The Secondary school education in Singapore is one of the top few educational systems in the world. It emphasizes on the importance of education.
Take a few minutes to browse through the detailed information that has been presented in this website. This is aimed to help you understand the benefits and ways to enter into the Secondary School Education System in Singapore!
· Competitive environment drives excellence.
· World-class education system with excellent infrastructure, accompanied with many opportunities for learning.
· Education in Singapore is heavily emphasized as the basis for success – drives students to develop a good educational foundation.
· Singapore schools have topped many international competitions for science and mathematics, which shows superior standard of education.
· Bilingual Policy – Compulsory to learn two languages, English as first language and mother tongue as second language. Students become proficient in English and helps in linking up to the world.
· After being exposed to both Arts and Science in Secondary 1 and 2, students have to make a choice of Arts or Science stream at Secondary 3. This allows students to know their areas of strength and allow the educational system to benefit them.
Singapore Secondary school comprises of Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary level. With different streams ranging from Normal Technical, Normal Academic, Express and Special.
Lower secondary education
Common Subjects
Life Skills: Co-Curricular Activities, Community involvement Program, Civics and Moral Education, Pastoral Care and Career Guidance, National Education, Physical Education. (non academic curriculum to shape the student’s character)
Knowledge skills: Project work ( skill based subjects to train students skills in analysis and application)
Special and Express Stream
Subjects:
Languages: English And Mother Tongue / Higher mother Tongue / Mother Tongue Language B 3rd optional language: French, German, Japanese, Malay, and Chinese
Humanities & the Arts: Geography, History, Literature in English, visual Arts, Music
Mathematics & Science: Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology, Home Economics.
Normal Academic Stream
Subjects :
Languages : English and Mother Tongue 3rd language choice of either Malay or Chinese
Humanities and arts: Geography, History, Literature in English, Visual Arts and Music
Mathematics & Sciences: Mathematics, Science, Design & Technology and Home Economics
Normal Technical Stream
Subjects:
Language: English and Basic Mother Tongue
Humanities: Social Studies, Visual Arts and Music
Mathematics and Sciences: Mathematics, Science, Computer Applications, Technical Studies and Home Economics
Upper Secondary in Singapore
In Upper Secondary level, students are able to choose their combinations of subjects that suit them. This allows greater flexibility for students to choose subjects that they are more inclined at.
Basically, in upper secondary the main subjects the students will be:
(1)English (Compulsory)
(2)Elementary-mathematics (Compulsory)
(3)Pure Chemistry (Compulsory, but can also be taken as combined science with physics or biology)
(4)Combined humanities (Usually taken as social studies together with history, or social studies together with geography)
(5)Mother-tongue/2nd language (Compulsory, unless student doesn’t have a 2nd language offered by the secondary school, which are Chinese, Malay, Indian , EG German student studying in secondary school)
(6)Pure Biology (Optional)
(7)Pure Physics (Optional, can be taken as combined science with biology or chemistry)
(8)Additional-mathematics (Optional)
(9)Principles of accounting (Optional)
(10)Pure geography (Optional)
On top of the main subjects, it would also be important to note that there are also “special” subjects offered to pupils. An example would be the chapel lessons offered to pupils studying in a mission or independent school, such as Raffles Secondary, Anglo-Chinese Sec or Saint Andrews Sec.
Flexibility Between Courses
In Singapore’s secondary school system, students are able to change their streams if results are up to a satisfactory level. This is usually applied to students in the Normal Technical Streams whose results are qualified to upgrade their streams.
Co-curricular activities (CCAs) were a policy introduced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) back then. It was previously known as Extra-curricular activities (ECAs), which meant activities after school curriculum hours. More emphasis on CCAs was made on the secondary schools, as it would help to nurture the students’ qualities, helping them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
CCAs are unique because Singapore is only the country to adopt this policy, making it compulsory for students to take part in at least an activity organised by the schools. Not only is this a special part of secondary school education, it also serves as a platform to develop students’ character, confidence, perseverance and many needed qualities.
By having CCAs, secondary schools are not only achieving academic results throughout the four years. Instead, it allows the students to learn a skill, develop their leadership, nurture them to be good team members, and most importantly serve as a distress activity that brings about lots of fun.
There are mainly four categories for the available CCAs: Sports and Games, Uniformed Groups, Performing Arts Groups and Clubs and Societies.
Sports and Games
For sports and games, secondary schools on the whole offer a wide variety of sports activities for their students. A few popular sports to be named will be track and field, soccer, basketball, table tennis and many more to come.
Uniformed Groups
One of the highlights of the Uniformed Groups would be the National Cadet Corps (NCC). This is the closet a student can get to experience the feeling of what national service (NS) is like. Students, be it guys or girls, are required to put on the actual army uniform, stay in army camps, and even get their hands on the latest army equipment. What is even more unique is that different schools are allocated different NCC divisions, be it air land or sea. With that, it diversifies the learning experience of the students.
