This presentation was part of a Plenary Panel at a Thai National Conference on School Science and Mathematics organized by IPST (Thailand) & Chiangrai Rajabhat University, Thailand. There were also speakers from Japan and South Korea.

1. เสวนาวิชาการ งานประชุมวิชาการวิทยาศาสตร์ คณิตศาสตร์ในโรงเรียนครั้งที่ 20 Sustainable Development of Science and Mathematics in School ประสบการณ์จากประเทศสิงคโปร์ Yeap Ban Har Marshall Cavendish Institute Singapore banhar@sg.marshallcavendish.com

2. Introduction Both educational achievement and economic performance was poor in 1960s when Singapore first became a nation. There has been big improvement in both education and economy since then. Today, Singapore is generally successful in both.

3. Source: Statistics Singapore http://www.singstat.gov.sg

4. 34 537 516 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2009 Source: Statistics Singapore http://www.singstat.gov.sg

5. Education System In 1997, the Thinking Schools, Learning Nation philosophy was introduced. Today, thinking and problem solving remain important focus of the education system.

7. Education System Education system is constantly reviewed for improvement.

9. Science & Mathematics Curriculum Mathematics curriculum focuses on problem solving. Science curriculum focuses on inquiry.

12. Textbooks Textbooks are written to reflect the demands of the curriculum and based on learning theories.

13. Primary Mathematics Standards Edition (United States of America) Ateneo de Manila Grade School, The Philippines CPA Approach

14. National Institute of Education, Singapore

15. Pensar sin Limites (Chile) Spiral Approach

16. Pensar sin Limites (Chile) Spiral Approach

17. Pensar sin Limites (Chile) Spiral Approach

18. Spiral Approach Pensar sin Limites (Chile)

19. Maths Champion (Indonesia)

20. National Tests National test items requires higher-order thinking. For example, in mathematics, tedious computation is not emphasized. Instead problem solving is important. In science, process skills are tested significantly.

21. Examples from Grade 6 National Examination Mathematics

25. Example from Grade 6 National Examination Science

27. Teacher Education (Pre-Service) A uniform systematic pre-service teacher education. Grades 11 – 12 teachers are specialists. Grades 7 – 10 teachers are semi-specialists, trained in two subjects. Grades 1 – 6 teachers are generalists. However, they receive substantial mathematics and science education.

28. National Institute of Education, Singapore

29. Performance of Future Primary Teachers Mathematics Content Knowledge

30. Performance of Future Primary Teachers Mathematics Pedagogical Content Knowledge

31. Performance of Future Lower Secondary Teachers Mathematics Content Knowledge Performance of Future Lower Secondary Teachers Mathematics Content Knowledge

32. Professional Development (In-Service) There is provision for 100 hours of professional development a year. Schools are expected to form Professional Learning Communities (PLC). Many schools do Lesson Study.

33. CHIF Our Lady of Good Counsel, Singapore North Vista Primary School, Singapore Da Qiao Primary School, Singapore

34. Fuchun Primary School, Singapore New pedagogies are introduced in the teaching and learning process as a result of lesson study.

35. เสวนาวิชาการ งานประชุมวิชาการวิทยาศาสตร์ คณิตศาสตร์ในโรงเรียนครั้งที่ 20 Sustainable Development of Science and Mathematics in School ประสบการณ์จากประเทศสิงคโปร์ Presentation is available at www.banhar.com