PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE

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PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
PRIMARY
SCHOOL
EDUCATION
Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
Your Child’s Best
Interests at Heart
The primary school years are an important phase of your child’s
education. During these formative years, the Ministry of Education                    01   SCHOOLING FOR EVERY CHILD
(MOE) wants to build every child’s confidence and desire to learn.
Our curriculum aims to provide your child with a broad range of
learning experiences that will help him to discover his talents and                   02   NURTURING OUR YOUNG FOR
interests.                                                                                 THE FUTURE
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION AT A GLANCE
•   Six years of compulsory education.                                                03   CURRICULUM FOR WELL-ROUNDED
                                                                                           LEARNING
•   Subject-based Banding to cater to children with different strengths.

•   Co-curricular, Values in Action and many other student
                                                                                      05   LANGUAGE MASTERY
    development activities to provide a holistic education.

•   Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) at the end of six years.                06   DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING
                                                                                           ENVIRONMENT
•   Singapore Citizens need not pay school fees, but a standard
    monthly miscellaneous fee of $6.50, and a second-tier 			                         08   LEARN THROUGH PLAY
    miscellaneous fee capped at $6.50 are payable.

For more information on school fees payable for your child, please                    11   CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
visit https://www.moe.gov.sg/financial-matters/fees

                                                                                      12   SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH
    YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION MILESTONES                                                      SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
    Primary
                                                                                      15   FINANCING YOUR CHILD’S
    Pre-Pri 1                                                                              EDUCATION
    - Choosing a Primary School

    Pri 4                                                                             18   PARENTS AND SCHOOLS AS
    - Choosing a Subject Combination                                                       PARTNERS
    Pri 6
    - PSLE Certification
                                                                                      20   REGISTERING YOUR CHILD FOR
    - Choosing a Secondary School
                                                                                           PRIMARY 1
    Secondary
                                                                                      21   SUPPORT AND CONTACT
    Sec 2
    - Choosing a Subject Combination
                                                                                                 The Ministry of Education formulates
    Completion of Secondary Education                                                            and implements policies on education
    - Secondary Education Certification                                                          structure, curriculum, pedagogy and
    - Choosing a Post-Secondary Educational Institution                                          assessment. We oversee the development
                                                                                                 and management of Government-funded
                                                                                                 schools, the Institute of Technical Education,
A note for readers: The masculine pronouns (‘him’, ‘he’, ‘his’) in this publication              polytechnics and autonomous universities.
are used as gender-neutral pronouns.                                                             We also fund academic research.
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
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Schooling for Every Child                                                                         Nurturing Our Young for the Future
In Singapore, every child receives a six-year compulsory primary school education, which
builds a strong foundation to develop him to his fullest potential and to prepare him for
future learning and work.

To help each child thrive in a digital-rich, diverse and globalised environment, our schools
develop in him 21st Century Competencies and nurture him to become:

•   a confident person who has a                  •   an active contributor who is
    zest for life, a strong sense of                  able to work effectively in teams,
    right and wrong, is adaptable                     exercises initiative, takes calculated
    and resilient, knows himself, is                  risks, is innovative and strives for
    discerning in judgment, thinks                    excellence; and
    independently and critically, and
    communicates effectively;                     •   a concerned citizen who is rooted
                                                      to Singapore, has a strong civic
•   a self-directed learner who takes 		              consciousness, is responsible to
    responsibility for his own learning, and 		       his family, community and nation
    questions, reflects and perseveres                and takes active roles in improving
    in the lifelong pursuit of learning;              the lives of others.

                                                                                                         In school, your child will be able          •   Critical and Inventive Thinking
                                                                                                         to gain the knowledge, skill sets,
                                                                                                         competencies and values he needs            •   Communication, Collaboration
                                                                                                         to thrive in the 21st century.                  and Information Skills.

                                                                                                         Our Framework for 21st Century              Our curriculum is designed to nurture
                                                                                                         Competencies and Student Outcomes           these values in your child and develop
                                                                                                         encapsulates values and competencies        the competencies through various subject
                                                                                                         which we have identified as being           disciplines, Character and Citizenship
                                                                                                         fundamental in the development of every     Education (CCE), enrichment programmes,
                                                                                                         child. The Framework incorporates:          and other learning experiences
                                                                                                                                                     in school.
                                                                                                         •   Core Values
                                                                                                             (respect, responsibility, resilience,   The diverse range of Student Development
                                                                                                             integrity, care, harmony);              Experiences, such as Co-Curricular
                                                                                                                                                     Activities (CCAs) offered in each school
                                                                                                         •   Social and Emotional Competencies       also provides another platform for your
                                                                                                             (self-awareness, self-management,       child to acquire and apply these values
                                                                                                             social awareness, relationship          and competencies, while discovering his
                                                                                                             management, responsible decision-       interests and talents.
                                                                                                             making); and
                                                                                                                                                     We have also strengthened the quality
                                                                                                         •   21st Century Competencies for a 		      of Physical Education, Art and Music
                                                                                                             Globalised World                        education for your child’s holistic
                                                                                                             They are:                               development. Your child will get to
                                                                                                             • Civic Literacy, Global Awareness 		   develop physical robustness, enhance
                                                                                                                and Cross-Cultural Skills            his creative and expressive capacities,
                                                                                                                                                     and shape his personal, cultural and
                                                                                                                                                     social identities.
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
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Curriculum for
Well-Rounded Learning
The primary school curriculum is designed to give your child a strong foundation that includes:
- Nurturing sound values;
- Developing social-emotional competency & citizenship dispositions; and
- Developing literacy and numeracy skills.

