Student Drop-out Rate after Completion of Primary School Education

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Acting Minister for Education (Schools) (a) in the past five years, how many students have dropped out of secondary school after completing their primary school education; and (b) what has been done to encourage these students to continue their secondary education.

Our schools closely monitor students’ progression and their completion of secondary school education. The overall proportion of each Primary 1 cohort who dropped out at the secondary level has remained low, at less than 1% in the last five years. Schools have done well to keep the number of dropouts low over the years.

To engage students in their studies and motivate them to learn and grow, our schools proactively build caring and supportive environments. They put in place programmes that enhance the quality of school experience for students. They also provide good pastoral care, Education and Career Guidance, and Character and Citizenship Education that help students learn, grow and develop a desire to lead a purposeful life and make informed choices about their future pathways.

Schools closely monitor students at risk of dropping out and put in place intervention measures to support them. For example, schools organise the Time Out Programme, which provides enhanced guidance and support for at-risk students who are disengaged in schooling. Students are taken out of their regular classes and provided with a customised programme that aims to rekindle their desire to learn and help them develop goals and purpose in their educational journey. The programme also helps them to cope with and overcome any personal, family or social problems that they might be faced with, before they rejoin their regular classes.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) provides additional support to schools to strengthen the engagement of and support for students. This includes counsellors and Student Welfare Officers who help students with school attendance issues and motivate them to return to schools.

Despite all efforts to engage our students and keep them in schools, some students still drop out of schools, and the reasons for their dropping out are complex. MOE thus taps on the expertise and networks of relevant agencies such as Central Youth Guidance Office, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Police Force, Central Narcotics Bureau, self-help groups, family service centres and voluntary welfare organisations to support at-risk students.

Parents are an essential partner in supporting the efforts of schools. They help to instil and reinforce the right values in our students and provide support and encouragement to them. Schools will continue to engage parents through various platforms and partner them to support their child's needs.