The Ministry of Education has announced several changes to give students greater flexibility in their learning admission to schools and post-secondary institutions. Secondary Express students will experience more impact when these changes are rolled out.
Removal of Mid-Year Examinations
Mid-year examinations have been removed from all primary and secondary schools since 2023. The is to ensure that students focus on learning rather than being test-ready. Teachers are also meant to use the freed-up time to help students learn creatively.
Full Subject-based Banding
Starting from 2024, full subject-based banding will be implemented in Singapore’s secondary education systems. Students will be posted to their schools through 3 posting groups, Group 1, 2 and 3. These posting groups will facilitate students’ entry into secondary school and guide the subject levels they can offer at the start of Secondary 1. For example, a student who enters their secondary school under posting group 2 will take most of their subjects at G2 at the start of the year. If they do well, they may be offered a chance to go from G2 to G3 later.
Students can also choose to take a subject at a less demanding level if they are not coping well.
New O-Level Certificate
From 2027, Sec 4 students will sit for the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate examination regardless of their initial posting group at Sec 1. The SEC will replace the current O-Level and N-Level certificates and reflect the subjects and subject levels students offer. The option of spending a fifth year in secondary school will remain available to students who want to take subjects at a more demanding level. The JC admission criteria will continue to be retained.
Increase in DSA Slots
More places in Junior Colleges will also be made available for students entering with talents apart from their grades through the Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise from 2023. The number of DSA places available for non-IP students will be increased to 20% of cohort size for EJC, VJC and ASRJC.
Whenever there are changes to a system, there will be implications and students/ parents cannot use the old methods to navigate the new system and syllabus. To stay ahead, learn about the implications and adjust your expectations, strategy and academic plan. To make informed decisions, you can sign up for Indigo’s parent seminar to learn more – https://indigo.com.sg/special-programmes/seminars-webinars/.