Singapore’s Education System, One of the Best?

Singapore is well-known for its high quality of education in the world, ranking higher than many countries like Canada and Switzerland. In fact, Singapore ranks top five in the world in PISA (a ranking based on tests taken by 15-year olds all across the world). She frequently outperforms countries like Japan and Taiwan in Math and Science subjects.

It is no wonder then, that many students from all over Asia choose to come to Singapore. What are some of the reasons for her success? Let’s find out!

Lack of resources

Singapore emphasises academic talent due to the lack of scarce resources in the country. As a small nation with little resources, the way for her to advance is through a competent and highly-skilled work force. Therefore, the government invested much into the creation of a streamed and rigorous education system that emphasises Math and Science subjects. Math and Science are believed to be the core drivers of the economy.

Highly competitive

For years now, a streaming system is used to separate students based on their learning abilities. Every major exam splits students into schools based on their academic results. This creates a pressure cooker system where students are constantly competing to get into the best schools. Students are often sent to tuition classes and have to complete dozens of assessment papers outside of school. There is the belief that what is taught in school may not be sufficient. The rigour of the system raises a generation of students that are focused, hardworking and knowledgeable.

Outstanding pool of teachers

When we talk about education, we cannot forget the teachers, who are the drivers of learning in schools. One of the reasons why Singapore’s education system is so successful is because of the quality of teachers. The Ministry of Education is highly selective with its pool of educators. They need to train at the National Institute of Education before they can be dispatched to the public schools. They are subjected to assessments that monitor the quality of their teaching. Every year, they receive over 100 hours of training. Also, teachers are paid well in Singapore, which is an incentive for teaching talent to join the Ministry of Education. The high calibre of well-trained teachers would foster a strong sense of learning in schools and ensure that lessons are of high quality.

With these reasons, it is no wonder then that Singapore is such a popular place for students from all over the region who wish to receive a better quality of education. If you are keen to study in Singapore, you need to know what programmes are suitable for you, and how you can possibly apply. Consider applying with SagePaths, a one-stop study abroad agency that takes care of your needs from choosing a course, right down to your accommodation and settling in.