SINGAPORE - The NUS High School of Mathematics and Science celebrated its 10-year anniversary on Friday.
The school, which opened in 2005, is the first one in Singapore to offer a specialised curriculum for math and science. Students take a six-year course and graduate with a high school diploma.
About 1,150 students have graduated from the school since 2008. More than 70 per cent of them went on to pursue further studies in mathematics, science or engineering in university.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who was the guest of honour, mooted the idea of such a specialised school when he was Minister of Education in 1997.
"NUS High School's efforts to inspire better math and science education and research will help us to develop more young Singaporeans with a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Mr Teo in his speech to the school.
"This will in turn help Singapore to ride the wave of technological and scientific advancements, and create many more good jobs of the future for Singaporeans."
Students in NUS High School take a variety of modular courses ranging from physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. The curriculum is also constantly revamped to meet changing industry demands. For instance, computing studies was added as a subject in 2011.
The school's principal, Dr Hang Kim Hoo, said: "To stay relevant to society, the school aims to prepare our students with skills and knowledge beyond the math and science frontiers.
"They may need to deal with future complex problems or issues, which require effective solutions. These solutions may be paramount to the survival and prosperity of Singapore."
