SINGAPORE - Students applying for admission to junior colleges (JC) from 2028 will only need five subjects instead of six at the O-level examinations, as the Ministry of Education (MOE) takes a further step to broaden learning beyond academics.
With this change, which will apply to those in this year’s Secondary 2 batch, students will need to get 16 points or fewer for their L1R4 score, which stands for one language and four relevant subjects, to qualify for JC.
Currently, students must achieve an L1R5 score of 20 or lower across six subjects to be eligible for JC admission.
“For students exploring the pre-university pathway, we want to create more time and space to build on their strengths and develop them holistically,” said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on March 6 during the debate on MOE’s budget.
The revised criteria “means that students will be able to take fewer subjects, or take some subjects at a less demanding level”, he said.
“They will thus be able to devote more time and effort to pursue their interests, deepen their communication and collaboration skills through CCAs, and uncover new strengths through school programmes.”
Subject requirements to enter JC remain the same and students will still have the foundation needed for JC. said Mr Chan, in response to Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who asked about the different admission criteria for JCs and polytechnics.
MOE said that with one fewer subject being counted, cut-off points will “generally be lower”, adding that the actual cut-off points will depend on students’ O-level results and their school choices for each year.
The L1R5 criteria was initially introduced in 1989, to specify the subjects counted towards JC admission, due to poor passing rates among JC students, said Mr Chan.
Since then, passing rates for the A Levels have improved to about 95 per cent in 2023, up from 65 per cent in 1990. Also, more ‘O’ Level students are taking eight or more subjects - 30 per cent in 2023 as compared to 15 per cent in 1997.
“Student readiness for JC is no longer a major concern,” said Mr Chan.
With one fewer subject counted, the qualifying score for JC has been adjusted to 16, he added.
Students will now be assessed on five subjects under the L1R4 system, but will still require English language or higher Mother Tongue and three relevant subjects, including at least one each from mathematics/science and humanities. But they will now need to include only one additional best-scoring subject instead of two.
Students looking to enter Millennia Institute (MI) will also need to include three subjects following the same combination rules in their L1R4 score, while the qualifying threshold will remain at 20.
Grade requirements for subjects still remain from 2028 - to qualify for JC, students need at least a grade 6 for English, grade 7 for mathematics, and grade 7 for mother tongue language.
If the minimum grades are not obtained, admission may still be granted conditionally.
The latest move by MOE comes on top of earlier steps to reduce the fixation on academic results.
In 2024, the ministry announced a broader admission criteria for polytechnic from 2028, allowing students to use one subject at the G2 level - the equivalent of Normal (Academic) - out of five subjects. Currently they need to offer five G3 subjects, which correspond to the Express level.
Full subject-based banding where students take subjects according to their strengths in secondary schools has been fully implemented, along with a new PSLE scoring system that aims to shift the focus away from an over-emphasis on academic results.
“Based on our simulations, we expect that a similar proportion of students will continue to qualify for JCs,” Mr Chan said.
From 2020 to 2024, the proportion of students who enrolled in JCs or MI, out of the total number of students enrolled into post-secondary institutions - including ITE and polytechnics - remained stable at 27 per cent, said MOE.
The proportion of students who enrolled in polytechnics stayed at 43 per cent in the same time period.
In line with fewer subjects being included in the score, MOE will lower the cap on bonus points from a maximum of four points to three points for JC admission, said Mr Chan. The same will apply for students going to MI.
Bonus points are those that can be deducted from students’ overall raw scores if they meet certain conditions, to improve their final net scores.
Currently, students can get bonus points from any combination of: CCA grade, JC affiliation, as well as if they score A1 to C6 for both English or higher Mother Tongue language, or A1 to C6 for Chinese/Malay (Special Programme) or Bahasa Indonesia.
Additional bonus points from those in the Chinese, Malay, or Tamil Language elective programme are excluded from the cap.
This year’s Secondary 2 cohort will also be the first to sit the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examinations in 2027, instead of O- and N- level examinations, under full subject-based banding.
While policy changes have been made over the years to “reduce an over-emphasis on academics”, said Mr Chan, mindsets and culture have to change too.
“Changing our scoring systems or assessment models...or reducing mid-year examinations will not reduce pressure on students if we, as parents and as a society, compete to the last decimal point and pile on what MOE removes and reduces,” he added.
“We must all recognise that while important, academic results are not the sole definition or determinant of success.”
Upgrading JC campuses
Four junior colleges - Anglo-Chinese JC, Catholic JC, National JC and Victoria JC - will be getting upgraded, as part of a second phase of the JC rejuvenation programme, said Mr Chan.
These four are the next oldest JC campuses, he added, responding to Mr David who had also asked about updates to the programme.
This programme, started in 2022, will improve the infrastructure of JCs by upgrading or rebuilding their facilities, and is aimed to enhance teaching and learning, and cater to future needs.
“MOE is working with the JCs on their infrastructure plans, including possibly moving them to new locations,” he said. This includes developing new programmes, working with industry, and serving the surrounding communities.
More details will be released at a later date.
Mr Chan said that four JCs - Anderson Serangoon JC, Jurong Pioneer JC, Temasek JC, and Yishun Innova JC - are being redeveloped under the first phase of the programme.
The rejuvenation programme was first announced in 2019, and phase 1 was expected to be completed by 2025. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, development plans were delayed.
These four schools are expected to operate from their refreshed campuses by Jan 2028, said Mr Chan.
MOE has been working with these four JCs on the designs of their redeveloped campuses, with an estimated budget of $570 million, he added.
The campuses will have new facilities such as seminar rooms, more configurable spaces, along with new workspaces for staff, said Mr Chan. “This will support more student-centred, experiential, and collaborative learning.”
An artist’s impression of the new Anderson-Serangoon JC campus.PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Students of Anderson-Serangoon JC, located in Ang Mo Kio, can look forward to two 11-storey blocks for teaching, a sheltered parade square, a library with an open view and a heritage gallery that showcases the school’s history.
An artist’s impression of the new Jurong Pioneer JC campus.PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Jurong Pioneer JC, currently located at Choa Chu Kang, will move to a new location in Jurong West in Jan 2028, on top of having new facilities, such as two 12-storey buildings for teaching and a heritage display room.
An artist’s impression of the new Temasek JC campus.PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Temasek JC will have two 9-12-storey teaching buildings, with the main buildings facing the football field and overlooking the sports grandstand.
It is currently located at a temporary site in Tampines, but will move back to its permanent location in Bedok South Road come Dec 2027.
An artist’s impression of the new Yishun Innova JC campus.PHOTOS: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Yishun Innova JC, which will relocate to its upgraded campus at Champions Way from Jan 2028, will have a new space that connects the entrance concourse, canteen, field, and parade square, and a heritage wall. The school is now operating at Yishun Ring Road.
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