Abstract
Singapore students’ outstanding performance in international benchmark tests such as PISA and TIMSS has attracted attention from all sectors of education. The PISA and TIMSS mathematics and science results have been extrapolated to imply successful STEM education as these two disciplines are core subjects in most school systems around the world. However, the local and international STEM community remains divided in our understanding of STEM and STEM education. In this chapter, we shed some insights on our understanding of this acronym and provide an overview of STEM education in Singapore. Based upon our understanding of STEM, we show how we have used it to inform our work at our STEM education research centre, the Multi-centric Education Research and Industry STEM Centre at the National Institute of Education (meriSTEM@NIE). We also describe the work of the Science Centre Singapore and the Ministry of Education in catalyzing STEM education in secondary schools. Last, we describe two specialized, independent schools in Singapore that are similar to the elite, specialized STEM schools in the United States. In the final section of this chapter, we raise four key issues and challenges which STEM education stakeholders have to confront as STEM education in Singapore continually takes shape and form.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banks, F., & Barlex, D. (2014). Teaching STEM in the secondary school: Helping teachers meet the challenge. Milton Park, UK: Routledge.
Becher, T. (1989). Academic tribes and territories: Intellectual enquiry and the cultures of disciplines. Milton Keynes, UK: Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press.
Bereiter, C. (1992). Referent‑centred and problem-centred knowledge: Elements of an educational epistemology. Interchange, 23(4), 337–361.
Choi, B. C., & Pak, A. W. (2006). Multidisciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity in health research, services, education and policy: 1. Definitions, objectives, and evidence of effectiveness. Clinical and Investigative Medicine, 29(6), 351.
English, L. D. (2016). STEM education K-12: Perspectives on integration. International Journal of STEM Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-016-0036-1.
Gerlach, J. (2012). STEM: Defying a simple definition. Retrieved on June 10, 2019 from https://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=59305
Haider, F. (2017). Countries with the largest aging population in the world. Retrieved on June 7, 2019 from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-largest-aging-population-in-the-world.html
Heng, S. K. (2017). Sppech at the Preseident’s Science & Technology Awards 2017 ceremony on 13 November 2017, at the Istana. Retrieved on June 19, 2019 from https://www.a-star.edu.sg/language/en-SG/News-and-Events/News/Speeches/ID/5741
Holmlund, T. D., Lesseig, K., & Slavit, D. (2018). Making sense of “STEM” education in K-12 contexts. International Journal of STEM Education, 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-018-0127-2.
Kelley, T. R., & Knowles, J. G. (2016). A conceptual framework for integrated STEM education. International Journal of STEM Education, 3(11), 1–11.
Kelly, G. J., & Licona, P. (2018). Epistemic practices and science education. In M. Matthews (Ed.), History, philosophy and science teaching (pp. 139–165). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
King, A. R., & Brownell, J. (1966a). The curriculum and the disciplines of knowledge. New York: Wiley.
King, A. R., & Brownell, J. (1966b). The curriculum and the disciplines of knowledge. New York: Wiley.
King, D., & Ritchie, S. M. (2011). Learning science through real-world contexts. In B. J. Fraser, K. Tobin, & C. J., McRobbie (Eds.), Second international handbook of science education (pp. 69–79). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
Koh, T. (2018). Commentary: Humanities at the heart of a holistic education in a tech-driven world. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/tommy-koh-humanities-education-fourth-industrial-revolution-10522334
Lee, P. (2015). Science, technology, engineering, math skills crucial to Singapore for next 50 years: PM Lee. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/science-technology-engineering-math-skills-crucial-to-singapore-for-next-50
LTA. (2013). Longer green man time for elderly and disabled pedestrians at 239 more pedestrian crossings. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.lta.gov.sg/apps/news/page.aspx?c=2&id=830c5cd6-f3cf-4624-b35b-f0f84dbb441d
Mercer, M. (2010). Villages take root around Virgina. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-09-2010/villages_take_root_around_virginia.html
MOE. (2015). Research and development. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/masterplan-4/our-ict-journey/masterplan-3/implementation-strategies/research-n-development
MOE. (2017). Singapore’s education system. Retrieved on June 20, 2019 from https://www.moe.gov.sg/images/default-source/album/education/landscape/images/education-landscape-overview-2017.jpg
MOE. (2018a). 21st century competencies. Retrieved on July 7, 2019 from https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/education-system/21st-century-competencies
MOE. (2018b). Secondary school education: Shaping the next phase of your child’s learning journey. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.moe.gov.sg/docs/default-source/document/education/secondary/files/secondary-school-education-booklet.pdf
MOE. (n.d.). Courses and subjects for secondary schools. Retrieved on June 19, 2019 from https://beta.moe.gov.sg/secondary/courses/
Moore, T. J., Johnson, C. C., Peters-Burton, E. E., & Guzey, S. S. (2016). The need for a STEM road map. In C. C. Johnson, E. E. Peters-Burton, & T. J. Moore (Eds.), STEM road map: A framework for integrated STEM education (pp. 3–12). New York: Routledge.