Performing Arts
Performing Arts Groups are also a popular choice for students. Examples would be the Chinese orchestra, symphonic band, Chinese dance and many more. Students from these CCAs will take part in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) to showcase their talent. They will then be graded according to their performance, achieving Gold, Silver or the Bronze award.
Clubs and Societies
For the Clubs and Societies, students are also taught different skills. There is the environmental club, to increase the awareness of recycling and conserving the environment. Other clubs range from chess clubs to Chinese cultural clubs.
All in all, CCAs definitely brings about lots of fun for the students. It also teaches them something that is out of the textbook; be it a skill or great knowledge. Therefore, CCAs make secondary school education so unique that it is worth complementing on.
School Fees
Autonomous Schools collect Autonomous School Fees, ranging from $3 to $18 per month, on top of second-tier miscellaneous fees
Independent Schools charge a separate scale of fees. The range of school fees for local students (excluding miscellaneous fees) as at 2006 is $150- $255 per month
Payment of School Fees
For payment of fees using GIRO, please download the GIRO Application Form
Parents who wish to change their GIRO account can go to their banks to effect the change directly. If parents wish to effect the change of GIRO account through MOE, they are to submit the Termination Form together with the new GIRO Application Form to MOE.
For termination of GIRO arrangement, parents can affect the termination at their banks or make the request through MOE by submitting the Termination Form
Financial assistance schemes are available to help needy students pay their fees. Parents who wish to apply for financial assistance may approach their child’s school for the application form.
Footnotes
1. Annual fee payable is spread over 12 months of the academic year. Students who join on or before 5th February will have to pay fees for January. Those who leave on or after 5th October will have to pay fees for November and December.
2. Second-tier miscellaneous fees are decided by schools. The maximum amount that can be charged is 100% of the standard miscellaneous fees. Students may use their Edusave accounts to pay the second-tier miscellaneous fees.
3. Students may use their Edusave accounts to pay the Autonomous School fees.
Applications for school admission of foreign students must be made using the prescribed form obtainable from the foreign student information website or the schools (ie Government/Government-aided/Independent schools/Junior colleges/Centralised institute).
For information on school admission of foreign students, you may visit foreign student information website at http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/foreign/
For further clarifications, please contact:
- MOE Customer Service Centre at DID (65) 6872 2220, Fax No (65) 6776 4617
- MOE email address at contact@moe.edu.sg
Step 1 - Apply at school of choice
The parent/guardian submits the completed application form for school admission together with all the necessary original documents directly to a school of choice. For children whose parent(s) are holding S Pass or Work Permit (R Pass), they are required to pass a qualifying test before seeking school admission (see Step A).
Step 2 - School conducts placement test and issues Letter of Acceptance
School will conduct placement test for the applicant if there is a vacancy.
If applicant passes the placement test and the school accepts him/her, the school will issue a Letter of Acceptance (LOA). The LOA will indicate in-principle acceptance of the applicant to the school. The applicant can proceed to ICA to apply for a student's pass with this letter (see Step 3)
Acceptance to the school is subject to the applicant obtaining and returning with a student's pass from Immigration and Checkpoints Authority(ICA) within 2 weeks from date of issue of the LOA.
Applicants who are holding a Dependant's Pass (DP) or an Immigration Exemption Order(IEO) are not required to apply for a student's pass from ICA. He/She can be admitted by the school immediately upon passing the placement test (go to Step 5).
Step 3 - Apply student's pass at ICA
The LOA is valid for 2 weeks from date of issue. Upon receiving the LOA, the applicant should proceed to ICA immediately to apply for a student's pass. Applicant must produce the original LOA endorsed by the School to ICA.
Step 4 - Return to school within 2 weeks with student's pass
The applicant must return to school with a valid student's pass within 2 weeks from the date of the LOA. The applicant will forfeit his/her admission to the school if he/she does not return within 2 weeks.
Step 5 - Donation to the Education Fund
After the applicant has been successfully admitted to the school, the Ministry of Education will send a letter to him/her requesting for the biennial donation to the Education Fund, i.e $1,000 for every 2 years.
Step A - For Children of S Pass and Work Permit (R Pass) Holders Only
Applicants with at least one parent working in Singapore on S Pass or Work Permit (R Pass) must pass a qualifying test (Assessment of General Ability conducted by Civil Service College Consultants) before they can be considered for admission. For more information on this requirement, please refer to Ministry of Manpower's website at http://www.mom.gov.sg.
Applicants who have not taken the qualifying test can apply online with Civil Service College Consultants at http://www.cscc.gov.sg/gat.htm.
The applicant will receive by post a letter on the Outcome of the Qualifying Test. If the letter shows that he/she is eligible to seek admission to a Singapore school, he/she can then approach a school of choice with the letter to apply for school admission (refer to Step 2).
