This presentation was part of a Plenary Panel at a Thai National Conference on School Science and Mathematics organized by IPST (Thailand) & Chiangrai Rajabhat University, Thailand. There were also speakers from Japan and South Korea.
2. Introduction Both educational achievement and economic performance was poor in 1960s when Singapore first became a nation. There has been big improvement in both education and economy since then. Today, Singapore is generally successful in both.
5. Education System In 1997, the Thinking Schools, Learning Nation philosophy was introduced. Today, thinking and problem solving remain important focus of the education system.
20. National Tests National test items requires higher-order thinking. For example, in mathematics, tedious computation is not emphasized. Instead problem solving is important. In science, process skills are tested significantly.
27. Teacher Education (Pre-Service) A uniform systematic pre-service teacher education. Grades 11 – 12 teachers are specialists. Grades 7 – 10 teachers are semi-specialists, trained in two subjects. Grades 1 – 6 teachers are generalists. However, they receive substantial mathematics and science education.
31. Performance of Future Lower Secondary Teachers Mathematics Content Knowledge Performance of Future Lower Secondary Teachers Mathematics Content Knowledge
32. Professional Development (In-Service) There is provision for 100 hours of professional development a year. Schools are expected to form Professional Learning Communities (PLC). Many schools do Lesson Study.
33. CHIF Our Lady of Good Counsel, Singapore North Vista Primary School, Singapore Da Qiao Primary School, Singapore
34. Fuchun Primary School, Singapore New pedagogies are introduced in the teaching and learning process as a result of lesson study.