Slow Birth and Fast Growth of a World-Class Post-Secondary Education in Singapore

This paper examines the background and strategies behind the slow start but fast expansion of a world-class post-secondary education in Singapore and presents an overview of its current trends and future directions.

When Singapore gained its sudden independence with its separation from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, one of the legacies of the British colonial heritage was its low investment in the infrastructure of schools and teacher training.  This is reflected by the low literacy rate of 73% in 1970, and a high 83% of population aged 25 years and above having qualifications below secondary level even in the year 1980, based on data released by the Department of Statistics.

However, as the small city-state transforms itself from an entrepôt to an industrialized economy, rapid school construction and large scale teacher development were initiated to meet new socio-economic needs and to provide education to all.  These efforts bore fruitful results within a short quarter century, as evident in the following figures: by 2000, the proportions of 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 years-old with at least post-secondary education were about 56%, 32% and 21% respectively and the figures rose to 82%, 64% and 36%, in the same order, in 2010.

Apart from expanding enrollment at the post-secondary level, Singapore also had to shift its efficiency-driven education to an ability-driven one in the past decade, to respond to growing educational aspirations among the young and the deep impact of the digital knowledge-based era.  This paper will conclude with a discussion on the new challenges, opportunities and measures to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of post-secondary education.