Starting from the 2023 academic year, more secondary school students in Singapore will gain access to the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP). The annual number of beneficiaries will rise from the current average of 1,700 to 2,600.

Launched in 2013, the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) allows high-performing students from the Normal (Academic) stream to skip the GCE O-Level examination. Using their GCE N-Level results, they can directly enrol in a one-year foundation course at a polytechnic before proceeding to a diploma programme.

With the full implementation of subject-based banding next year, the intake scope of the PFP will be expanded. Students taking G2 and G3 subjects, or those mainly taking G3 subjects, can apply for PFP if they meet the academic requirements. G3 subjects are the highest level, equivalent to the Express stream standard.

Following the abolition of streaming, secondary school students may take subjects suited to their ability and learning pace according to their strengths. The Ministry of Education will adjust admission criteria for post-secondary institutions to offer students more pathways for further education, free from stream restrictions.

Promoting deeper collaboration between mainstream and special schools

The policy aims to facilitate interaction and mutual learning among students with diverse abilities.

Over the next few years, the Ministry of Education will foster deeper and more extensive partnerships between mainstream and special education schools to encourage exchanges between students of different capabilities.

This new collaboration model replaces the “Satellite Partnership” scheme introduced back in 2007. Besides boosting student interaction, the new model also focuses on professional exchanges among educators to share and refine teaching methodologies.

At present, 19 local special schools partner with 22 mainstream schools. Joint co-curricular activities, recess sessions, workshops and learning camps are organised to create more opportunities for student engagement.

In addition, the Ministry of Education will collaborate with the Community Link programme under the Ministry of Social and Family Development to roll out the Uplift Community Network across all 24 towns. It is expected to benefit 1,300 students from 110 schools this year.

The Uplift Community Network seeks to reduce absenteeism among students from disadvantaged families and deliver holistic support for students and their families.

Championing lifelong learning

Public university participation rate to reach 60%

By 2025, the cohort participation rate for public universities will rise to 60%. A total of 2,300 additional university places will be created, most of which are reserved for adult learners.

The cohort lifelong university participation rate refers to the percentage of a birth cohort gaining admission to public universities. Currently, around 42% of students enter university before joining the workforce, while approximately 8% are adult learners pursuing further studies after starting their careers.

The Singapore government targets lifting the participation rate of adult learners from 8% to 15%, and that of school leavers from 42% to 45%.

The Minister for Education stated that raising the university participation rate will enable more Singaporeans to pursue tertiary education, while taking into account the medium-term manpower needs amid Singapore’s economic transformation.