National Education System

The main policy objective for the Singapore education system is to bring out the best in every pupil, developing sound moral values, good citizenship, and the skills necessary to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.  The national curriculum strives to achieve these goals.

Pre-school education is not part of the national education system.  Pre-schools and kindergartens usually are run by private organizations.  If these organizations apply and meet certain standards, they may be licensed by the government.  However, this license is not an operating requirement.

The education system follows the British model and provides the opportunity for formal education to all children.  Education is not compulsory, but most children attend for an average of ten years.  Entering primary school at age six, a child spends six years learning basic subjects and beginning the study of English and a mother-tongue language.  Except for select subjects taught in the mother tongue, English is the language of instruction in most schools. After successfully passing the Primary Leaving School Examination (PSLE) during the sixth year, the student enters secondary school for an additional four or five years of education.

At the secondary level, students are streamed into one of three courses based on their PSLE results.  These courses feature curricular emphases that are intended to match the different learning abilities and interests of the students.  The Special and Express courses take a four-year approach to preparing students for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education “Ordinary” (GCE “O”) level examination.  The Normal (Academic/Technical) course prepares students to sit for the GCE “Normal” (“N”) level examination after four years. Students who do well on the GCE “N” level may continue for a fifth year of secondary school and then, sit for the GCE “O” levels.

Following the GCE “N” or “O” level examinations, students have three options for post-secondary education depending upon their desires and qualifications.  They may enroll in the technical or commercial institutes under the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) for specialized training or certificate programmes.

Students with appropriate GCE “O” levels may attend the polytechnics to pursue diploma courses or they may enroll at junior colleges or pre-university centres to prepare for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education “Advanced” (GCE “A”) level examination.  Although, junior colleges may be considered part of post-secondary education, no diplomas or degrees are awarded.  The course work focuses on requirements for the GCE “A” level subjects.  These studies provide the type of general education that frequently is found in the first year of university education in other countries.  Results on the GCE “A” level examination determine the students’ eligibility for tertiary education.