Loh, Chin Ee

A key emphasis of the Singapore education system has been on ensuring English language competency and fluency for communication and work. This chapter examines reading innovation in the Singapore education system, focusing specifically on strategies related to extensive reading to promote reading enjoyment alongside growing reading proficiency. Rather than adopting a broad historical overview, three case studies that are substantiated by published research have been selected for discussion in this chapter: (i) the implementation of the Reading and English Acquisition Programme (REAP) from 1985 to 1989 for students from Primary One to Three; (ii) the development of the Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading (STELLAR) programme for primary schools from 2006 to 2015; and (iii) the focus on reading and school libraries in the Building a Reading Culture (BRC) and library redesign projects at the secondary level from 2017 to 2020. The chapter documents how reading innovations have taken place at the levels of curriculum, pedagogy and learning environments, in response to sociocultural and economic changes, global and local demands and the educational needs of the times. Challenges to improve students’ educational outcomes for their reading futures are discussed in the conclusion.