1. Application Period
Applications for school admission are accepted by schools subject to availability of vacancies. Application can be made anytime during the year. For admission to Primary One in the following year, the applicant may register with the school of choice during or after Phase 3 of the annual Primary One Registration Exercise.
2. Donation to the Education Fund
A foreign student is requested to make biennial donations (that is, once every two years) to the Education Fund of the Ministry of Education if his/her application to study in Singapore is approved.
Foreign students are requested to make the biennial donations of S$1,000 within the period stated in the Letter of Donation.
Thereafter, foreign students are requested to make the donation in advance every two years. The biennial donations are requested from foreign students of all nationalities who seek admission to schools, junior colleges and centralised institute for the academic year beginning in January each year. The biennial donations replace the previous donation rates ($3,000 for Malaysians and $5,000 for other nationalities) which were requested once at the primary education level and once at the secondary education level.
Foreign students whose parents are Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents, or holders of work passes (including P1, P2, Q1, S, R and other work passes), who are admitted from 1 Jan 2001 onwards, are also requested to make the biennial donations to the Education Fund.
The donations to the Education Fund are eligible for tax-exemption and the official receipts will be made in favour of either the donor or the foreign student. The donation is non-refundable except when the foreign student is awarded a Singapore Government Scholarship www.moe.gov.sg/aseanscholarships in the year of admission or when he/she has not attended any lessons in school.
3. Particulars of Guardian
The foreign student is required to provide the particulars of his/her guardian to the school for contact purposes. The guardian should be a Singapore Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident above 21 years old OR the parent of the foreign student if the parent is working/staying in Singapore.
A foreign student should report any change in guardianship to his/her school principal.
4. Choice of school
Parent/guardian can approach the school of choice directly. Admission is dependent on the availability of vacancies in the school provided there are no Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents on the school's waiting list.
5. Placement Test conducted by the school
The foreign student will be tested subjects such as English, Mathematics and Mother Tongue Language (where applicable). The tests are conducted by the school which the foreign student is seeking admission to.
6. Level of Admission
Besides the performance in the school placement test, foreign students will be considered for admission to a level subject to documentary proof that he/she has completed the previous level, and the age criteria. Foreign students who have been admitted at the primary level must complete the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) before proceeding to the secondary level.
7. Boarding Facilities
Please refer to the list of boarding schools and hostels. The private hostels are listed in the yellow pages of the Singapore Telephone Directory.
8. Exemption from offering Chinese, Malay or Tamil as a Mother Tongue Language
Exemption from the mother tongue requirement may be considered on a case-by-case basis after the student has been admitted to school. Application for exemption should be made through the school principal, who will refer the application to the Languages & Literature Branch, Ministry of Education, for consideration.
9. Monthly School Fees
For Government and Government-Aided Schools, the monthly rates of school fees payable are S$80 for primary, S$130 for secondary and S$240 for pre-university levels. For children of Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents and dependants of Employment Pass and Skilled Work Permit Holders, the monthly school fees payable for the first 2 years are S$3 for primary, S$5 for secondary, and S$6 for pre-university levels. For the third year onwards, the school fees payable will be determined based on their citizenship status.
In addition to school fees, all students are to pay miscellaneous fees. The maximum monthly miscellaneous fees payable are S$11 for primary, S$16 for secondary, and S$22 for pre-university levels. Students studying in Autonomous Schools are also required to pay additional miscellaneous fees. Please check directly with the schools on the actual amount of miscellaneous fees payable.
The rates of school and miscellaneous fees payable are reviewed by the Ministry of Education and individual schools from time to time.
For Independent Schools, the school fees payable varies from school to school. Please check directly with the schools concerned for the fees payable.
10. Admission to Kindergartens, Private Schools, Universities & Polytechnics
A foreign student seeking admission to a kindergarten, private school or an institution of higher education (ie university or polytechnic), should approach the kindergarten, private school or institution directly.
11. General
In accordance with the Immigration Regulations, a foreigner is exempted from applying for a Student's Pass if he/she is a Dependant's Pass or Immigration Exemption Order Holder studying in a Government/Governement-aided/Independent School. For more details on Student's Pass applications, please refer to ICA's website at http://app.ica.gov.sg/serv_visitor/index.asp.
A copy of the "Directory of Schools and Educational Institutions, Singapore" is obtainable from the Customer Service Centre at the Ground Floor, Podium Block, Ministry of Education, at S$3.50 per copy excluding postage. This publication provides the addresses and telephone numbers of all the schools in Singapore. Alternatively, the information may be found in the Schools Information website at http://www.moe.edu.sg/schdiv/sis/
Singapore educational system has made it easy and affordable for foreigners to study in Singapore. Furthermore, the education system in Singapore is one of the most prestigious and sought after in the world. So what are you waiting for? Click on the links provided to know more about the educational system of Singapore today.
