Picture : Evergreen Primary SchoolSINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about having high quality neighbourhood schools all across Singapore to give every child a top-rate education in his National Day Rally speech.
To the government, a school can still be considered excellent even if its students do not score straight As.
That was the message from the Education Ministry two years ago when it launched its programme for school-based excellence – aimed at getting schools to cultivate distinctive strengths outside academic subjects.
The programme was a huge morale boost to neighbourhood schools and there are currently 57 primary and secondary schools under it.
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Neighbourhood schools get boost from school-based excellence scheme
Under this scheme, primary schools with an identified niche are given up to S$100,000 per year to pay for external instructors or materials.
Secondary schools, on the other hand, get S$30,000 over three years.
There are plans to expand this programme as the government believes the scheme helps to nurture diverse talents.
Evergreen Primary, for example, has been awarded the programme for school-based excellence this year due to its performing arts curriculum.
With more resources, teachers were able to go to Norway and Finland on a study trip and students benefited from the extra funds.
Tan Kah Teo, principal of Evergreen Primary, said: "Many of the students are from the low-income group and they are not able to afford (musical) instruments, which can be quite costly. With this MOE award, we are able to subsidise (the programmes for) some of these needy students."
Students at Evergreen Primary have two hours of performing arts lessons every week.
At Primary Four, all students learn how to play a Chinese orchestra instrument and at Primary Five, the kids go through hip hop classes.
Drama is also used in class.
Nisa Syarafanan, a Primary Five student at Evergreen Primary, said: "Now we have drama class during our English lessons. It helps us to speak more fluently and it also increases our confidence. The scripts in the drama classes are original creations by Primary Six students."
By giving schools such flexibility, it is hoped that they are able to better tailor the education experience to their students' needs. - CNA/so
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