Co-curricular activity (Singapore)
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Co-curricular activities (CCAs), previously known as Extracurricular Activities (ECA) are non-academic activities that all Singaporean students must participate in. This policy was introduced by the Ministry of Education, as a means to enhance social interaction, leadership, healthy recreation, self-discipline and self-confidence.
Through CCAs, students in their early teens are often given actual public responsibilities. Red Cross and SJAB members, for example, are often required to render first aid at public events. Most uniformed groups require precision, management and organizational skills, providing training to prepare students for the outside world.
In polytechnics and universities (tertiary education institutes), CCA records are considered by potential employers.
Classification of CCAs
Schools typically classify CCAs under one of the following groups:
- Performing Arts
- Sports and Games
- Uniformed Groups
- Clubs and Societies
- Student Associations
Secondary schools typically divide CCAs into Core CCAs and Merit CCAs:
- Core CCAs, which typically include the Sports, Performing Arts Groups and Uniformed Groups, tend to take up more time and resources and have more emphasis placed on them by the school. Membership in at least one Core CCA is compulsory for secondary school students in Singapore and it is considered an integral part of the education system.
- Merit CCAs, which typically include the Clubs and Societies, are usually less time-consuming. Academic clubs however may be consume as much time as, if not more than, Core CCAs. Merit CCAs serve as an optional pursuit for students with an interest in what the CCA has to offer.
Structure of the CCA Programme
CCA choices vary widely from school to school, although schools at each education level are required to conform to national standards prescribed for that level. For instance, all secondary schools must compulsorily offer Band as a musical group. Secondary schools with an enrolment of less than 1000 must offer either National Cadet Corps or National Police Cadet Corps as a uniformed group, and those with an enrolment of more than 1000, both.
In primary schools, CCAs are often introduced to students at Primary Three. Not all primary schools make CCA participation compulsory. In primary schools, Brownies are likened to junior Girl Guides.
In secondary schools, CCAs are treated more seriously. Students are required to pick at least one Core CCA to join at Secondary One. Belonging to a Core CCA is compulsory, and the students may choose a second CCA if they wish. At the end of the fourth/fifth year, 1 to 2 'O' Level points are removed from the examination aggregate (a lower aggregate indicates better marks). Although the marks are few, it is believed by many that they may make a difference when the students are considered for the most popular tertiary institutions. For example, one minimum prerequisite for admission Raffles Institution at Year Five, via the 'O' Levels, is an already perfect score with the maximum of 4 points removed.
Structure of Typical CCAs
CCAs are held outside of curriculum hours and the activities partaken depend on the nature of CCA. For example, Uniformed groups do foot drills and team-building exercises while competitive sportsmen spend most of the time training and learning techniques from their instructors.
CCA groups typically feature an Executive Committee. In musical groups and CCAs catering to specific interests, the Executive Committee typically consists of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, among other positions.
The National Police Cadet Corps has started a few Open Units in the tertiary institutions, recruiting members to serve as student leaders in the secondary school units.
Many former students return to their alma mater after graduation to help impart what they have learned to their juniors. Some do so within a formal framework, such as those in the uniformed groups (where ex-cadets are appointed as cadet officers), or the Voluntary Adult Leader scheme (for those above age 20). Others do so on a casual basis.
Competitions
Many CCA-related competitions are held in Singapore, creating a competitive environment which provide CCA groups an objective to work towards.
The Ministry of Education organizes competitions for competitive sports at the zonal and national level, respectively the yearly Zonal and National Schools Competitions. MOE also organizes the biennale Singapore Youth Festival for the Aesthetics CCAs.
Inexhaustive list of CCAs
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Student Associations
- Prefectorial Board/ Student's Council
- The Peer Support Board
- The Junior and Senior Leaders Board
- The Civics Tutorial Council/ Monitor's Council
- The House Committee
- Technology Student Association (TSA)
- Key Club
- Drama*
Sports and games
- Aikido
- Archery
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Cross Country
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Flatwater Canoe/Kayak Racing
- Floorball
- Fun Go Kart Club (Only offered in ITE CW)
- Golf (only offered in some schools)
- Gymnastics
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Trampoline Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Handball (played with a club)
- Judo
- Netball
- Outdoor Adventure (usually in junior colleges)
- Rugby
- Sailing
- Sepak Takraw
- Shooting
- Air Pistol
- Air Rifle
- Skipping
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Tenpin Bowling
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Waterpolo
- Wushu
- Ultimate(Frisbee)
- Sumo
Uniformed groups
- Boys' Brigade
- Girls' Brigade
- Girl Guides Singapore (GG)
- Military Band
- National Cadet Corps (NCC)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
- Red Cross Youth (RCY)
- St. John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB)
- The Singapore Scout Association (SSA)
- St John Band
Performing Arts groups
- Angklung Ensemble
- Bands
- Chinese Orchestra
- Some schools feature instead an ensemble focusing on a particular Chinese instrument, such as the Guzheng.
- Choir
- Dance Clubs
- Chinese Dance
- Indian Dance
- International Dance
- Malay Dance
- Modern Dance
- English Drama
- Gamelan
- General Music
- Guitar Ensemble
- Guzheng Ensemble
- Handbell Ensemble
- Harmonica and Keyboard Ensemble
- Harp Ensemble
- Indian Orchestra
- Piano
- Orchestra
- Strings Ensemble
- Violin
Note that Band may either count as a uniformed group or a performing arts group.
Clubs and societies
- AVA Club (Audio and Visual Aid)
- Art Club
- Astronomy Club
- Chess Club
- Chinese Cultural Club
- Chinese Calligraphy Club
- Computer Club
- Debate Club
- Drama Club
- Entrepreneurship Club
- Environment Club
- Future Problem Solving Program
- Gardening
- Green Club
- Guitar Club
- Health and Fitness Club
- Hydroponics Club
- Infocomm Club
- Interact Club
- Innovation Program
- Research Program
- Language Club
- Library Club
- Mathematics Club
- Media Club
- Mind Sports Club
- Multimedia Club
- Philatelic Club
- Photography Club
- Robotics Club
- Science Club
- Maths Club
- Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC)
- Video Animation Club
- World Scholar's Cup
In some schools, instead of separate clubs for Language, Debate and Drama (and even Culture), these domains are grouped under the heading of Language Debate and Drama Societies, an example of which is the English Language Drama and Debate Society (ELDDS).