Mr Alvin Sng and his family looking at a model of the school building. He plans to enrol his children in the new School of Science and Technology. The specialised independent school has received 470 applications for its 200 places so far. -- LIANHE ZAOBAO PHOTO
The new School of Science and Technology (SST) is proving to be a big hit.
Since it began accepting applications last month, 470 students have applied for the 200 places on offer - and there are still three months to go before the exercise closes.
The specialised independent school, which will open next year, will add innovation and entrepreneurship into the mix.
The flood of applications mirrors that experienced by the three other specialised schools - the Singapore Sports School, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science and the School of the Arts - when they opened.
The School of the Arts, for example, saw 600 students audition for just 200 places last year.
The SST will cater to students from Secondary 1 to 4. Its open house saw about 2,500 students and parents turning up yesterday.
Speaking to reporters at the school yesterday, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said: 'As the economy matures, we find it is not enough just to have schools which are strong in traditional ways, in science or mathematics. You've got to develop the soft skills - how to market an idea and how to use technology to produce products that the public will buy.
'Many of our successful businessmen and entrepreneurs have said that we have to train children from young.'
Students who apply for a place in SST will be shortlisted and taken in via the Direct School Admissions scheme, which will run until August.
They will be selected based on a video audition and their exam results, as well as how they perform in a 'selection camp'.
