GRADUATE SCHOOL AND OPEN LEARNING COLLEGE

Name: Ramos, Fermo G. Subject: EMGT 350 Comparative Education

Course: Ph.D. Educational Management Professor: Dr. Evelyn M. Del Mundo

PHILIPPINES VS SINGAPORE

Singapore has a superior education system. It has earned the title of being the best
education system in the world because of its success in international academic competitions in
science and mathematics. Currently, Singapore ranks first in the world.

It is the Department of Education which oversees the basic education in the Philippines
while it’s the Ministry of Education for Singapore. As compared to the Philippine’s 15 % budget
allocation, Singapore allots 17 % of the national budget to its education spending.

In terms of educational structure Singapore has a very different but very effective system.
In the Philippines graduates of the primary education undergo the national achievement test, the
result of which is but used to see whether the student has learned the needed competencies. In
Singapore, graduates of primary level have to sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination
(PSLE) the result of which is used to determine which type of secondary school the student will
have to pursue his education. The result will tell whether the student will be accommodated in
the Integrated program which leads directly to University, or the Secondary express course, the
Secondary normal academic course, secondary normal technical, or in the Technical and
Vocational courses. There are two levels of qualification for admission in the University, the
GCE “O” level which is taken at around age 17 or 18, and the GCE “A” Level which is taken
after taking Junior Colleges or Polytechnics. This system is not present in the Philippine
education or in any other educational system in the world.

The teacher-student ratio in Singapore is 1:22, another reason why the country has an
excellent education structure. In the Philippines, the typical ratio is 1:50, the worst scenario is
1:55 or even 1:60.

Teachers in Singapore are hired and employed based on meritocracy. This entails hiring
the teacher based on her capability and intellect. The same process is being followed here in the
Philippines.
 The Philippine education system’s priority programs are Multi-grade program, alternative
delivery modes, Conditional Cash Transfer, GASTPE, Child Protection Policy, Mother-Tongue
Education. Singapore on the other hand focuses on Meritocracy, bilingualism, compulsory
education act, focus on Science, English, and Mathematics, “Teach Less, Learn More”, ICT
Integration, and Internationalization of Education. The “Teach Less, Learn More” program is
utilizing technology in the teaching-learning scenario.

If the Philippines has AACUP, PAASCU, and PACUCUA as accrediting agencies

Singapore has Standards, Productivity, and Innovation Board (SPRING), Higher Education
Division, Council for Private Education, Singapore Quality Class for Private Education
Organization, and Singapore Pre-School Accreditation Framework. It’s worthy to note that
Singapore is the only Asian country which has an accreditation framework for pre-school.

On critical issues and concerns the “superior” Singapore is not an exception to have
them. If the Philippines has concerns on Education budget, Mismatch, fly-by-night education,
monolithic education the Singaporean education has issues like Over-focus on examination and
grades, social inclusion, disregard on special education, parentocracy, and according to critics the
primary school leaving examination is too early. Unlike the Philippines which have already
established a system for the education of the children with special needs, Singapore has only
started focusing their concern on the issue.

Nevertheless, there is no objection that Singapore has the best educational system in the
world. It has the best practices that make them number one like the Compulsory education act,
gifted education program, primary school leaving examination, special, express, and normal
secondary schools, two years of pre-college education , and GCE “O” and “A” Levels exam as
qualifications for admission in universities.