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Mar 17, 2023

No mid-year exams for Singaporean students entering JCs and Millennia Institute from 2024

There will be no mid-year examinations for students of junior colleges and Millennia Institute (MI) for cohorts entering the schools from 2024, announced the Ministry of Education (MOE). General Paper will become a compulsory subject and Project Work will be graded on a pass or fail basis.

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Mar 8, 2023

Singapore MOE to progressively resume high-element outdoor activities for school programmes

Activities will be resumed with enhanced safety measures, such as requiring regular accreditation, in place. Such activities have been suspended since February 2021, after a 15-year-old student died following an incident at a camp programme in SAFRA Yishun.

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Mar 1, 2023

Significant Changes Made to Singapore Education System to Spark Joy in Learning

The Ministry of Education's (MOE) aim is to develop children holistically and spark their passion for continuous learning.

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Dec 16, 2022

No plans to align Singapore polytechnic academic calendar with primary and secondary schools

There are currently no plans to align the polytechnic academic calendar with that of primary and secondary schools, says Education Minister Chan Chun Sing. Unlike the academic calendars of primary and secondary schools that broadly follow a calendar year, polytechnics usually start their academic year in April and end it in March the next year.

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Dec 9, 2022

Error in A-level chemistry exam paper in Singapore, SEAB to fix and ensure fair assessment of students

An error in the A-level chemistry exam was dealt with differently across schools, resulting in students finishing the exam at different times. In response, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) will work with Cambridge University - which assesses the A levels - to ensure that students are fairly assessed following the incident, it said.

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Apr 26, 2022

No more mid-year exams for all Singapore primary and secondary schools from 2023

Schools will remove mid-year examinations for all primary and secondary school students by next year, in an ongoing move to shift the focus from academic grades and tests.

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Mar 15, 2022

Polytechnics to allow students to spread out studies beyond 3 years

Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman announced that polytechnics will explore having a more flexible curriculum for selected students who would benefit from spreading out their learning over more than three years.

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Mar 10, 2022

Singapore A-level results release

School candidates will receive their results in their respective classrooms, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

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Mar 10, 2022

New PSLE scoring system sees more Singapore pupils qualifying to take secondary school subjects at higher level

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that about 65 per cent of pupils who qualified for the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) courses this year can take at least one subject at a more demanding level in secondary school.

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Mar 1, 2022

Singapore students in quarantine or on approved Covid-19 absence may still take national exams

Quarantined students will be allowed to take their national examinations this year if they wish to, subject to stringent criteria, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

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Oct 29, 2021

Lighter load for Singapore national and year-end school exams to help ease stress

Students taking the O, N and A levels this year will not be tested on some topics covered towards the end of their syllabus, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing. The Ministry of Education (MOE) had announced that common last topics would be removed from this year's Primary School Leaving Examination. Last year, common last topics were also removed from the national exam due to the pandemic.

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Oct 29, 2021

Singapore School Terms for 2022

The 2022 school year for all primary and secondary schools will start on Tuesday, Jan 4, and end on Friday, Nov 18, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Wednesday (Aug 11).

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Aug 5, 2021

Shorter route to Higher Nitec for ITE students by 2026

Students at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will have their route to advanced certification shortened from four years to three. Starting next year, 16 ITE courses will transition to a curriculum structure that will see students go straight through to Higher Nitec courses and earn the certification in three years.

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Jul 23, 2021

Singapore students to receive Covid-19 jab, priority for those taking O, N and A levels

More than 400,000 students will be invited to receive their Covid-19 jabs, with priority given to secondary and pre-university students in graduating cohorts, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced.

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Jul 15, 2021

Singapore MOE announces Free Continuing Education and Training Modules for Class of 2021 and 2020

The Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will offer free Continuing Education and Training (CET) modules to the graduating Class of 2021 from April 2021. This builds on efforts by the Ministry of Education, SkillsFuture Singapore and the IHLs in 2020 to support fresh graduates in broadening their skillsets and accessing more opportunities across different sectors amidst the uncertain economic outlook.

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Jul 5, 2021

MOE schools to tighten safe management measures amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Enhanced measures will be rolled out at MOE kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, special education schools, junior colleges, Millennia Institute and institutes of higher learning (IHLs). Both school-based mid-year assessments and the mid-year GCE O- and A-Level mother tongue language examinations will proceed.

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Jun 23, 2021

Singapore to move schools online as coronavirus cases rise

All primary, secondary and junior colleges will shift to full home-based learning from Wednesday until the end of the school term. “Some of these (virus) mutations are much more virulent, and they seem to attack the younger children,” said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

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Jun 15, 2021

Strengthening Learning of Mother Tongue Languages in Singapore

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will be offering Higher Malay Language (HML) and Higher Tamil Language (HTL) to Primary 3 (P3) and Primary 4 (P4) students from 2022 and 2023 respectively. This will allow more students to deepen their knowledge and appreciation for these languages and their cultures from an early age.

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Mar 10, 2021

Singapore’s education system to be less exam-focused, more geared to lifelong learning, says education minister

Singapore Education Minister announced that the country is ready to move towards an education model that is less exam-focused. This does not mean that exams and assessments will not play a role in the education system, but that there should be a balance between academics and other learning opportunities.

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Feb 10, 2021

Institutes of higher learning will offer courses to graduates to boost employability during Covid-19 pandemic

Singapore Ministry of Education announces that graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities will soon be able to apply for new courses that offer additional professional certificates - advanced diploma certificates, post-diploma certificates or postgraduate certificates.

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ARCHIVED COUNTRY STUDY: (PDF)

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Singapore

Overview

Singapore is an island located in Southeast Asia between Malaysia and Indonesia with a population of 4,450,000 people. Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963, but separated in 1965. It is one of the world`s most prosperous countries with strong international trading links. The main religions are Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism and Confucianisism. The official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English is the official language of instruction. Documents are issued in English by the institutions and the Education Council. At the primary, secondary and higher education levels, the school year runs from July to April. Education in the country is overseen by the Ministry of Education.

Education

Primary Education

Elementary education is six years in length, from age six to twelve. The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is awarded upon completion.

Secondary Education

Lower secondary education is four years in length, from age twelve to sixteen. The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Normal “N” Level Examination is awarded after the 9th year of study. After the 10th year, students sit for the Singapore / Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level Examinations (O-Levels).

Higher secondary education is two to three years in length, from age sixteen to eighteen or nineteen. At the end of their studies, students sit for the Singapore/Cambridge GCE Advanced Level Examinations (A-Levels).

Post-Secondary Education

First Cycle

Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics and other schools for public and private training. One to three year Diploma programs are offered in design, business, computer, engineering, maritime studies, mass communication, nursing, radiology, and in technological subjects. Bachelor's degrees require three to five years of study; with admission being based on the GCE A-Level results, bachelor's degrees require a minimum of sixteen years of education.

Second and Third Cycle

The second stage at the university level is the master's degree, requiring one to three years of postgraduate study following the bachelor's degree. The third stage at the university level is the doctoral degree, requiring a minimum of two years following the master's degree.

Teacher Training

The National Institute of Education provides both pre-and in-service teacher education courses at all levels of teacher education. Pre-service courses include a two year Diploma in Education or Physical Education or a four year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a Diploma in Education or Physical Education for non-graduates. There is also a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (primary and secondary) or a two year Postgraduate Diploma in Physical Education for graduates. Further education is provided for practice teaching.

Accreditation and administration of education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education Branch.


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