On 4 January 2010, the School of Science and Technology, Singapore, (SST) opened its campus doors at a temporary site along Clementi Avenue 6 to welcome its pioneer batch of 200 secondary one students. A one-week experiential and hands-on learning orientation programme was organised for the students, requiring them to work in groups to solve challenges designed to test their maths and science quotients.[1]
Established by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the SST is Singapore’s fourth specialised independent school – after the Singapore Sports School, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, and the School of the Arts – aimed at “nurturing inventive and innovative individuals” and seeks to provide students with a solid grounding both academically and in applied learning such as technology, media and design.[2] Class sizes at the school are deliberately kept small, at around 20 to 25 students each, to facilitate greater teacher-student interaction, guidance and appraisal.[3]
In June 2008, Chua Chor Huat, former principal of Ngee Ann Secondary School, was appointed the first principal of the SST. NTU’s then president, Su Guaning, was appointed chairman of SST’s board of directors. Other board members comprised “leading entrepreneurs, technopreneurs and academics”.[4]
The SST began recruitment for its teaching staff in 2008, with a job application invitation sent via email on 11 March to all teachers in Singapore. Two briefings were held, during which interested applicants were apprised of the requirements of the teaching positions. The teaching staff were required to help develop the school’s curriculum, aided by the MOE’s curriculum planning division as well as lecturers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Applicants were required to have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and possess good content knowledge, technical proficiency as well as experience in engaging students in project-based learning. In addition, prospective candidates had to demonstrate a keen interest in using information technology to create innovative teaching methodologies.[5]
The SST also partnered with NP and NTU to leverage on their specialised facilities and expertise; a memorandum of understanding was signed by all three parties at the first SST board meeting on 3 March 2009. Additionally, through joint collaborations with IBM and Creative Technology, SST students were given internship opportunities with these two cutting-edge companies.[6]
Besides offering a four-year programme leading up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examination, the SST also offers applied learning subjects such as biotechnology, design, media studies, environmental science and technology. Entrepreneurial lessons and business skills are taught by NP and NTU lecturers. The school also established an entrepreneurship advisory council, headed by Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh, to facilitate the transfer of entrepreneurial knowledge to students.[7]
Prior to the Direct School Admissions (DSA) exercise held from April to August 2009, the SST conducted a seminar on 18 April for parents of primary six students, and organised an open house on 23 and 25 May for prospective students and their parents who were keen to know more about the school’s curriculum.[8] By November 2009, 1,140 applications had been received via the DSA scheme for the 200 secondary one places available at the school.[9]
To qualify for a place at the SST, students had to obtain a minimum of 200 points in their Primary School Leaving Examination aggregate score, perform well at the school’s video audition and attend a one-day selection camp where they were assessed on their problem-solving and teamwork abilities.[10]
The SST moved to its permanent location at the junction of Clementi Road and Commonwealth Avenue West on 3 January 2012.[11]
References
1. Tan, A. (2010, January 5). Empowering science and tech students. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva; Jalelah, Abu Baker. (2009, March 4). New specialised school set to accept applicants. The Straits Times, p. 28. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Ministry of Education. (2008, March 3). New School of Science and Technology to open in 2010 [Press release] (p. 1). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/; Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. (2008, March 4). Speech by Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the FY 2008 Committee of Supply debate 1st reply by minister on educational policy (pp. 7–8). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from National Archives of Singapore website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/; Lee, U. (2008, March 5). Fourth specialised school to open in January 2010. (2008, March 9) The Business Times, p. 9. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Ministry of Education, 3 Mar 2008, p. 2.
4. Ministry of Education, 3 Mar 2008, pp. 2–3; The Straits Times, 4 Mar 2009, p. 28.
5. Bharwani, V. (2008, March 17). Science school scouting for teachers (2 years ahead of launch!). The New Paper, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, 4 Mar 2008, p. 9; School of Science and Technology. (2012). SST milestones. Retrieved February 24, 2015, from School of Science and Technology website: http://www.sst.edu.sg/about-sst/history-of-sst/
7. Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, 4 Mar 2008, p. 8; Nur Dianah Suhaimi. (2009, May 24). Science and tech school in demand. The Straits Times, p. 2; Tan, A. (2009, November 20). Science and tech school’s places all filled. The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. The Straits Times, 4 Mar 2009, p. 28; School of Science and Technology, 2012, SST milestones; The Straits Times, 24 May 2009, p. 2.
9. The Straits Times, 20 Nov 2009, p. 4.
10. Chng, J. (2010, January 5). IT edge for lessons in new science school. MyPaper. Retrieved from Factiva; The Straits Times, 24 May 2009, p. 2.
11. Ng, J. (2011, January 5). Men at work get fitting student tribute. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva; School of Science and Technology, 2012, SST milestones.
The information in this article is valid as at March 2015 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.