The curriculum offered by the Ministry focuses on three main aspects of education – subject
disciplines, knowledge skills and character development.

  •     Subject disciplines comprise languages, humanities and the
		      arts, and mathematics and sciences, designed to give your child a good grounding
		      in different fields of study.

  •     Knowledge skills focus on developing your child’s thinking and communication skills.
		      Knowledge skills are taught through a variety of subjects and often through a
		      project work approach. This allows your child to tap his knowledge skills to clearly
		      demonstrate what he has acquired, either individually or collaboratively in a team.

   •    Character development is facilitated through lessons, daily interactions, as well as
        the different learning experiences planned by the school. These experiences focus
        on instilling core values, social-emotional competencies and citizenship dispositions
        in your child. Your child will have many opportunities to develop these values
        and skills through Character and Citizenship Education lessons, and key Student
        Development Experiences such as Co-Curricular Activities, Cohort Learning 		              PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM                            SUBJECTS
        Journeys and Outdoor Adventure Learning Cohort Camps beyond the classroom.                                                                     EXAMINED IN PSLE#
Following the introduction of Subject-based Banding (Primary), your child will be offered                                                              Standard Subjects:
English Language, Mother Tongue Language, Mathematics and Science as either Foundation                              LANGUAGES                          English Language, Mother Tongue
or Standard subjects at Primary 5 and 6, depending on his learning needs and strengths.                                                                Language, Mathematics, Science
                                                                                                                  English Language
Students with the aptitude and interest may also be offered Higher Mother Tongue
                                                                                                               Mother Tongue Language                  Foundation Subjects:
Language.
                                                                                                                                                       Foundation English Language,
                                                                                                                    KNOWLEDGE                          Foundation Mother Tongue Language,
                                                                                                                      SKILLS                           Foundation Mathematics,
                                                                                                                                                       Foundation Science

                                                                                                                         Life Skills                   Optional Subject:
                                                                                                                        CCE lessons,                   Higher Mother Tongue Language
                                                                                                                         PE, SDEs^
                                                                                                                                                       LEGEND
                                                                                                                                                       CCE         Character and Citizenship
                                                                                                   HUMANITIES            PROJECT         MATHEMATICS   		          Education
                                                                                                   & THE ARTS             WORK            & SCIENCES   SDEs        Student Development
                                                                                                       Social Studies                  Mathematics     		          Experiences
                                                                                                          Music                         Science*       PE		        Physical Education
                                                                                                            Art                                        #   Students take Standard or Foundation subjects
                                                                                                                                                           depending on their learning needs and strengths in
                                                                                                                                                           each subject.

                                                                                                                                                       *   Science is taught from Primary 3 onwards.

                                                                                                                                                       ^   Refer to page 9 for details of Student
                                                                                                                                                           Development Experiences.
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Language Mastery                                                                                                       Differentiated Learning Environment
                                                                                                                       LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAMMES
                                                                                                                       Schools have Learning Support Programmes (LSP)
                                                                                                                       for students entering Primary 1, to ensure that help
                                                                                                                       is provided for those who need it.

                                                                                                                       The LSP for English provides additional support for
                                                                                                                       students with weak literacy skills. Students attend
                                                                                                                       lessons for one period a day in small groups, and
                                                                                                                       are taught by specially trained teachers using
                                                                                                                       strategies that will improve their reading ability.

                                                                                                                       The LSP for Mathematics provides additional
                                                                                                                       support to students who need help in acquiring
                                                                                                                       basic numeracy skills. Students are taught in
                                                                                                                       smaller groups during their regular mathematics
                                                                                                                       periods or have supplementary lessons by
                                                                                                                       specially trained teachers.

ENGLISH AND MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES
Your child will learn English in primary school. English is the lingua franca of international business, science and   PROGRAMMES FOR
technology. Therefore, it is essential for our young to develop a strong foundation in the English Language.           INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED STUDENTS
                                                                                                                       The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) caters to
Your child will also learn his Mother Tongue Language (Chinese Language, Malay Language or Tamil Language).            students who are intellectually gifted.
Bilingualism, a cornerstone of our education system, has been a valuable asset to our students, enabling them to
tap the opportunities that can be found in the global environment.                                                     Your child’s school will invite him to participate
                                                                                                                       in a Screening Exercise when he is in Primary 3,
With more Primary 1 students coming from households where English is the dominant language spoken at home,             as part of a two-stage Identification Exercise, to
we will continue to refine the teaching of Mother Tongue Languages. Schools adopt differentiated teaching              select students for the GEP.
approaches to cater to students from different home-language backgrounds.
                                                                                                                       GEP students will be placed in selected primary
We promote the use of the Mother Tongue Languages, with greater emphasis on listening and speaking skills at           schools from Primary 4 to Primary 6. The enriched
the lower primary levels.                                                                                              curriculum in the GEP is built upon the subject
                                                                                                                       syllabi of the regular curriculum, and taught by
                                                                                                                       teachers selected and trained by MOE’s Gifted
                                                                                                                       Education Branch.
REVISED MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGE CURRICULUM: KEY FEATURES

