Report of the Primary Education Review and Implementation Committee March 2009 © 2009 All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Ministry of Education, Singapore. 28 March 2009 Dr Ng Eng Hen Minister for Education In October 2008, you appointed the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) Committee to study and recommend the priorities, programmes and resources needed to bring primary education to the next level. In its deliberations, the Committee considered the strengths and limitations of our current primary education system in preparing our young for an increasingly complex, competitive and inter-connected world. The Committee also sought the views of stakeholders in education – educators, parents, employers, and members of the public – and drew from Committee members’ collective experiences and insights of education in both local and overseas contexts. We have sought to build on our strong fundamentals, while raising the quality of teaching and learning for a well-balanced primary education. Our recommendations are in two broad areas. First, we propose to balance the acquisition of knowledge with the development of skills and values, through increased use of engaging and effective teaching methods, more holistic assessment, and a stronger emphasis on non-academic aspects within the curriculum. Second, the Committee recommends that more resources in the areas of manpower, funding and infrastructure be provided to support the proposed changes. The Committee recognises that the success of these recommendations hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained effort, especially in building the capacity of our schools and educators to effectively realise a more holistic primary education. We believe that the recommendations will provide our children with a balanced and well-rounded education in their foundational years. We are grateful for the opportunity to undertake this review, and would like to express our appreciation to the many individuals and organisations who have contributed to the work of the Committee. The Committee has completed its work, and we are pleased to present our Report for your consideration. MS GRACE FU (CHAIRPERSON) DR LILY NEO MR MICHAEL PALMER MS YEOH CHEE YAN MS SEAH JIAK CHOO MR WILBUR WONG MR HARISH NIM MR ALFIE OTHMAN MR GOH SIN TECK MR PIYUSH GUPTA PROF JACKIE YING MR WONG SIEW HOONG (HEAD, SECRETARIAT) 6 April 2009 Ms Grace Fu Senior Minister of State for National Development & Education and Chairperson, Primary Education Review and Implementation Committee Dear Thank you for your letter of 28 March 2009. I am pleased to inform you that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) Committee. We have a robust primary education system that is respected for its high standards. It provides our children with a strong foundation in their formative years. However, our education system must continue to evolve in response to changing needs. The Committee has done well to propose changes that build upon our present strengths to raise primary education to the next level. The Committee’s proposal to introduce measures that balance the acquisition of knowledge with the development of skills and values is instrumental to prepare our young to thrive in the future. Introducing new non- academic programmes (such as the Programme for Active Learning), providing more opportunities for schools to better develop soft skills and imbue correct values, as well as refining the assessment system to provide feedback on the holistic development of our children are notable steps in the right direction. These changes will take time to implement. In particular, in the area of more appropriate forms of assessment for Pri 1 and 2 pupils, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will provide training for principals and teachers to assess pupils more holistically - using a range of methods - over the next few years. MOE will do this at a comfortable pace that allows us to monitor the effectiveness and progress of the changes, while continuing to maintain high academic standards. We will also provide parents with sufficient information about the advantages of these assessment methods. The Committee’s recommendation to invest in a quality teaching force is both essential and timely. Quality educators with the right aptitude, passion and competencies are crucial to deliver good education. MOE will continue to enhance the recruitment and training of our educators, to build a better education system that benefits future generations of Singaporeans. MOE will also target to facilitate the transition of all government primary schools to a single-session model by 2016, as recommended by the Committee. This is an essential enabler to support the desired enhancements in educational outcomes. Even as we move to all single-session primary schools, MOE will ensure that Singaporean children will still have access to a primary school near his home, based on the same planning parameters that are currently used. In addition, we will work closely with schools, especially the more popular ones, to ensure sufficient number of Primary 1 places such that students who have no affiliation to the school can still have access for admission. Implementing the recommendations put forward by the Committee will require sizeable resources and a sustained commitment to change mindsets, develop capacity, build infrastructure and garner the stakeholder support necessary to bring primary education to a new level. It will take some time to achieve our shared goals, and MOE will commit the necessary financial resources to introduce the proposed initiatives. I would like to thank you and the members of the PERI Committee for doing an excellent job in seeking views from stakeholders and for formulating strategies and practical recommendations that will help enhance primary school education in Singapore. Nurturing the next generation is a mission that involves society as a whole, and MOE will need to work closely with stakeholders in implementing these changes. Together, I am confident that we can build a World Class education system that will give young Singaporeans the best future possible. NG ENG HEN (DR) Table of CONTENTS Executive Summary 3 Chapter 1: Introduction Review of Primary Education 17 Terms of Reference 17 Review and Consultation Process 18 Chapter 2: Confident Children, Independent Learners, Caring Citizens Recent Changes in Primary Education 21 Building on Our Strengths in Primary Education 23 Skills and Attitudes Needed to Navigate a Dynamic Future 24 The Way Forward - Confident Children, Independent Learners, Caring Citizens 26 Chapter 3: Balancing Knowledge with Skills and Values Key Thrusts 29 Use Engaging Pedagogy to Teach Skills and Values 30 Emphasise Non-Academic Programmes Within Curriculum 32 More Holistic Assessment to Support Learning 34 Chapter 4: Investing in a Quality Teaching Force Provide Additional Manpower 41 Recruit Committed, Quality Educators 42 Equip Teachers Well through Training and Professional Development 43 Chapter 5: Enhancing Infrastructure Single-Session Primary Schools 47 New Generation Primary School Facilities 49 Support for Social Services 50 Chapter 6: Conclusion 53 Annexes Annex A: Composition of the Primary Education Review and 57 Implementation Committee Annex B: Summary of Public Consultation Findings 59 Annex C: Examples of Pedagogies that Apply Across Subjects 62 Annex D: Skills to be Emphasised and Possible Modes and 64 Platforms for Assessment Annex E: Examples of Rubrics Used by Primary Schools to 65 Assess Specific Skills Annex F: Sample Holistic Development Profiles 68 Annex G: Allied Educators (Teaching and Learning) 73 Annex H: Professional Development and Academic 75 Upgrading Opportunities for Current Teachers Annex I: New Generation Primary School Facilities 76 Annex J: Preliminary Financial Estimates 78 Executive Summary 3 Executive Summary BACKGROUND 1. The Primary Education Review & Implementation (PERI) Committee, led by Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education, was formed in October 2008 to study ways to enhance primary education. 2. The Committee held dialogue sessions to seek views from a cross- section of stakeholders, including representatives from School Management and Advisory Committees, Principals, Vice-Principals, Heads of Department, teachers, parents, students and members of the public. In total, more than 850 people contributed their views and suggestions. THE WAY FORWARD - CONFIDENT CHILDREN, INDEPENDENT LEARNERS, CARING CITIZENS 3. The Committee recognises that our current primary school system is robust and of high standards, in major part due to a tightly-knit and well- organised system. Our strengths include a forward looking and centrally- designed curriculum, trained teachers whose skills continue to be upgraded, and a national examination system which helps maintain high standards. The Committee agrees that these strengths should be retained and built on. 4. Overall, the Committee received strong public support for an all- rounded primary education. The Committee also considered studies conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) which present a set of forward- looking educational outcomes. These outcomes aim to strike a balance between enduring knowledge