Debated in Parliament on 3 Nov 2014.
Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry has any plans to increase the number of secondary schools which offer the Integrated Programme or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
There are currently no plans to increase the number of secondary schools offering the Integrated Programme (IP) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
MOE introduced the IP in 2004 as a different model to deliver the six years of secondary and junior college education for academically-strong students to expose them to a broad range of learning experiences that are appropriate for their development. We found that these students benefited from this approach. In 2010, we announced the expansion of the IP to seven more secondary schools3, bringing the total number of schools offering the IP to 18. As students offering the IP in these recently announced schools have
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not reached the JC level yet, we will take stock of the eventual outcomes for these students before considering further expansion.
We have also been diversifying the secondary school options available to our students. This included setting up specialised schools for Mathematics and Science, Arts, Sports, Applied Learning and Technology and so on as well as introducing a wider variety of distinctive programmes in each secondary school. These efforts allow us to cater better to the wide-ranging aptitudes or interests of our students.
Our "O" level and "A" level programmes are rigorous and offer a good balance of depth and breadth. These national curricula are thoughtfully designed for our students. Nevertheless, as part of the effort to provide diversity, we have a few schools offering the IBDP4.
MOE will continue to monitor trends and developments and make adjustments to our secondary school landscape along the way as necessary. We will ensure that there continues to be a good mix of programmes across our schools so that we are able to cater to the different learning needs of our students, with the aim of bringing out the best in every child.
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