 CHINESE LANGUAGE                             MALAY LANGUAGE                    TAMIL LANGUAGE                         GEP students are placed in mixed form classes
 CURRICULUM                                   CURRICULUM                        CURRICULUM                             with their mainstream peers and have many
                                                                                                                       opportunities to learn and play with them during
 •   Emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing.
                                                                                                                       lessons for Form Teacher Guidance Period (FTGP),
 •   Emphasis on interaction skills.
                                                                                                                       Mother Tongue Language, Physical Education,
 •   Teaching tailored to meet the different learning needs of students.
                                                                                                                       Art and Music, as well as Values in Action (VIA)
 •   More engaging and appealing teaching materials that capture students’ interest.
                                                                                                                       projects and CCA.
 • Modular approach where all                 • Students will have the          • Students will have the
   students will take the Core Module;          opportunity to progress           opportunity to progress to           Mainstream students with high ability in specific
   students who require more support            to different levels of            different levels of achievement      areas will have opportunities to enrich their
   can take Bridging/Reinforcement              achievement in                    in their learning. They will also    learning through both school-based and MOE
   Modules; students with interest and          their learning.                   be given more opportunities          centrally-organised activities during or outside of
   ability to go further can take                                                 to practise Spoken Tamil.            school hours.
   Enrichment Modules.
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
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SUBJECT-BASED BANDING (PRIMARY)
Subject-based Banding for Primary Schools begins in Primary 5 and continues till Primary 6.                         Learn Through Play
It provides greater flexibility for your child by offering him the option of a combination of Standard and/or
Foundation subjects, depending on his strengths. This will help him focus on and stretch his potential in the
subjects that he is strong in, while building up the fundamentals in the subjects in which he needs more support.

HOW
W   DOES SUBJECT-BASED BANDING (PRIMARY) WORK?

 AT PRIMARY 4

 Student sits for school-based examinations
 School recommends a subject combination based on the student’s results.
 Parents fill up an option form indicating the preferred combination.

 AT PRIMARY 5

 Student takes subject combination chosen by parents
 English Language, Mathematics, Science and Mother Tongue Language are available at Standard and
 Foundation levels.

 Higher Mother Tongue Language is also available.

 School assesses student’s ability to cope with the current subject combination at the end of the year.

 Adjustments to the number of Standard and Foundation subjects can be made, if necessary.

 AT PRIMARY 6

 Student takes subject combination decided by his school and sits for the Primary School Leaving Examination
 (PSLE) at the end of Primary 6.

                                                                                                                    The MOE has progressively implemented a series of        CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP
                                                                                                                    enhancements to primary school education from            EDUCATION
                                                                                                                    2009, which incorporate the recommendations made
                                                                                                                    by the Primary Education Review and Implementation       Character and Citizenship Education
                                                                                                                    (PERI) committee. These enhancements aim to make         (CCE) Lessons
                                                                                                                    learning more enjoyable and meaningful for your          In primary schools, CCE is taught through CCE Form
                                                                                                                    child, and seek to develop in him a balance of skills    Teacher Guidance Period and CCE Mother Tongue
                                                                                                                    and values.                                              Language lessons.

