Singapore is considered by many to be one of the global leaders in education, thanks to its ‘innovative and highly effective approach.’ With an education system that combines academic rigour and comprehensive development, the Asian country has established itself in many media outlets as ‘a model to follow,’ quickly adapting to the demands of an increasingly digital and globalised world.
The country has obtained high scores in international studies such as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study).
It currently has two Marist schools, one of them being Maris Stella High School, which was founded in 1958 by Brother Chanel Soon. It is a comprehensive school for boys with around 250 employees and 3000 pupils from years 1 to 10. The Champagnat Global team had the opportunity to chat with Boy Eng Seng, the school’s headmaster.
What are the foundations of the education system in Singapore?
Singapore is a very small country with no natural resources. To survive, we must depend on our human resource. Hence, the government and parents place a lot of emphasis on educating our children.
What differentiates it from other types of education?
One unique feature of the Singapore’s educational system is our bilingual policy. All students offer English Language and ethnic Mother Tongue language. The Mother Tongue language can be Chinese language, Malay language, Tamil, Hindi, etc. depending on the ethnicity of the student.
According to the Pisa Report, education in Singapore is a success, what is the key?
Teachers are the backbone of education system. We do our best to attract the best graduates to be teachers and we invest in teacher development. To accelerate growth, schools are also encouraged to collaborate and learn from one another. Schools are grouped into clusters of about 12 schools, and the school leaders meet monthly to learn and share good practices with one another.
According to some data consulted, competitiveness is a key element in education there, why? What are its advantages?
The right degree of competition can bring out the best in people. This is commonly seen in sports. It gives people a sense of achievement and progress and it inspires people to work hard.
Any outstanding projects currently being carried out in your school?
Maris Stella High School is one of the few Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools in Singapore. As an SAP school, we nurture bilingual and bicultural talents who are strong in both the English and Chinese languages. Over the years, the school have produced many notable bilingual and bicultural talents including our Minister of Health Mr Ong Ye Kung who was also our previous Minister of Education.
How is the dedication that teachers have with families? Do you also work with them?
The teachers partner actively with parents to educate our students, especially for the grade 1 to 6 students. The school has two Parent Support Groups (PSG), one for grade 1 to 6 and another for grade 7 to 10. Parents in the PSG partner with the school closely to organize programmes to enrich students’ school experience. Teachers also use technology (e.g. mobile applications, email, Zoom, etc.) to communicate with parents frequently to update them on school matters.
What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?
The school will undergo rebuilding from 2027 to 2029. During these three years, we will move to two temporary sites while the new school building is being built in the current site. We are now busy preparing for the move and designing the new school campus.