SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION Shaping the Next Phase of Your Child’s Learning Journey 01 SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION SYSTEM : AN OVERVIEW 03 LEARNING TAILORED TO DIFFERENT ABILITIES 04 EXPANDING YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT 06 MAXIMISING YOUR CHILD’S POTENTIAL 10 CATERING TO INTERESTS AND ALL-ROUNDEDNESS 21 EDUSAVE SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES 23 CHOOSING A SECONDARY SCHOOL 24 SECONDARY 1 POSTING 27 CHOOSING A SCHOOL : PRINCIPALS’ PERSPECTIVES The Ministry of Education formulates and implements policies on education structure, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. We oversee the development and management of Government-funded schools, the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and autonomous universities. We also fund academic research. SECONDARY SCHOOL 01 EDUCATION 02 Our education system offers many choices Singapore’s Education System : An Overview for the next phase of learning for your child. Its diverse education pathways aim to develop each child to his full potential. PRIMARY SECONDARY POST-SECONDARY WORK 6 years 4-5 years 1-6 years ALTERNATIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS QUALIFICATIONS*** Different Pathways to Work and Life INTEGRATED PROGRAMME 4-6 Years ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSITIES QUALIFICATIONS*** SPECIALISED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS** 4-6 Years WORK PRIVATELY FUNDED SCHOOLS SPECIAL 4-6 Years EDUCATION PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVING EXPRESS GCE O-LEVEL JUNIOR COLLEGES/ GCE A-LEVEL CONTINUING EDUCATION EXAMINATION (PSLE) 4 Years CENTRALISED AND TRAINING (CET)**** INSTITUTE 2-3 Years Specialised Schools offer customised programmes for students who incline SEC 5N(A) toward hands-on and practical learning. 1 Year These schools include Northlight School, POLYTECHNIC Assumption Pathway School, Crest Secondary FOUNDATION School, and Spectra Secondary School. PRIMARY SCHOOLS Specialised Independent Schools offer 6 Years specialised education catering to students POLYTECHNIC with talents and strong interests in specific NORMAL GCE N(A)-LEVEL POLYTECHNICS FOUNDATION 3 Years fields, such as the arts, sports, mathematics 1 Year (ACADEMIC) and science, and applied learning. These [N(A)] schools are the School of the Arts, Singapore 4 Years Sports School, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, and the School of Science DIRECT-ENTRY-SCHEME TO POLYTECHNIC and Technology. Alternative Qualifications refer to qualifications INSTITUTE OF not traditionally offered by the majority of GCE N(T)-LEVEL TECHNICAL mainstream schools in Singapore. EDUCATION NORMAL 2-3 Years (TECHNICAL) [N(T)] Continuing Education and Training (CET) 4 Years is designed for adult learners or companies ARTS INSTITUTIONS looking to upgrade the skills and knowledge 3-6 Years of their employees. SPECIALISED SCHOOLS* ALTERNATIVE 1-4 Years QUALIFICATIONS*** SECONDARY SCHOOL 03 EDUCATION 04 Learning Tailored Three core courses are offered at the secondary school level. Expanding Your Child’s Development Depending on your child’s Primary School Leaving Examination to Different (PSLE) results, he will be placed in the Express (including the Your child will develop a good sense of self-awareness, a sound moral compass, and the Integrated Programme in some schools), Normal (Academic) necessary skills and knowledge to take on challenges of the future. He will be responsible to [N(A)], or Normal (Technical) [N(T)] courses. his family, community and nation. He will also appreciate the beauty of the world around Abilities him, possess a healthy mind and body, and have a zest for life. While your child may initially be placed in a particular course, based on his ability to cope with the learning pace and style, there are opportunities at every stage for him to make a lateral transfer to another course if it is better able to bring out the best in him. He can also take specific subjects at an academically- higher level in upper secondary. For instance, if he is in the N(T) Your child will be nurtured through our secondary school education to become: course, he may be able to take some subjects at N(A) Level. WORK AND LIFE A CONFIDENT PERSON who A SELF-DIRECTED LEARNER has a strong sense of right who takes responsibility for his Continuous Learning and wrong, is adaptable own learning, who questions, and resilient, knows himself, is reflects and perseveres in the Advanced Diploma / Specialist Diploma / ITE Technical Diploma2 ITE Specialist Nitec1 discerning in judgment, thinks pursuit of learning. Modular Courses 1 University Diploma (Conversion) Workforce Skills at Universities, independently and critically, Degree Qualifications Polytechnics and ITE3 Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and communicates effectively. Polytechnic Diploma1 Higher Nitec1/ Nitec GCE A-Level Exam / International Baccalaureate Diploma/ National University of Singapore High School Diploma ls Civic Skil Li n ter tio ac Polytechnic a y Integrated Programme , Junior College Foundation Programme rm G (Years 5 and 6) ITE Skills o l Certificate f o In b a d l n A GCE O-Level Exam a w ITE Direct- Enhanced Nitec n a Entry-Scheme o Foundation i r to Polytechnic t e Programme a