PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 Encyclopediaoffers specialization in teaching physical education at the secondary school level.Prospective teachers may be required to sit for an Entrance Proficiency Test for Englishlanguage or for a test of the mother-tongue languages for those who wish to becomemother-tongue teachers. To enable mainstream teachers to better cater to the needs ofstudents with learning disabilities, initial teacher training also includes a componenton learning disabilities. Furthermore, the institute offers a 1-year Diploma in SpecialEducation program for teachers of students with special needs.Teacher In-service EducationSingapore’s education system places great emphasis on teacher development andrecognition and is committed to ensuring that the teaching profession remains currentin skills and knowledge and is well positioned for the future.All teachers are entitled to 100 hours of in-service training per year for professionaland personal development. The National Institute of Education works closely with theMinistry of Education to provide in-service training for teachers. The institute is the mainprovider of in-service training courses and advanced programs including the advanceddiploma, advanced postgraduate diploma, master’s, and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.)degrees. Apart from in-service courses, the institute offers special courses by foreignspeakers, school-based customized courses, workshops, and seminars. The Ministryprovides specialized in-service courses, such as workshops to build teacher competencyin the teaching of grammar and spoken English. Teachers also can attend formal trainingcourses conducted by the Institute of Public Administration and Management and otherexternal courses, sharing sessions, and conferences.Other than formal professional development courses, teachers can also benefit fromexperiential learning in the business and community sectors through the Teacher WorkAttachment scheme started in 2003. Through local and overseas work attachments,teachers gain new experiences, which in turn benefit students by way of the freshperspectives they bring back to their classrooms.There are various professional development schemes available to help teachers upgradeprofessionally. Funding is available through education grants, the skills developmentfund, reimbursement, and scholarships. Experienced teachers may also make use ofthe Professional Development Leave Scheme to engage in any purposeful professionaldevelopment activity that adds value to the Education Service.SingaporeExaminations and AssessmentsNational or Regional ExaminationsStudents in primary school take a major national examination at the end of Primary 6.The Primary School Leaving Examination assesses students’ suitability for secondaryeducation and determines their placement in a secondary school. Subjects included inthe examination are English, mathematics, science, and a mother tongue. Although theEnglish language as a subject is given the same weight as the other subjects, achievementin the English language is highly regarded due to its status as the working language of362