Press Releases
More than 160 Schools now Offering Niches of Excellence to Enrich Students' Educational Experience
Nine primary schools and six secondary schools have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence and Niche Programme status respectively this year. The awards, introduced in 2005, aim to encourage greater diversity in schools by helping them to develop their strengths and unique niches. Students would have a more enriched educational experience by having more opportunities to grow in different areas of excellence.
To nurture the varied interests of our students and to help them excel in their strengths, the Ministry of Education (MOE) had targeted for half of our schools (around 180 schools) to develop areas of excellence by 2012. MOE is on track to meeting this target. Currently, about 47%, or 168 schools1 are already being recognised for their niches of excellence. Through these niches, schools develop more well-rounded students by imbuing them with important values and soft skills such as teamwork, resilience, creativity, respect, responsibility and a sense of purpose.
Taking into account this year’s award recipients, there are now 68 primary schools that are Programme for School-Based Excellence schools, and 40 secondary schools that are Niche Programme schools. Schools under these two schemes receive additional funding support to further raise the quality and reach of their school-based programmes in different niche areas.
SPS Masagos Zulkifli announced the recipients for both awards today at a visit to River Valley Primary School. The school has been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence in Uniformed Groups.
Programme for School-based Excellence for Primary Schools 2010
The nine primary schools that have been awarded the Programme for School-Based Excellence status in 2010 are:
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) | Tennis |
| Elias Park Primary School | National Education |
| Huamin Primary School | Creative Arts Programme |
| Naval Base Primary School | Golf |
| Pasir Ris Primary School | Character and Citizenship Education |
| Princess Elizabeth Primary School | Character Development |
| River Valley Primary School | Uniformed Groups |
| Xingnan Primary School | Brass Band |
| Zhangde Primary School | Environmental Education |
Niche Programme Schools for 2010
The six secondary schools that have been awarded the Niche Programme status in 2010 are:
| School | Niche |
|---|---|
| Bendemeer Secondary School | National Education |
| Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) | Chinese Orchestra |
| Hong Kah Secondary School | Soccer |
| Marsiling Secondary School | Environmental Education |
| Siglap Secondary School | Gamelan and Angklung / Kulintang Ensembles |
| West Spring Secondary School | Air Pistol |
Background
Programme for School-Based Excellence
The Programme for School-Based Excellence scheme helps to develop strong primary schools with distinctive characters 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, the educational value of the programme, the reach of the programme in the school, and the 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 the 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 after the first 3 years.
Footnote:
- The 168 schools include Specialised Independent Schools, Specialised Schools, Independent Schools, Autonomous Schools and Junior Colleges. ↩