Wondering what the differences are between local and international schools in Singapore? Here's a low-down of the two education systems so you can decide what works best for your family
When choosing a primary and secondary school in Singapore, it helps to know a bit about the local system and how it differs from the international school system. And importantly, how you can move from one to the other should you decide to switch at some point. Here’s a broad overview of each and for more detail, visit our school selector.
The local system
The Singaporean education system is renowned for its academic excellence thanks to a tough, rigid curriculum. In recent years it has been taking steps towards a more flexible style, providing ways of learning that cater to a more diverse range of interests and aptitudes. The idea is that allowing children to choose, to a certain extent, what and how they learn will encourage them to take greater ownership of the process. The current system is as follows, and begins with the child joining Primary 1 (P1) during the year they turn seven:
Primary
Children get a solid grounding in the three basic principles of English, their Mother Tongue and Maths for six years of compulsory education.
- 4-year Foundation Stage from Primary 1 to 4
- 2-year Orientation Stage from Primary 5 to 6
Exam: Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)
Extras: Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) and Community Involvement Programs.
Hours: The MOE offers guidelines that classes last for 30 minutes each and amount to five hours of lessons per day, including recess.
Secondary
Students are placed in three different ability groups according to the results of the PSLE exams: Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical). They stay in these streams for the next four to five years.
Exams: GCE ‘O’ Levels for Express course, GCE ‘N’ for Normal
Extras: Everyone has at least one CCA, deemed necessary for applications to higher education.
Hours: The MOE offers guidelines that classes also last for 30 minutes each but amount to six hours of lessons per day, including recess.
The international system
The sheer number of overseas schools on this island makes it a top choice for relocators bringing families with them. Whatever your nationality, all schools have a similar primary and secondary split, with key differences in term-times and of course curriculum.
Curriculum – Schools follow their own country’s national curriculum (e.g. British, French) or follow the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is split into three different age groupings: Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP), and Diploma Program. To further widen your options, many schools in Singapore offer more than one curriculum. See our School Selector to help you work out which school offers what system.
Exams – The vast range of schools on the island means that exam timetables aren’t as fixed as the Singaporean system. They vary from school to school and curriculum to curriculum. Check with the schools in your consideration set for an in-depth look at the exam schedule.
ECAs and sports – Extra-curricular activities are as much a part of school life for international kids as for locals, and most schools cater for this at both primary and secondary levels. There is a huge range of subjects to choose from, such as touch rugby, choir, drama, and even robotics.
Moving to a local school
It’s not so easy for newcomers to send their children to local schools, but it can be done, and the benefits are both academic and financial. Priority is given to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents and places are subject to availability with the passing of an enrollment test.
Children need to be on a Dependant’s Pass. They can then apply direct to the school or via a centralised process called the Admission Exercise for International Students (AEIS), which is for children going into Primary 2-5 and Secondary 1-3 (certain years being avoided because they contain exams).
The AEIS is conducted by MOE every autumn, for admission into local schools in the January of the following year. Your child’s English and Maths skills will be tested with a view to placing them in the correct school. You’ll need various documents (birth certificate, DP, passport, your own EP and passport) plus there’s a non-refundable fee for every child.
For more information visit the Ministry of education (MOE) website.
Fees
One of the big differences between the local and international systems is how payment works.
Most local schools have some level of government funding, with just a handful of full fee-paying private ones. Nominal fees are in place for Permanent Residents and Singapore citizens but these are still significantly lower than for international schools, especially for Singapore citizens, for whom financial help is also available if required.
International schools are, of course, notoriously expensive, with annual costs stretching well into the thousands for some.
An Edusave Scheme provides children and schools with funds to pay for enrichment programmes or buy extra resources.Take a look at the MOE booklet on education admissions and check out our section on cost of schools.
Term times
The school calendar is split broadly into familiar and distinctive sections though there will always be exceptions and you will want to check with your selected schools for full details.
Singaporean: January to November. Four school terms with a long break in June, shorter breaks in September and March and all the usual public holidays.
Australian/New Zealand: January to December. Four school terms with a long break in December.
Indian: April to March. Summer, winter and mid-term breaks, with some also stopping for Deepavali.
UK/US/European: August to June. Three school terms with a long break placed slightly differently depending on the school system, but generally somewhere between June and August.
Sometimes, the broader the mix, the harder it is to try and narrow down a shortlist, and we are truly spoilt for choice on this island in terms of educating our little ones. If you’re still none the wiser, visit our School Selector and our article on choosing a school.
Images: Ministry of Education