15 March 2019

While streaming has been replaced by subject-based banding, the changes do not affect Integrated Programme (IP) schools, which allow students to skip the GCE O levels and go straight to their GCE A levels or International Baccalaureate.

National University of Singapore economics lecturer Kelvin Seah said social mixing in school is important, but some parents might prefer that their children interact with peers of similar ability.

National Institute of Education lecturer Jason Tan also said parents hope that the peer influence in IP schools will benefit their children.

The Education Ministry had said that IP schools will continue to have the ability to customise their curriculum to fit their students’ needs, and that subject-based banding will not be implemented in these schools.

In return, IP schools have to make a special effort to recruit students from all backgrounds wisely, using their Direct School Admissions. They must also ensure that students have sufficient inter-school mixing opportunities, such as combining school co-curricular activities, Outward Bound Singapore camps or Values in Action projects.

14 March 2019

There is a growing demand for university graduates in the fields of computing, artificial intelligence, and cyber security.

As such local universities are expanding related course offerings and vacancies for the coming academic year.

Nanyang Technological University said it has allocated 675 places for its 10 computing-related undergraduate programmes this year.

Singapore Management University will be offering two new computing-related degree programmes: computer science, and computing and law.

Results of the latest Graduate Employment Survey showed that fresh graduates in the information technology sector were the most successful of all graduates in securing full-time permanent jobs within 6 months of their graduation.

Those in courses such as computing, business analytics and information security earned the highest median gross monthly pay of $4,100.

13 March 2019

Parents have been generally supportive of the move by the Ministry of Education to end streaming in Singapore’s schools and replace it with subject-based banding.

Removing the labels associated with streaming can potentially remove the stigmatization that has long been associated with streaming, and change social mindsets for the better.

Parents have reflected on having undergone streaming themselves when they were studying, recounting how scary an experience it was for them, and the judgmental attitudes they faced if they got into the Normal Stream.

Mrs Reshma Alwani, a housewife, told the media that she welcomed the chance for her child to be in classrooms with those from other bands.

But she, like other parents, also had concerns, such as how schools decide when students get to move across subject bands. Another worry was what would happen to students who go to schools which offer mainly higher-level G3 subjects.

10 March 2019

Last year, fresh university graduates earned a higher starting pay, with a median monthly salary of $3,500, according to results of a joint graduate employment survey.

The graduates with the best starting pay for full-time permanent jobs came from the information technology sector.

Graduates from the information and digital technologies, business and built environment courses had the highest full-time permanent employment rates.

The survey polled 11,200 fresh graduates from full-time programmes at the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

The universities said many of their graduates managed to find full-time jobs through internships.

Nearly nine in 10 graduates, or 88.9 per cent, found jobs within six months of their final examinations.

09 March 2019

Junior colleges with older campuses as well as JCs which merged recently due to declining enrolment will soon have their campuses rebuilt or refurbished.

This was recently announced Education Minister Ong Ye Kung. He said that the Ministry of Education will improve the infrastructure of JCs starting from 2022. Already, plans have already been implemented to progressively improve the infrastructure of the Institute of Technical Education and polytechnics.

The junior college rejuvenation exercise will take into consideration factors like the age of the buildings, the state of existing facilities and the availability of suitable holding sites while works are being carried out.

Campuses will also make use of digital technology and have facilities that encourage sports and co-curricular activities, such as indoor sports halls.