Education Part 2

Education in Singapore

Before we begin

Please fill in the checklist based on the key stage outcomes of education by MOE provided on the last page of your lecture handout.
Do you think the education that you have received thus far has helped you to achieve these outcomes? Give anecdotal evidence.

Listen to some of my personal anecdotes and thoughts about education and stress as a student in Singapore.
http://youtu.be/dwbQaDY9ysA

Emphasis on Education

In 2013, the education budget allocated by the Singapore government was S$11.6 billion, an increase from S$8.7 billion in 2009.

Key Characteristics
In 2012: Literacy Rate (among residents aged 15 yrs & over): Males 98.5% Females- 94.4% Total96.4% % with Secondary or Higher Qualifications (among resident non-students aged 25 years & over): Males 70.8 Females 64.9 Total- 67.7 Mean Years of Schooling (among resident nonstudents aged 25 years & over): Males- 10.9 Females 9.9 Total- 10.3

Desired Outcomes of Singapores Education System

a confident person a self-directed learner an active contributor a concerned citizen

What do you think these phrases mean? Lets discuss.

Taken from Ministry of Education, Singapore http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/desired-outcomes/

Awards and Acclaims

What can you infer about the Singapore education system and Singapore based on these:

Singapore ranked 1st for having an education system that best meets the needs of a competitive economy IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 Students obtained highest scores in Maths and Science Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

Trends in International Math and Science Study 2011

Singapore topped the ranks in Math in 4th and 8th grades, as well as Science.

Taken from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013009_1.pdf

Awards and Acclaims

Reading literacy in Singapore ranked among the top in the world Progress in International Reading Literacy Study Well-established post-secondary education institutions Our Institute of Technical Education won the IBM Innovations Award Rated as best performing education system, with excellent teaching force How the worlds best performing school systems come out on top, by McKinsey & Company http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/socialsector/reso urces/pdf/Worlds_School_systems_final.pdf

Compulsory Education Act

Who? Children born after 1st January 1996 Why? All children will receive quality foundation education.

What is the importance of this Act?

Holistic Learning
What for? To nurture thinking skills and creativity To encourage knowledge generation and application. To carry out citizenship education, character building, and inculcation of moral values Move beyond producing just technically-skilled workers

Programmes in place
Holistic education is achieved in Singapore through: National Education Thinking Skills IT Masterplan Co-curricular Activities Moral Education Project Work

QN: How have these programmes affected your development as a student?

University Landscape in Singapore

5 publicly-funded universities

National University of Singapore (NUS): ranked 26th Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings (2013-2014) Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore Management University (SMU) Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)

Many private universities that include

Singapore Institute of Management University INSEAD, Chicago Graduate School of Business

Foreign Specialised Institutions such as

Wheelock College, USA (Early Childhood) Tisch School of the Arts, USA (Film Production)

Recent School Initiatives

1.

More pathways and choices Integrated Programme (IP) Specialised Independent Schools (SIS) Privately Funded Schools (PFSs) Northlight School (NLS) for students who cannot cope with mainstream schools

Taken from Ministry of Education Singapore Corporate Brochure Education in Singapore

Progress Path of Singapore Students

GCE A-Levels Examinations / International Baccalaureate
Privately Funded Schools

JC (2 years)
Programme Integrated Schools

Independent

Specialised

Secondary (4 -5 years)

Primary (6 Years)

Progress Path of NorthLight School Students

http://www.nls.edu.sg/home_progpath.php

Recent School Initiatives

Broader measures of success beyond exam results Removal of PSLE scores to take emphasis off results and focus more on holistic education Direct School Admission Greater flexibility and choice in curriculum

Recent School Initiatives

2. Inculcating a global outlook in students Enhance language learning by providing third language options More overseas learning opportunities for students such as immersion and exchange programmes

Recent School Initiatives

3. Provision for special needs Mild to moderate special learning needs catered for in mainstream schools More severe needs catered for in Special Education schools Pathlight School for children with autism and related disorders