International Schools and Tertiary Education

The Public Education System In Singapore

In Singapore, English is not only the first language, but also the language of instruction. Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew relates the idea that English is the only language that connects Singaporeans of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds with a common bond, and has the dual purpose of linking Singapore to the rest of the business world. Students are also required to take up a second language, usually their mother tongue (of Chinese, Malay, Tamil, etc.) so there is no loss of cultural identity.

Kindergarten: 3 years of pre-school programmes for children aged 3 – 6 commonly referred to as Nursery, Kindergarten 1 (K1) and Kindergarten 2 (K2). Kindergartens provide an environment for children to learn how to communicate, play, and interact with others, and to prepare them for the start of formal education in primary schools.

The kindergartens are run by the private sector, including community foundations, religious bodies, social organisations and business organisations. There are more than 200 kindergartens registered with the Ministry of Education. Kindergarten programmes are also offered by child care centres as well as international schools.

Primary School: 6 years of formal elementary education. Since 2003, primary school education is compulsory for all children of schooling age in Singapore and it is a criminal offence if parents fail to enrol their children in a primary (elementary) school and ensure their regular attendance. At the end of Primary 6, the national Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) are held. More than simply determining whether the student has received adequate elementary education, PSLE scores serve to allocate seats in Secondary (high) schools as well as stream them into Special, Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams.

Secondary School: 4 to 5 years of formal high school education. Both Special and Express are 4-year courses leading up to a Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) “Ordinary”—”O” level examination. Normal is a 4-year course leading up to a Singapore-Cambridge GCE “Normal”—”N” Level examination, with the possibility of a fifth year followed by a Singapore-Cambridge GCE “Ordinary”—”O” Level examination.

International / Private School Options

It is compulsory for foreign students here to apply for an annual student pass from the Immigration Department. In addition to the various International Schools, expatriates’ children can apply for admission to government (public) or government-aided schools through the Ministry of Education (MOE). Some international/private schools listed below also provide pre-school education.

 

The Australian International School http://www.ais.com.sg	1 Lorong Chuan Singapore 556818 Tel: 6883 5155
British Association of Singapore Playschool http://www.britishassociation.org.sg	9 Penang Road #08-08 Park Mall Singapore 238459 Tel: 6339 8229
Bhavan’s Indian International School http://www.biissingapore.org	1 & 3 Mei Chin Road Singapore 149253 Tel: 6479 1511
The Canadian International School http://www.cis.edu.sg	5 Toh Tuck Road Singapore 596679 Tel: 6467 1732
Chatsworth International School http://www.chatsworth-international.com	37 Emerald Hill Road Singapore 229313 Tel: 6737 5955
Dover Court Preparatory School http://www.dovercourt.edu.sg	301 Dover Road Singapore 139644 Tel: 6775 7664
German European School Singapore http://www.gess.sg	72 Bukit Tinggi Singapore 289760 Tel: 6469 1131
Hollandse School http://www.hollandseschool.org	65 Bukit Tinggi Singapore 289757 Tel: 6466 0662
International Community School http://www.ics.edu.sg	514 Kampong Bahru Road Singapore 099450 Tel: 6324 4287
ISS International School http://www.iss.edu.sg	Elementary / Middle School 25 Paterson Road Singapore 238510 Tel: 6235 5844 High School 21 Preston Road Singapore 109355 Tel: 6475 4188
The Japanese School http://www.sjs.edu.sg	201 West Coast Road Singapore 127383 Tel: 6779 7355
Lycee Francais de Singapour http://www.lyceefrancais.edu.sg	3000 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 Singapore 569928 Tel: 6488 1160
Overseas Family School http://www.ofs.edu.sg	25F Paterson Road Singapore 238515 Tel: 6738 0211
Rosemount International School http://www.rosemount.com.sg	369 Tanjong Katong Road Singapore 437126 Tel: 6276 2821
San Yu Adventist School http://www.syas.edu.sg	229 Thomson Road Singapore 307652 Tel: 62566840
Sekolah Indonesia	20A Siglap Road Singapore 455859 Tel: 6448 0722
Singapore Sports School http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg	1 Champions Way Singapore 737913 Tel: 6766 0100
St. Francis Methodist School http://www.sfms.edu.sg	492 Upper Bukit Timah Road Singapore 678095 Tel: 6760 0889
Tanglin Trust School http://www.tts.edu.sg	Portsdown Road Singapore 139294 Tel: 6770 3171
The Singapore American School http://www.sas.edu.sg	40 Woodlands St 41 Singapore 738547 Tel: 6363 3403
The Swiss School Singapore http://www.swiss-school.edu.sg	38 Swiss Club Road Singapore 288140 Tel: 6468 2117
United World College of South East Asia http://www.uwcsea.uwc.org	1207 Dover Road Singapore 139654 Tel: 6775 5344
DPS International School http://www.dps.edu.sg	36 Aroozoo Avenue Singapore 539842  Tel: 6285 6300
Hwa Chong International School http://hcis.edu.sg	663 Bukit Timah Road,  Singapore 269783. Tel: 6464 7077
Getforme Singapore http://www.getformesingapore.com

