Singapore’s Masterplan for ICT

in Education

Dr Thiam-Seng KOHSt. Joseph’s Institution

3 February 2010

Presentation Outline

• Preamble

• Singapore masterplans for ICT in education

• Key lessons learned

• Challenges and issues

2

About Singapore & Education• Population is about 5 mil with a

resident population of 3.7 mil

• An island of about 700 km2 in size

• Multi-racial – Chinese (~75%)

• No natural resources or hinterland

• People are its only resource

• English is the language of instruction and administration

• About 360 schools, 30,000 teachers and 500,000 students from Grades 1 – 12

• Average class size: 40 – 44 for elementary & middle schools

3

Mission & Vision of Education

4

• Mission: Moulding the Future of our Nation

• Vision: Thinking Schools, Learning Nation

Desired Outcomes of Education

5

Nurturing the Whole Child

Skills for 21st Century Challenges

• Learning how to learn

• Creative Thinking

• Values

• National education

• Working with others

• Communication

• ICT

6

Masterplans for ICT & Education

The ICT Masterplan Journey

7

Building the Foundation

Seeding Innovation

Strengthening & Scaling

Building the Foundation1997: Masterplan 1

Core ICT Training for all teachers

ICT Infrastructure & Support for all

schools

Educational software &

resources for relevant subjects

ICT became an accepted tool for teaching & Learning

8

9

2002: Masterplan 2Seeding Innovation

FS@SG5% schs

LEAD ICTSchools

15-20% schs

Remaining Schools

Gave autonomy through devolved

ICT funds

Generate innovative practices through schemes

Established Baseline ICT Standards for pupils

Learning Points

• Addressing fundamental issues in education before introducing ICT across the system

• Adopting systemic and systematic approach

10

Learning Points

• Paying attention to teacher’s readiness in using ICT for learning

11

• Taking a multi-disciplinary and multi-partnership approach to push frontiers on use of ICT in learning

Learning Points

• Aligning intent and interests among all key stakeholders

• Co-ordinating and high level monitoring of implementation

12

Dialogue with school leaders

Challenges & Issues

13

ICT

CompetenciesPedagogical Principles

The need to bridge the gap between

ICT competencies and effective teaching

(including assessment)

Centralisation Autonomy

The need to balance between centralisation and

autonomy

“Cyberwellness”

14

Curriculum, & Assessment

1st MasterplanBuild Foundation

2nd MasterplanSeed Innovation

3rd MasterplanStrengthen & Scale

~ ICT supporting curriculum

~ ICT integrated into curriculum & assessment

~ ICT embedded into syllabuses & teaching guides

In Summary: Key Focus Areas

Professional Development

~ Core training for all teachers and school

leaders

~ Differentiated Prof

Development~ Consultancy to

school leaders

~ ICT Mentorship~ Professional

Learning Communities

Research & Development

~ Spearheading R&D efforts in collaboration with industry & schools

~ Seeding innovation in

schools

~ Translating research

to influence classroom practices

Infrastructure for Learning

~ Central provision to equip all schools~ One-size-fits-all

~ Flexible provision to suit schools needs

~ Closer alignment to curriculum

changes and schools needs

15

Thank You …

16

Budget

mp1 (1997 - 2002)

mp2 (2003 – 2008)

Total: $600 million, or Annually: $300 per student

$450,000 per school

Total: $2 billion, or Annually: $650 per student

$1 million per school