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The Singapore Education System

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

The Singapore Education System

Education for the 21st Century
Photo by chuttersnap

Singapore

Modernity and Diversity

Singapore's recent claim to fame

Photo by Sue L C

Singapore

A "Fine" City

The Education Pathways

Efficiency-Driven Phase (1978-1996)

Streaming to academic tracks according to aptitude

Ability-based, Aspiration-driven (1997-2011)

 Develop students’ interests and lifelong learning skill

Student-centric, values driven (2012-present)

Emphasis on ethics, character development and dispositions
Photo by Jon Tyson

21st Century Competencies

Key Educational Initiatives from 1997

Key Focus

  • Student-centered, Values-driven Education
  • The Joy of Learning
  • Entrepreneurial Dare
  • Learning for Life
Photo by Daoudi Aissa

Survival-Driven Phase (1959-1978)

Development of basic literacy and numeracy skills

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

To enable youths to thrive in the 21st century

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

1) Instilling Deep Values

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

2) Building deep foundation for learning

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

3) Providing broad, holistic and inclusive Education

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

3) Providing broad, holistic and inclusive Education

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

4) Learning for Life

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

4) Learning for Life

Student-Centered, Values-Driven Education

Summary: The Dimensions of Learning

The Joy of Learning

Happy Classrooms, Happy Learners

Key assumptions

  • Joyful learning experiences lead to intrinsic motivation and a desire to learn.
  • Such desire to learn lead to a lifelong discovery of passions and interests.
Photo by broterham

Two Approaches

Learning through Play and Applied Learning

Learning through Play

Programme for Active Learning, Outdoor Learning Activities

SLS Online Learning Portal

Using technology to engage students

Reducing load and stakes of assessments

Removal of examinations at Lower Primary, Mid-years during transition years

Singapore Teaching Practice

Sharing Effective Teaching and Learning Practices

Singapore's Context (1)

  • Developed country
  • No Nobel Prize Winners
  • Few Singaporean companies as market leaders
  • 24th on the Global Entrepreneurship Index for displaying innovation and entrepreneurship
  • 78th on the Cornell-Insead 2016 report for achieving innovation efficiency.
  • Culture of unwillingness to embrace risk in trying new things, preferring to stick to familiar ways to succeed/comfort zone
Photo by Jeremy Bishop

Singapore's Context (2)

  • Culture of unwillingness to embrace risk in trying new things, preferring to stick to familiar ways to succeed/comfort zone
  • "Hemmed in by our own success"
Photo by burntfilm

Definition of Entrepreneurial Dare

  • An attitude, a mind-set of pushing boundaries, of wanting to innovate and finding a breakthrough. Applies across all domains, not just in business and enterprises, but also in scientific research, engineering, and the arts.
  • Applies across all domains, not just in business and enterprises, but also in scientific research, engineering, and the arts.
Photo by Skye Studios

Key Programmes

  • Outdoor Education Programme
  • Applied Learning Programme
Photo by ian dooley

National Outdoor Education Masterplan

  • One school camp in Upper Primary
  • One school camp in Secondary School
  • One 5-day expedition-based Outward Bound School Programme at Secondary 3
  • Build character and qualities such as resilience, tenacity, leadership, teamwork, grit, and adaptability
Photo by Ahmed zayan

Applied Learning Programme

  • Emphasises the relevance of what is being learnt to current needs and future trends of industries
  • Provides hands-on or experiential learning for students to enact authentic scenarios
  • Equips students with the skills to engage in the practical application of knowledge

Applied Learning Subjects

  • Computing
  • Electronics Exercise & Sport Science
  • Exercise & Sport Science
Photo by Yu. Samoilov

Applied Learning Programmes

  • School-initiated, offered in all secondary schools, and most primary schools for Upper Primary Students
  • Diverse fields, not limited to:
  • Digital Media, Food Science & Technology, Environmental Science & Sustainable Living, Social Innovation
Photo by Sam McGhee

The Singapore Education System Today

Putting Learners First?

Valerie Baptist

  • Geography & Project Work Teacher
  • 9 Years at Catholic Junior College
  • Head of Department - Student Development
  • Interests: Music, travel, food
  • Inquiry project: Building emotional and academic resilience in students
Photo by Jamez Picard

Thomas Lim

  • Senior Teacher/English Language at Nan Hua Primary School
  • Lead Designer of the school's Thinking Programme
  • Inquiry Project: Developing Critical and Creative Thinking in the Primary School Context

Multiple Pathways

Specialised Secondary Schools: SOTA, SST, NUSHMS

Multiple Pathways

Specialised Secondary Schools: Spectra, Crest, NorthLight

Multiple Pathways

Institute of Technical Education

About me!

  • Elementary/Middle School Teacher, College Lecturer and Teacher-trainer for 15 years
  • Ph.D in Psycholinguistics (Psychology + Linguistics)
  • Fulbright Distinguished Awards for International Teachers 2018/19
  • Subjects taught: English, Research Skills, Thinking Skills
  • Fulbright Distinguished Awards for International Teachers 2018/19
Photo by AJC1

Singapore

Ultra-Modern Society 

Multi-racial and Multi-religious society

4 Major races: Chinese, Malay, Indians, "Others" 

Economic Indicators (2)

  • Foreign Reserves (Singapore): US$256 billion or US$35,500 per capita
  • Foreign Reserves (US): US$125 billion or US$235 per capita
  • Most expensive city in the world (The Economist Intelligence Unit)
Photo by 401(K) 2013

The Great Paradox

Unhappiest country in the world (2012) 
Photo by _Hadock_

The Singapore Education System

Education for the 21st Century
Photo by chuttersnap

Where is Singapore?

