Among these Asian countries for studying abroad, Singapore has become the target of many prospective international students because of its similar cultural customs to those in China and relatively low tuition fees.Singapore’s new policy on overseas educationReview of Singapore’s Study Abroad Policy, ,What is Singapore's study abroad policy?, ,Study Abroad Policy SingaporeThe problem.

Singapore's new policy on overseas education

Singapore's new policy on overseas education

1. Cancel mid-year exams

All exams for Primary 1 and 2 will be cancelled and graded exams will not be permitted. Teachers will monitor pupils’ progress through their usual classwork, activities and quizzes.

Starting this year, secondary school students will no longer take mid-year exams, only year-end exams will be retained. Primary school exams for third, fifth and third graders will be cancelled in 2020 and 2021.

The Ministry of Education said cancelling mid-year exams would provide more time for students.

So where does the free time come from? Fill it with extra homework and exercises? Of course not. In fact, back in December 2017, the Minister in charge of primary and secondary schools gave a speech at the appointment ceremony of new principals. Innovation is Singapore's sustainable development and progress towards success. He encouraged schools to consciously develop students' innovative potential and make some space for students to explore freely.

Currently, more and more schools in Singapore are offering free activities. Some schools set aside a specific day, and some schools choose to extend their break time to show hope.

Students can arrange this time independently and fully explore their interests and potential.

During this time, the school sets up various activities or themes and lets students decide which activities to undertake, thereby fostering fun and enjoyment from independent learning.

2. Simplify transcripts

Student gradebooks will no longer reflect class and grade rankings, as well as the highest and lowest grades among students in the same class, to reduce excessive competition.

The Ministry of Education will simplify school report cards starting next year. In order to reduce excessive competition among students, the report cards returned by students each year will no longer show certain content, including class and grade ranking, scores of classmates, etc. Other information removed includes: average grade, minimum and minimum scores, underlined and/or colored unqualified marks, end-of-year pass/fail marks, subject achievements, and overall marks.

However, the gradebook will still show other aspects of a student's performance, such as moral character, grade-level teacher comments, physical health records, and involvement in community and extracurricular activities.

3. Joint Enrollment Program

Dunman High School and River Valley High School, which offer six-year through-train programmes, will join the joint admissions scheme starting this year so that students from other secondary schools can also join the high schools of these two schools after graduating from O-levels.

Starting next year, Dunman High School and River Valley High School will join the joint admissions program to accept O-level graduates. Currently, both schools offer a six-year through-train program, where students do not need to take the O-level exams, but directly take the A-level exams after completing their studies.

The Ministry of Education said this was one of the measures it was taking to encourage greater diversity in schools. Students at the two through-train secondary schools will have more opportunities to interact with a wider range of student streams, enriching their learning.

4. Expanding the channels for further study and further education

The five polytechnics will offer more general courses for polytechnics so that more students can receive a broad foundation before taking specialized courses. Previously, the colleges only offered general courses for engineering departments.

The Polytechnic Foundation Programme (formerly known as the Polytechnic Foundation Programme) will be more selective, allowing more students with ordinary academic backgrounds to enter.

Before the polytechnic preparatory class, only students with a total score of 11 or less in three subjects, English, Mathematics and the N-level examination (ELMAB3) could be admitted, but from 2019, this threshold will be reduced to 12 points or less. The number of students selected for the preparatory class is expected to increase from 1200 to 1500 per year, that is, from 10% to 15% per year.

In the past, the five polytechnics offered a general curriculum to the engineering department, where students could receive broad basic studies such as physics, engineering mathematics and computer writing courses in one or two semesters.

Students who enter the Department of Information Science under the general education curriculum can take basic courses such as computing science, computer programming basics, network system basics, etc. in the first year, and then choose specialties from subjects such as network engineering, software writing, and network security in the second year.

5. Open direct admission to secondary schools

Singapore will implement a direct secondary school admission policy from 2019. It provides admission to students based on their talent, potential and achievements.

Students and their parents who plan to enroll through the DSA-Sec policy can submit their applications through a unified online portal during the unified application period for each school. Applicants do not need any certificates, transcripts or supporting documents. You can apply to many schools by simply filling out a form online. After submitting the application, the student's details will be provided to the school electronically.

The DSA-Sec application process is free, which helps encourage students to apply for direct entry, regardless of their background. The Ministry of Education limits each applicant to a maximum of three schools and three talent areas, which is to encourage students and parents to choose carefully when applying for daily living allowance.

