Primary and secondary education in Singapore: Bringing out the best in every learner

Abstract

Singapore has seen tremendous changes in its evolution of primary and secondary education although it is a young nation with only five decades of history. While the diversity of policies, programmes, and structures here have been myriad, certain fundamental principles have consistently guided policymakers over the years. These have included meritocracy, bilingualism, nation-building, multiple pathways for learning and, above all, human capital development of Singapore’s most precious resource––its people. Once these are brought into perspective, they make understandable the rationales behind a slew of policies and programmes that have shaped primary and secondary education here. While definitely not problem-free, the educational system in Singapore has matured into one that many elsewhere deem worthy of emulation.