25 Interesting Singapore Education Facts [100% true]

The Best Facts About School in Singapore

Singapore is an island city-state that used to be a British colony. It is located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, and it is made of a main island as well as 63 smaller ones. It has a bit more than 5,685,000 inhabitants.

An interesting part of the country that I wanted to tackle is its education. In light of that, I have listed my 25 best facts about the Singapore education levels and features:

1. Singaporean students can pursue their own interests during their education

One of the amazing things about education in Singapore is that students have the freedom to pursue their own interests.

For this, they can take part in community-related activities as well as co-curricular activities. Everyone is encouraged to develop more skills, whether they are academic or not.

2. Teachers need to work very long days in Singapore

Compared to the world average, Singaporean teachers work more hours. In fact, they are expected to spend as much time with their students as parents should with their children.

Because of this, core values are really reinforced, as well as the subjects taught in class.

3. Singapore leads the world in science and reading

Everyone knows how incredible Singapore students are.

In fact, they are the best in the world when it comes to science and reading. The mean score for these fields is 493 points, and Singapore’s is 556. The second country is Japan, with 538 points.

4. The Singaporean education system prioritizes real-life skills

It is true that theory has a huge place in the Singaporean education system.

However, real-life skills are always prioritized, by making students apply their knowledge to real-life experiences. This way, schools can make sure that students will be able to deal with many possible situations.

5. Singapore always thinks about the future when it comes to its education

Singapore is very aware of the future in general, and also about globalization.

Because of this, it teaches its students to live in a modern, connected and diverse world. Not only will they have to adapt to different cultures from all around the globe, but they will also need to know their own national traditions.

6. Education is of extremely high quality in Singapore… but it costs students a lot

Yes, education in Singapore is very reputed, and of very high quality, especially if you compare it to that of other countries in the world.

That comes at a high price though… and that is not money. Singaporean students regularly suffer from stress and anxiety related to schoolwork or tests.

7. The majority of students in Singapore are very anxious before every single exam

Maybe you feel like the few stressed Singaporean students are just unlucky, but in fact, the education system as a whole is quite strict and severe.

The vast majority of students (76 percent) have stated they were “very anxious” before taking an exam.

8. No matter the student or their background, the Singaporean education system is intense

While in many major countries, extremely anxious students also have problems with their family or outside of school in general, in Singapore, everyone is affected.

No matter how much students prepare for an exam, they will be very stressed about it. Also, half of them are stressed while simply studying!

9. Education in Singapore is mostly free

Good news to all stressed students in Singapore: they won’t need to pay with money on top of their mental health.

Primary education is free, while secondary education in Singapore only costs about $5 per month, which everyone can afford.

10. Even extra education spendings are neglectable in Singapore

In many African countries for example, even when school is free, it can be a struggle for parents to buy their children’s school materials like textbooks or pencils.

However, in Singapore, even when there are other costs related to education, they never exceed $30 per month, which everyone can afford again.

11. Almost everyone in Singapore is literate

When it comes to literacy, Singapore has a rate of 97 percent.

This is measured in the population aged more than 15, and by the age of 16, students are expected to have completed both primary and secondary school.

12. Education in Singapore is relatively comprehensive

One of the best things about education in Singapore is that it is quite comprehensive. This means that students who completed secondary education, and who choose not to go to college, still have the basic skills to enter the professional world without any issues.

13. Education in Singapore is compulsory

Just like in many countries, education is mandatory for everyone, from an early age to the end of secondary school. This has been the case since 2003.

Foreigners are also under this obligation, and if they are not in school, parents will be responsible.

14. Compulsory education is taken very, very seriously in Singapore

Generally speaking, Singaporean people are very diligent when it comes to respecting the law. This is mostly because fines are very significant, and sometimes it can even be worse than this.

For education, if parents fail to send their children to school, or choose to home-school them, they will pay a fine and can even go to prison for up to a year!

15. The Singaporean education system is based on testing students

Because Singapore used to be a British colony, its education system is based on the British one.

What is different nowadays though, is that it puts a lot of emphasis on testing. Students need to pass a major test at the end of almost every level, and a lot of smaller ones throughout the year as well.

16. Education is so important in Singapore because of the mindset of the country

The major reason why education is so highly considered in Singapore is because the country feels like its people are its only resource… so they need to excel if Singapore wants to survive and thrive. For this, they are always up-to-date in education.

17. The Singaporean teaching methods are quite innovative

Despite how harsh and test-focused education is in Singapore, the education system in the country is always creative.

Teachers are indeed reputed for having very innovative methods, and they rank high in teaching surveys compared to other countries.

18. Singaporean students are screened very early in their education

As already said, the only thing Singapore has is its people. There are not many natural resources, and the country is really small.

Because of this, the whole country works in a merit system, and students are screened as early as 4th and 6th grade in primary school.

19. According to some parents, the Singaporean system is flexible

Despite everything we think about how innovative and creative the Singapore education system is, some parents do not agree.

This was the case for child genius Ainan Celeste Cawley, who passed the grade 10 examination at age 7, and left for Malaysia because the Singaporean government was inflexible and did not support him appropriately.

