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Education System Singapore

Education system in Singapore
          Singapore has a very strong education systems and it is recognized around the world for its qualities. In recent years, Singapore recognized that each student have unique aptitudes and interests. Singapore is therefore moving towards a more flexible and diverse education system. Singapore believes that this approach will allow students to develop their skills and abilities to their full potential.

          Education system in Singapore involves a length of 10 years that  is primary school 6 years and Secondary school 4 years. After that student have options to enter polytechnic school, Technical institute, Pre-university or extra curriculum from secondary school. Government Singapore emphasized heavily on education and recognized the importance of education. Government believes that education is crucial to country’s development. Therefore, Government budget on education is around 6 thousand millions Singapore dollars a year.

In the Ministry of Education, there are 24,500 qualifies teachers that provide teaching to about 500,000 students. Education is a key national agenda, therefore the government yearly budget is put aside and it is the second most spend budget to national security and international relations issue. Because Singapore focus greatly on the quality of education and education is compulsory in Singapore. Therefore each one of population has undergone some sort of learning, have gained practical experience, and this make Singapore a strong nation in terms of skills labors. Singapore is extremely competitive not only in terms of study but also living in Singapore can be a challenge.


Education System
          Singapore Education system is divided into four main levels: Primary; Secondary; Pre-University and University. The standard for the school curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education of Singapore, mix of private school and public schools. The ministry usually controls the development and administration of public schools and also received government funding and supports. However, government also has an advisory role in private schools but privately own and managed. There is a great variation in the curriculum, scope of government aid and funding, tuition on students and admission policy.
In Singapore, there are 178 Primary school; 156 Secondary school; 18 colleges; 5 Polytechnic College and 3 Universities

Kindergarten
          In Singapore, Kindergarten school is normally run by private sector. The aim of kindergarten is to provide students at an early age chances to develop the body, mind, explores their talents and develop their academic and social relations with other children and adults. These can be achieved through playtime and other activities. This will also help student to be ready for a pre school. . Normally Kindergarten school will take students from an early age generally between 3 to 5 years and the classes are around 5 hours per week. One day have two sessions and usually will last about 2-4 hours per session. Classes usually include English and learning a second language. Admission requirement vary depending on different kindergarten school requirement. In Singapore, childcare or nursery are also available, students are able to enroll any time of the year depending on the number of student enrolling each year

Primary school
          Primary education is compulsory in Singapore. For Primary school level, students normally spend altogether 6 years. Primary school is divided into two stages; the first stage is a foundation stage that is year 1-4 and the second stage is orientation stage (year 5-6).
At the foundation stage (year 1-4) will concentrate on subject like reading writing and Mathematic. From primary 1-6, students will also learn English, mother tongue and mathematics. Other subjects include Arts and crafts, music, health education, social studies, and physical education. However, science subject will be taught from primary 3 onward. At primary 3, students will be given various project will studying but result from this project does not determinant their final grade

          Students are taught at the appropriate level according to the ability and performance of the student. Once students complete their primary 4, students will be divided into 3 levels
EM 1 student who have an excellence academic result in English, a second language. Therefore able to move up to an advance level in English and a second language
EM 2 standard level (normally students are at this level).
EM 3 For students who are not comfortable learning language and mathematic, will only have to learn basic English language and basic math. For mother tongue, students will focus on speaking, reading, and writing skills.

          At the end of their Primary 6, examination will be held at school and the second examination called the national primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will also be held. The main purpose for this examination is to determine whether student is ready to leave primary school and it will also help to allocate places for students in secondary school based on their performance in the examination.

Secondary School (age between 12-15 years)
          Students will be place at suitable levels accordance with their ability and performance based on their PSLE results. Secondary School consists of 4 levels: Special; Express; Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical).

Normal and Special level curriculum (4 years)
          Normal level is a 4 years course; students must sit for GCE "O" level examination at final year. Whereas for Special level, students must undertake English language and choose a second language at more advance level and must sit for the GCE “O” level examination at the end of 4th year

          Students that are studying under these levels usually undertake 7-8 subjects. However for those students who obtain academically excellence may undertake up to 9 subjects which include the following
Language Subjects (English and Mother tongue)
Humanity (Hitory and Geography Literature).
Mathematic and an elective subject either extra math or other chosen elective.
Once compulsory Science subject must be chosen (Biology, Physics, Chemistry or General Science)

Normal Curriculum (Academic/Polytechnic)
For Normal class level, students are able to choose between business subject (Normal Academic) and Technical subject (Normal Technical). Students must sit for GCE “N” level exam. When student complete 4 years of study and have already taken their GCE “O” level exam. When student have completed their 5th year of study, student who chose to undertake a business subject will focus mainly on business area subject. Whereas student chose to undertake Technical subject, student will focus more on Technical nature subject like science; technical, Arts and design, food and health science and basic knowledge for business management. For student who obtains good results at GCE “O” level is able to enter into a Junior College, Polytechnic or Technical institution. For student who is unable to pass GCE “O” level have an option to enter Institute of Technical Education or ITE.
For student who undertaking a normal technical level are able to transfer into a normal academic level or to special level stream if student is able to improve their results during the secondary 1 and 2.
For International students, have the rights to choose other foreign language instead of mother tongue from the lists that Singapore school provide like Chinese, Malay and Indian. Thai language is one of the main foreign language that student able to choose and sit for exam. The main reason is to give Thai student who are already comfortable with Thai language to concentrate on other subject that require extra attention. Other reason is to allow student to practice their mother tongue that equivalent to standard of study in Thailand because even the study materials is publish by the Ministry of Education (Thailand). This provides student ability to come back and study in Thailand.