                                                                                                                    MORE ENGAGING TEACHING METHODS                           •   Form Teacher Guidance Period (FTGP)
                                                                                                                    Our teachers are adopting more creative teaching             CCE (FTGP) provides opportunities for your child
                                                                                                                    strategies in the curriculum to make lessons come            to learn social emotional competencies and
                                                                                                                    to life. For example, your child will be able to learn       values, and for the Form Teachers to build
                                                                                                                    mathematical and science concepts through                    quality teacher-student relationships. Form
                                                                                                                    investigative tasks and real-life activities, and            Teachers play a central role in shaping the
                                                                                                                    language skills through role-play and drama.                 development of their young charges. Through
                                                                                                                                                                                 lessons that cover content areas such as sexuality
                                                                                                                                                                                 education, mental health and cyber wellness,
                                                                                                                                                                                 Form Teachers guide students to understand
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    the physical, social and emotional changes that       Student Development Experiences                              HOLISTIC ASSESSMENT TO                                             curriculum demands during the Primary 3 and 5
    they experience as they grow up, cope                 (SDEs)                                                       SUPPORT LEARNING                                                   transition years of learning, mid-year examinations
    with life’s stresses and develop resilience,          SDEs are programmes and activities that contribute           Assessment is integral to the teaching and                         will be removed for these levels by 2021.
    explore their interests and strengths, and            towards the holistic development of your child in            learning process.
    navigate the cyber world effectively and safely.      the physical, aesthetic, intellectual, moral and                                                                                As parents, you will receive more meaningful and
                                                          social domains.                                              Holistic Assessment emphasises the development                     regular feedback that highlights areas where your
•   CCE in Mother Tongue Languages                                                                                     of skills and values, as well as the acquisition of                child has done well, and also ways to improve
    CCE is also taught in Mother Tongue Languages         SDEs comprise the following: Co-Curricular Activities        knowledge to enable your child to build greater                    his learning.
    as values are closely intertwined with culture, 		    (CCA); Cohort Learning Journeys e.g. Museum-                 confidence and nurture a stronger intrinsic motivation
    stories and language. Teachers will provide the 		    based Learning; Education and Career Guidance                to learn. This will in turn help your child to develop             SINGLE-SESSION PRIMARY SCHOOLS
    necessary scaffolding and guidance to help their      experiences; National Education Commemorative                his potential.                                                     All primary schools will be operating at single session
    students understand and articulate their views in     Days e.g. Racial Harmony Day; Outdoor Adventure                                                                                 from 2022 onwards. This means schools will have more
    their Mother Tongue Languages.                        Learning Cohort Camps; Student Leadership                    With Holistic Assessment, schools move beyond tests                time and space to focus on non-academic aspects
                                                          Development Programmes; and Values in Action,                and examinations, and use other appropriate                        such as leadership training and character building.
•   Programme for Active Learning (PAL)                   including Everyday Responsibilities                          assessment modes to provide useful information
    To encourage learning beyond the classroom,                                                                        that supports your child’s learning and holistic                   A single-session structure does not mean a full day
    PAL gives your child the chance to discover           Co-curricular Activities (CCAs) are an integral part of      development.                                                       of school; it only means an extension of one to two
    new interests, learn new skills and develop his 		    a well-rounded education and play an important role                                                                             hours on certain days to facilitate your child’s non-
    character. Your child will have the opportunity 		    in building character. There is a whole spectrum of          At Primary 1 and 2, there will be no examinations                  academic development. Schools are given the
    during curriculum time to try out activities in       exciting CCAs for your child to choose from, ranging         and weighted assessments* so that your child can                   flexibility to plan these activities based on their
    sports and outdoor education, as well as in           from physical sports, uniformed groups, visual and           ease into formal schooling more smoothly. Teachers                 specific needs.
    the performing and visual arts. All primary schools   performing arts, to clubs and societies. They help           will continue to leverage assessments to check for
    offer PAL to their Primary 1 and 2 students.          nurture in your child qualities such as resilience, cross-   students’ understanding. They will provide timely and              New infrastructure will be put in place to support
                                                          cultural awareness, confidence and creativity.               targeted feedback to students to move their learning               these non-academic activities. School facilities
                                                                                                                       forward, and improve teaching practices, harnessing                and spaces are being redesigned, and this includes
                                                                                                                       technology where useful. To provide your child with                outdoor learning spaces and additional venues for
                                                                                                                       adequate time and space to adjust to the increased                 performing arts.

                                                                                                                       * Weighted assessments refer to assessments where the scores
                                                                                                                       form part of the computation of a student’s overall results in a
                                                                                                                       subject for the year.
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Choosing the Right School                                                                                                     Support for Students with
To help you choose a school that matches the
needs of your child, you can consider factors such              SCHOOL IDENTITY
                                                                                                                              Special Educational Needs
as siblings currently studying in the school, parental          Each school has its own unique strengths. Learning
ties, programmes that match your child’s interests,             about the school will enable you to find out about the:
proximity to home, and school culture. Here are some
possible considerations when shortlisting schools.              •   School’s vision and mission
                                                                •   Culture of the school
DISTANCE TO SCHOOL                                              •   Parent Support Groups
A shorter distance from the school to your home
means shorter travelling times and reduced transport            AFFILIATED SCHOOLS
costs. It also provides better opportunities for you to forge   Some primary schools (mostly those with church/clan
a strong relationship with the school of your choice.           associations) have close ties with certain secondary
                                                                schools, in the form of affiliation.
Stronger ties with the school means better
co-operation in raising and educating your child.               Your child can enjoy priority for admission to the
                                                                secondary school affiliated to his primary school,
For a list of schools near your residential address             provided he meets the school’s admission criteria,
(within 1 km and 1-to-2 km), visit the Singapore Land           and he indicates the affiliated secondary school as
Authority’s One Map School Query Service                        his first choice. Admission priority will only apply to the
(www.onemap.sg).                                                ‘O’ level track of the affiliated secondary school.

MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES                                         SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PLAN SCHOOLS
Explore the Mother Tongue Language options                      Special Assistance Plan schools nurture in their
offered at the schools of your choice. Parents                  students a deep understanding and appreciation of
should note that:                                               the Chinese Language, culture, values and heritage,
                                                                and enable them to be effectively bilingual in both
•   Chinese Language is offered in all schools                  English and Chinese languages.
•   Malay Language is offered in all except Special
    Assistance Plan schools
•   Tamil Language is offered in most schools, but do
    confirm this with the schools of your choice.                                                                             The Compulsory Education Act provides for            Understanding your child’s needs, strengths, and
                                                                                                                              compulsory primary education in Singapore.           difficulties can help you identify the right kind of
YOUR CHILD’S INTERESTS                                                                                                        Your child must attend a national primary school     support for him. You can find out more about
Consider your child’s non-academic interests like                                                                             (government or government-aided primary school or    your child’s needs by speaking to your child’s
sports, performing arts, music and technology, and                                                                            government-funded special education (SPED) school)   teachers and professionals working with your child.
find out if the school you are considering offers                                                                             regularly if they are:                               An assessment by a qualified professional is the best
activities that match these interests.                                                                                                                                             way to get a clear diagnosis and recommendation
                                                                                                                              •   of compulsory school age (above 6 years old      for support. An assessment is also necessary to apply
•   Co-curricular Activities                                                                                                      and under 15 years old);                         to a SPED school.
    Schools offer a variety of Co-curricular Activities                                                                       •   a Singapore Citizen; and
    that include sports and games, uniformed groups,                                                                          •   living in Singapore,                             Check with your healthcare
    and visual and performing arts groups, and clubs                                                                                                                               professional that he/she
    and societies.                                                                                                            unless they have been granted exemption. This        adheres to the Professional
                                                                                                                              requirement has been extended to children with       Practice Guidelines on Psycho-
•   School-based Programmes                                                                                                   moderate-to-severe special educational needs (SEN)   educational Assessment
    If your child has interests in areas such as sports                                                                       born after 1 January 2012, since 2019.               and Placement of Students
     or the arts, you may wish to find out about the                                                                                                                               with Special Educational
     schools that offer distinctive programmes in                                                                             Children with SEN may require additional help        Needs, which can be found            Professional Practice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Guidelines
     these areas.                                                                                                             and support to adapt socially or learn in school.    here: https://go.gov.sg/
                                                                                                                                                                                   professionalpracticeguidelines
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SUPPORT IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS                            have seen positive outcomes for students with mild       SUPPORT IN SPECIAL                                                sizes with specialised instruction and in-class support,
Support is available in all mainstream schools for       ASD and their peers. Students also have access to        EDUCATION SCHOOLS                                                 as well as therapy support services from professionals
students with SEN, such as Dyslexia, Attention Deficit   referral services like the Response Early Intervention   Special Education (SPED) schools offer customised                 such as speech and language therapists, occupational
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mild Autism Spectrum      and Assessment in Community Mental Health                curriculum and educational pathways to cater to                   therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and social
Disorder (ASD), hearing loss, and visual or physical     (REACH) provided by the Institute of Mental Health.      the diverse needs of children with moderate-to-                   workers. Every student has an Individual Education Plan
impairment. These students have mild SEN, which                                                                   severe SEN. All SPED schools optimise their students’             (IEP) to support his unique learning needs.
allows them to access the national curriculum            Students with hearing loss, and visual or physical       potential and abilities – both academic and
and learn in large-group settings because of their       impairment can access itinerant school-based             non-academic – for independent living, continual                  At the secondary level, an Individual Transition Plan
cognitive abilities and adequate adaptive skills.        educational support services (ISS) provided by AWWA      learning, and meaningful work when they graduate.                 is developed for each student based on his interests,
                                                         Ltd and Singapore Association of the Deaf. Assistive                                                                       preferences and strengths, to support his transition to
All primary schools have teachers trained in special     technological devices such as Frequency Modulation       There is a range of government-funded SPED schools                post-school pathways and positive life outcomes.
needs and Allied Educators (Learning and Behavioural     (FM) equipment, electronic magnifiers, talking           run by different Social Service Agencies that cater to
Support) to help students with SEN integrate into the    calculators etc. are also made available to support      SEN, including Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum           A number of educational pathways are available to
school environment. Schools also have access to          students’ learning needs. Designated mainstream          Disorder, Physical and Multiple Disabilities, Hearing Loss        suit your child’s cognitive and adaptive functioning.
MOE psychologists who provide consultation and           schools provide specialised support for students         and Visual Impairment.                                            Students who can access the national curriculum can
advice on supporting these students.                     with moderate to profound hearing loss or visual                                                                           do so in SPED schools set up to provide this curriculum.
                                                         impairment, who are able to access the national          The curriculum in SPED schools focuses on developing
                                                         curriculum:                                              both academic and non-academic skills including                   There are also SPED schools that offer a customised
To better help students with social and behavioural
                                                                                                                  communication and language, numeracy, daily living                curriculum for students requiring more specialised
needs develop independence in Primary 1,                                                                                                                                            educational support and vocational education for
                                                         • Mayflower Primary School has specially trained         and social emotional skills, PE and Arts, and incorporates
TRANsition Support for InTegration (TRANSIT) will be                                                                                                                                secondary-aged students.
                                                           teachers to support students with moderate-to-         the development of skills in the areas of Character and
progressively introduced to schools, where students
                                                                                                                  Citizenship Education and the use of technology.
will learn foundational self-management skills based       profound hearing loss and who use signing as their                                                                       You can find out more information here: http://moe.
on their specific needs.                                   primary mode of communication.                                                                                           gov.sg/special-educational-needs or visit the SPED
                                                                                                                  All SPED schools also offer a Vocational Education
                                                         • There are also designated secondary schools                                                                              schools’ websites for information on their respective
                                                                                                                  curriculum. They also have CCAs and learning journeys
Students with dyslexia are identified at the end of        equipped to support students with visual                                                                                 admission processes.
                                                                                                                  and participate in the Singapore Youth Festival and
Primary 2 and are supported through the School-based       impairment or hearing loss at secondary level.
                                                                                                                  National Schools Games. SPED schools have small class
Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) programme at Primary
3 and 4. They can also access the MOE-subsidised         You may also access information
Main Literacy Programme conducted by the Dyslexia        on the schools in SchoolFinder at
Association of Singapore.                                https://moe.gov.sg/schoolfinder/.
                                                                                                                          NEED TO KNOW MORE?

