This information is intended to provide the background context of structure and control, within which the curriculum and assessment frameworks are implemented.
The educational structure is determined by the (national) Ministry of Education. The main role of the Ministry is to work out national goals for education and coordinate an education programme for the whole country.25
The institutional structure is based on guidelines drawn up by the Ministry of Education, but determined by schools. School principals have autonomy to plan and coordinate the school's educational programme and have overall charge of the 'proper' education of students. Vice-Principals and Heads of Department are also key school personnel.25
The Government is aiming to give schools more authority and to foster an environment that facilitates the implementation of new ideas within a collaborative network. To do this, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has started to create school 'clusters'. Each cluster of 13-14 member schools (which may consist entirely of primary level schools, entirely of secondary level schools, or include a mixture of both) is managed by a cluster superintendent, on whom the MOE confers greater authority than would normally be held at this level.2
State education is free for Singapore citizens and all schools in the education system receive public funding, but the level depends on school type. Government schools are fully funded by the Government. Government-aided schools, which were set up by churches, clans and other religious organisations, receive 90 per cent funding from government for their development costs. The recurrent costs of government-aided schools are also borne by the Government.25
Government schools or government-aided schools may be designated as 'independent', 'autonomous' and 'Special Assistance Plan' (SAP) schools, and receive extra funding.25
In January 1999, there were eight independent secondary schools and 18 autonomous schools, managed independently by their respective management committees13 , (or Boards of Governors), which decide on personnel and policy matters within the institution.25 They charge fees ranging from Singapore Dollars 15-32 per month in autonomous secondary schools to Singapore Dollars 100-200+ per month in independent secondary schools.35 Students in independent secondary schools who cannot afford to pay the fees may apply to the Ministry (of Education) for a full subsidy.38
Autonomous schools are given greater autonomy and more funds to provide a wider range of innovative and enrichment programmes to enhance the quality of the education for their students. These schools are selected from government schools and government-aided schools in the secondary sector according to the following criteria:
An educational funding scheme, 'Edusave' was set up by the Government in 1993. This contributes to the funding of individual students' education, as well as to that of educational institutions. All students who are aged between 6 and 16 and are the first-, second- or third-born in a family receive annual contributions to their own 'Edusave' account. Those who achieve or improve particularly well may also be eligible for a bursary or scholarship. Edusave funds can be used by the student to pay fees (where required) or to pay for enrichment courses. Edusave grants are also given to all institutions (primary sector and secondary schools, junior colleges, centralised institutes, Institutes of Technical Education, ITEs and special education schools) so that they may organise enrichment programmes or purchase additional resources.20
In 1999, there were 991 students (from the primary sector to pre-university levels) studying in private, regular (mainstream) schools in Singapore. These schools are responsible for their own funding and are not subject to the same curriculum and assessment provisions as public sector schools.11
Permanent residents who are not citizens of Singapore must pay fees for state education.35
Pre-school education is private, but strict guidelines and supervision are provided by the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS) for the running of (usually) full-day childcare centres and by the Ministry of Education (MOE) Pre-school Education Unit for the running of kindergartens. The MCDS does, however, provide a subsidy for pre-school attendance at childcare centres.38