Prime Minister Lee said that the Integrated Programme (IP) for Express students in Singapore will be expanded.
This programme is for students confidant of making it to university. It allows them to skip O-levels and go straight to A-levels or International Baccalaureate (IB), and hence gives them more time to develop their capabilities and interests.
There are currently 11 schools which offer IP. Seven more schools will offer the programme, and will have both IP and non-IP tracks so that students can switch between them.
The government will also enhance secondary education for students who are less academically inclined. An enhanced Normal (Technical) programme is being tried out in three schools. The programme is more practical in nature, resulting in students who are more engaged and activated. Lessons learned from this trial programme will be applied to other Normal (Technical) classes.
The government will also expand the existing five polytechnics and upgrade the older ones at a cost of $700 million. A "through-train" for Normal (Academic) students will also be introduced, allowing students who excel at N-levels to opt for a one-year Foundation Programme at polytechnic in lieu of taking the O-Levels.
PM Lee also pointed to Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LaSalle, saying that the two instutions are doing a good job educating students in the arts, design and media space, for which there is strong demand. The government will support NAFA and LaSalle to team up with overseas institutions to offer degree programmes.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of offering Singapore's top students excellent local options for tertiary education. While many will continue to study abroad, the government must enable more students to do their undergraduate degree in Singapore. Their formative years will thus be spent in a local university where they will build strong bonds with their peer group.
The government will help existing universities to do more to build up their endowments, and has committed close to $4 billion over 20 years to this cause. It hopes the public will respond, especially the alumni. Donations and endowments enable universities to launch new initiatives that benefit students without being overly dependent on direct government funding and to fund needy students.
PM Lee rounded off this portion of his speech by saying that good education is "the most lasting gift we can give to our next generation".
For more stories on the National Day Rally speech, click here.
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