Singapore possesses high-quality educational resources and is one of the countries suitable for Chinese immigrants. Many Chinese parents choose to invest and immigrate to Singapore solely to provide their children with a high-quality education. Singapore is one of the few countries that accepts international students for primary and secondary education, offering unique advantages in early-age study abroad. With the goal of cultivating bilingual talent from a young age who can adapt to Singapore's development, it is expanding enrollment for overseas primary and secondary students and is very welcoming to students from China.
Types of Kindergartens
Singaporean kindergartens are divided into three types: government kindergartens, private kindergartens, and international kindergartens, all of which are open to international students; students can enroll upon successful application. There are two government kindergarten operators, PAP and NTUC, among which PAP has 90 branches and NTUC has 80 branches; the rest are private kindergartens and international schools, with over 300 private kindergartens.
Government kindergartens are located throughout the country, have relatively lower fees, and a high approval rate, but the disadvantage is that spots are limited, making the application success rate lower; private kindergartens are easier to apply to but have relatively higher fees; international kindergartens are similar to private ones, only with different operators.
Singapore has strict age requirements for children applying for study abroad, which are not calculated by month of birth as in China, but by year. According to Singapore's calculation method, only children who have turned 3 years old can apply for Singaporean kindergartens without conditions.
Applications for admission to Singaporean kindergartens can be made throughout the year, but in terms of success rate, it is best for any school to start preparations more than three months in advance; as long as the school has vacancies, you can apply to that school.
Educational Model
Singapore is a country that prioritizes "happy education." From kindergarten through primary school, the educational model mostly focuses on cultivating children's hands-on ability and thinking skills. "Generally, there will be one or two field trips per week to guide children to think and learn through play."
Singaporean early childhood education places great emphasis on "play." So-called "play" refers to hands-on ability, such as making small snacks, conducting simple physics and chemistry experiments, etc. By mastering knowledge naturally in the process of playing, it not only allows children to experience a happy childhood but also makes them willing to accept new things and new knowledge.
In addition, instruction in Singaporean kindergartens is entirely in English, but in public kindergartens, a one-and-a-half-hour mother tongue class is arranged in the afternoon according to the different nationalities of international students. For example, Chinese children learn Chinese, and Malaysian children learn Malay, with the goal of ensuring children do not forget their native culture.
Unconditional Application Only Up to "Primary 1"
Singapore is a country with very strict age brackets. You can enter kindergarten and Primary 1 in Singapore directly without any exams. However, from Primary 2 through the end of junior high school, international students applying for admission must participate in the advancement system
An entrance exam organized by the Singapore Ministry of Education, which tests English and Mathematics. "Local primary school grade 6 and junior high school grade 4 (equivalent to graduation classes in China) do not accept direct applications from international students."
Many students and parents who choose to study in Singapore from a young age hope to gain an advantage for future advancement or transferring to other European or American countries for higher education.
Primary Education: Focusing on Uncovering Student Potential
Singapore is a Commonwealth country and follows the British education system. Local primary school lasts for 6 years, the same as in China. The difference is that there are no formal courses in grades 1-3. Every morning, some Chinese, English, and Mathematics courses are taught, while the afternoon is time for cultivating interests and hobbies, with the goal of uncovering student potential; there are many such courses. For example, some students want to learn piano, but in China, they have to attend training classes which are quite expensive, while in Singapore, they can learn directly at school. "Grades 4-5 are generally normal classes, and grade 6 is for exam review."
Secondary Education: Diverse Graduation Choices
Singapore's secondary education is quite different from that in China. Junior high school in Singapore lasts for 4 years, and the graduation exam for the junior high stage is called O-Level (i.e., O-Level). Choices after graduation are roughly divided into two categories: one is to directly apply to Singapore's 5 polytechnics. Although they are certified as junior colleges in Singapore, many Commonwealth countries recognize them as undergraduate institutions, which allows for earlier exposure to university-level courses, and then one can continue to apply for undergraduate education; the second is junior college, which is equivalent to high school in China. "What's a bit different is that junior colleges are more professional, and you can decide on the major you want to study at university while in junior college. For example, students who want to study business can be exposed to basic accounting, finance, and other business knowledge in junior college."
Afterward, you can take the so-called "college entrance exam." The local graduation exam is called A-Level (i.e., A-Level). This score is recognized by most countries around the world. If you want to transfer to the United States or Canada for university in the future, you no longer need IELTS or TOEFL scores; you only need to use your A-Level scores to take an SAT internal test at the local school to know whether you can be admitted to that university, which is much simpler than applying from China.
Higher Education: Excellent Grades Lead to More Tuition Waivers
You can also attend undergraduate schools in Singapore with A-Level scores. If a child's grades are particularly excellent, there are 3 national public universities in Singapore to choose from, all of which are among the top 50 in the world, namely the National University of Singapore (ranked first in Asia), Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University.
In comparison, the tuition fees for these 3 universities are relatively cheaper. For example, as long as a Chinese international student is admitted to the National University of Singapore, they can apply for a Singapore agreement. After graduation, if they work in a Singaporean enterprise for three years, their tuition can be reduced by 80%. The remaining 20% can also be applied for through a Singapore study grant, but this requires repayment, which can be done in installments. If the family's financial condition is not very good, they can also apply for Singapore living expenses, 2,000 Singapore dollars per month, which can be repaid after working. "In addition, Singaporean universities also have various scholarships. A school generally has 30-40 types of scholarships, which means that if a student's grades are excellent, the tuition fee is actually not much."
