Take-up Rates of Applied Learning Module Across Student Profiles, School Types, Providers and Funding Models

Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the differences in Applied Learning Module take-up rates across school types and student profiles; (b) how does the balance of modules provided through ITE, polytechnics and private vendors vary across schools; and (c) how are such modules funded, including whether students on financial assistance receive subsidies.

Students can take up to three Applied Learning Modules (ApLMs) during their secondary education. Students do not have to pay for ApLMs as the Ministry of Education (MOE) provides schools with grants to cover ApLM costs.

ApLMs offered by polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) span six broad clusters. These are Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Hospitality and Tourism, Mathematics and Science, and Media and Design. Schools register for their preferred modules on the ApLM portal. Schools can also engage the services of private vendors to customise and deliver other applied learning experiences as another form of ApLM.

More than four in five secondary schools enrol students in ApLM programmes each year. Schools with more students progressing to polytechnics and ITEs tend to have higher take-up rates. MOE does not track the take-up rate across student profiles.