Students with social or behavioural difficulties have
                                                                                                                          Support Available                    Financial Assistance                      Transport Scheme
access to school-based structured peer support                                                                            in SPED Schools                      for Students Attending                    for Students with
intervention such as Circle of Friends (CoF), which                                                                                                            SPED Schools                              Disabilities
                                                                                                  SchoolFinder            Learn more here: http://             Students attending SPED                   To find out more about
                                                                                                                          moe.gov.sg/special-                  schools are eligible for                  transport schemes for
                                                                                                                          educational-needs                    the same level of financial               students with disabilities,
                                                                                                                                                               assistance as their peers in              visit SG Enable website:
                                                                                                                                                               mainstream schools.                       https://go.gov.sg/
                                                                                                                                                                                                         sgenabletransportschemes
                                                                                                                                                               Refer to: https://go.gov. sg/             or scan the QR code below.
                                                                                                                                                               financialsupportspedschools
                                                                                                                                                               for more information or scan
                                                                                                                                                               the QR code below.

                                                                                                                            Support in                       Financial assistance                       Transport schemes
                                                                                                                           SPED Schools
PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION - Preparing Your Child For Tomorrow - MOE
15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   PRIMARY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     SCHOOL
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   EDUCATION
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Financing Your Child’s Education
                                                                                                                      The Edusave Awards recognise students’ achievements in academic and non-academic domains and
                                                                                                                      encourage them to continue to excel. Your child may qualify for the Edusave Awards if he is a Singapore Citizen
                                                                                                                      and performs well in the following areas in school.
FEES
School and miscellaneous fees in our local schools have been kept affordable so that every child can enjoy the            EDUSAVE AWARDS               ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA                                              VALUE OF AWARD
benefits of primary school education.
                                                                                                                          • Edusave Character          Up to 2% of students in each school who demonstrated              • $200 for Pri 1 to Pri 3
                                                                                                                            Award                      exemplary character and outstanding personal qualities            • $350 for Pri 4 to Pri 6
2021 SCHOOL FEES AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES: MONTHLY FEES PAYABLE IN                                                                                       through their behaviour and actions.
GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS
                                                                                                                          • Edusave Scholarship        Students who are within the top 10% of their school’s level       • $350 for Pri 5 to Pri 6
                                     SCHOOL         STANDARD                        SECOND-TIER MISCELLANEOUS                                          and course in terms of academic performance, and have
                                     FEES           MISCELLANEOUS FEES              FEES1                                                              demonstrated good conduct.
    Singapore Citizen                $0             $6.50                           $6.50 (Your child may use his         • Edusave Awards for         Up to 10% of students from each school who have                   • $250 for Pri 4 to Pri 6
                                                                                    Edusave account to pay the
                                                                                                                            Achievement, Good          demonstrated leadership qualities, service to community
                                                                                    second-tier miscellaneous fees)
                                                                                                                            Leadership and             and schools, excellence in non-academic activities, and
    Singapore PR                     $205.00        $6.50                           $6.50                                   Service                    good conduct.
    International Student            $465.00        $6.50                           $6.50                                 • Edusave Merit Bursary      FOR PRIMARY 1 AND 2 STUDENTS                                      • $200 for Pri 1 & Pri 2
    (ASEAN)                                                                                                                                            Students who consistently demonstrated positive learning
    International Student            $775.00        $6.50                           $6.50                                                              dispositions in the course of the year, have demonstrated
                                                                                                                                                       good conduct and whose monthly household income
1
    Second-tier miscellaneous fees are decided by schools up to a cap of 100% of the standard miscellaneous fees.                                      does not exceed $6,900 (or Per Capita Income* does not
                                                                                                                                                       exceed $1,725).

                                                                                                                                                       FOR PRIMARY 3 TO 6 STUDENTS                                       • $200 for Pri 3
      For more information on school fees payable for your child in mainstream schools, please visit                                                   Students who are within the top 25% of their school’s             • $250 for Pri 4 to Pri 6
      https://moe.gov.sg/financial-matters/fees                                                                                                        level and course in terms of academic performance,
                                                                                                                                                       have demonstrated good conduct and whose monthly
      For more information on school fees for Special Education (SPED) schools, please visit the respective                                            household income does not exceed $6,900 (or Per Capita
      SPED schools’ websites. You may also wish to contact the schools directly for further enquiries.                                                 Income* does not exceed $1,725). Students must not be
                                                                                                                                                       recipients of an Edusave Scholarship.

                                                                                                                          • Edusave Good               FOR PRIMARY 2 AND 3 STUDENTS                                      • $100 for Pri 2 to Pri 3
EDUSAVE SCHEME                                                                                                              Progress Award             Students who do not qualify for Edusave Merit Bursary but
The Edusave Scheme maximises educational opportunities for all Singaporean children by providing both the                                              showed the greatest improvement in learning disposition in
children and schools with funds to pay for enrichment programmes, or to purchase additional resources. It also                                         the course of the year and demonstrated good conduct.
rewards those who perform well, or who make good progress in their academic and non-academic work.
                                                                                                                                                       FOR PRIMARY 4 TO 6 STUDENTS                                       • $150 for Pri 4 to Pri 6
Your child will receive an annual contribution in his Edusave account, if he is a Singapore Citizen, and aged 7 to                                     Students who are within the top 10% of their school’s
16 or enrolled at primary and secondary levels in MOE-funded schools. The amount contributed for 2021 is $230                                          level and course in terms of improvement in academic
for primary-level students.                                                                                                                            performance and have demonstrated good conduct.

