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Source:
www.moe.gov.sg |
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REFINING HOW WE DELIVER
ABILITY-DRIVEN EDUCATION |
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The Ministry of Education and schools will
be making refinements to how we deliver ability-driven education in
primary schools. |
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Schools will introduce subject-based banding
to replace the current EM3 stream. |
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There will also be new programmes to provide
enriching learning experiences for high-ability students at the primary
school level, and to allow for greater integration between Gifted
Education Programme (GEP) students with others. |
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These refinements are being introduced to
take us further in providing students with customised and differentiated
learning experiences, so as to realise their potential, while enhancing
opportunities for interaction among students. |
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Ability-driven education has been a key
feature behind Singapore¨s success in education. |
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The introduction of streaming in the late
1970s to cater to students with different abilities and learning styles
brought drop-out rates down sharply and allowed many more students to
stay engaged in their learning. |
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Various refinements have been made over the
years. In recent years, these have included the removal of the
distinction between EM1 and EM2 streams, and the integration of EM3
students with other students in their non-academic subjects in most
schools. |
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In secondary schools, more opportunities for
Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) students to be transferred
across courses or take selective subjects at a more advanced level have
also been introduced. |
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The following further refinements were
announced by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Education, at the
MOE Work Plan Seminar on 28 Sep 2006. |
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(A) Subject-Based Banding |
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Primary schools will introduce Subject-based
Banding starting from the 2008 Primary 5 cohort, replacing the current
EM3 stream. |
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With Subject-based Banding, students will be
able to offer a mix of Standard or Foundation subjects depending on
their aptitude in each subject, rather than have to opt for the EM3
stream comprising the Foundation level for all subjects. |
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For instance, if a student is weak in
English and Mathematics, he can choose to take English and Mathematics
at the Foundation level while taking Mother Tongue Language (MTL) and
Science at the Standard level. |
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Schools will work out class and timetabling
arrangements that allow students to take separate classes in Foundation
subjects while being integrated with other students for the rest of the
curriculum. |
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We expect that many students who would
be in the EM3 stream under the current system will be spending
about half their curriculum time with the rest of their classmates
in their regular classes. |
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Subject-based Banding would benefit a
group of students who under the current arrangement would have
been in the EM3 stream, but have specific strengths in one or more
subjects1. |
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Currently, 40% of EM3 students pass at
least one subject in their Primary 4 examinations. They would
benefit from being given the opportunity to offer these subjects
at the Standard level, together with other students taking these
subjects. |
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More..... |
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Since 2005, schools
have allowed some students to take MTL at the Standard level.
With Subject-based Banding, this will allow any subject to be
taken at the Standard level. |
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Source:
www.moe.gov.sg Press Release
28 Sep 2006 |
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Important
Notice |
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FrontPage Edition: Fri 29 September 2006
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