Press Releases
From Robotics to Rope-Skipping: More than a Third of Schools now have Niche Areas to Cater to Students’ Varied Interests
This year, fourteen primary schools and eight secondary schools have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence and Niche Programme status respectively. These awards, introduced in 2005, encourage greater diversity in primary and secondary schools, and provide more opportunities for students to develop different areas of excellence.
To nurture the varied interests of our students and to help them excel where their strengths are, the Ministry of Education had targeted for half of our schools (around 180 schools) to develop areas of excellence by 2012. Currently, more than one third, or 155 schools1 are already being recognised for their niches of excellence.
Including this year’s recipients, there are now a total of 61 primary schools that are Programme for School-Based Excellence schools and 35 secondary schools that are Niche Programme schools (refer to Annex for schools awarded from 2005 to 2008).
The recipient schools receive additional funding support to further raise the quality and reach of their school-based programmes in different niche areas.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs, announced the recipients for both awards on 1 April 2009 at a visit to South View Primary School. The school has been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in Dance.
Programme for School-based Excellence for Primary Schools 2009
The following are the 14 primary schools that have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in 2009.
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Anderson Primary School | Guzheng |
| CHIJ Toa Payoh (Primary) School | Tennis |
| Compassvale Primary School | Brass Band |
| Gan Eng Seng Primary School | Band and Choir |
| Lianhua Primary School | Robotics |
| Marymount Convent School | Rhythmic Gymnastics |
| North Spring Primary School | National Education |
| Poi Ching School | Dance |
| Red Swastika School | Ten-Pin Bowling |
| Rulang Primary School | Rope-Skipping |
| South View Primary School | Dance |
| St Hilda’s Primary School | Language Arts |
| Xishan Primary School | Floorball |
| Yu Neng Primary School | Table Tennis |
Niche Programme Schools for 2009
The following 8 secondary schools are awarded Niche Programme status in 2009.
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Bukit Merah Secondary School | Floorball |
| Chong Boon Secondary School | Environmental Education |
| Evergreen Secondary School | National Education |
| Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School | Fencing |
| Peirce Secondary School | Uniformed Groups |
| Riverside Secondary School | National Education |
| Seng Kang Secondary School | Hockey |
| Unity Secondary School | Basketball |
School Visit to South View Primary School
South View Primary School is well-established in the area of Dance. The school’s Dance programme contributes to the holistic development of its pupils by building resilience, self-discipline and a spirit of excellence. Its pupil development programme also provides a structured approach to incorporate elements of dance into its curriculum. Pupils are given opportunities to build their confidence and hone their performing skills through competitions, as well as school and public performances. The school is currently exploring the possibility of collaborating with a Beijing-based Dance Academy through advanced dance courses that will be assessed by renowned external examiners. In the Singapore Youth Festival Competitions from 2004 to 2008, the school has achieved 2 Golds with Honours and 1 Gold for Chinese Dance, 1 Gold and 2 Silvers for Malay Dance as well as 3 Silvers for Indian Dance.
Background
Programme for School-Based Excellence
The Programme for School-Based Excellence helps to develop strong primary schools with distinctive character to give more opportunities for our students to develop different areas of excellence. Successful applicant schools would receive MOE funding to further raise the quality and reach of their school-based programmes and initiatives.
Applications for the award were evaluated based on the strength of the niche, sustainability, educational value of the programme, the reach of the programme in the school and involvement of stakeholders in the programme.
Niche Programme Schools
The Niche Programme supports mainstream secondary schools with good talent development programmes and proven track records of achievements in their declared niches. These schools receive MOE funding, and can admit up to 5% of their Secondary One intake on a discretionary basis through the Direct School Admissions exercise, so that a more diverse range of student achievement and talents can be recognised.
Applications for the award were evaluated based on the strength of the niche, sustainability, the educational value and reach of the programme.
Funding
An initial developmental grant of up to $150,000 over 3 years will be provided for the schools to build up one to two niches. A recurrent grant of up to $50,000 per niche per year will also be given for schools to sustain and maintain their niches if their status are renewed after 3 years.
