Are you a parent in Singapore sourcing for alternative pathways for your child’s education? Most people in Singapore consider the conventional pathways after secondary school to be either JC or polytechnic, in which JC leads to the GCE A Levels, and polytechnic leads to the attainment of a diploma certification.
However, the educational pathways have been diversifying over the years, and one option that has grown steadily in interest is the IB programme. The International Baccalaureate is an internationally-recognised qualification that most universities around the world accept. Yet, in Singapore, its presence had mostly been limited to international schools.
For a long time, local students only had Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) if they wanted to take the IB exams in a national school. Then, besides specialised schools like School of the Arts (SOTA) and the Singapore Sports School (SSP), local students had few options when it came to taking the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). From 2013, St Joseph’s Institution began their Integrated Programme leading to the IB Diploma Programme, adding more options for local students who preferred the IB route.
Besides these local schools which cater to local students under mainstream education, there are also many international schools which offer the IBDP. However, these schools are usually attended by children of expats, and relatively few locals – we assume, because the school fees are less affordable than the heavily subsidised fees of MOE schools.
Today, parents researching for the best IB school in Singapore for their child may be stumped at the options available to them. Should you choose a local school with a more local experience, or enrol your child in an international school for the true international experience of the IB? For an in-depth discussion about your options, our education consultant partners can guide you in making the best choices.
