The learning model in Singapore is often a big question, why the education system in the country is considered successful. This small country has actually become one of the developed countries that plays a role in the development of a modern industrial economy. In the revolutionary era, Singapore’s education system became the part that stole the world’s attention, because it was considered to have the best learning model globally.
This success does not only occur in Singapore secondary schools, but also at the higher education level. For example, the National University of Singapore as a university in Singapore managed to occupy the highest ranking as the best university in Asia, as well as being the world’s top university.
Since the beginning of Singapore’s development, the government has continued to pay attention to the education sector as part of economic development. Starting from the existence of high-achieving students at the international level in the OECD program related to International Student Assessment, or known as PISA.

Singapore Learning Model
Singapore is also included in the list of the world’s top countries in mathematics, science, bringing the country’s name on par with Canada, Finland, Ireland and Estonia. To know more about studying in Singapore, you can contact Education Consultant for a study abroad consultation . In its learning model, Singapore cannot be separated from the following positive things:
- Education is an Ecosystem
After independence from Britain, Singapore was included in the list of the richest countries, and its wealth even surpassed several countries in Asia, North America, and Europe. So it is appropriate to make Singapore a leader in the education sector.
This is because Singapore has chosen education as a thriving ecosystem, implementing effective reforms on the system from top to bottom in total, so that the public can also feel the massive changes.
For example, Singapore is pushing for a meritocracy as part of its education system reform to build the country. The reforms that took place for example “Schools of Thinking, Nation Learn” produced Singaporean students who were creative, innovative, and supported by schools that continued to reform in order to meet international standards.
- School Curriculum With Problem Solving Skills
Singapore’s education system produces students who are passionate about work, doing projects or thinking creatively. Each class provides learning in order to provide provisions in the form of skills and insight into solving problems in each subject. Thus, students are able to solve any challenges in the real world. Studying in Singapore will bring real experience to be ready to start a career.
Singapore also has regulatory agencies that are actively working to evaluate and continue to build the school system as a performance solution. In 2017, there were reports of psychological problems in students, due to an academic system that was too strict.
At that time, the education authorities chose to reduce the pressure on students, then Singapore introduced a new strategy, namely Teach Less, Learn More to inspire educators that it is better to provide quality, not quantity.
- Conducive Culture
Singapore is a country that believes that every child is equally intelligent. In this case, it involves the role of parents. So, parents do not focus on children’s intelligence, but are more likely to give praise to each child’s abilities.
The Ministry of Education in Singapore also puts pressure on the involvement of parents. That is why, the learning model cannot be separated from the existence of two platforms, namely the Parent Support Group and the annual parent meeting at school to build parental participation in various school activities.
- Accountable Learning Model
Professionalism is the main key to the success of the learning model in Singapore, especially for educators. Singapore even has a rule that teachers must attend training from the National Education Institute, namely NIE. In order to support human resources and the professionalism of teachers, Singapore is also diligent in investing so that teaching staff have prestige or proud status.
NIE is an institution to train teachers to become qualified individuals through various courses, ensuring quality control that every new teacher, must be able to work professionally in the classroom, using a digital era learning system. In fact, NIE also applies the new learning that has been created, namely the “21st Century Teacher Education Model”.
- Targeted National Curriculum
The hallmark of learning in Singapore is very clear goals, and identification of what educational outcomes are expected. Thus, it will be applied in making the national curriculum, imitating various pedagogies for teacher professional development.
These goals are also important, to create a link between the conceptualization and implementation of policies. So that it can fulfill the vision of national education.
Education System in Singapore from Elementary to University
According to the Minister of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, stated that the purpose of education in Singapore is to maintain the values of excellence as well as to encourage the younger generation to be able to find passion and achieve success according to their abilities.
The education model in Singapore starts at the age of six, where students enter elementary school with a study period of 10-11 years. Then, continue high school education for 4-5 years. Furthermore, students can choose two vocational learning paths, polytechnics, junior colleges in order to reach the university level.
That is complete information about the learning model in Singapore. By now, you already know that the reason for the success of education in Singapore cannot be separated from the country’s ability to accept that each student is different and has advantages in certain fields. So, it can encourage students to achieve their best abilities according to their speed.