions, reects, perseveres and takes responsibility for his own learning.
Concerned Citizen
who is rooted to Singapore, has a strong sense of civic responsibility, is informed about Singapore and the world, and takes an active part in bettering the lives of others around him.
Courses at a glance
GCE A Level Examination / International Baccalaureate Diploma / National University of Singapore High School Diploma Polytechnic
Junior College
Secondary 5N(A)
Secondary 4 Express
Secondary 4N(A)
Secondary 4N(T)
Secondary 3 Express
Secondary 3N(A)
Secondary 3N(T)
Secondary 2 Express
Secondary 2N(A)
Secondary 2N(T)
Secondary 1 Express
Secondary 1N(A)
Secondary 1N(T)
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) * Refer to the Education Landscape in Singapore on p34 to see the diverse education pathways offered beyond secondary schools.
While your child may initially be placed in a particular course, depending on your childs ability to cope with the current learning pace and style, there are opportunities for him to make a lateral transfer mid-stream to a more appropriate course one that is better able to bring out the best in yourchild.
Independent Schools
They enjoy greater autonomy in curricular innovations, implementation of school programmes, administration, student admissions and setting of fee structures. Scholarships, both from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the schools, are available to students who have done well and wish to join the Independent Schools.
Specialised Schools
Specialised Schools such as NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School offer customised programmes for students who are inclined towards hands-on and practical learning. In addition, Crest Secondary School, the rst of two Specialised Schools catering to Normal (Technical) course students, will begin admitting students in January 2013. Crest Secondary School will adopt a whole-school approach in providing a customised learning environment to develop its students. It will also work closely with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and industry partners to develop vocational programmes and provide attachment opportunities for its students. All these schools work within national educational policies and guidelines set by the MOE.
Language Programmes
Bilingualism is a key feature of Singapores education. We want to provide students with language and cultural competencies from young to help them develop a broader outlook and enable them to connect and tap into opportunities in the global environment. Each child will learn English and his Mother Tongue Language under the bilingual policy. Beyond that, our schools also offer the following language programmes:
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Chinese (Special Programme)/ Malay (Special Programme) Chinese (Special Programme) [CSP] is offered to all Secondary 1 students from the Express and Normal (Academic) courses as long as they have the interest and inclination, and have not offered Higher Chinese/Chinese as their MTL atthe PSLE. Similarly, Malay (Special Programme) [MSP] is offered to all Secondary 1 students from the Express and Normal (Academic) courses as long as they have the interest and inclination, and have not offered Higher Malay/Malay as their MTL at the PSLE. Students should offer CSP/MSP as a third language on top of English and theirMTL. Students offering these programmes attend lessons twice a week, two hours per session outside school curriculum time either in their own secondary school if the school offers it, or at the nearest CSP/MSP centre. Your child may apply for these programmes online once he gets his PSLE results. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of vacancies available at the CSP/MSP centres, the applicants will be selected based on their PSLE results. Bahasa Indonesia and Arabic Your child may offer one of these languages if he is from the Express and Normal (Academic) courses. For Bahasa Indonesia, he must not have offered Higher Malay/Malay as his MTL at the PSLE. The student or one of his parents must also be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident. Bahasa Indonesia and Arabic is a fouryear course leading to the GCE O Level Examination. Lessons are conducted outside school curriculum time at the MOE Language Centre at Bishan. Foreign Language Programmes Your child may offer a Foreign Language (French/German/Japanese) if his PSLE result is among the top 10%. The Foreign Language Programme is a four-year course leading to the GCE O Level Examination. To offer Japanese, he is required to have passed Higher Chinese/ Chinese at the PSLE as the standard written form of Japanese uses Kanji (Chinese characters). The student or one of his parents must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of vacancies available, the applicants will be selected based on their PSLE results.
Third Languages
Your child can also choose to take a third language from the seven languages offered, namely Chinese (Special Programme), Malay (Special Programme), Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, French, German and Japanese1.
