We took greater ownership over our A-level examinations in 2002, while continuing to tap on the expertise of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

The introduction of the broader and more flexible A-level curriculum in Singapore in 2006, will be the next major change in our curriculum and examinations. It will also involve a reduced overall curriculum load for JC students.

Greater Control of GCE O-Level Exam

Just as we took greater ownership of the A-levels in 2002, the Ministry of Education (MOE) together with the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) will assume greater control over the GCE O-level examination from 2006.

We will take greater responsibility for developing examination syllabuses and formats, setting standards, and awarding grades. The move will enable us over time to customise the curriculum and examinations to our educational needs, while maintaining the high standards that Singapore is known for.

Unlike the new A-level curriculum that we will introduce in 2006, however, we do not expect to make major changes to the structure of our O-levels for the foreseeable future. The O-level curriculum will be refined in an evolutionary fashion.

Refining JC Project Work Assessment

Another area that we intend to refine is the assessment of Project Work (PW) in the Junior College curriculum.

PW is a sound innovation in our curriculum. It gives students the opportunity to work in teams, see interconnections between different disciplines, undertake research using multiple sources and make credible presentations of their findings. It develops useful skills, that students will find useful when they go on to university, and in working life.

Since its implementation as part of the JC curriculum two years ago, teachers and students have gained an understanding of the processes and learning outcomes of PW.

However we have identified some areas in the assessment of PW that need to be modified, so as to ensure that students find PW engaging and meaningful, and do not just go through the hoops for the sake of meeting the requirements. For example, students have found the assessment criteria too detailed, and the documentation requirements too extensive.

We will make refinements to PW from next year, which takes into account the feedback we have received.

The number of assessment criteria will be reduced significantly. Each student will be required to submit no more than three documents for assessment. The scope of the PW tasks will also be broadened, to give students greater flexibility and choice in shaping their projects.

These modifications are part of the process of continuous review and of learning from the experience of schools as they implement PW. This feedback loop, from experience on the ground to the design of curriculum and assessment, is essential for any successful innovation in education.

Full Text of Speech

Source: Ministry of Education Press Release 8 Nov 2004

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