It is a vision which will ensure that Singapore will be a nation of thinking and committed citizens who are capable of contributing towards Singapore's continued growth and prosperity. All pupils at the foundation stage follow a common curriculum which provides them with a firm foundation in English, their mother tongue and Mathematics. Also included in the curriculum are subjects such as Music, Art and Craft, Civics and Moral Education, Health Education, Social Studies and Physical Education. Pupils are also encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities. To maximise their potential, pupils are formally streamed according to their learning ability at the end of Primary Four.
All pupils then advance to the next stage of primary education, the orientation stage.
At the orientation stage, pupils are placed in one of three language streams, namely EM1, EM2, and EM3, according to their abilities. Pupils in the EM1 and EM2 streams do English, Mother Tongue, Mathematics and Science. Pupils in the EM3 stream do Foundation English, basic Mother Tongue and Foundation Mathematics. Pupils who obtain the necessary standards are then admitted to the Special, Express or Normal stream in secondary schools. At the secondary level, pupils have the choice of three courses designed to match their learning abilities and interests.