Academic Terms
Academic year is divided into 4 terms and school break are as follow :
January-March (study period 10 weeks and break 1 week)
March-June (study period 10 weeks and break 4 weeks)
July-September (study period 10 weeks and break 1 week)
September-December (study period 10 weeks and break 6 weeks)
Students normally start school at 07.20 am to 13.30 pm or 14.00 pm.

Colleges (age between 17-18) Institution (age between 17-19)
          When students passed the GCE”O” level, they are able to apply for 2 years in college or 3 years institutes, for university preparation. Whether or not students are able to enter college or institute will depends upon their GCE “O” level result.

          Curriculum for higher education students consists of 2 compulsory subjects: General knowledge and Native language and subjects preparing for “A” level exams, not more than 4 subjects from the electives like; Literature, Economics, History, Geography, Arts, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Science, Computer and Accounting.

          Project work is also part of the program that designed for students to be able to relate knowledge to the course. The objective is to practice student’s creativity and analytical talent, improvement on communication skills (speaking and writing), embed group learning and develop self-direct inquiry and life-long learning skills. Students can be a part of the project’s process and production. Project work will be included as part of the evaluation since 2003, which will have an effect on country’s university entry starting in 2005.

Institute of Technical Education (age between 17)
          An institution that provides knowledge to high school students that will take up a career or working level to gain technical knowledge and talent in each required sector of the industrial sector. The institution has courses for full-time organizational training, student internship and adult education for working level.

Polytechnic
          Singapore’s five main Polytechnic are: Ngee-Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic. Polytechnic had been established to train various courses for students who wish to improve their talents at the degrees level. 
In Singapore, Polytechnic only accept students based on their GCE ”O” level, GCE “A” level or Institute of Technical Education (ITE) results. Polytechnic offer various course to student, including engineering, business studies, accountancy, mass communications, and biotechnology. Other specialized courses are also offer such as marine engineering, nautical studies, nursing, and optometry.

University
National University of Singapore (NUS) is the oldest University in Singapore.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was established since 1991, before Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) commenced in 1981
Singapore Management University (SMU) was established by government encouragement and support through heavy funding 
National Institute of Education (NIE) is a part of National Technological University (NTU). There course offer is full-time four years course, greatly emphasize on teaching and education, aiming for those who intended to become a teacher

International University
          Apart from the National University of Singapore, there are many world class universities to choose from like; tope class MBA from Europe like INSEAD, that invested about 60 millions (Singapore dollars) to established the first fully functional community college within Asia and a science center in the year 2000.University of Chicago Graduate School of Business had been chosen to establish a community college in Singapore. This is the first time ever that an American University to permanently establish
Apart from this, other universities that cooperate with Singaporean institutes are Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Techishe Universitiet Eindhoven etc.

Language Institution
          Singapore has many language schools for both youth and adults. When students finish their course, the school will award a Certificate of Achievement. Some school may have examination and award a certificate that has been recommended by International universities.

Course Curriculum
          Most schools have a choice between normal classes or night classes for youth and adults. There are many courses to choose from, for example; General English, Writing; English usage at school and at work games and plays time for the youth. On the other hand, Adult course usually focus on skills of English, communication and presentation, selling and negotiations etc. Each class has about 10-15 students, where each student will be tested on the first day to delegate each student into the suitable class levels.

Academic fees
          The fees on normal classes will be around 300-800 Singapore dollars per semester, which has a duration period of 11-12 weeks. Whereas, the night classes fee is 800-1,800 Singapore dollars per 5-14 weeks. Normally academic fees will include registration fees and classroom materials.
           Each class period will take up about 1 and a half to 3 hours, which is done twice a week or up to 5 days per week for normal classes.
For personal tutorial the fees will be 90-300 Singaporean dollars per hour.

Boarding School
          There are many boarding schools in Singapore for High School and Higher education students. For university students, there are able to decide whether or not they would prefer to live on campus, whereas international students might decide to live in Homestay

Administration Fees
         Administration fees for Higher School students is around 3,000-5,000 Singaporean dollars per year, this include all 3 meals and snacks. University students’ administration fees would be slightly lower at 2,500-4,500 Singapore dollars per year (excluding lunch). Administration fees vary from one place to another depending on their utilities, comfort, including the standard and quality.

          Payment is due monthly; however, some institutions might have a 3-5 months advance payment including registration fees.

Preparation
          Thai students who wish to continue their primary and high school education in Singaporean state-funded school must be well prepared the exam. Students must have a strong English knowledge, because apart from English and Math exams, many schools will have an interview program before admitting students. Moreover, students will have to accept a possibility of lowering their class by 1-2 years. Students will need an exam preparation for period of 4-8 months, depending on the ability of each person. International students are able to submit their application form in June for the January semester.

          Most Singaporean schools will not accept international students to study in grade 6, and grade 10 and 11. For higher education there will be an opening for 1st year Pre-University only. This is to give students a chance to adapt to the studying environment so that no pressure will be felt

Higher Education Fees
          Ministry of Education (MOE) do provides scholarship to students to domestic university students and polytechnic, students will pay according to the following direct payment.

          For International students, MOE also allow a direct payment. However there maybe some condition attach and required signature to certain agreement that students whom chose to do a direct payment must work in Singapore for a period of 3 years upon completion of their studies.

Courses without experiments are Accounting, Art and Social Studies, Business, Law and Public Communication.
Course with experiments are Architecture, Architect, Decorative Arts, Computer, Engineering, Pharmacy and Science.

Accommodation
          Singapore has numerous accommodation and prices like student dormitory both private and within the campus (S$140-400 per month), Boarding School (S$8,000-15,000 per year), Homestay(S$500-$1,000 per year), Apartment (from S$1,000 and above per month) or even house rent.

          Most institutions will have a department for arranging accommodation for international students
For further information in Singapore studies log on to : www.singaporeedu.gov.sg