It is a proud moment for any parent to witness their child achieve great success in life. It is especially uplifting to see them receive awards to acknowledge their efforts.
Leading this charge to inspire the next generation are Singapore’s special awards for students, given annually by the Ministry of Education (MOE). They are not just a recognition of students’ academic achievements but also their accomplishment in non-academic areas.
This year, 206 Special Awards were given out to “recognise students’ diverse achievements in both academic and non-academic spheres, including their contributions to the community.”
For those who wish to learn more about these awards and how students can work towards them, we’ve made the ultimate guide for parents.
What Are Special Awards
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These special awards and scholarships are given annually by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to recognise the accomplishments of students in different levels for a variety of fields.
These awards were made possible thanks to private donations from the founding Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Lee Hsien Loong.
For the Lee Kuan Yew Awards, special awards are for students with outstanding performances from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the polytechnics.
As for the Lee Hsien Loong Awards, this list of special awards are for outstanding students in NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School who have achieved the following:
- Did well and progressed to ITE
- Are outstanding all-rounders
- Contributed to the community
- Are outstanding bicultural students
Now let us take you through the special awards granted to students in Singapore and the criteria to help you check if your child qualifies for the round next year.
List Of Special Awards For Students In Singapore
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Here’s the list of special awards for students in Singapore.
The Prime Minister’s Book Prize
This special award established in 1974 is given annually to promote bilingualism in English Language and Mother Tongue Languages among schools.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Primary School students
- Secondary School students
- Pre-University students
How many students get the award:
For this year of 2021, 40 students received the Prime Minister’s Book Prize. There were 12 from primary school, 17 from secondary school and 11 from pre-university.
The Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science
Since 1992, the special award of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science has been presented to promote excellence in both subjects.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Secondary School students
- Pre-University students
- Polytechnic students
How many students get the award:
As of 2021, a total of 47 students received this special award. There were 15 from secondary school, 12 from pre-university and 20 from polytechnic.
The Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence
As a national-level award in this list of special awards for students, the Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence recognises those who have excelled in both academic and non-academic areas. It is also given to those “who exemplify the qualities articulated in our desired outcomes of education.”
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Primary School Students
- Secondary School Students
How many students get the award:
For 2021, 10 primary school and 12 secondary school students received this special award.
The Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award
This award that has been presented since 2017 honours students in government-funded special education schools who have become exemplary role models to their peers. It is for students who have showcased their progress and contributions in various areas including academic, vocational, sports and art.
The Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award also acknowledges the contributions of special education students to the school community and beyond.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Special Education Students
How many students get the award:
The Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award was given to 28 students in 2021.
The Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-Round Achievement
The Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding All-Round Achievement recognises the outstanding academic and non-academic achievements of post-secondary students. This is particularly for those who showcase outstanding contributions to the community.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Junior College/Millennia Institute students
- Institute of Technical Education students
- Polytechnic University students
How many students get the award:
Four awards are given out every year for one student each from Junior College/Millennia Institute, ITE, polytechnics and universities.
The Lee Hsien Loong Award for Outstanding Bicultural Students
Introduced in 2009, the Lee Hsien Loong Award acknowledges outstanding students in the Biculturural Studies Programme and the best student in the Regional Studies Programme.
The special award is given to underpin the strategic importance of developing a core group of bicultural students capable of engaging with Asian neighbours and relate to the West.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Pre-University students
How many students get the award:
In 2021, three students from the Bicultural Studies Programme and one student from the Regional Studies Programme received the award.
The Lee Kuan Yew Award for Outstanding Normal Course Students
Presented in 2004, the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Outstanding Normal Course Students recognises those in the Normal Academic and Normal Technical course and their academic achievements. It is meant to encourage them to continue their academic accomplishments.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Secondary School students (Normal Academic and Normal Technical courses)
How many students get the award:
This year of 2021, this award was presented to the best 5 Normal (Academic) students and best 5 Normal (Technical) students based on their GCE O and N level examination results respectively.
The Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading
Presented in 2001, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading encourages upgrading and life-long learning. It is for students who are outstanding ITE and polytechnic graduates who have performed well academically and attained good co-curricular activity records.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Institute of Technical Education students
- Polytechnic students
How many students get the award:
For 2021, there were 15 awards given to ITE graduates who are pursuing full-time studies at the polytechnics. There were also 10 awards presented to polytechnic graduates pursuing full-time undergraduate studies at the local universities.
The Lee Hsien Loong Award for Special Achievement
The Lee Hsien Loong Award for Special Achievement gives recognition to outstanding students from Assumption Pathway School and NorthLight School who have done well and progressed to ITE.
It is presented to those who have exemplified positive character development as well as a positive attitude towards learning and self-improvement.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Assumption Pathway School students
- NorthLight School students
How many students get the award:
This special award was received by two students in 2021.
The Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Book Prize
This special award is to give recognition to the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to Encourage Upgrading students who have achieved the most outstanding academic results at ITE.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Institute of Technical Education students
How many students get the award:
There were six students who received the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Book Prize in 2021.
The Lee Hsien Loong Interactive Digital Media Smart Nation Award
The Lee Hsien Loong Interactive Digital Media Smart Nation Award is given to full-time polytechnic students in the area of Interactive Digital Media.
The special award is to acknowledge their projects that fulfil the Smart Nation vision of harnessing technology to “improve the lives of citizens, create more opportunities, and build stronger communities”.
Who is eligible to receive this award:
- Polytechnic students
How many students get the award:
Five projects were selected for this special award in 2021.
Source: MOE
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