                                                                                                                      *
                                                                                                                          Per Capita Income is gross monthly household income divided by the number of members in the household.
    EDUSAVE PUPILS FUND

    Your child may use the funds in his Edusave account to pay for:                                                   FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES
    • Enrichment programmes organised by his school; and                                                              Financial assistance schemes are available to ensure that no child is denied an education because of his
    • Second-tier miscellaneous fees in government or government-aided primary schools.                               financial situation. The MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) provides needy students with free textbooks,
                                                                                                                      school attire, transport and meal subsidies, and full subsidy of standard miscellaneous fees.

                                                                                                                      In addition, schools provide discretionary assistance using school-based funds. This school-based assistance
                                                                                                                      can benefit those who do not meet the qualifying criteria for the MOE FAS, as well as provide additional
                                                                                                                      assistance to those on the MOE FAS who need further aid. Parents and students can approach the schools
                                                                                                                      directly if they require financial assistance.
17                                                                                                                                                                                                                          PRIMARY
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MOE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME (FAS) FOR
GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT-AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS                                                                           Parents and Schools as Partners
ELIGIBILITY                      STANDARD               TEXTBOOKS       SCHOOL       MEALS        TRANSPORT
                                 MISCELLANEOUS                          ATTIRE
                                 FEES

• Family with gross              100% subsidised        Free            Free         Subsidies    Students taking
  household income not                                                               for seven    school bus: 60%
  exceeding $2,750 per                                                               meals per    subsidy of monthly
  month; or                                                                          school       school bus fares; or
                                                                                     week
• Per Capita Income* not                                                                          Students taking
  exceeding $690 per                                                                              public transport:
  month                                                                                           $15 transport subsidy
                                                                                                  per month, up to
                                                                                                  $180 per annum

*
    Per Capita Income is gross monthly household income divided by the number of members in the household.

                                                                                                                                                             Parenting can be an exciting and enriching journey and as a parent,
                                                                                                                                                             you play a key role in your child’s growth together with the school. Our
                                                                                                                                                             children do best when schools and parents work hand in hand, with
                                                                                                                                                             mutual trust and respect. Through a close partnership with your child’s
                                                                                                                                                             school, you could better understand the needs and development of
                                                                                                                                                             your child, and give him the necessary care, support and reinforcement
                                                                                                                            Tips on how you can support
                                                                                                                          your child’s educational journey   at home. The QR code on the left provides some tips on how you can
                                                                                                                                                             support your child’s educational journey.

