Schools are built to standard building specifications based on approved standard areas for school facilities. The facilities in schools are designed to enable principals and teachers to provide an all-round education to develop students to their fullest potential.

Schools that wish to have different facilities can tap on the School White Area (SWA) concept. The SWA concept allows schools to swap some designated facilities for those that will better support their niche programmes.

The SWA is for up to 20% of a school’s net floor area.

Strategies for Effective Engagement and Development (SEED) is a school-based initiative that comes up with strategies to better engage pupils in the early primary years. It helps our primary schools better enhance their foundation-year teaching programmes, pedagogy and assessment approaches.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his inaugural National Day Rally Speech last year that our schools should “Teach Less” so that students can “Learn More”. “Teach Less, Learn More” (TLLM) is a call for all educators to teach better - to engage our students and prepare them for life - rather than to teach more for tests and examinations. This would mean deeper and richer interactions between teachers and students, and more opportunities for students to learn and develop holistically. Better engagement will encourage students to take greater ownership of their learning, and go beyond academic excellence to develop attributes and mindsets they need for life, particularly in having strength of character and being rooted in sound values.