Northlight School

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Northlight School Campus 1 School Front

Northlight School Campus 2 School Front

CCA Feature: Rock-Climbing Wall at Northlight Campus 2.

CCA Feature: Basketball Court at Northlight School Campus 2.

CCA Feature: Group of students enjoying a game of Sepak Takraw on the court at Northlight School Campus 2.

Northlight School (Chinese: 北烁学校) is an institution in Singapore established by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for students with difficulties handling the academic-oriented mainstream curriculum in the country. The school started its operations formally in January 2007 with the primary objective of assisting students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Admission to the school is based on at least two failed attempts at the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). The school also accepts premature school leavers who have yet to complete secondary education.^[1]

1 Courses
2 Teaching staff
3 Curriculum
4 Fees
5 Financial assistance
6 Student awards
7 Future plans
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Courses

Northlight has two campuses situated in Singapore: Campus 1 is at Dunman Road and Campus 2 is at Jalan Ubi. The two campuses differ mainly in the curriculums offered: Campus 1 provides the three-year enhanced vocational programme while Campus 2 provides the existing two-year Institute of Technical Education Skills Certificate (ISC) Course.^[1]

[edit] Teaching staff

The school is currently headed by its founding principal, Chua Yen Ching, an experienced educator. Chua’s previous appointment as the principal of Shuqun Secondary School has been a success much talked about in MOE with occasional mention by the Minister for Education in his speeches. Along with Chua are many other highly qualified teachers whose contributions to the educational arena in Singapore have been recognised by numerous awards.^[2]

[edit] Curriculum

The operation model of the school draws its inspirations from the Life Learning Academy in San Francisco. The new curriculum, primarily vocational, emphasises on developing emotional resilience and instilling essential life-skills in the students. The curriculum includes a wide range of vocational options. In addition, the new hands-on and experiential approach in learning comes with a 10-week long industrial attachment to ensure the relevance of the skills picked up at school to real time employment needs. There will also be a full Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) programme to cater to the needs of students beyond the academics. Moreover, the school will have more full time, in-house counsellors to assist students troubled by social and emotional challenges.^[2]

[edit] Fees

Fees for courses are kept to the minimal to reach out to underprivileged students who are expected to form the bulk of the intake each year.^[2] The amount ranges from $90 to $205 per semester depending on the course level and nationality of the applicant.^[3]

[edit] Financial assistance

Financial assistance available to students currently includes: the Community Development Council and Citizen's Consultative Committee-Institute of Technical Education (CDC & CCC-ITE) Bursary Scheme, the Northlight Special Student Assistance Scheme (NLS SSAS) and the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The CDC & CCC-ITE Bursary, administered by the Citizen's Consultative Committee, is open to Singapore citizens only. The annual quantum ranges between $600 to $800 depending on the gross domestic household income of the applicant which is not expected to exceed $1500.^[4] The NLS SSAS, administered by the school, serves mainly as an exigency scheme to see students through to the completion of their training.^[3] The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund provides relief to students from families with per capita income of less than $300. Applications, administered by the National Council of Social Services, are open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents only. The monthly disbursement is $50 for applicants from secondary schools.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Student awards

On top of financial assistance, the Good Progress Award, valued at $150, will be given to the top 10% of students who show commendable improvement in their studies. The Edusave Awards for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES), valued at $150, will be given to students in recognition of their excellence in non-academic areas.^[5]^[3]

[edit] Future plans

In place are plans for exchanges between Northlight School and the mainstream institutions in the future so that the two different approaches to education (academic and vocational) can benefit from each other.^[2]