Secondary schools to offer 7 new hands-on subjects
-
Seven new subjects, ranging from robotics to sports science, are set to become part of the O- and N-level tracks to give students a chance for more hands-on learning.
These subjects, which will be rolled out over the next two years, will be available in more than 60 secondary schools.
O-level electronics and computing will start next year, along with three Normal (Technical) subjects - smart electrical technology, mobile robotics and retail operations.
In 2018, drama, as well as exercise and sports science, will be added to the O-level curriculum.
These subjects are different from traditional subjects such as mathematics, for instance. The key focus will be to expose students to applied learning, which integrates classroom learning with real-world situations, said an Education Ministry spokesman.
This will also allow students to make better choices on courses to pursue after secondary school.
The spokesman said that the ministry worked with industry partners, as well as the polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education and universities to ensure that the new curriculum is "relevant and engaging".
Subjects which focus on applied learning have been available since 2008. But these six subjects, which include the fundamentals of electronics and design studies, are offered only to O-level students.
On average, a total of 310 students have taken these six subjects each year in the last five years.
Polytechnic lecturers also teach the students and help to develop the curriculum. Most of these subjects will be phased out by next year, except for biotechnology and design studies offered at the Singapore School of Science and Technology.
The seven new applied subjects will be taught by teachers at the secondary schools themselves, and this could allow more students to take them up. Teachers are currently being trained to teach the new subjects.
Under the current curriculum, 20 students in each cohort study the fundamentals of electronics each year at Hong Kah Secondary, which has offered the subject in partnership with Ngee Ann Polytechnic since 2008.
"It is a fixed number because of the polytechnic's capacity and how many other schools and students they can accommodate on campus," said physics teacher Wee Jin Yi, who will teach electronics.
Hong Kah has already refurbished a few classrooms to set up an electronics lab and several rooms for project work.
The new subjects will have a refreshed curriculum. Electronics, for example, will cover the digital circuits in devices such as computers and television sets.
Parents and teachers believe that the new subjects will give students a chance to go beyond traditional academic disciplines and discover where their interests lie. "We hope to catch students' attention in electronics at a younger age and, hopefully, they will be more receptive to a career in this field," said Mr Wee.
-
Originally posted by FireIce:
Polytechnic lecturers also teach the students and help to develop the curriculum.
The new subjects will have a refreshed curriculum. Electronics, for example, will cover the digital circuits in devices such as computers and television sets.
"We hope to catch students' attention in electronics at a younger age and, hopefully, they will be more receptive to a career in this field," said Mr Wee.
No wonder suddenly so many poly lecturers jump ship to private companies
Catch students attention for career in this field? to fix computers and tv sets sibo?
-
Really stressful for Singaporean students!
-
Originally posted by Silverseraphina:
Catch students attention for career in this field? to fix computers and tv sets sibo?
not a bad job
high demand
many households have more than 1 comp and 1 TV
-
Considering these are from poly bring to sec, take these subjects got priority in poly admission bo?
-
Can i teach these subjects boh? I am familiar with the memorising styled learning in singapore.
-
I think it is good for our students to be more exposed to different skills.
-
-
biotechnology and biomedical science in NP and SP ~which one is better?
-
better in what sense?
-
Originally posted by Assy:
biotechnology and biomedical science in NP and SP ~which one is better?
Obviously, SP.
SP has more facilities. Only SP has Optometry courses.
but, NP easier to score.
Well, follow your heart. Go to whichever poly you feel you belong to.
Ngee Ann and SP, both got their own pros and cons.
-
teacher ,syllabus ,future study and facilities.and which one is more preferred university
-
they are not universities
-
sry wrong typing i mean which poly is more preferred by universities
-
please give me suggestion on the facilities,teacher,which one is more competitive in market
1)biotech in SP ,NGEE ANN, RP &NYP
2)biomedical science in SP&NGEE ANN
-
why not just go with where your interest lies?
diff ppl tell u diff experiences
u going to make a life decision based on what others say?
-
not follow but take the other's advices in the area of consideration as I have less idea about poly in sg
-
Erm...
To my juniors in sec 4NA/EXP and 5NA,
If you want to go to University, it's better to pursue the A level track (JC).
Not say poly cannot, but, it's harder.
After all, Poly is to prepare students for work, not for university.
Regarding which poly is better, actually, all polys are the same.
SP's strength is Engineering and Chemical Life Sciences.
Ngee Ann's strength is Business.
Nanyang's strength is Media-related stuff (MediaCorp productions usually got involve NYP students).
RP's strength is Sports. In fact, they are the only poly that is so hard core about sports...
I'm not sure about TP, but I think TP is also strong in Engineering.
nonetheless, people who dunno anything would think that SP is best in everything, cuz of the word "Singapore" in the name... but then, gradually, as the younger generation replaces the older generation, everyone will know that every polytechnic has its own strengths and weaknesses.
-
TP is good for design and IT
-
By the way, RP no more write reflection... heard they change already...
-
proximity to singapore sports school
easy for them to just hop over for internships or jobs
-
thank u
-
Definitely a step towards the right direction to allow students to have a more hands on education.