Glossary · Singapore
Homeschool glossary
The words you'll meet when you start homeschooling in Singapore, explained in plain English, with links to our full guides.
- Charlotte Mason
- An approach based on the ideas of the 19th-century British educator Charlotte Mason: short lessons, "living books", narration, nature study and the arts. Learn more →
- Classical education
- An approach built around three stages — grammar, logic and rhetoric — with a strong emphasis on history, literature and writing. Learn more →
- Co-op
- A group of homeschooling families who share teaching, classes, activities or costs, often meeting weekly. Learn more →
- Compulsory education
- Singapore's requirement for children of compulsory school age to attend a national primary school, unless they hold an exemption. Learn more →
- Deschooling
- A settling-in period after leaving school, when families slow down and let a child adjust before starting structured learning at home.
- Eclectic homeschooling
- Mixing methods and resources — for example a structured maths program with interest-led projects — to suit each child. Learn more →
- Exemption from compulsory education
- Approval from the Ministry of Education (MOE) for a child of compulsory school age to be homeschooled instead of attending a national primary school. Learn more →
- MOE
- Singapore's Ministry of Education, which assesses applications to homeschool children of compulsory school age. Learn more →
- Montessori
- A child-led, hands-on approach based on the work of Maria Montessori, most often used in the early and primary years. Learn more →
- Portfolio
- A collection of dated work samples, photos and notes that shows a child's learning and progress over time. Learn more →
- Private candidate
- A student who registers for a national exam such as the O-level directly with SEAB rather than through a school. Learn more →
- PSLE
- The Primary School Leaving Examination, the national exam at the end of Primary 6. Learn more →
- SEAB
- The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, which runs national exams including the PSLE and handles private candidate registration. Learn more →
- Unit study
- Teaching several subjects through one theme, such as the ocean or a historical period; popular with families teaching several ages together. Learn more →
- Unschooling
- Interest-led learning that follows the child's curiosity and everyday life rather than a set curriculum. Learn more →