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5 June 2006

Submission of Proposals for Privately-Funded Schools

1.         The Ministry of Education (MOE) invites proposals to set up privately-funded schools.  New privately-funded schools will provide new options and choice for Singapore students, while also providing foreign students with further avenues for study in Singapore.

Requirements for Setting Up Privately-Funded Schools

2.         New privately-funded schools would add to the full range of opportunities available in the main stream school system, along with the two privately-funded schools which started in Jan 2005.

3.         To ensure that all Singaporean students continue to learn and interact with one another in an environment that nurtures a Singaporean spirit and character, privately-funded schools will be required to adhere to MOE’s bilingual policy and incorporate National Education (NE) into their curriculum, as well as other national practices such as daily flag-raising and the singing of the national anthem.  It is also envisaged that Singaporeans / Permanent Residents will comprise at least 50% of privately-funded school enrolment in order to provide a Singaporean environment.

4.         More information for submission of proposals can be found on the MOE Private Schools Section website (http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/private-schools/)

5.         The closing date for submission of proposals is 31 Jul 2006, 12:00 noon.  All proposals should be submitted, together with the submission form (refer to website), to the following address:
  
                      Planning Division
                      Ministry of Education
                      1 North Buona Vista Drive
                      MOE Building, Tower Block Level 21
                      Singapore 138675
                      (Attn: Ms Chua Mei Ling)

6.         Successful applicants will be notified by Sep 2006.

Background

7.         In Oct 2002, the Junior College/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee, chaired by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was then Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Education, recommended greater diversity in the education landscape in the form of alternative curricula and qualifications, different mix of schools, and different programmes.  Setting up a few privately-funded schools was one of the key recommendations of the committee.  This was endorsed by Parliament in Nov 2002.

8.         The first round of privately-funded school proposals submission was conducted in 2003.  MOE has given approval to ACS (International) and Hwa Chong International School, both of which started in January 2005.