MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

1. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Education in schools will focus on three main areas: bilingual competence, inculcating Asian values and a sense of national identity through both the mother language and English, and providing a broad-based education.

To promote bilingualism, better teachers, equipment and facilities have been provided to a number of Chinese-stream primary schools. Pre-primary education in two languages will be introduced in January 1979, initially in selected Chinese-stream schools.

Schemes to improve the English proficiency of pupils in non-English-stream secondary schools will be introduced in January 1979. In the short term, these pupils will, in addition, attend either English-stream schools or Supplementary English Language lessons. In the long term, nine selected Chinese secondary schools will be developed into effectively bilingual schools, where pupils can attain a high standard of Chinese and as high a standard of English as in English-stream schools. These schools will preserve the Chinese school environment to nurture social discipline and cultural values in the tradition of the best of the Chinese schools.

Under the Revised Primary Education System, the less academically inclined pupils are channelled into the Basic Course leading to the Junior Trainee Scheme. Similar transfers to the vocational stream will be made of less academically inclined Secondary I to III pupils under the Revised Secondary Education System. This will begin in 1979 for the Secondary I and II pupils, and in 1980 for the Secondary III pupils.

Full-day schooling will be introduced as a pilot project in selected secondary schools in 1980 to allow a more thorough treatment of the curriculum and to provide better interaction between pupils and teachers. All 'A' level students will eventually be in Junior Colleges and so benefit from the wider curriculum.

2. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Standards will be set at the level of the average pupil to avoid overloading them, while bright pupils will be allowed to go faster with additional materials.

A Special Language Unit has been set up to do research on language learning and teaching. To promote bilingual competence, equal exposure time will be given to English and the mother tongue in the pre-primary course. Flexible language exposure time will be introduced at other levels, depending on the home environment of pupils and other factors influencing language usage and proficiency. Secondary school pupils may also learn Japanese, French or German as an additional language.

Pupils will be encouraged to read widely. The syllabus for Civics will be revised to place greater emphasis on national consciousness and social responsibility. For Science at the primary level, more attention will be given to the understanding of basic concepts with a corresponding reduction in the learning of facts by rote.

Secondary school pupils will continue to offer a mix of arts and science subjects. This will prevent early specialisation and promote a balanced spread of bright students in the various university disciplines.

3. SUPPORTING SERVICES

3.1 Personnel

The introduction of pre-primary education and the Special Assistance Plan to raise the English Language proficiency of pupils in non-English-stream secondary schools will increase the demand for English-medium teachers. Teacher training facilities will have to be expanded. More qualified native speakers of English from overseas will be recruited. Education Officers will be sent overseas to English-speaking countries to improve their oral English through total immersion in an English-speaking environment. Wherever possible, non-English-medium teachers will be retrained to enable them to teach in English. Serving teachers will be encouraged to improve their bilingual abilities and more bilingual teachers will be recruited.

3.2 Physical Facilities

The School Building Programme for new towns will provide better designed schools. Of 30 secondary and 36 primary schools approved for construction under the School Building Programme, 34 have been completed, 13 more are expected to be ready in 1979, and the remaining 19 schools will be built by 1982, together with a new junior college additional to the present seven.

Improvements will continue to be made to existing schools. Sub-standard schools with dwindling enrolments will be phased out.

3.3 Assessment Guidelines

An Assessment Unit has been set up to ensure comparability of standards across schools. It will define standards expected of pupils and provide assessment guidelines in all examination subjects at every level. Standardised tests and grade norms for primary levels will be developed between 1980 and 1982.

3.4 Career Guidance

Information on employment opportunities and careers are provided to pupils in pamphlets and booklets. These are supplemented by visits to factories, commercial houses, universities and vocational institutes. In 1979, a vocational guidance centre will be set up as a pilot project. The centre will be a permanent display area for reference materials and information handouts. Guidance counsellors will be available for consultation.

4. FEEDBACK AND MONITORING

Performance of schools will be more systematically evaluated by setting targets and reviewing achievement. Particular attention will be paid to obtaining feedback on new programmes. Research and evaluation studies on pupil performance will continue to be other key sources of feedback information.

5. TERTIARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

5.1 Institute of Education

The Institute will continue to offer a variety of courses to train teachers. In July 1978, it started a new Certificate-in-Education ('O' level) course to prepare teachers for pre-primary classes.

5.2 Institute of South-East Asian Studies

The Institute will continue to offer itself as a base for regional and international research programmes on South-East Asia. Its library collections and specialised materials on South-East Asia will become major regional research facilities. An ASEAN Economic Research Unit is proposed for in-depth study of the investment and trade opportunities in the region. 5.3 Nanyang University

The Joint Campus Programme for students of Nanyang University (NU) and University of Singapore (SU) began in July 1978. NU and SU staff conduct joint courses in arts, science, accountancy and business administration at the joint campus in Bukit Timah for both NU and SU students. The first batch of Nanyang University students under this programme will complete their courses of study in 1981 and be awarded new joint Nanyang University/University of Singapore Degrees. Nanyang University will recruit more high calibre staff.

5.4 University of Singapore

Phase II of the development of the University of Singapore at Kent Ridge should be completed in 1981. At least one hall of residence should be ready by 1980 for the accommodation of 450 students on the campus.

More engineering students have been enroled since 1976. Most of them will start on the engineering course only when they have completed their National Service. Over

500 National Servicemen have been reserved first year places in the Engineering Faculty, for the academic year 1979/80.

The University plans to set up a School of Postgraduate Management Studies to meet the increasing demand for trained managerial and administrative personnel. The University also proposes to establish a Department of Psychological Medicine.

CHUA SIAN CHIN Minister for Education