This blog covers:
- Education in Singapore
- British Expats in Singapore
- Online schooling
- 6 reasons to consider online schooling in Singapore
The tiny tropical island of Singapore was a former British colony, is the third largest financial hub in the world, home to the iconic soaring Supertree Grove, and the UNESCO World Heritage Botanic Gardens. It hosts a buzzing cosmopolitan mix of Peranakan, Chinese, and Malay cultures to name but a few, high fashion shopping malls, and delicious street food to five star Michelin Star dining.
Education in Singapore
The service sector contributes to a significant proportion of Singapore’s economy, and the production of a highly educated and skilled workforce is driven by several education policies and government funded private education.
Students in Singapore are exceptionally high achievers and their world class education makes them international candidates for the best universities around the world, regularly topping global education rankings.
British Expats in Singapore
There are 49,000 British expats in Singapore, in their population of 5 million. It is argued to offer the best quality of life for British expats. However, for those who are not Singaporean citizens, such as British expatriates, the cost of educating their children is significantly higher.
While 20% of the national budget is spent on education, this only subsidises Singaporean students, making fees high for non-natives. From a legal perspective homeschooling in Singapore is acceptable if parents receive exemption from the Ministry of Education and fulfil a minimum benchmark.
Online schooling
Online education provides the opportunity to fully exceed this benchmark and offers a complete alternative to international and private schooling. For many moving to Singapore, the costs of schooling without government funding can be too high to afford.
Online British schools have seen a surge in popularity over the last ten years. They provide a way for children around the world to study the English National Curriculum Key Stage 3, through to iGCSEs and AS and A2 levels, taught by qualified and experienced teachers. For expatriates, this can be an affordable and more flexible option for educating children living abroad.
Why should British expatriates should consider online schooling instead of homeschooling or very high international schooling fees? Here are 6 reasons why:
1. A clear homeschooling roadmap
Many British expatriate parents who move to Singapore are pursuing career goals. This means that they are not able to commit the time and energy to being a full time educator of their children, and may not have the training or knowledge.
With online schooling, qualified teachers remove these concerns, and deliver lessons to British National Curriculum standards. This creates a daily routine and schedule for students, which is important in creating structure and discipline in their days spent in the home.
We support students to set educational goals and take exams at scheduled times, to create a roadmap for the year, and a clear sense of direction. This prevents homeschooling from being unstructured and all over the place, and a clear routine establishes the grounds for productivity and success.
2. High quality and internationally competitive education
MyOnlineSchooling.com delivers the accredited British National Curriculum, and high quality lessons from qualified and experienced teachers. Our teachers have decades of experience teaching in UK schools, as tutors, and online. They deliver fully interactive lessons in online classrooms, set homework and provide feedback after each lesson, and develop a personalised learning plan to enable each student to achieve their full potential. The lesson models are much more similar to the UK style of teaching.
It is widely acknowledged that a British education and qualifications are highly sought around the world. iGCSEs and A levels are internationally recognised by colleges, universities, and employers, and for many are the gold standard in assessment.
MyOnlineSchooling.com follows the accredited British National curriculum all the way through from KS2 and iGCSE. Students are supported to prepare for their formal examinations, which can be taken at local exam centres.
This also means that if they return to the UK, slotting back into mainstream schooling is seamless. There is a significant correlation between educational attainment at school, and future career prospects. By achieving these qualifications, parents can give their children the best possible chance of gaining fulfilling employment that fuels their passion, in an increasingly competitive global market
3. More affordable than international schools
The cost of education in Singapore is high for British expatriates. School fees in Singapore are ranked the third highest in the world, an HSBC report found in 2017.
Paying for international schooling can present a significant financial burden to parents. For some, paying international fees is seen as the only option to give children the best possible education, as it is the greatest asset they can give their child. Online schooling can provide a top quality education to young people, for a fraction of the cost of international schools.
4. Work around your lifestyle
By studying from home, children don’t have to navigate transport in a brand new and busy city, or rely on lifts from parents early in the morning, or at awkward times in the afternoon, which are difficult to fit around working commitments.
Nannies can supervise children while they study, meaning that parents are free to work their hours, without having to fit in school drop offs too. Most lessons finish by the early afternoon. The lack of early mornings leaves young people with more energy, and frees up huge amounts of time for embracing all the opportunities that Singapore has to offer.
This frees up time to embrace all the opportunities that Singapore has to offer, and to take part in extracurricular activities and clubs which can boost their university applications- such as orchestras, debating clubs, sports, extra classes, volunteering, or part time work.
Lessons can be taught no matter where you are in the world as long as you have a stable internet connection. For families that travel or move around, this doesn’t have to disrupt the school term. Trusting that qualified teachers are delivering the curriculum reduces the pressure and time commitments on parents to homeschool their children themselves.
Online Schooling also provides support and advice to parents every step of the way, making sure that the quality of education is always ensured.
5. Encourages independence and self discipline
Online Schooling requires that students manage their time, and fosters self discipline- to sign into classes on time, complete homework, and ask for help if they need it. This develops their skills as independent learners, an essential skill for applying to and studying at university, and in the workplace.
6. Meet diverse learning needs
In small online classes there are no disruptions or problems with bad behaviour from other students, and the teachers really get to know each of their students. This enables them to provide the essential time and attention needed for nurturing a student. This means that each student’s learning is carefully supported, lessons are tailored to their unique needs, and progress is therefore more rapid.
Students in online schools have been shown have higher rates of exam success. Our British trained and experienced teachers are experienced in adapting their teaching styles for students with different learning needs. This can range from pushing high achievers, supporting those with special learning or behavioral needs, or rebuilding confidence for those who have struggled in school.
Whatever the student’s needs, teachers set goals, track their progress, and see them excel. Students have to log on to their lessons themselves, and homework is set after each lesson. This encourages students to work independently, and means that they learn to take responsibility for their own work and learning.
These skills give them a head start when beginning further education, which requires a significant amount of student-led study.
Summary
Completing an excellent British education online offers a range of benefits for students. As part of an international community of independent learners, they gain more free time to engage in Singapore’s incredible opportunities, socialise, and pursue passions for sports and hobbies. Learning is flexible, and can be done anywhere in the world with a stable internet connection.
It is more affordable than international school fees, of exceptionally high quality, meets British standards, and is more personal and tailored to a child’s needs, circumventing distractions and time-wasting inherent in classroom teaching.
This customized approach means that parents can give their child the best chance they can to excel and achieve their full potential in their studies and future career. They will achieve internationally recognised qualifications for a fraction of the cost.
Get In Touch
If you would like to know more about how your child can study a full time education online with My Online Schooling contact us through our enquiry form, and we will give you a call at a time that suits you.