Education System in Singapore
Singapore’s education system is recognizd as one of the best in the world. It believes that the population is the most valuable resource. Its compulsory education from preschool levels designates English as a primary language and a language of choice which could be Chinese (Mandarin), Malay, or Tamil.
There are 5 school levels in Singapore;
- Pre-School Education or Kindergarten level; Age 3-6, 3 years
- Primary School; foundation stage (4 years), orientation stage (2 years)
- Secondary School; Special four-year courses and Normal five-year courses. Students of both courses must pass O-Level (Special) or N-Level (Normal) examinations to be able to continue their study in a higher level.
- Junior College; University preparation programmes of 2 or 3 years
- University; various choices of programmes from academic to technical. Course length depends on the programme.
Vocational Study Options
Singapore has many vocational education institutions to shape students’ skills in their interested field and prepare them for the workforce.
- Polytechnics; provide certificate and diploma programmes which focus on industry-oriented skills such as marine engineering and movie production.
- Institute of Technical Education; a vocational school that offers specialisations in technical and industrial fields.
- Academy of Arts; there are currently two arts academies in Singapore teaching in music, drawing, fashion, dancing and so on.
Statistics show that the literacy rate for Singaporeans aged 15 years and above is 96.1%. This is a successful outcome of an education system which is often ranked as one of the highest in the world.
Reference: www.bic.moe.go.th/index.php/twi-pakee-menu/sea-menu/item/4232-singapore-education-system