International / Private Preschools

 

 

Buttercups Montessori Kindergarten http://www.buttercupsmontessori.com	37 Grove Lane Singapore 279029 Tel: 6462 4838
Chatsworth Kindergarten http://www.chatsworthkindergarten.com	1 Jalan Kayu Singapore 799433 Tel: 6481 5585
Cherrybrook Kindergarten http://www.cherrybrook.edu.sg	5 Vanda Road Singapore 287775 Tel: 6468 6550
Chiltern House http://www.juliagabriel.com	583 Orchard Road #04-01 Forum The Shopping Mall Singapore 238884 Tel: 6737 1966
Christ Methodist Church Kindergarten http://www.cmc.org.sg/kindergarten.html	597 East Coast Road Singapore 429082 Tel: 6344 8823
Ellas Kindergarten (Singapore)	12 West Coast Walk #02-16 West Coast Recreation Centre Singapore 127157 Tel: 6778 1293
EtonHouse International School and Pre-School http://www.etonhouse.com.sg	51 Broadrick Road Singapore 439501 Tel: 6346 6922
Faith Montessori Centre	4 Moonbeam Walk Singapore 277219 Tel: 6465 2751
Jansen Preschool	39 Jansen Road Singapore 548441 Tel: 6487 6116
Japanese Kindergarten (Singapore)	251 West Coast Road Singapore 127390 Tel: 6779 3434
Kinderland Preschool http://www.web.singnet.com.sg/~kinderld/network.htm	(several locations) 449 Yio Chu Kang Singapore 805946 Tel: 6483 2261
Learning Tree Preschool Pte Ltd	26A Ulu Siglap Singapore 457184 Tel: 6242 9975
Little Hands Montessori Kindergarten http://www.littlehandsmontessori.com.sg	11 Jalan Arnap Singapore 249317 Tel: 6235 5741
Little Woods Montessori http://www.littlewoodsmontessori.com	45 Gentle Road Singapore 339066 Tel: 6251 0817
Lock Road Kindergarten	10 Lock Road Singapore 108938 Tel: 6474 6181
Modern Montessori Preschool Centre	Blk 750 Woodlands Ave 4, #01-317 Singapore 730750 Tel: 6369 0700
Nanyang Kindergarten	51 Coronation Road Singapore 269460 Tel: 6466 3375
NTUC Childcare http://www.ntuc-childcare.com	Blk 70 Geylang Bahru #02-2719 Singapore 330070 Tel: 6391 9233
Pibo’s Garden Playschool	1 Dunearn Close Singapore 295574 Tel: 6466 2639
Raffles House Preschool	1 Robin Drive Singapore 258261 Tel: 6732 1455
Schoolhouse By The Bay http://www.schoolhouse.org.sg	51 Kampong Arang Road Singapore 438178 Tel: 6345 8258
Sonrise Preschool	2 Kovan Road #01-01 Simon Plaza Singapore 548008 Tel: 6285 5911
St James’ Church Kindergarten http://www.sjck.org.sg	29 Harding Road Singapore 249537 Tel: 6476 6026
Tanglin Trust School Limited http://www.tts.edu.sg	Portsdown Road Singapore 139294 Tel: 6770 3171
The Children’s Place http://www.thechildrensplace.com.sg	19 Kay Siang Road Singapore 248935 Tel: 6472 3788
The Preparatory Place	40 Fernhill Road Singapore 259101 Tel: 6737 6427
TownforKids Pte Ltd http://www.townforkids.com	(several locations) 11 Tampines St 92, #03-01 Singapore 528872 Tel: 6788 1213
White Lodge Early Learning Centre http://www.white-lodge.org	(4 locations) 39 Linden Drive Singapore 288712 Tel: 6468 8846
United Educare Kindergarten	35 Lotus Avenue Singapore 277618 Tel: 6467 9877

