How does Singapore manage schools without a department of education?

In Singapore, the principal plays a decisive role in schools. Parallel to this are the specialists and education boards that monitor and support the schools.

Primary school students in Singapore - Photo: The Straits Times

During my time working at the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, I brought many groups of principals and teachers to Singapore to study.

Once the delegation visited the Ministry of Education of Singapore and was welcomed by the Department of Primary Education. The staff of the Department of Primary Education of Singapore gave an overview of primary education in this island nation as well as answered questions from the primary education delegation from Ho Chi Minh City.

I understand that Singapore education does not have a department or office of education, so how is professional management done? The representative of Singapore primary education replied that the first thing the minister does when appointing a school principal is to give them an educational mission. They have the qualifications and talent to carry out their duties and are fully trusted.

Next, the Department of Primary Education assigns a specialist, a person in charge of monitoring the activities of a number of schools to promptly assist and adjust in accordance with legal and professional regulations. In addition, there is an education council that will monitor and support the activities and educational results of the school as well as make recommendations to the Ministry of Education for rewards and discipline.

When the Department of Education and Training no longer has the district/county Department of Education and Training, it only has the Department of Culture and Society with two education specialists managing from preschool - primary - secondary school. Personnel for this management is a very difficult problem for the ward/commune. The form of establishing education clusters of communes and wards proposed by the Department of Education and Training is the initial management form to prepare for the new school year.

In the era of information technology is developing at a fast pace every day, the serving tools are also on the way to be more and more modern. Management must also change to keep up with the new trend.

The Department established an education management center consisting of 10 teams. Each team is responsible for daily monitoring of educational activities at schools in 15-20 wards/communes (depending on the number of schools in each ward/commune).

Any unusual developments, coordinate with the Department of Culture and Society and report to the Department's Board of Directors to be transferred to the Department's departments for resolution. Each team has about 2-3 people for preschool, general education, continuing education, and non-public schools.

Improve the school of education management staff to train principals systematically, scientifically and broaden their vision in the digital age. Competent teachers are selected to study in a concentrated manner and are appointed upon graduation.

The principal plays a decisive role in the school. The principal should not ask for the opinion of superiors for every move, but should only report on the work in the school. The Ministry of Education and Training improves and enhances the quality of teacher training schools to train students to supply to the schools.

MSc. LE NGOC DIEP (former head of Primary Education Department, Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City)

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/singapore-quan-ly-cac-truong-the-nao-ma-khong-can-so-phong-giao-duc-20250807090543998.htm