Footnote
- The 155 schools include Specialised Independent Schools, Independent Schools, Autonomous Schools and Junior Colleges. ↵
Annex
Primary Schools Awarded PSE from 2005 to 2008
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Admiralty Primary School | National Education |
| Ai Tong School | Sports |
| Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) | Swimming; Bowling |
| Bukit View Primary School | Aesthetics |
| CHIJ (Kellock) | Netball and Mini-Tennis |
| CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh) | Music, Dance and Art |
| CHIJ St Nicholas School (Primary) | Leadership |
| Chongfu Primary School | Table Tennis |
| Chua Chu Kang Primary School | Robotics |
| Evergreen Primary School | Performing Arts |
| Fuhua Primary School | IT |
| Gongshang Primary School | Sports |
| Greenridge Primary School | National Education and Character Development |
| Haig Girls’ School | Performing and Visual Arts |
| Henry Park Primary School | Gymnastics |
| Hong Kah Primary School | Volleyball |
| Hong Wen School | Rope-Skipping |
| Hougang Primary School | Outdoor and Adventure Education |
| Kong Hwa School | Chinese Culture |
| Kranji Primary School | Basketball |
| MacPherson Primary School | Choral and Instrumental Ensemble;Softball |
| Maha Bodhi School | Visual and Performing Arts |
| Maris Stella High School (Primary) | Badminton |
| Mayflower Primary School | Dance |
| Montfort Junior School | Badminton |
| Nan Chiau Primary School | ICT |
| Nanyang Primary School | Chess |
| Ngee Ann Primary School | Art, Dance and Chinese Orchestra |
| North View Primary School | Guzheng |
| Northland Primary School | Chess |
| Park View Primary School | Sports |
| Pasir Ris Primary School | Floorball |
| Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) | Rope-Skipping; Handbell |
| Pei Chun Public School | Sports |
| Punggol Primary School | Hockey |
| Raffles Girls’ Primary School | Choir |
| Rosyth School | Chinese Orchestra; Choir |
| Rulang Primary School | Robotics |
| Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School | Arts |
| St Andrew’s Junior School | Rugby |
| St Hilda’s Primary School | Aesthetics |
| St Margaret’s Primary School | Netball |
| St Stephen’s School | Track and Field; Band |
| Tanjong Katong Primary School | Netball |
| Tao Nan School | Mathematics; Badminton |
| Telok Kurau Primary School | National Education |
| West View Primary School | Brass Band |
| Yio Chu Kang Primary School | Soccer |
| Yishun Primary School | Band |
| Zhenghua Primary School | Cultural Dances |
* CHIJ Toa Payoh (Primary), Rulang Primary and St Hilda’s Primary have been awarded PSE for their second niche areas this year.
Secondary Schools Awarded NS from 2005 to 2008
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Admiralty Secondary School | Robotics Enterprise |
| Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School | Shooting |
| Ang Mo Kio Secondary School | Symphonic Band |
| Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | Drama; Water Polo |
| Bowen Secondary School | Band |
| CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent | Hockey |
| Clementi Town Secondary School | Uniformed Groups |
| Deyi Secondary School | Performing Arts |
| Fuhua Secondary School | Robotics |
| Gan Eng Seng School | Uniformed Groups |
| Jurong Secondary School | Basketball |
| Jurong West Secondary School | Uniformed Groups |
| Manjusri Secondary School | Wushu |
| Montfort Secondary School | Badminton |
| Northland Secondary School | Hockey |
| Outram Secondary School | Rock-Climbing |
| Pasir Ris Secondary School | Chinese Orchestra |
| Presbyterian High School | Uniformed Groups; Volleyball (Girls) |
| Riverside Secondary School | Dance |
| Springfield Secondary School | Rock-Climbing |
| St Andrew’s Secondary School | Rugby |
| St Hilda’s Secondary School | Volleyball |
| St Patrick’s School | Military Band |
| Woodlands Ring Secondary School | Robotics |
| Yio Chu Kang Secondary School | Performing Arts |
| Yishun Town Secondary School | Uniformed Groups |
| Yuhua Secondary School | Concert Band |
| Zhenghua Secondary School | Uniformed Groups |
* Riverside Secondary has been awarded NS for their second niche area this year.