Education
Education has always been one of the pillars of Singapore society.
As a nation whose only resource is its people, Singapore takes education very seriously. It is assuring to know that the quality of schooling here is among the best in the world – our system and textbooks have been adopted and adapted from by other countries.
Read more details here or on the Ministry of Education (MOE) website.
Public Schools
The local school year (below tertiary level) consists of four 10-week terms beginning on 2 January each year. There is a one-week vacation after the first and third terms, a four-week vacation mid-year and six weeks at year-end.
Singapore’s public schools maintain high standards of teaching and learning. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010, Singapore was ranked 1st internationally for the quality of our educational system. Our students have regularly excelled in international competitions such as debating and creative writing competitions, as well as mathematics and science Olympiads. In the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007, Singapore students were ranked first at Primary 4 and Secondary 2 levels for Science. In Mathematics, Singapore students emerged second at Primary 4 and third at Secondary 2. Singapore schools were found to have excellent resources and facilities, well suited for Mathematics and Science instruction. Our schools also provide a safe and conducive environment for learning.
Pre-Schools and Kindergartens
Many parents in Singapore introduce their children to formal or partial education from a very young age. You will find a slew of centres catering to pre-school education, either by session or tied in with childcare services – often a necessity for households with two working parents. For a list of the preschools and kindergartens in Singapore, you may like to check out here.
Public Schools
Singapore ’s public schools are becoming increasingly popular with foreigners due to their high standards. Most primary schools, secondary schools and junior colleges accept international students. MOE conducts an annual admissions exercise during September/October for new international students who wish to join public schools.
Over the years, Singapore’s education system has grown in diversity and depth. Today, there is a wide variety of educational pathways available, to meet individual needs and talents. These include the Singapore Sports School, School of the Arts and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
International students who wish to study in a Singapore public school need to apply for a Student’s Pass unless they hold a Dependant’s Pass or an Immigration Exemption Order.
For more information on entry to public schools, click here .
Foreign System and Private Schools
While Singapore’s public school system is comprehensive and upholds high standards, you may prefer to send their children to international or foreign system schools.
There are more than 40 foreign system or international schools in Singapore. Such schools may offer an education pathway and curriculum that are similar to those in their home country. This is especially beneficial if your children have been educated in a language other than English. Each school has its own admission criteria.
Comprehensive information for international students can be found on the Ministry of Education (MOE) website here.
A recent development was the establishment of international schools by three of Singapore’s top schools, as ACS International, Hwa Chong International and SJI International. The three schools offer secondary and post-secondary education. For a list of international schools in Singapore, click here.
Institutes of Higher Learning
If you or your spouse would like to pursue further education, Singapore offers a luxurious spread of choices. Singapore currently has three autonomous universities, with a fourth slated to open in 2011. They are the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU). A graduate medical school, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, was also created through a partnership between Duke University School of Medicine and NUS to increase Singapore’s capacity to develop a vibrant biomedical hub.
Specialised institutions have also sprung up, both local and international. For instance, well-known business schools University of Chicago Booth School of Business and INSEAD, Tisch School of the Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) provide specialised education in the arts, and the Digipen Institute of Technology focuses on world-class technology education.
In addition, polytechnics were also set up to train middle-level professionals, and the Institute of Technical Education was established as a post-secondary technical institution of excellence.
There are also over 300 private education institutions in Singapore for you to choose from. Private schools offer a large variety of courses, including language and professional programmes. When choosing a private school, do make sure it has proper accreditation. The CaseTrust for Education and Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations are two hallmarks of quality implemented in Singapore.
For a list of the institutes of higher learning in Singapore, click here.
Special Needs Schools
Children with disabilities obtain special education in Special Education (SPED) schools, run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations and funded by MOE and the National Council of Social Service, or other private and international schools.
SPED schools offer differentiated programmes for children who are unable to attend mainstream schooling. The curriculum aims to help these children become independent, self-supporting and contributing members of society. Apart from classroom learning, the students also receive additional support from paramedical professionals.
For more information on special needs education in Singapore, click here.