Overview of the Singapore School System
In recent years, Singapore has consistently come up as a case study of how education systems can work well. That is the reason why this article is focusing on how does the Singapore school system work, and what are the major differences in its structure from other institutions in the world.
An overview of the Singapore education system is that it is designed to provide a healthy and prosperous society, and make life a better one for all the citizens. In a way, this is achieved by taking care of the education system so that the children can excel both academically and socially.
Like any country, the education system in Singapore was designed to deliver a formal education for all its citizens. It includes both private and public schools, the latter being the primary choice for many children. All of these schools are overseen by an educational authority called the Ministry of Education (MOE).
There are three major reasons why the physical aspects of the education system in Singapore are well organized and managed. The first is that Singapore, unlike other countries, does not have to contend with a huge supply of money to cater for the education of its citizens. In fact, it actually doesn’t need to do so much of this, since it benefits most from being a developed country.
Second, since there is hardly any need for large-scale funding for the functioning of the educational system, there is not a lot of bureaucracy in the process. This makes it easier for education to go smoothly.
The third factor is that there is very little need for administrative tasks, which are often difficult and time-consuming. The MOE manages the entire process of education without being bogged down by bureaucracy. Thus, it can focus more on the educational processes and on making the education system work.
Having the three factors noted above, a look at how does the Singapore education system work is easy. First, there is a national curriculum, which is used as a guide for students and teachers. Students and teachers are supposed to be trained and supervised in their execution of the curriculum.
In Singapore, the school day and school year are also determined by a national standard, which can be adjusted to suit the needs of the local community. For example, the curriculum may be based on religious belief or ethnic backgrounds. These include the curriculum of the national school system.
Apart from the national curriculum, there is also a curriculum for K-12 education, which provides details about the science, arts, and language. Students get to choose among these subjects to ensure that they get the best education possible.
Also, the Singapore School System is divided into the pre-primary levels. They do not necessarily overlap. The former provides general education, while the latter provides students with basic knowledge on science, mathematics, and reading.
In addition, there is also a secondary level in which students begin to specialize. The same national curriculum is followed, with the difference that it is focused on certain subjects. For example, English is the major subject of the secondary level.
On the whole, people learn that education in Singapore has evolved over the years and has adapted to the nation’s rapidly changing social context. This is one of the main reasons why the education system has been able to maintain a high level of performance. Acknowledging these facts, the country can boast of the efficient education system, where it provides its citizens with a balanced education, without any inequalities.
