|
|
|
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will provide
greater flexibility and choice in our educational system, building on
initiatives in recent years. |
|
The enhancements are aimed at unlocking the
full potential of our students, by providing more opportunities for them
to pursue subjects and activities that match their interests. The key
changes are as follows: |
|
a. Provide greater flexibility and
customisation in the Normal (Academic) [N(A)] Course; |
|
i. Extend Elective
Modules to N(A) students; |
|
ii. Provide for
selected N(A) students to bypass the ¡®N¡¯ level examinations and
progress directly to Secondary 5 to take ¡®O¡¯ level examinations; |
|
|
b. Encourage secondary schools to offer new
¡®O¡¯ level subjects; |
|
c. Study the feasibility of developing niche
programmes in selected schools involving linkages with polytechnics. |
|
These changes were announced by Mr Tharman
Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the MOE Work Plan Seminar
2005 on 22 Sep 2005. |
|
EXTEND ELECTIVE MODULES TO N(A) STUDENTS |
|
MOE will support schools by introducing
Elective Modules (EMs) to students in the N(A) course from 2006. EMs are
currently available to students in the Normal (Technical) [N(T)] course
in several schools. Schools can introduce EMs that vary in depth and
difficulty, and customise them to suit their students¡¯ needs, in both
the N(A) and N(T) courses. |
|
Practical and hands-on learning can deepen
students¡¯ understanding of concepts and help them discover their
interests and talents. It will also expose the more practice-oriented
students to fields that they can pursue subsequently in the Polytechnics
and Institute of Technical Education. |
|
PROVIDE FOR SELECTED N(A) STUDENTS TO
SKIP THE ¡®N¡¯ LEVEL EXAMINATIONS |
|
MOE will give schools the flexibility to
select N(A) students at the end of Secondary 2 or Secondary 3, based on
their school-based performance, to skip the ¡®N¡¯ levels. For schools that
are ready, they can select such students from 2006. |
|
The first batch of selected N(A) students1
will therefore skip the ¡®N¡¯ level examinations in 2007. |
|
Currently, N(A) students sit for the ¡®N¡¯
level examinations at the end of Secondary 4 for progression to
Secondary 5, where they will sit for the ¡®O¡¯ level examinations. |
|
70% to 80% of the 10,000 N(A) students in
each cohort proceed to Secondary 5 after the ¡®N¡¯ level examinations. |
|
About 40% of N(A) students obtain at least
five ¡®O¡¯ level passes. It would be educationally meaningful for some of
these N(A) students to skip the ¡®N¡¯ level examinations. |
|
The time freed up from preparing for the ¡®N¡¯
level examinations can be used to provide a more seamless transition
between the ¡®N¡¯ and ¡®O¡¯ level curriculum. Students can also pace their
learning better over five years. Schools may also use the time to engage
students in enrichment activities and broader learning experiences. |
|
The ¡®N¡¯ level examinations will continue to
be an important benchmark examination for the majority of N(A) students,
who will benefit from preparing for it. It will also provide greater
flexibility of choice in terms of qualifications and progression
pathways. |
|
ENCOURAGE SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO OFFER NEW
¡®O¡¯ LEVEL SUBJECTS |
|
As announced at MOE¡¯s 2004 Work Plan
Seminar, secondary schools will be able to offer new ¡®O¡¯ level subjects
in addition to, or in place of, an elective subject not offered in the
upper secondary curriculum. |
|
This enables schools to build up their
curriculum niches to cater to students who have the interest and
aptitude in specific fields of study. |
|
For a start, schools have been allowed to
choose subjects offered by the Cambridge International Examinations that
are currently not offered by MOE, as possible new subjects. |
|
This phased approach allows schools to gain
experience. Over time, schools could partner the Post Secondary
Education Institutes to develop other new subjects. |
|
MOE has decided to allow 12 secondary
schools to offer new General Certificate of Education (GCE) &
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) ¡®O¡¯
level subjects in their schools. |
|
From 2006, the new subjects to be offered
are Drama, Economics, and Computer Studies. Drama will be offered from
Secondary 1 and/or Secondary 2, while Computer Studies and Economics
will be offered from Secondary 3. A summary of the schools and the new
subjects offered is at
Annex A. More schools will be allowed to offer new subjects when
they are ready to do so. |
|
More..... |
|
1 Selected Sec 3 N(A) students in
2006 |
|
Source:
www.moe.gov.sg Press Release
22 Sep 2005 |
|
 |
|
|
MOE opens more gates for secondary students
