Better Learning at Primary School Level Si gapore’s edu atio syste fo uses ai ly o pro idi g etter a d fu -filled learning to the students at primary level. Even, the tuition centers in Singapore are giving their valuable contribution towards providing more effective education to the students at the primary level. Education system of Singapore is famous in the world for its innovative and enhanced learning, which is based on practical learning. It aims at providing quality education to the students, along with developing social skills, analytical skills, and excellence in them. It strongly believes that gaining knowledge is not sufficient enough to get better understanding and learning. Knowledge processing is very much important for this. The education system also focuses on the overall development of the students. Like ost of the other ou tries, Si gapore’s edu atio syste also starts ith pre-school, the basic stage of education. At the pre-school level, children attend classes up to the age of 6 years. After getting the basic start at the pre-primary level, they get ready for the primary school. The 6 years of primary school education is divided into two i.e. 4-years of foundation course (primary 1 to 4) and 2-years of orientation stage (primary 5 and 6). The 4 years of foundation course is taken as the initial stage of formal schooling. During this course, students are taught the basics of Mathematics, Science, English and Mother Tongue, which includes Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, or a Non-Tamil Indian Language (NTIL). In addition to these fundamental subjects, students are taught other subjects like Civics and Moral Education, Art and Craft, Music, Health Education, Social Studies, and Physical Education throughout the primary schooling i.e. 1 to 6 years. A other re arka le thi g a out Si gapore’s pri ary education is that Science is taught after primary level 2. After the foundation course, there is two years of orientation course, whose purpose is to teach basic Math skills to the students, enhance their mother tongue learning and to provide them a good knowledge of the English language. In Singapore, primary school education is compulsory for the students, according to the Compulsory Education Act, since 2003. There are few exemptions to this law, like students, who are attending a full-time religious institution, home schooling or are unable to attend mainstream schools. Moreover, for all Singapore citizens, primary school tuition is free, as per the law of Ministry of Education. I years to o e, Si gapore’s pri ary s hool edu atio syste ill e goi g through so e noteworthy changes to give students a more comprehensive education.
1. Presently, the student-teacher ratio is 21:1. This ratio will be reduced to 16:1 by 2015. 2. The aim is to make all government owned primary schools single sessions by the next year i.e. 2016. 3. To include sports, visual arts and other non-academic programs as a part of the main course for primary level 1 and 2. 4. As an alternative, schools will search for other bite-sized forms of assessment, in order to build-up the confidence level of the students and to develop a learning desire in them. 5. Extra funds and non-financial support will be provided to the schools to hire trained coaches, instructors and service providers. 6. More funds will also be provided to get equipments for music, art, physical education and other active learning programs. 7. Time flexibility will be given to the schools, so that they will adjust their start and closing times, by giving due importance to local conditions, like traffic conditions, transportation arrangements, etc.