This is one of those open threads with a simple quetion "We might be moving to singapore and was wondering if the education standers in singapore is any good?".sometimes a thread can limit the topic pf canvarsation because of the initial question that this particuler thread basically opens everything about the singapore education singapore system including the good and bad aspects. so what exactly is thare availble?
Overview
Singapore is a country which is at the centro of the far Eastern economy having developed a very close relationship with the western world, western ways and attracting significant in investment from overseas companies and an erormous number of expats to the regain. the authorities seem to run a very fair and well developed economy which offers both protection for singapore nationals and the opporunity for investment and employment for those new to the region. but how does the education system compare the rest of the region and the rest of the region and the rest of the devaloped world?
The state education system in Singapore
The education system in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) which has total control of the development, administration and funding of schools throughout Singapore. Unlike many countries where private schools are totally separate from state sponsored schools, the Ministry of Education also has an advisory and supervisory role to play in this particular area. This setup allows state and private schools to have their own freedom on curriculum under the umbrella of the Singapore Ministry of Education which effectively offers a comprehensive quality checking service.
English is the first language in Singapore
Many people will be surprised to learn that English is the most common language in the Singapore education system, a move which was instigated by former Prime Minster Lee Kuan Yew. While on the surface this may look fairly controversial, because English is not the official language of Singapore, the idea was that as Singapore grew as a trade centre, expat centre and tourism centre there was a need to bring together the various ethnic groups under one specific language. So in order that no one ethnic group was forced to learn the mother tongue of another, the former Prime Minister decided that English would be the official language of the education system as it would also give the Singapore economy an advantage when trading with English-speaking nations.
Compulsory Education Act 2000
The very fact that Singapore brought in a Compulsory Education Act in 2000 is testament to the country’s determination to ensure that each and every child has an education from a very early age. The act made it a criminal offence for parents to fail to enrol their children in a school from primary age and ensure that they attend on a regular basis. While there are some exemptions for religious teaching, home teaching and children with special needs, the general trend is that each and every child in Singapore is afforded the best start in life via the country’s education system.
Kindergartens
Currently there are over 200 kindergartens registered with the Ministry of Education in Singapore offering preschool education for children aged 3 to 6, where they will encounter such activities as development of personal skills, development of social skills, games, music, physical education and languages which will include English and potentially Chinese, Malay or Tamil. The idea is to give the children a good grounding for their later education and allow them to interact with each other on a regular basis.
Kindergartens in Singapore are supported by the state but run by the private sector with religious bodies, community groups and businesses very prominent in this particular area. There are also many kindergartens run by international schools which are predominantly used by expats in the region.
Primary education
The formal education system begins at six years of age with two stages, one of four years and one of two years duration, which are :-
Foundation stage
The foundation stage covers ages 6 to 10 years and again centres upon languages, with English and another Far Eastern language included, together with subjects including art and crafts, music, health education, social studies, physical education, moral education and civics. The education system also includes sciences from primary three onwards.
Orientation stage
The orientation stage of the Singapore education system covers ages 11 to 12 with, again, particular emphasis upon English and another language, together with maths and science. This is the first stage of the education system where individual schools have some flexibility with regards to how they group their students and what particular exams each student will take. The system is very much based on what an individual child can do and setting targets and exams accordingly, rather than a one exam fits all system which can lead to some children excelling while others struggle.
At the end of primary six all students will take the primary school leaving examination which will ultimately decide their future path in the education system.