National Science and Technology Council. (2013). A report from the committee on STEM education. Washington, DC: National Science and Technology Council.
Ng, K. (2019). Singapore feeling impact of rapidly aging population. Retrieved on June 16, 2019 from https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-feeling-impact-rapidly-ageing-population
NUS High. (2018). Programme of studies for the class of 2019. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.nushigh.edu.sg/qql/slot/u744/POS_Class%20of%202019_final.pdf
NUS High. (2019). NUS High School diploma: Our programme. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.nushigh.edu.sg/academic-curriculum/nus-high-school-diploma
OECD. (2017). Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results from PISA 2015 Collaborative Problem-Solving. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA-2015-Collaborative-Problem-Solving-Singapore.pdf
OECD. (2019a). Programme for International Student Assessmetn (PISA) Results from PISA 2018. Retrieved on July 19, 2020 from https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_SGP.pdf
OECD. (2019b). PISA 2015 key findings for Singapore. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.oecd.org/countries/singapore/pisa-2015-singapore.htm
Penprase, B. E. (2018). The fourth industrial revolution and higher education. In N. Gleason (Ed.), Higher education in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Singapore, Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.
Rapporteur, A. B. (2011). Successful STEM education: A workshop summary. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Riley, S. M. (2014). No permission required: Bringing STEAM to life in K-12 schools. Westminster, MD: Visionyst Press.
Schwab, K. (2016). The fourth industrial revolution: What it means, how to respond. Retrieved on June 21, 2019 from http://www.inovasyon.org/pdf/WorldEconomicForum_The.Fourth.Industrial.Rev.2016.pdf
School of Science and Technology. (2021). Retrieved on April 10, 2021 from https://www.sst.edu.sg
STEM Inc. (2018). STEM Inc.: About us. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.science.edu.sg/stem-inc/about-us/about-stem-inc
STEM Inc. (n.d.). Continued support for STEM ALP schools. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.science.edu.sg/docs/default-source/scs-documents/steminc/about-us/continued-support-for-stem-alp-schools-flyers-rearranged.pdf
Tan, A. L., Teo, T. W., Choy, B. H., & Ong, Y. S. (2019). The S-T-E-M Quartet. Innovation and Education, 1(3), 1–14.
Tan, M. H. (2019). Incorporating STEM in the K-12 curriculum: The Science Centre Singapore. Presented at the regional STEM symposium on 28 May 2019, Bangkok, Thailand.
Teng, A. (2016). Singapore students top global achievement test in mathematics and science. Retrieved on July 29, 2020 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/singapore-students-top-global-achievement-test-in-mathematics-and-science
Thomas, J., & Williams, C. (2009). The history of specialized STEM schools and the formation and role of the NCSSSMST. Roeper Review, 32(1), 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783190903386561.
Toulmin, S. (1972a). Human understanding (Vol. 1). Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
Toulmin, S. (1972b). Human understanding (Vol. 1). Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
Tsupros, N., Kohler, R., & Hallinen, J. (2009). STEM education: A project to identify the missing components. Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Mellon.
United Nations. (n.d.). Ageing. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/ageing/
United States Department of Education. (n.d.). Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science. Retrieved on July 19, 2020 from https://www.ed.gov/stem
Yong, C. (2017). Asean needs leaders with vision, who trust one another, to succeed going forward: ESM Goh. Retrieved on June 17, 2019 from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/asean-needs-leaders-with-vision-who-trust-each-other-to-succeed-going-forward-esm-goh
Vasquez, J. (2014/2015). STEM: beyond the acronym. Educational Leadership, 72(4), 10–15.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Teo, T.W., Choy, B.H. (2021). STEM Education in Singapore . In: Tan, O.S., Low, E.L., Tay, E.G., Yan, Y.K. (eds) Singapore Math and Science Education Innovation. Empowering Teaching and Learning through Policies and Practice: Singapore and International Perspectives, vol 1. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1357-9_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1357-9_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-1356-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-1357-9
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)