n r Programme e o Secondary 5N(A) s b s a a l l n o d C GCE N(A)-Level Exam GCE N(T)-Level Exam C , r n o o i s t s - a C Secondary 4 Express Secondary 4N(A) Secondary 4N(T) c i u n l t u u r m Specialised Schools a l m Secondary 3 Express Secondary 3N(A) Secondary 3N(T) S o k C i l l s Secondary 2 Express Secondary 2N(A) Secondary 2N(T) C Secondary 1 Express Secondary 1N(A) Secondary 1N(T) ritic ing al ink and Inventive Th Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) A CONCERNED CITIZEN An ACTIVE CONTRIBUTOR Note: Refer to the overview of Singapore’s Education System on the previous pages to see the diverse education pathways offered beyond secondary schools. who is rooted to Singapore, who is able to work effectively Footnotes: has a strong sense of civic in teams, exercises initiative, 1 Selected programmes will be progressively made available as SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programmes, which are work-study programmes designed to give consciousness, is informed, and takes calculated risks, is fresh polytechnic and ITE graduates a head-start in their careers related to their discipline of study. 2 Graduates of Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) in Machine Technology and TED in Automotive Engineering are eligible to apply for admission into a relevant takes an active role in bettering innovative and strives for part-time Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree programme at NUS. the lives of others around him. excellence. 3 Relevant modular courses may count towards the attainment of a full qualification at the universities, polytechnics and ITE. SECONDARY SCHOOL 05 EDUCATION 06 CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Participation in CCA fosters social Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) are an integration and deepens your child’s integral part of your child’s holistic sense of belonging, commitment and education. Through CCA, your child will responsibility to school, community and discover his interests and talents while nation. developing values and competencies that will prepare him to meet the challenges of Your child can choose from an exciting a rapidly changing world. range of CCA from uniformed groups, clubs and societies to sports and the arts. CCA also promote friendships among students from diverse backgrounds as they learn, play and grow up together. Maximising Your Child’s Potential There are many different secondary DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMMES schools to choose from. While some have IN ALL SCHOOLS unique programmes and others may offer different educational paths, they all seek to • Every secondary school will offer two maximise the potential of every child. distinctive programmes, the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) and Schools offer a variety of programmes Learning for Life Programme (LLP), by to develop the different abilities of our 2017. students. We believe in providing a range of options so that each child has the • ALP and LLP are programmes in specific opportunity to realise his talent and develop fields distinctive to each school. They a core and holistic set of skills. aim to develop skills and character through students applying what All schools will take into account your they have learnt to real-life contexts. concerns and those of your child. Students with strengths and interests in Our schools aim to offer a conducive these fields will be offered opportunities environment for progressive development to deepen their learning. and challenging education programmes for more advanced students. • Every student will be able to deepen 21st century competencies and When choosing a school, we encourage connect with the wider community. you to consider the strengths of each school and place your child in an environment that • Where relevant, secondary schools may can best broaden his horizons and motivate offer direct admission to primary school him to be an engaged learner. students with outstanding achievement and/or potential in areas related to the schools’ ALP or LLP. SECONDARY SCHOOL 07 EDUCATION 08 TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AUTONOMOUS SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SPECIALISED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SPECIALISED SCHOOLS • These schools provide a wider range • These schools enjoy greater autonomy in curricular If your child has an aptitude for Specialised Schools such as NorthLight School and Assumption of innovative courses and enrichment innovations, implementation of school programmes, Mathematics and scientific inquiry, an Pathway School offer customised programmes for students who are programmes that enhance your administration, student admissions and the setting of fee inclination for applied learning and inclined toward hands-on and practical learning. child’s learning experience and structures. creativity, excels in sports or has a develop his talents. creative flair for the arts, you may wish • Scholarships, both from MOE and the schools, are available to enrol him in one of the Specialised SPECIALISED SCHOOLS FOR N(T)-ELIGIBLE STUDENTS • They may charge an additional to students who have done well and wish to join the Independent Schools. These schools miscellaneous fee of between $3 and Independent Schools.