Singapore’s Schooling Allows Children to Reach Great Heights
Aug 23 2019When relocating to another country, employees must consider the costs and logistics of bringing their children along with them. A major concern is children’s education, and it is important to find a school that can accommodate the individual child’s needs, which include meeting education standards and working with potential language barriers. International schools often are a wise choice, although they do not exist in every country. Luckily for those assigned to city-state Singapore, their children will benefit from prestigious international schools and local, government-supported schools. For both local and international students, Singapore’s education system sets a high standard for a wide range of student backgrounds.
Countries like Australia, South Korea and Finland tend to rank high on lists of the best places for expat children to receive an education, but Singapore not only tops the education lists but ranks as the best country in which to raise a child two years in a row according to Save the Children’s Global Childhood Report. Singapore scored 989 out of 1,000 possible points. Measured across eight categories such as malnutrition, child labor and access to education, Singapore comes out on top. With a high GDP, Singapore can fully invest in education. The results are a high-performing education system that benefits both Singapore natives and international students.
In a global education ranking from Pearson looking at education attainment and cognitive skill development, Singapore ranked third, just after South Korea and Japan. When looking at math, science and reading performance, Singapore ranked first. This has inspired places like the United Kingdom to adopt the “Singapore Method,” which involves developing problem solving skills through teaching methods based in behavioral psychology and individualized learning. This educational success is also a result of teachers whose professional development is supported through programs and trainings from the National Institute of Education, the Academy of Singapore Teachers and their Centers of Excellence, and schools themselves.
The result of a robust curriculum and highly trained educators is an education system that offers ample learning opportunity for those living in or relocating to Singapore. The options for expat children are between local or international schools, the latter often being a sensible choice for those who want their children to receive a curriculum in their native language. In Singapore’s international schools, the most common curricula are the International Baccalaureate as well as U.K. and U.S.-oriented approaches to education. While this has benefits in terms of language learning and high standards, local schools in Singapore are similarly rigorous and allow the child to integrate with Singaporean children. The choice ultimately may come down to language, where international schooling presents the best option for the relocated employee’s children to continue developing their native language skills.
With international schooling’s rigorous and highly developed education comes a high price, and Singapore is as well-known for its costly schooling as it is for high standards of education. Tuition costs increase when factoring in technology, uniforms, lunches and extra-curricular activities, with long-established schools coming in around $40,000. However, more international schools are being established by the government with aims to take the price of tuition down to $20,000 or lower. The majority of these schools are smaller primary schools, but they exist throughout the city-state, giving more options to families looking to cut costs while still benefitting from the international schooling curriculum.
Partaking in the rigorous and highly developed education system in Singapore allows students to be a part of Singapore’s high math, science, and reading ranks that make global news. Relocated families can also benefit from international schooling, allowing their children to learn in their native language in a world-renowned international baccalaureate program, potentially at a lower price than usual. Whether opting for an international school or a local one, the educational opportunities for families living in or relocating to Singapore are bound to benefit the children.
The result of a robust curriculum and highly trained educators is an education system that offers ample learning opportunity for those living in or relocating to Singapore.