EDUCATION SYSTEM
Done By: Chen Si Hao
Donovan Goh
Seow Jing Ye
Garreth Lee
COMPARISON OF SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION
SYSTEM TO A FOREIGN SYSTEM
 Switzerland
 Reason


There are striking similarities and vast
differences
Education system is very diversified and
decentralised
INTRODUCTION TO SWITZERLAND’S
EDUCATION SYSTEM

Education Structure:
Kindergarten
(usually for kids at age 5 and 6)
Primarschule
(Elementary school 1st to 6th grade)
Oberstufenschule
(Elementary school 7th to 9th grade)
Gymnasium
(Short term
secondary
school, 4½
years)
Berufslehre
(Apprenticeship)
Abendtechnikum
(Evening college)
Fachhochschule Maturitätsschule
(Technical
(similar to
college)
secondary school)
Gymnasium
(Long term
secondary
school, 6½
years)
Universität
(University)
Erwerbsleben und Weiterbildung ("Businesslife" and further education)
SIMILARITIES (COUNTRIES)
 Population

7.5 million in Switzerland vs 5 million in
Singapore
 Ageing


Population
Both countries experience this crisis
Fewer youths and fewer students
SIMILARITIES (COUNTRIES)
 Resources


Both have limited natural resources
Hence both countries place a strong emphasis
on their education
DIFFERENCES (COUNTRIES)
 Race



Switzerland: 1 race with 3 languages
Singapore: 4 races with 1 common language
Led to the difference in the education system
SIMILARITIES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Kindergarten

Children are not required to attend
Kindergarten but most children do go to
Kindergarten
 Compulsory


primary education
Switzerland: 9 years
Singapore: 6 years
DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Curriculum
In Switzerland, this is controlled by cantons
(state of the Swiss Federation)
 Education may vary significantly between
cantons
 This can turn moving with children between
cantons into a nightmare
 Diverse education system

CANTONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM
Canton
Length of
Years of
Years of
Length of
Separate Integrated
Years of
mandatory
Kindergarten Kindergarten Primary
Secondary Secondary
Kindergarten
Secondary
provided
legally required School
Schools?
Schools?
School
Basel-Stadt
2
2
2
4
5
Yes
No
Schwyz
1
1
1
6
3
No
Yes
Valais
1
0
0
6
3
Yes
No
Nidwalden
2
2
1
6
3
No
Yes
Ticino
3
3
0
5
4
Yes
No
Fribourg
2
1 or 2
0 or 2
6
3
Yes
Yes
Uri
1
1
0
6
3
No
Yes
DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Curriculum

In Singapore, it is strictly controlled and set by
the Ministry of Education
 Ministry
of Education
Controls the development and administration
of state schools
 Decides the core curriculum

DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Language
Due to the racial characteristics of
Switzerland, 3 languages can be taught
 Some cantons start to teach the first foreign
language at fourth grade, while others start at
seventh grade
 Each canton decides on the native language,
foreign language and second foreign language

DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Language
In Singapore, all students have to study
English as their first language
 Students are allowed to study their Mother
Tongue Language (Eg Mandarin, Malay,
Tamil)
 Students can study a third language as well

DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 University
In Switzerland, the university is for the
minority
 In Singapore, most of the students enter
university

DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Apprenticeship




In Switzerland, presence of apprenticeship
Apprenticeships include technician, carpenter,
baker, office worker, secretary, bookkeeper etc.
Apprentice will get trained at a company or
organization, but also attend school for one or
two days a week.
In Singapore, absence of apprenticeship
DIFFERENCES (EDUCATION SYSTEM)
 Secondary


Schools
In Switzerland, there are various types of
secondary schools, ranging from schools that
specialise in science and math, modern
language, ancient language, economics, music
and the arts
In Singapore, schools teach all subjects
without specialising in one except one or two
schools which specialise in science and
technology or music and the arts
COMPARING SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION
SYSTEM – PAST AND PRESENT
Past
Primary Education
was optional
Absence of main
language of
instruction
Present
Primary Education was
compulsory after 2000
under the Compulsory
Education Act
English designated the
first language and main
language of instruction
within the local
education system in
1987
COMPARING SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION
SYSTEM – PAST AND PRESENT
Past
Absence of Gifted
Education
Programme (GEP)
No streaming
Present
Gifted Education
Programme introduced
in 1984
Streaming from 1980
onwards
No PSLE
PSLE introduced in 1993
No Normal(Technical) Normal(Technical)
course
course introduced in
1994
Lack of bilingualism
policy
‘Education for Living’
at Primary level &
‘Civics’ at Secondary
level
Religious knowledge
Bilingualism policy
introduced in 1966
New Moral Education
programme from 1981
onwards
Civics and Moral
Education from 1992
onwards
First few independent Autonomous schools set
schools set up in 1988 up in 1992