Regarding Singapore's education policy orientation, the Minister of Education of Singapore said in his speech that "lifelong learning" is a value, attitude and skill that our students need to have. This is also a major consideration in our school system. Our students need resilience, adaptability and a global perspective. They must leave the education system and remain curious and inquisitive for the rest of their lives.

Whatever free time we can leave for students, we must avoid the tendency to fill it with extra practice. Instead, we should give back to the school and give principals and teachers time for better teaching and learning.

Further reading: Introduction to travel options for studying abroad in Singapore

1. Subway

Underground rail transit is Singapore's main mode of transportation, accounting for more than half of the passenger flow, and it is also very convenient. Since its opening in 1987, the subway currently has 121 stations and a route of 170 kilometers, covering a wide area.

The operating hours are from 5:30 am to 1:00 am. There are five intersecting lines that are interconnected and can lead to various places on the island. You only need to confirm your destination when purchasing tickets. Green, red, purple, yellow and blue are used to distinguish them.

Students can apply for a rail transit card. It does not cost money to open the card, and they can pay online and the money will be deposited instantly. This saves them the trouble of purchasing tickets separately each time, and they can also enjoy a discount of about 30%, which is very convenient for students who travel frequently.

2. Public transportation

The public bus routes are also designed to be very dense, and can basically correspond to the bottom-line traffic. However, due to the influence of traffic, the passenger capacity will be relatively small. However, it is also a very convenient choice and is more suitable for those who want to enjoy the scenery along the way.

Different routes are divided according to the length, function and time of the route. There are trunk lines, branch lines, rapid transit, high-quality routes, night routes, tourist routes and other routes with different functions. You can choose according to your travel needs.

The operating hours are generally from 6:00 in the morning to 12:00 in the morning. The fare is not divided by station. The same one-way fare is 10 yuan. The train is generally issued every 10-20 minutes, and the frequency is still relatively high. You can also apply for a card to enjoy discounts when traveling.

3. Rental

In terms of comfort, taxis are naturally the most expensive, but correspondingly, they are also the most expensive. Therefore, not many people take taxis in Singapore. Moreover, you need to call a taxi online, and there will be no empty taxis on the road for you to hail.

The starting price of a taxi will vary depending on weekdays, weekends, nights, and mornings and evenings. The basic price is 15 yuan, and then 25 yuan. The total cost will either be 50% more expensive or 25% more expensive. The charges will be based on the itinerary and time.

Further reading: Overview of Singapore International School Curriculum

1. IB Curriculum

The full name is International Baccalaureate. This course is not only for higher education, but also for pre-school education to preparatory courses. The courses provided include the improvement of abilities, skills, and emotions, and are very comprehensive.

It is divided into PYP (Primary Year Program) for 3-12 years old, MYP (Middle Years Program) for 11-16 years old and DP (Diploma Program) for 16-19 years old. There are six subjects in total with a total score of 45 points. Only those who get 39 points or above can apply to better universities.

2. IGCSE Courses

The full name is General Certificate of Secondary Education. There are 64 optional courses in total, of which only English, mathematics and science are compulsory. There is no limit on the number of elective courses, as long as everyone ensures that the credit requirements are met for graduation.

There are only two examinations each year, one in May or September, and one in November or December depending on the academic year. Students must obtain passing grades in at least five courses to obtain a graduation certificate.

3. A-LEVEL Courses

The full name is General Certificate of Education Advanced Level. It was set up by the United Kingdom and has now become a popular university entrance ability test course in the world. The course lasts only two years, and the minimum requirement for students to take courses each academic year is four.

There are also two examinations scheduled every year. There will be an opportunity to retake the first year. The assessment methods include examination papers, essays, and experiments. If you plan to study in a Commonwealth country in the future, the results of this exam must be presented.

4. AP Courses

The full name is Advanced Placement, which is a college preparatory course initiated by the United States. It exists as a transitional course before the formal admission to undergraduate and master's programs. Its difficulty is among the four types of courses mentioned in the article.

Generally, there are 22 majors and 34 courses in the curriculum. Examinations are conducted once a year. The examination questions are divided into multiple-choice and question-and-answer types. The scoring is based on a five-point system. A score of three or more is required to successfully obtain the credits required for graduation.

Summary of Singapore’s new policy on overseas education

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