 

International / Private Special Needs Schools

Children with disabilities are educated in special education schools run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO), and are partially funded by MOE. The National Council of Social Service, a government agency, provides information on government-sponsored schools for special needs children. Contact them for more information.

 

National Council of Social Service
170 Ghim Moh Road #01-02
Singapore 279621
Tel: 6210 2500
Email: ncss_webmaster@ncss.gov.sg
Web: www.ncss.org.sg/sped or www.disability.org.sg/home

Dover Court Preparatory School http://www.dovercourt.edu.sg	Dover Road Singapore 139644 Tel: 6775 7664
Genesis School http://www.genesisschool.com.sg	No. 9/11 West Coast Road Singapore 127296 Tel: 6733 1172
Joy Place http://www.joyplace.com.sg	38C Belvedere Close Singapore 159883 Tel: 6475 2680
Chiltern House Learning Support http://www.juliagabriel.com	583 Orchard Road #04-01 Forum The Shopping Mall Singapore 238884 Tel: 6737 1966
The Cotton Tree Group Home	396 Joo Chiat Place Singapore 428078 Tel: 6345 9905

Tertiary Education – Public Institutions

 

 

The Institute of Technical Education http://www.ite.edu.sg	(various locations) 10 Dover Drive Singapore 138683 Tel: 1800 CALL ITE
Nanyang Polytechnic http://www.nyp.edu.sg	180 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 Singapore 569830
Nanyang Technological University http://www.ntu.edu.sg	Nanyang Avenue Singapore 639798 Tel: 6791 1744
National University of Singapore http://www.nus.edu.sg	10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260 Tel: 6775 6666
Ngee Ann Polytechnic http://www.np.edu.sg	535 Clementi Road Singapore 599489 Tel: 6466 6555
Republic Polytechnic http://www.rp.edu.sg	9 Woodlands Ave 9 Singapore 738964 Tel: 6510 3000
Singapore Polytechnic http://www.sp.edu.sg	500 Dover Road Singapore 139651 Tel: 6775 1133
Temasek Polytechnic http://www.tp.edu.sg	21 Tampines Avenue 1 Singapore 529757 Tel: 6788 2000

 

Tertiary Education – Private Institutions

 

Center for American Education http://www.cae.com.sg	12 Prince Edward Road #01-03 Bestway Building Singapore 079212 Tel: 6223 4566
LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts http://www.lasallesia.edu.sg	90 Goodman Road Singapore 439053 Tel: 6344 4300
Marketing Institute of Singapore (MIS) http://www.mis.org.sg	30 Prinsep Street #01-02 Prinsep House Singapore 188647 Tel: 6221 7788
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) http://www.nafa.edu.sg	Bencoolen Street Singapore 189656 Tel: 6512 4000
Overseas Family College http://www.ofscollege.edu.sg	25F Paterson Road Singapore 238515 Tel: 6738 0211
Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) http://www.sim.edu.sg	461 Clementi Road Singapore 599491 Tel: 1800 468 8866
Singapore Management University (SMU) http://www.smu.edu.sg	81 Victoria Street Singapore 188065 Tel: 6822 0100