Dr Ang Wai Hoong

1
Curriculum Development and Textbooks in Singapore

• Dr Ang Wai Hoong
• Singapore

2
Evolution of Curriculum and Textbook Development
1965 to present
3
Syllabuses to Teaching Materials
MOE Syllabuses Teachers Students Provide
Objectives Select, prepare Use
learn Content topics teaching materials
teacher-prepared Approach Teach
materials
4
Importance of Textbooks

• Transmit knowledge, skills, attitudes, values
• Shortage of qualified and well-trained teachers
• Lack of relevant teaching and learning resources
• High stakes examinations influence placement in
  good schools, scholarship/bursary award, job
  prospects
• 
  

5
Phase I 1965 - 1969

• Vernacular Schools
• showed strong orientation to migrants
  motherland
• MOE set up Education Publication Bureau (EPB)-
  publish textbooks for Civics and Mother Tongue
  languages

6
Phase II 1970 - 1979

• Commercial publishers supplied textbooks
• MOE provided textbooks for innovative projects to
  improve teaching and learning
• Education for Living
• Integration of Civics, History and Geography in
  Mother Tongue languages
• Primary Pilot project
• Integration of English, Mathematics and Science

7
Phase II 1970 - 1979

• Chinese Language Project
• Emphasis on oracy and literacy
• Lower Secondary Science
• Emphasis on concepts, scientific skills and
  attitudes

Both projects joined CDIS and were successfully
implemented in schools
8
Phase III 1980 - 1996

• Implementation of New Education System (NES)
• Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore
  (CDIS) set up to develop quality textbook
  packages
• On time for sale and use in schools
• Affordable prices

9
Structure of CDIS
10
Organizational Structure and Functions of CDIS
11
Main Functions of CDIS

• Administrative Department
• Human Resource
• Staff
• Production
• Specification
• Time lines
• Work with Publishers
• Tenders
• Publication dates
• Costs/pricing

• Project Team
• Develop conceptual framework
• Write materials
• Trial material in Schools
• Assist in evaluation by NIE
• Conduct dissemination workshops

Department of Education Technology Develop Audio
Visual materials Produce Educational Television
Programs Provide imported AV materials for loan
to Schools Conduct workshops on the use of
Education Technology for teachers
12
Requirements of Textbooks

• Generally one textbook and work/activity book per
  grade per subject in primary and secondary levels
• Each textbook and work/activity book published in
  two parts for two semesters a year
  
• preserve better
• lighter to carry

13
Phase IV 1997 to present

• CDIS closed in 1996
• Curriculum Planning and Development Division
• Prepares syllabuses (except Civics and Moral
  Education and Mother Tongue languages) for
  commercial publishers
• Controls authorization process to ensure quality
  and affordable prices of textbooks
• Lists all approve textbooks and prices on website

14
Available Teaching Resources
15
Singapores Experience

• Scarce resources - textbooks important
• Plentiful resources - textbooks useful

16
Singapores Experience

• Textbooks transmit
• National values nation building
• Knowledge and skills national
• 
  development

17
Singapores Experience

• CDIS (MOE) collaboration with commercial
  publishers produced
• Quality textbook
• Affordable prices

18
Singapores Experience

• Dissemination workshops to model effective use of
  textbooks for teachers to
• adopt teaching approaches
• teach content
• prescribed by MOE syllabuses to achieve
• desired outcomes

19
Singapores Experience

• MOE authorization process ensures
• Quality textbooks
• Affordable prices

20
Singapores Experience

• Textbooks for all students
• Parents to buy textbooks
• MOE free textbook scheme for needy students
• Assistance from schools and other organizations