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Students selected for the MEP will take Music in place of Design & Technology and Home Economics at the lower secondary level. MEP students are expected to complete the four-year course and offer both Music and Higher Music as subjects for examination at the GCE O Level. MEP pupils in the IP schools will be offered H2 and H3 Music as examination subjects at either the GCE A Level or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Music at Higher Level. Students in AngloChinese School (Independent) would be required to sit for the GCE O Level Higher Music Examination. They may continue to offer IB Music (Higher Level) upon obtaining good GCE O Level Higher Music results. The MEP is offered at the following schools: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Catholic High School CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls School Crescent Girls School Dunman High School Methodist Girls School (Secondary) Rafes Girls School (Secondary) Rafes Institution Tanjong Katong Girls School Temasek Junior College Primary 6 pupils who are admitted into Independent Schools offering the MEP will be eligible for the MEP fee subsidy. They will be offered the subsidy if they are successfully admitted and enrolled in the MEP of an Independent School at Secondary 1, and not receiving any other fee subsidy. For more information on the MEP, please refer to the MOE website at http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/ other/music-elective-programme/
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School
Catholic High School* CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls School* Singapore Chinese Girls School* Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) Nanyang Girls High School Rafes Girls School Rafes Institution (Secondary) Cedar Girls Secondary School* Victoria School* Dunman High School National Junior College River Valley High School Temasek Junior College Methodist Girls School* Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)* St. Josephs Institution* National University of Singapore (NUS) High School
JC Partner
New Government JC to be set up in 2017
Qualication Attained
Hwa Chong Institution Rafes Institution Victoria Junior College Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) NUS High School Diploma International Baccalaureate
GCE A Levels
* Dual track schools offering both the O level programme and the Integrated Programme.
These schools admit students at Secondary 1. However, students can also apply directly to each school for admission at Secondary 3 for a four-year IP (Secondary 3 to end of junior college) leading to the same qualication. More details on the respective schools IP and application procedures are available on their websites.
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Edusave Scholarships for Secondary Schools Edusave Entrance Scholarships for Independent Schools Edusave Scholarships for Integrated Programme Schools Edusave (Independent Schools) Yearly Awards
More information is available at http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/edusave/
PCI is gross monthly household income divided by the number of members in the household.
Secondary School Education
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Income Limits* (Meet one of the following criteria) Monthly Gross Household Income (GHI) Per Capita Income (PCI)
Free textbooks and school attire 75% subsidy of national examination fees (100% subsidy for pupils under MCYS Public Assistance Scheme) 75% subsidy of school fees 50% subsidy of school fees 33% subsidy of school fees
* Singapore Sports School, School of the Arts, NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School have their own schemes to provide nancial assistance to pupils. + For IS Bursary recipients who are eligible for partial subsidy of school fees and also recipients of MOE scholarships, special awards or bursaries which provide partial payment of school fees, the total fee subsidy received by them will be capped at the annual school fees charged by each independent school less the annual amount of school and standard miscellaneous fees paid by pupils in Government/Governmentaidedschools.
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How far is the school from my home? What are the programmes and schemes available in the school? What are the schools strengths? Do the co-curricular activities offered by the school match my childs interest? Does the secondary school have posting aggregate ranges (from previous years) that are comparable to my childs PSLE aggregate? Is the secondary school afliated to any schools?
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Submission of Options
After considering all the important factors for your childs secondary education, you need to complete your childs S1 Option Form and submit it to the MOE. In this form, you should indicate the secondary schools that you wish your child to be posted to. The S1 Option Form can be submitted either through the S1 Internet System, accessible via the MOE website, or in person at your childs primary school. Parents encountering any difculties can seek the help of the schools when lling out the S1 OptionForm.
Date (Tentative)
Between 22 to 26 November 2012 One week starting from the release of PSLE results (e.g. if PSLE results is released on 22 November, options can be submitted from 22 to 28 November). S1-IS is accessible 24 hours starting from 12pm on the rst day until 3pm on the last day of S1 Option Phase. One week starting from the release of PSLE results (e.g. if PSLE results is released on 22 November, options can be submitted from 22 to 28 November). Primary schools will not be open on weekends.
Submission starts from 12pm to 3pm on the rst day; and 9am to 3pm on the last day of S1 Options. For pupils who missed the one week period for submission of options, they can approach the primary schools for assistance the day after the submission closes, from 9am to 12pm. This half day submission is only for new submission of S1 school choices and not for amendments to submitted options.
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Final Thoughts
A secondary school education is about the total development of your child, beyond what your child can achieve academically. No matter which school your child goes to, his total development will be our focus. We hope this booklet has provided you with the information you need to help you better understand the the secondary school education landscape and the Secondary 1 postingprocess. Visit the MOE website at www.moe.gov.sg or call the MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872 2220 if you need more information. You may also visit MOEs Education and Career Guidance portal for students at www.ecareers. sg using your childs account to explore with your child his educational and career interests. MOE also organises education seminars for parents on primary and secondary school education. For the latest updates and details, please refer to www.moe.gov.sg or connect with us on facebook at www.facebook.com/ moesingapore. For the latest news on education and features on schools and teachers, please visit Schoolbag, MOEs online newsletter for parents, at www.schoolbag.sg.
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1 North Buona Vista Drive Singapore 138675 Tel: 6872 2220 Email: contact@moe.gov.sg www.moe.gov.sg The information contained in this booklet is correct as of August 2012.