Demographic Trends: Impact on Schools

Background: Singapore is experiencing great demographic change. These demographic trends show fewer young people and declining birth rates, greater longevity for ageing generations and an increase in the number of non-Singaporean residents. Statistics also show that more than half of the total population increase in the last decades was contributed by non-resident (non-Singaporeans). These demographic trends have far-reaching implications for schools and educators. Aims: The paper looks at how key demographic trends will reshape Singapore's schools. The paper focuses on three key factors-mortality, fertility and migration-and their impact on schools. Method: The analyses are based on existing demographic data and trends. The data is taken from Singapore Department of Statistics, 2008. Results: The first two factors, namely ageing population and declining birth rates, lead to the need to develop lifelong learning skills. The third factor of immigration leads towards multiculturalism in education for hybrid identities to work, think, and play across cultural boundaries. Conclusion: It is necessary to ensure that the school structures are responsive to changing needs, so that it can evolve in a timely manner to prepare the learners meaningfully. Schools in Singapore have to incorporate a wider range of activities that can help to develop 21st century skills without compromising the rigor and quality of the original school and curriculum structure which has served the needs of the students in Singapore well. (Contains 2 tables.)