Early childhood education in Singapore
Singapore’s education system has been highly successful, and many of the schools in Singapore are covered by two categories: primary schools and secondary schools. Educators have begun to look into further divisions into pre-primary, kindergarten, tutors/nursery branches, etc., that suit the needs of children in their formative years.
The age at which a child begins school is set by the Ministry of Education (MOE). After six years of Primary education in a MOE-assisted school or an independent school under the Council for Private Education (CPE), students go on to 2 more years of secondary education in either a Junior College where they obtain their GCE ‘O’ levels Certificate after passing five subjects or Specialized Institute which trains students for a specific career, such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). The rising demand for early childhood educators has led to the establishment of kindergartens by private operators in Singapore.
There are currently five types of kindergarten schools in Singapore: MOE Kindergarten, Kindergarten under the 4-hour scheme, Kindergarten with Journey Curriculum, Skool-Ace, and Supplementary Kindergartens.
MOE Kindergarten is a statutory kindergarten school that provides preschool education to children aged 3-6 years old. It adopts the national curriculum, “Fun With Learning” (FWL), and offers bilingual education in English and Chinese. There are over 260 MOE kindergartens island-wide.
Kindergarten under the 4-hour scheme is a kindergarten school that adopts the national curriculum, “Fun With Learning” (FWL), and offers bilingual education in English and Chinese. The school’s operating hours are shorter than the usual 8 am to 6 pm, and parents are expected to send their children for enrichment activities outside of school hours.
Kindergarten with Journey Curriculum adopts an integrated curriculum tailored according to the child’s developmental stage. The curriculum includes play, experiential learning, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). There are currently 11 kindergartens in Singapore that offer the Journey Curriculum.
Public kindergartens are part of the national public school system run by the Ministry of Education (MOE). These include kindergartens within primary schools and standalone kindergartens. Kindergarten schools in Singapore within primary schools provide education for children between three to six years old, while the latter caters to children between two and six years old.
There are also several kindergartens run by voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs). Some VWOs only conduct kindergarten classes, while others operate childcare centers that offer full-day childcare services or preschools that cater to students until age four.
Some VWO-run kindergartens are affiliated with primary schools, while some operate standalone.
Priority for admission is given to lower-middle-income families who meet the criteria set out by each school or kindergarten’s governing board. You can find out more about public kindergartens in Singapore from the website of the Ministry of Education.
Public kindergartens in Singapore are usually affiliated with a primary school. Children who attend these kindergartens will automatically be enrolled in primary school when they turn six years old. There are standalone kindergartens, which cater to children between the ages of two and six years old.
Priority for admission is given to lower-middle-income families who meet the criteria set out by each school or kindergarten’s governing board. You can find out more about public kindergartens in Singapore from the website of the Ministry of Education.
The curriculum for kindergarten students in Singapore is focused on basic skills such as literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving through play-based activities.
A typical day in your child’s life at school includes time for circle, rest, and snack breaks. During break time, you might find your child playing with other toddlers on the playground or on an adventure to find his favorite toys on the floor. Afternoon sessions include learning experience programs such as cooking classes or art and craft lessons conducted by the teaching staff. In kindergarten schools in Singapore, these can be done under a structured setting where teachers guide students through different activities designed to promote learning concepts. Other times, children can organize their program based on what they want to do under self-directed learning situations.
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more