SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Ministry of Education

The mission of MOE is to mould the future of the nation. This is done through a flexible education system that brings out the best in our young by developing them into useful and responsible individuals and citizens, and provides them with a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills necessary to earn a living. A total budget of $6,356 million has been allocated for MOE in FY2004 to achieve this mission.

MOE will continue to subsidise the operations of schools and tertiary institutions. A large percentage of this goes towards the maintenance of a quality teaching service.

MOE will put more resources into selected areas which will have a significant impact on improving the delivery of the primary school programmes such as providing additional teachers so as to reduce P1-2 class size from 40 to 30 students and implementing single session for P3-6 students progressively.

There will be a broader mix of programmes, types of schools and pathways to university education, including integrated programmes, specialised independent schools such as the Sports School, alternative qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate, and privately funded schools.

As part of MOE’s effort to create a learner-centred school environment, MOE will upgrade and re-develop existing schools. MOE will also develop new educational infrastructure for Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to cater for the needs of a larger student population.

School Building Programme

•	$345 million to:
	- Improve school infrastructure ($315 million): 8 more schools will be re-developed/upgraded under Programme for rebuilding and improving existing schools (PRIME), bringing the total number of schools announced for PRIME to 164. - Increase in building capacity for schools offering the Integrated Programme ($30 million).