Integrated Programme: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Education scheme in Singapore}}

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{{short description|Education scheme in Singapore}}

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The '''Integrated Programme''' ('''IP''') is a scheme that allows high-performing students in secondary schools in Singapore to skip the [[Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level|GCE Ordinary Level (O-Level)]] examination (typically taken by students at the end of their fourth or fifth year in secondary school) and proceed to sit for the [[Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level|GCE Advanced Level (A-Level)]] examination, [[International Baccalaureate]] (IB), or an equivalent examination, after six years of secondary education. The A-level examination is typically taken by students at the end of their second or third year in junior college.

==Overview==

The programme allows for more time to be allocated to enrichment activities. That is, withoutWithout the O-level examinations, the students have moregreater timeflexibility and flexibility tocan immerse themselves in a more broad-based education, whichultimately will eventually leadleading to the A-level examination. In addition, the students enjoy more freedom in the combination of subjects. Generally, only the top performers are eligible to beparticipate part ofin the IP programme, do use to implement it, as itwhich is currently regarded as experimental. ThusAs mosta ofresult, the main bodymajority of the students pursue their secondary education at the currentregular pace by first completing a four-year O-level course before proceeding to a two-year A-level education.

== A-level programmes ==

The integrated programme was first implemented in [[Dunman High School]], [[Hwa Chong Institution]] (formerly [[The Chinese High School]]), [[Nanyang Girls' High School]], [[Raffles Girls School (Secondary)|Raffles Girls School]], [[Raffles Institution (Secondary)|Raffles Institution]], and [[River Valley High School, Singapore|River Valley High School]] in 2004.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

The IP allows students to skip the O-level at secondary four and be admitted directly to junior colleges (while there are cases of students being asked by the school to "leave" this system as their pace could not be kept up). However, the students would still have to take the Mother Tongue O-level.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} All the schools allowed in the scheme accepts the top 10% of the national cohort. This ensures that students who are under the IP can cope with their A-level after bypassing their O-level.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

Some junior colleges including [[National Junior College]], [[Temasek Junior College]], and [[Victoria Junior College]], offer it independently. VJC is now offering it with Cedar Girls Secondary and Victoria School (more info below)

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Since 2009, National Junior College has also accepted students who have taken the [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE), making it a six-year program.

Since 2012, [[Victoria School]] and [[Cedar Girls' Secondary School]] are offering the IP with [[Victoria Junior College]] which will build upon the four-year Victoria Integrated Programme (VIP) in the junior college. It is [called the VCA IP ( Victoria -Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme).

In January 2013, the Joint Integrated Programme, commonly referred to as the JIP, offered by [[Catholic High School, Singapore|Catholic High School]], [[CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls' School]] and [[Singapore Chinese Girls' School]], along with [[Eunoia Junior College]], was established. The four schools are the newest additions to the Integrated Programme landscape.

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== International Baccalaureate program ==

[[Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)]], [[Methodist Girls' School, Singapore|Methodist Girls' School]], [[St. Joseph's Institution]] and School of the arts or SOTA, the[[Hwa onlyChong IP leading to [[International Baccalaureate|IBSchool]] schools in the country, have[[Singapore allowedSports their students to abandon the British systemSchool]] and "goSchool Swiss" by droppingof the GCEarts examinationsor altogetherSOTA andhave adoptingadopted the [[International Baccalaureate]] (IB), having been fully authorised as IB World Schools. The IBwhich is generally regarded as a better track if the students have plans to study overseas in the future.{{Opinion|date=May The2025}} In addition, the IB allows students to take both arts and science subjects, philosophy courses, and extensive research papers. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) is regarded as one of the top schools in terms of results of the IB in the world, having averages as high as 42 out of a total of 45 points. St. Joseph's Institution started its IP in 2013.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

== NUS High School Diploma ==

The [[NUS High School of Mathematics and Science]] is the only IP school in Singapore which specialises in mathematics and science and leads to the NUS High School Diploma. It aims to develop all-rounded students through its 6-year diploma curriculum, which allows rigour and depth, or flexibility and breadth. NUS High School is also affiliated and very closely linked to the [[National University of Singapore]] (NUS). Students in this school graduate with the NUS High School diploma, which has been accredited by all universities in Singapore as well as top universities worldwide. For placement into overseas universities, they may also take the [[Scholastic Assessment Test]] (SAT) and [[Advanced Placement]] (AP).{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

==List of schools offering the Integrated Programme==

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==Criticism of the Integrated Programme==

The success of an IP student is based on an assumption that students are self-disciplined enough to ensure that they manage their time well and be diligent in their studies, so that they will remember all the core content taught to them and yet find enough time to engage actively in independent learning.<ref name="Some students fail">{{cite news | access-date=11 February 2012 | archive-date=9 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109204917/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_747635.html | url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_747635.html | title=Some students fail to thrive on Integrated Programme scheme | date=22 December 2011 | authorfirst=Sandra | last=Davie | url-status=live | newspaper=The Straits Times}}</ref> However, this may be considered a utopian ideal. Without an important watershed intervening national examination to help them focus, students may simply let their guard down.<ref name="Some students fail" />

IP may also widen inequality among students in Singapore. Performance in the PSLE, which determines whether a student can enter a top IP school, is arguably dependent on the amount of support that the child receives in their primary school years and even before. More well-off parents are able to afford numerous tuition classes for their children and push them to become top scorers in the PSLE so that they can enter a top IP school. Most of the places in top Junior Colleges, such as [[Victoria Junior College]], [[Raffles Institution]], [[National Junior College]] and [[Hwa Chong Institution]], are reserved for IP students. Students from less well-off families have less access to such additional classes and so may not be able to do as well in the PSLE as the richer peers. Many of them will be taking the [[GCE Ordinary Level|O Level]] track, and will face tighter competition when they wish to enter top schools in Singapore, in comparison to their IP peers who have already secured a spot in their affiliated JC. As such, they will have even less chances to enter a top school, and inequality widens.

IP may also widen inequality among students in Singapore. Most of the places in top Junior Colleges are reserved for IP students. This includes [[Victoria Junior College]], [[Raffles Institution]], [[National Junior College]] and [[Hwa Chong Institution]]. As such, students taking the [[GCE Ordinary Level|O Level]] track will face tighter competition when they wish to enter top schools in Singapore, in comparison to their IP peers.

The Integrated Programme is allegedly for clearly university-bound students. While for non-IP students who fail to perform well in the A-level, they still have their O-level qualifications, which act as a "safety net". However, in the absence of this "safety net", IP students who under-perform in the A-level will have only their [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE) certificate to fall back on.<ref name="Some students fail" />

The Integrated Programme is allegedly for clearly university-bound students. While for non-IP students who fail to perform well in the A-level, they still have their O-level qualifications, which act as a "safety net". However, in the absence of this "safety net", IP students who under-perform in the A-level will have only their [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE) certificate to fall back on.<ref name="Some students fail" />

When students enter an IP school, they are already set to take the junior college path, as opposed to other post-secondary educational paths such as the polytechnic path. Whether the students are mature enough to make this decision at an age of twelve, or if this decision should be based on an examination which the students took at that age, is debatable.

== Gallery ==