Sim Ann on effectiveness of Integrated Programme
About six per cent of students from the 2004 to 2006 cohorts withdrew from the Integrated Programme (IP) before reaching their second year in junior college.
Sim Ann (file picture)
SINGAPORE : About six per cent of students from the 2004 to 2006 cohorts withdrew from the Integrated Programme (IP) before reaching their second year in junior college.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Sim Ann, said that more than half of these students continued their education on the 'O' Level track.
She said the rest withdrew mostly because they were relocated overseas.
Each year, about 3,400 students are admitted into the IP track.
Fielding questions from MPs on the effectiveness of the IP, Ms Sim Ann said almost all who completed the programme qualified for publicly-funded universities in Singapore.
She added: "There are also some positive outcomes that have been observed of students who have completed the programme. For instance, they have been observed to be more vocal, more expressive and independent...(with) stronger service to the community because IP students do serve more CIP (Community Involvement Programme) hours and also, the ability to move between collaborative as well as independent learning styles. All in all, we feel that having this variety of learning pathways will enrich the holistic development of our students."
Liang Eng Hwa, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, asked: "Is the ministry still seeing high demand for the IP places? And...are there plans to expand these places for more students to get into the IP programme?"
In response, Ms Sim Ann said: "The IP is a matter of considerable interest among students and parents. But I would like to highlight that what is important here is that the IP programme is one track that is offered alongside the 'O' Level track, and both tracks, we feel, are equally valid, and in fact, the majority of our students are on the 'O' Level track.
"So the 'O' Level track...retains great relevance for education. What is important is for students as well as their parents to recognise which style of learning suits the individual student best. Is it one that is more self-directed or independent or would it be one that is more structured? And this is something which I think goes towards determining the success of the student in either programme."