                                                                                                                                                             When your child enters Primary 1, you will receive a copy of the Parent-
                                                                                                                                                             Child Activity Book, which is a resource for parents to support their child’s
                                                                                                                                                             transition from pre-school to Primary 1. The book offers parenting tips
                                                                                                                                                             and activities to encourage conversations at home. It also helps you
                                                                                                                                                             reinforce values and routines that your child practises in school. You can
OPPORTUNITY FUND                                                                                                                                             also ask your child about a segment titled “Family Time” in his Character
Beyond these financial assistance schemes, MOE provides the Opportunity Fund that our schools can use for                                                    and Citizenship Education lessons in school, which promotes parent-child
the provision of enrichment activities and overseas school trips for Singaporean students from less-advantaged                                               bonding through suggested activities.
backgrounds. The Fund can also be used to subsidise the purchase of computers to ensure that students in need
are not denied learning opportunities.                                                                                                                       Here are some tips on how you can help your child enjoy his learning
                                                                                                                                                             experience in his early years of education.
19                                                                                                                                                                                                     PRIMARY
                                                                                                                                                                                                       SCHOOL
                                                                                                                                                                                                     EDUCATION
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HELP YOUR CHILD KNOW HIS SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT
The sooner your child becomes familiar with his new
                                                           •   Avoid comparing your child’s performance with
                                                               that of others.                                         Registering Your Child for Primary 1
environment, the more positive he will feel about          •   Affirm your child’s efforts – focus on the process,                         Under the Compulsory Education Act, Singapore Citizens born after
going to school.                                               not the achievements, marks or grades.                                      1 January 1996 and residing in Singapore are required to attend national
                                                                                                                                           primary schools regularly.
•   Show them pictures of the school. You can look 		      •   Make time to play with your child and enjoy his
    up the school website for more information or 		           company.                                                                    If your child was born between 2 January 2015 and 1 January 2016 (both
    visit its social media platforms to find out more.                                                                   P1 Registration
                                                                                                                                           dates inclusive), you should register your child at the 2021 Primary 1
                                                           •   Encourage your child, especially when he is 		                website       Registration Exercise for admission to Primary 1 in January 2022. Your child
•   Talk to your child about the new routines he will be       disheartened, and help him learn to be resilient.                           will be at least 6 years old on 1 January at the year of admission.
    going through every day, such as wearing a school
    uniform, going to the canteen and playing with his     HELP YOUR CHILD TO LEARN                                                        If your child has been medically assessed to not be ready or suitable for
    peers at recess.
                                                           INDEPENDENTLY AND MANAGE                                                        Primary 1, approval for deferment of registration can be considered.
                                                           HIMSELF                                                                         More information on deferment application and the relevant form can
                                                           Parents play a key role in shaping the values, skills                           be found here: https://www.moe.gov.sg/primary/compulsory-education/
•   Encourage your child to practise skills such as
                                                           and habits the child picks up that will serve him well                          deferment and queries may be directed to MOE_CEU@moe.gov.sg
    asking for permission, buying food, organising his
                                                           through life.
    school bag and passing messages between his
    school and parents.                                                                                                                    2021 PRIMARY 1 REGISTRATION EXERCISE
                                                           •   Create a conducive learning environment for your                            Please look out for information on the 2021 Primary 1 Registration Exercise
                                                               child to read and learn.                                                    and its dates of registration here: https://go.gov.sg/p1reg in
•   Get him excited about new experiences, such as
    making new friends or learning new things.                                                                                             May/June 2021.
                                                           •   Help your child to develop a routine, so that he
                                                               learns to be responsible for the things he has to do,
•   Tell your child whom he can approach for help
                                                               including homework.
    in school (such as his Form Teacher or School
    Counsellor) and how he can seek assistance. You
                                                           •   Encourage your child to do his homework
    can even role-play asking for help with your child.
                                                               independently – it helps him to learn and it helps
                                                               teachers understand his learning progress.
KNOW AND SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
As your child starts his new educational journey, we
                                                           •   Guide your child in managing his time.
need to continue to understand his strengths and
interests and support his development.
                                                           •   Encourage your child to live a healthy, balanced
                                                               life with time for sleep and play.
•   Build and strengthen a good relationship with your
    child. Respect his opinions and listen to what he
                                                           •   Discipline your child with empathy and care. Your
    has to say.
                                                               child’s misbehaviour, though incorrect, may be his
                                                               best attempt to meet his needs at that moment.
•   Talk to the teachers about how you can support
                                                               Misbehaviours require consequences and
    your child in adapting to school life during the
                                                               correction with understanding and love. Engage
    transition to Primary 1.
                                                               the teachers to find out how you can support your
                                                               child in managing problems and emotions.
•   Understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
    Get feedback from your child’s teachers on his
                                                           •   Teach your child to monitor his own behaviour so
    strengths and progress in academic and non-
                                                               as to develop self-discipline.
    academic areas, as well as his behaviour. This will
    help you understand how to guide him and
                                                           •   Be alert to his needs and fears. Seek help from
    develop his strengths further.
                                                               school personnel such as the Form Teacher, School
                                                               Counsellor, Head of Department overseeing
•   Have realistic expectations and achievable goals
                                                               student welfare, Learning Support Coordinator,
    for your child. Set step-by-step goals to enable
                                                               or other professionals, if necessary.
    your child to achieve them and experience success.
PRIMARY
                                                                                                     SCHOOL
                                                                                                   EDUCATION
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SUPPORT AND CONTACT
The partnership established between parents and              programmes and projects that will benefit their child
the school will help you stay constantly informed and        and the school.
involved in your child’s progress.
                                                             For the latest news on education and features on
Your child’s holistic development is the focus of our        schools and teachers, please visit www.schoolbag.sg
schools’ efforts. Together, we can help your child           and download the Schoolbag mobile app available
realise his full potential.                                  on Apple iTunes Store (for iOS) or the Google Play
                                                             Store (for Android).
Do keep in regular contact with your child’s teachers
and also find out more about the school’s various            For further information on primary school education,
programmes. Parents keen to serve in their child’s           visit MOE’s website at http://www.moe.gov.sg or
school can consider joining its Parent Support               call the MOE Customer Service Centre at 6872 2220.
Group (PSG). As part of the PSG, parents will have           You can also connect with us on Facebook at
opportunities to work with school personnel on               http://www.facebook.com/moesingapore.

      GET UPDATES ON P1 REGISTRATION PROCESS WITH THE PARENTS GATEWAY APP

      Download the Parents Gateway mobile app to
      receive notifications about Primary 1 registration
      dates directly from your phone. You can also
      receive useful parenting resources on choosing a
      suitable school and ensuring a smooth transition
      for your child.

      This app is one of the ways through which the
      school will keep you updated on important
      school announcements. With the app, you can
      also complete key administrative tasks such as
      signing of consent forms and travel declarations,
      anywhere, anytime.

      Available on Apple App Store, Huawei App
      Gallery or Google Play Store from 20 May 2021.
      Upon successful download, you
      will be guided through a simple one-time
      onboarding process.

            For Android           For iOS           For Huawei

                                                                    Scan the QR code to
                                                                    download the Parents
                                                                                                                        1 North Buona Vista Drive Singapore 138675
                                                                    Gateway App.
                                                                                                                                        Tel: 6872 2220
                                                                                                                                Email: contact@moe.gov.sg

                                                                                                                                       www.moe.gov.sg

                                                                                                                       THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOKLET IS CORRECT AS OF MAY 2021
                                                                                                                     PRODUCED BY COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT GROUP, MOE
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