Assessments for Technical Programmes in Secondary Schools

Ms Mary Liew asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the non-academic assessments used for the technical programmes in Secondary schools; and (b) whether the existing skills-based assessments for these technical programmes are adequate to prepare early school leavers for entry-level jobs in the workforce.

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The main focus of Secondary education is to provide a general education to equip students with literacy and numeracy skills, as well as competencies, such as information management, effective communication and inventive thinking. These skills and competencies lay the foundation for our students to progress further to post-Secondary education. Our students can also benefit from hands-on applicative learning besides the core knowledge, skills and competencies provided by the academic subjects. A broad range of applied subjects is offered to all our students in the Secondary and specialised schools.

For example, NUS High School of Mathematics & Science offers a Design and Engineering module to their lower secondary students, and the School of Science & Technology (SST) offers applied subjects like Biotechnology, Media Studies and Fundamentals of Electronics to their upper secondary students.

Our Secondary schools also offer a range of applied subjects like Design and Technology, Food and Nutrition, and Art as GCE "O" level subjects to the Upper Secondary Express and Normal (Academic) students. In addition, schools also partner the Polytechnics to develop applied subjects like "Creative 3D Animation" and "Introduction to Enterprise Development".

All Normal (Technical) students take Computer Applications (CPA) as a core subject. This equips students with fundamental ICT skills like word processing, computer 3D drawing, designing multimedia presentations, and spreadsheet calculations. Elective subjects, such as Technical Studies, Food Studies and Art, are also offered as GCE ‘N" level subjects to the Normal (Technical) students. Such subjects provide learning experiences for students to have active hands-on learning as well as basic appreciation of skills required for post-secondary education and careers in related industries.

Alternative methods of assessments are used in applied subjects, and these include the use of authentic situations and coursework. In Computer Applications, for example, students can design websites to introduce a place of interest to tourists. In Food Studies, students can apply their knowledge of food and nutrition, food commodities and culinary skills in planning a meal for a social gathering.

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General education at Primary and Secondary level lays the foundation for our students to learn and to progress further. Different pathways are available at the post-Secondary level to help prepare students for further studies and for work.