The Ministry of Education of Singapore, often referred to as the MOE, controls and manages both the private and public education systems in Singapore. Not only does it manage and utilize taxpayers’ funding and donations but also invests the same in the development of local state schools. In addition, the MOE also keeps a keen eye on the supervision and advisory departments of private schools.
Maintaining a healthy balance between state and private schools
The MOE strives to maintain a healthy balance between both the private and public education systems. It ensures fair division of the curriculum’s autonomy, donations & funding by taxpayers, and tuition policies amongst both academic sectors. In this way, neither of the state or private schooling sectors gets excessive benefit or suffers any loss in terms of autonomy and academic policies.
Designated budget for education systems
The MOE aids the Edusave Programme in Singapore in addition to the numerous investments made in the education sector of the country. Statistics suggest that the federal government of Singapore spends around 35% of the national budget in both the public and private schools of the country. This is a clear depiction of the significance held by the education sector in Singapore.
Foreigners bear higher academic expenses
Anyone residing outside Singapore is required to pay higher costs of schooling whether their child is enrolled in a state school or a private one. In other words, getting quality education in Singapore is a lot more expensive for foreigners than it is for nationals. Especially when it comes to getting A Level Economics tuition in Singapore, the tuition rates will astound you.
Penalties for non-schooling in Singapore
According to the Compulsory Act of Education of Singapore, a bill was passed in the year 2001 which stated that any citizen or parent who failed to provide primary compulsory education for their child will be charged with penalties and this will be considered a criminal offense. Only parents of children with special needs and mental or physical disabilities would be exempted from the charges.
Special exemptions for children with disabilities
Parents who cannot enroll their children in a primary school due to their disabilities, whether mental, physical, or special needs, will not be charged with any penalty. However, it is important to report the case to the Ministry of Education of Singapore. In this case, parents are required to apply for homeschooling and religious schooling at home with proper registration via the MOE.
The official language for academic communication
The official language for communication in the schools of Singapore is English. It was declared as an official language in both public and private schools in 1990. English is the first language that is taught to toddlers and, gradually, it becomes the main and the only medium of communication by the time children reach the stage of primary schooling.
Other languages in schools
While English is the major medium of communication in both public and private schools, this does not mean that the native languages have been abandoned. Malay and Tamil are also among the national languages in Singapore. However, a vast majority of the subjects are taught in English. That being said, the subjects relevant to the other languages prevalent in the country are taught in the same languages they’re related to.
Final Word
Teachers play an essential role in maintaining the standard of education being offered at both public and private schools in Singapore. They have built the foundation of the high-quality education system in Singapore. Without their tireless efforts, the education standards in Singapore wouldn’t be as high as they are today. How does this compare to the education system in the United Kingdom? Let’s hear from you.
