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Dec 1, 2023

Singapore MOE announces school terms and holidays for 2024

The 2024 academic year will begin on Jan 2 for MOE kindergarten, primary, secondary and post-secondary schools.

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Dec 1, 2023

Design thinking skills needed for the future workforce - Singapore’s education ministry

In his opening address, Singapore’s Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, shared how Singapore could use design thinking to its strategic advantage.

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Aug 21, 2023

In Singapore, over 700 pupils taking PSLE oral exams experience technical lag

About 700 pupils ended their PSLE mother tongue language (MTL) oral exams later than scheduled after some examiners experienced a lag when logging into the online examination system.

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Aug 14, 2023

In Singapore, students and parents upset over ‘morbid’ O-level Chinese listening comprehension passage

A listening comprehension passage for a national examination has drawn criticism from students and parents for being morbid and inappropriate.

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Aug 7, 2023

Changes to Admissions Requirements for ITE Upgraders Applying to Singapore Polytechnics from AY2027

In Singapore, to expand opportunities for Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students to upgrade to a polytechnic diploma, Higher Nitec students who meet a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 will be guaranteed admission to a polytechnic course mapped to their Higher Nitec course from AY2027.

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Aug 4, 2023

In Singapore, direct admission exercise for secondary schools and JCs begin

The Ministry of Education said on Wednesday that the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise allows students to gain direct entry to secondary schools and junior colleges based on their talents and potential, beyond their performance at the national examinations.

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May 2, 2023

Singapore students to enter secondary school via posting groups mapped from current streams; form classes will be mixed

This comes after a common Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate exam will replace the O-Levels and N-Levels from 2027.

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Apr 25, 2023

O- and N-Level certificates to be replaced with Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate from 2027

Starting from 2027, the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) will replace the separate N- and O-Level examinations, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing during the Committee of Supply debate.

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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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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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