GreenSn0w

SINGAPORE : In the years to come, students in Singapore will use even more information and communications technology (ICT) in their everyday school-life.

And to ensure that it is a seamless journey into that future, five schools have been identified as test-beds.

Canberra Primary School has been chosen has a "Future School" for its concepts in ICT.

For example, students try and solve puzzles in spelling and science on a touch screen whiteboard and remote devices. And blogging is part of English lessons.

One student explained, "People can type more words from other classes and then we can see what they are writing. We will learn more words which we don't know."

And to promote learning the paper-less way, the school has bought some equipment including the touch-screen whiteboards and tablet PCs.

It plans to install a wireless system as well.

The cost is about S$150,000.

The Ministry of Education plans to examine and apply aspects of what Canberra and other schools learn to other institutions.

The Ministry will carry out studies over the next four years.

Other schools chosen as test beds are the new Beacon Primary School, Crescent Girls School, Jurong Secondary School and Hwa Chong Institution.

Kevin Cheng, English Language and Literature Teacher, Hwa Chong Institution, said, "How their work applies to a real world situation and not just rote learning or what they call scholastic, academic learning. So everything they learn has a direct and very pragmatic application in the real world context."

And to achieve this goal, the Education Ministry will provide consultants, train teachers and help schools integrate technology into their curriculum.

How much funding each school gets depends on the ideas and direction they are going.

It is not clear at this point if this allows the schools to raise their fees.

Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew said, "We don't want to go into that at this particular point in time. Let's have the schools work out their programmes and we will see what is the way ahead.

"Certainly as the schools introduce new equipment that students maybe required to have, we want to make sure those in need - from more disadvantaged families - will not lose out."

The "Future Schools" programme is part of the government's efforts to build an IT-savvy nation.

As for the next concrete step, up to 15 schools will be designated "Future Schools" in phases, by 2015.