Things you should know about schools in Singapore 🇸🇬

Meet John Fearon, a South African who has been living in Singapore for 13 years. John is a founder of Invictus and Knightsbridge House international schools in Singapore. We talked about the striking differences between local and international schools here, why Singaporean parents don’t want the education system to modernize, and when Singapore and Johor Bahru will unite. Enjoy!

► John's schools in Singapore:

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:39 Life in Singapore
04:06 Education in Singapore
05:57 Local VS International schools
08:42 "Strict" local teachers
09:51 Improving local schools
10:47 Parents about their kid's education
13:04 Education business challenges

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[blue-xbcq]

@9:45 - based on the PISA results ( test understanding and application of knowledge ), Singapore is ~3 years ahead compare to the US and Europe.

[Crace]

It’s not true that local students cannot attend international school. Lots of locals study at MOE registered international schools like SJII, ACS Int, HCIS, though lesser in UWC, etc.

[axlinagraphics]

As a local here, schools are fairly cheap (primary-secondary school), as I remember my secondary school pricing is only about 20+ dollars? The only expensive thing is the materials for the class and the canteen food. But home school food can also be brought to school if wanted, it can save a lot of money.

[imauser]

I recommend interviewing a local for their view on the situation. A single-sided view is generally not very accurate. However, there will be some problems with the locals' views, as us locals are exempted from high school fees and our education is much simpler overall.

[blue-xbcq]

@6:03 - it's also a business understanding. The government does not intend to compete against private/international schools financially USD$7400 annual tuition is relatively cheap compare to New York state's USD$24, 000 average per public school student annually.

[Crace]

I followed most of the videos but I thought his comments in this episode that foreigners aren’t encouraged in local system is absolute nonsensical.

At primary school leaving examination (aka PSLE) around 25% of the test takers every year for past years are foreigners. The fees for foreigners are much cheaper that also cheaper than private/international schools. In fact this percentage increases all the way to local universities.

For capable international students, there are also programs where these foreign students receive full scholarship until they complete their university education. Just China students alone, there are SM1, SM2, SCP, etc.

Non-local students are brought into the singapore education system at every single stage to introduce competition, standards, diversity, amongst others with the Singaporean students. Otherwise the system wont progress, inbred knowledge and detrimental to our systems.

[Crace]

Invictus International school in Shenzhen China was shut down by the Chinese authorities for knowingly operating without a licence. I read somewhere it’s now being investigated.

[mkang]

Johor and Singapore as one, haha, you still don't understand the Malaysia.

[awequayzngs]

Not only is the Singapore government disciplinary corruption free and zero tolerance for abuse of power but is also good governance oriented.

[alexyhchin]

Some of the information presented is not accurate and some is hearsay. Also, he is an entrepreneur in the education business. It is obvious there is some soft-selling here. It is best to do some research because there are many resources on the MOE site. Also, Singaporeans can enrol in international schools with an exemption from MOE. Likewise, foreigners can also enrol in Singapore schools and the fee ranges.

BTW not all locals want exams to "show" that their kids are doing better. I want exams to know where my kid's proficiency is and if there is anything we can work on to correct the understanding. I would say a good balance is needed, previously there were too many exams and tests. Also, education is not only about academic vs creativity. It is also a part and parcel of character building and resourcefulness.

Based on your title "Things you should know about schools in Singapore" the more you need another viewpoint from locals and foreigners attending different types of schools, and parents' point of view, as well. Otherwise, this sounded merely like a marketing campaign.

[impopquiz]

I think SGreans can go to foreign schools if the parents choose to (but needs to obtain approval from MOE) and vice versa.

[audreychoong]

Why pay more to go to international school when you can get good, quality education in local, government funded schools? Singapore local schools are very good and gives good education.

[sjvs]

Not exactly true that "if you're not academically gifted, they'll ask you to leave". In the 1st place not all are academically gifted. 2ndly, there's a recognition that academia is not the be-all-end-all of the educational process. In Singapore, when a student gets pushed out of a particular school for this reason, there are lots of alternative placements in other forms/types of education, such as institutions that offer a more hands-on approach diploma-grade or other vocational training. Not everyone is suited to be a medical doctor, dentist or nuclear physicist. In terms of Singapore, especially, there is a keen, underlying need for excellence in multivarious disciplines as a matter of the only natural resource the country possesses, that is human resource.

[Tom-tkdu]

There’s a whole lot more to a successful career than math. Test scores won’t mean squat 5 years after graduation. It doesn’t mean you’re smarter than others, just more practiced in a narrow skill.

[hawkhea]

Can locals go to international school in Singapore?
If your child holds a foreign passport, you should have no problem applying directly to an international school. However, Singaporean Citizens (SCs) are not permitted to enrol their children into international schools unless they obtain special approval from the MOE.

Oic.

[Searth]

Invictus has a Big Campus at Horizon Hills, ..besides the School at Centrium Plaza, Serangoon Road.

Would @max Chernov do a review of the school at both locations ?

[kaiyin]

3:08 Not exactly 😅 you can only walk from ion to wisma to taka then you have to get out to walk to somerset and walk somemore to dohby ghaught 😅

[salimsg]

He should have his own building. That would solve his tenancy problem.

[lsfoo]

There’s no way Jb and Spore will unite. Collaboration on the economic front, but never politics . As for Singapore education, all are welcomed to study in an MOE school . It’s a matter of choice made by parents and these foreign parents are mostly biased and have not done their own search but relies mainly on heresay or other parents’ opinions .

[felinelim]

Why are we comparing local public schools with an international school? For a start, the class size and school fees are already so different. We should compare SG with other public schools all over the world.

I dont think it is fair to criticise or give lopsided opinions of our public school systems when he has limited understanding of our education policy. Singapore is a young country and we have come a long way to improve our system.