20. Until quite recently, education was not compulsory in Singapore

During the 1980s, education was not mandatory in Singapore… but attendance was almost universal.

This goes to show how important education was already in Singaporean’s system of beliefs, and that they are a major reason why the country is so successful when it comes to education.

21. Everyone is equal in Singaporean schools: only merit is important

The only thing that children can do to differentiate themselves from their counterparts is to have merit. They need to have the best grades to get attention, pursue better studies, and feel at the right place in their society.

Everyone in Singaporean schools is equal: there are not any kind of special privileges for any group, whether it is a religion or a community.

22. English is the official medium of instruction in Singapore

Nowadays, you will see students pursue their studies in English, no matter what grade they are in.

However, this was not always the case: it was only during the 1980s that English became official for education, and that Malay, Chinese, and Anglican missionary schools became standard government schools.

23. Families take their children’s education very seriously in Singapore

Even though education is very stressful for Singaporean children, and the fact that families know about it, they still do everything they can to see their children succeed.

Families often spend tens of thousands of dollars a year just to pay for extra classes for their kids!

24. Singaporean parents are as strict as teachers when it comes to education

Teachers are not the only strict and severe people that Singaporean students need to fear… there are also their own parents!

Children are often overly punished when they do not pay enough attention in class. In fact, when a kid asked his mother for some help before an exam, she kicked him and was jailed for 9 months!

25. Some Singaporean children are just harassed too much during their education

I am truly sorry I have to end this list with such a sad fact, but I think everyone should know about it.

In 2001, a 10-year-old girl committed suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of her apartment block… because her Chinese language grades were too low. And she is not the only one.

So there you have them, these were all my 25 interesting facts about schools and levels of education in Singapore. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the rest of the country, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about:

Singaporean School Hours

Let’s keep going with our next part, dedicated to Singaporean school hours. The typical school schedule in one country can often be very different from your own, and it’s always interesting to have more details on how students go on about their day.

Singapore Primary School Schedule

The Singaporean school year is divided into two semesters: the first one begins in January and ends in May, while the second one begins in July and ends in November.

The Singapore education structure is made up of preschool, primary school, secondary school and post-secondary education.

When it comes to primary education, it starts at age 7. The first phase lasts for 4 years, before a 2-year orientation stage. Primary education is compulsory for everyone.

The typical Singaporean school day starts at around 7.50 AM before ending at 1.15 PM.

Singaporean High School Schedule

Before secondary education, students are placed into 3 different secondary education tracks, depending on their results on a previous exam: Express, Normal (Academic), or Normal (Technical). Since 2021, these names have changed to G1, G2 and G3.

In high school, the typical schedule is 8 AM to 6 PM, but that varies depending on the institution. The last part of the afternoon, from 4 to 6 PM, is reserved for sports and activities.

General Facts About Schooling in Singapore

This last part is dedicated to general facts about schooling in Singapore. More specifically, we’ll check 2 key figures that will give you a better understanding of the Singapore education level.

Enrollment in tertiary education for Singapore: 29.71%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 8.6% | South Asia: 20.8% | Arab States: 36.4% | East Asia: 36.5% | Latin America: 43.3% | Europe and Central Asia: 62% | North America: 84%)

Data from World Bank EdStats/UNESCO

Singapore literacy rate: 97%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 65.3% | South Asia: 72.9% | Arab States: 79.4% | Latin America: 93.7% | East Asia: 95.8% | Europe and Central Asia: 98.5%)

Data from World Bank EdStats/UNESCO

More Education Facts!

Do you want even more education facts about other countries?

Check out these facts:

• Education in Pakistan
• Education in India
• Education in the Philippines

Or click here to see ALL the education facts up on the blog!

The Full List of 25 Singaporean School Facts

1. Singaporean students can pursue their own interests during their education
2. Teachers need to work very long days in Singapore
3. Singapore leads the world in science and reading
4. The Singaporean education system prioritizes real-life skills
5. Singapore always thinks about the future when it comes to its education
6. Education is of extremely high quality in Singapore… but it costs students a lot
7. The majority of students in Singapore are very anxious before every single exam
8. No matter the student or their background, the Singaporean education system is intense
9. Education in Singapore is mostly free
10. Even extra education spendings are neglectable in Singapore
11. Almost everyone in Singapore is literate
12. Education in Singapore is relatively comprehensive
13. Education in Singapore is compulsory
14. Compulsory education is taken very, very seriously in Singapore
15. The Singaporean education system is based on testing students
16. Education is so important in Singapore because of the mindset of the country
17. The Singaporean teaching methods are quite innovative
18. Singaporean students are screened very early in their education
19. According to some parents, the Singaporean system is flexible
20. Until quite recently, education was not compulsory in Singapore
21. Everyone is equal in Singaporean schools: only merit is important
22. English is the official medium of instruction in Singapore
23. Families take their children’s education very seriously in Singapore
24. Singaporean parents are as strict as teachers when it comes to education
25. Some Singaporean children are just harassed too much during their education

Share the knowledge! Click on the buttons below to share these education system in Singapore facts with your friends, and help them learn more about the world 🙂