It doesn't exist on most maps of the world... 
Photo by nsikander28

Key Facts about Singapore

  • 278 square miles, 5.6 million residents (20100 per square mile) vs US 3.5m sq/mi, 325m residents (92 per sq/mi)
  • Lowest birth rate in the world: 0.84 per woman
  • No natural resources (oil, minerals, etc.)
  • Low Tax haven (17% Corporate, 0-22% Personal)

Economic Indicators

  • Net Wealth per person (Singapore vs US)
  • Median: $91,656 vs $61,667 (US), Mean: $283,118 vs US $403,974 (US)
  • Government Reserves: Unknown (Est US$500 billion)
  • Net Investment Returns Contribution (2018): US$12.2b or US$2178 per capita
Photo by Mevout

Quick Facts about Singapore Education (1)

  • All Singaporeans must attend public schools
  • Education is free up to Senior High (minor fees may apply), Local University fees are heavily subsidised
  • Government spending on education: 2.7% of GDP (vs 4.9% in US), [13% of budget] behind defence (15.5%]
Photo by rosipaw

Quick facts about Singapore's Education (2)

  • OECD PISA, TIMSS study: 1st in the world
  • Both full national universities (NUS/NTU) ranked top 20 in the world.
  • $1 billion shadow education industry
  • Teacher recruitment at top 30% of cohort or higher, compensation at market rate (Bachelor's only)
  • "Every school is a good school"?

Quick facts about Singapore's Education (3)

  • Multi-racial Society: Integration in schools
  • Bilingual Policy: English + Mother Tongue
  • Diverse socio-economic backgrounds in same school
  • Maximum 40 students per class
  • National examinations at key stages: Primary School Leaving Examination (12 years old), GCE "N" or "O" Level (16/17), GCE "A" Level (18-19)
Photo by Jay Phagan

Chronology of the Education Focus

Changing phases as per the society's needs 

The Typical Singaporean Classroom

My Classroom

1/2 Normal, 1/2 Relaxed 

Special Programmes

1:1 iPad BYOD Programme 

Applied Learning Programme

Critical, Creative and Applied Thinking 

Outdoor Education

Adventure Camps at Grade 5, 8 

A Brief History of Singapore

From Colonialism to post-Colonialism 
Photo by Leshaines123

Early history of Singapore

  • Settled by 1000AD by early Indian, Indonesian and Malaysian empires (Known as Temasek and later, Singapura [Lion City])
  • The myth of Sang Nila Utama and the naming of Singapore
Photo by chooyutshing

The Founding of Modern Singapore (1819)

  • Trade wars in South-East Asia between colonial powers (Dutch, British, Portuguese, French, Spanish)
  • British arrived in 1819 to establish trading settlement.
  • "Renting" Singapore from the local rulers
  • Establishment of formal government and mass migration. (from 1000+ in 1819 to 100000 by 1871)
Photo by Gallus Mallus

The downfall of colonialism (1)

  • Singapore as the jewel of the British empire
  • "Singapore will never fall"-Winston Churchill
  • Singapore fell in 7 days.
  • Occupied by Japanese during WWII
  • Great hardship of Singaporeans: Hyperinflation, Massacres, living in constant fear
  • Desire for independence due to loss of faith in British Empire, injustice of colonialism

The downfall of colonialism (2)

  • Return to British after WWII
  • Desire for independence due to loss of faith in British Empire, injustice of colonialism, clash of identities
  • Self-governance in 1959, merger with Malaysia in 1963, separation from Malaysia in 1965

Singapore 1965

One of the poorest countries in the world 

Singapore 2015

One of the richest countries in the world 

Culture and Lifestyle

Food, Shopping, Man-made Nature 

Hawker Centre

50-100 specialist food stalls under 1 roof 

Liao Fan $2 Chicken Rice

The World's Cheapest Michelin Star "restaurant"

Popular Cuisines/Dishes in Singapore

  • National Dish: Chicken Rice/Chili Crab
  • Chinese Food (Noodles, Rice, Desserts in at least 100 variations)
  • Indian Food (Curries, flatbreads)
  • Malay Food (Rice + Meats)
  • Korean and Japanese Food
  • Fast Food (120 McDonald's in Singapore)
Photo by Kojach

Sentosa Beach

Man-made Beaches and Island Resort 
Photo by Annie Spratt

Singapore Botanic Gardens

UNESCO Heritage Site 

Gardens by the Bay

21st Century garden on reclaimed land 

Singapore Zoological Garden

One of the world's best zoos 

More Quirks about Singapore

  • Anyone in your parents' age group are addressed as "Uncle" or "Auntie", even strangers.
  • Children live with their parents until they are married AND can afford their first home. (Usually late 20's to early 30's)
  • "Would you like to buy a flat with me?" is a perfectly valid proposal for marriage.
Photo by John T

Even more quirks about Singapore

  • Most Singaporeans speak English and their Mother Tongue (e.g. Chinese). But most friends converse in Singlish.
  • Singaporeans will complain about paying $3 for lunch, but will queue for hours to buy a $3000 handbag.
  • 30+% of middle-class children have paid music lessons each week for years. But only 25 students (0.1%) enrol in music courses in college.

Law and Order

  • No firearms for civilians
  • Possession of more than 1 ounce of cocaine/heroin = mandatory death sentence.
  • Lowest Violent Crime Rates in the world
  • Special focus on "corruption" since 1965. No "friends" allowed. Full transparency in business deals.
Photo by freefotouk

National Service

  • Mandatory for all males after high school
  • 2 years (formerly 2.5)
  • Usually military service, but possibly for law enforcement or civil defence (firefighting, paramedics)
  • Deferment almost impossible (even for signing for professional sports team, enrolment in Harvard/Juilliard, etc.)
Photo by isparavanje

Career Tracks for Teachers

Flexible pathways and talent management