Education System

Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), which controls the development and administration of state schools receiving government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools. For both private and state schools, there are variations in the extent of autonomy in their curriculum, scope of government aid and funding, tuition burden on the students, and admission policy.

Singapore Higher Education Institutions can be categorized into public and non-public institutions or organizations. The public sector offers a comprehensive range of post-secondary education and training opportunities. Different options are available to students depending upon their qualifications. These options can be divided into three types: the universities, the polytechnics, and the technical training institute.

The three universities, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University & Singapore Management
Private institutions provide a wide range of educational opportunities, including correspondence and tutoring schools, as well as diploma and certificate programs. In addition, some private organizations serve as program facilitators for UK and Australian universities. These organizations co-ordinate the teaching and tutoring required for degree programs offered by foreign universities. Students receive degrees conferred by the university and not by the local organization. The Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education (comprehensive school), preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education; upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels.

Education spending usually makes up about 20 per cent of the annual national budget, which subsidises state education and government-assisted private education for Singaporean citizens and funds the Educate programme, the costs for which are significantly higher for non-citizens. In 2000 the Compulsory Education Act codified compulsory education for children of primary school age (excepting those with disabilities), and made it a criminal offence for parents to fail to enroll their children in school and ensure their regular attendance.Exemptions are allowed for homeschooling or full-time religious institutions, but parents must apply for exemption from the Ministry of Education and meet a minimum benchmark.

The main language of instruction in Singapore is English, which was officially designated the first language within the local education system in 1987