About the Integrated Programme
The GCE O-Levels serve as an essential intermediate benchmark for the majority of the secondary school students. However, pupils who are academically strong (normally the top 10 percent of the cohort) will be offered the Integrated Programme (IP) to engage in wider learning experiences during their secondary and JC years.
The IP programme was first introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2004. It enables a seamless upper-secondary and junior college education, where secondary school students can advance directly to junior college (JC) without the need to sit for the GCE O-Level examinations. It is a six years programme, which starts directly after PSLE and culminates in the GCE A-Levels, or other diplomas, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB).
The IP prgramme aims to foster greater flexibility and diversity in the education system so as to accommodate a variety of abilities and interests of the students. It is envisioned as a “through-train” education system that allows better use of the curriculum time to immerse students in broader learning to enhance their critical thinking, creativity, leadership skills and intellectual thinking.