INTRODUCTION
1 Singapore is a small independent republic with 361 schools, a student enrolment of 489,900 and a teaching force of 22000 teachers. The breakdown, according to type of schools, is as follows:

2 The Internet was first made available to schools in Singapore in 1994, with 10 computers in each school having access. The Ministry of Education published its first webpage in April 94

3 Initially, access to the Internet was confined to teachers as it was important for teachers to be familiar with it first. Subsequently, schools were provided with a number of email accounts for pupils to use in collaborative projects. Today, all teachers in Singapore have access to the Internet, both at school as well as from home. A few schools have provided email accounts to all students through Internet Service Providers.

4 Under the Masterplan for Information Technology (IT) in Education launched in 1997, access to the Internet will be greatly expanded, as local area networks (LANs) will be installed in all schools. All pupils from grade 4 upwards will have email accounts. By the end of year 2000, all schools in Singapore will have LANs and a computer to pupil ratio of 1:6.6 for primary schools and 1:5 for secondary schools and pre-university institutions. The long term target is to achieve a ratio of one computer to every 2 pupils by year 2002. For teachers, the Ministry of Education provides 1 notebook computer to every 2 teachers.

USE OF INTERNET IN SINGAPORE SCHOOLS

5 The Internet is used for 3 main purposes in Singapore schools:

(a) communication
(b) access to information
(c) collaborative projects

6 Communication

One of the major goals of the Masterplan for IT in education is to enhance linkages between schools and the world around it. This can be achieved through the use of the World Wide Web and email. Many schools in Singapore already have their own website to provide information about the school to parents and the community. The Ministry of Education also uses the Internet to communicate information to schools, as well as providing a platform for teachers to share ideas. Information and services for the public are also made available on the Internet (http://www.moe.edu.sg).

7 Access to Information

Pupils and teachers use the Internet to access a wide range of information. This is used for teaching and learning as well as in project work. For example, pupils who are studying the environment will source for information from the Internet. For teachers, the Internet is a good source of ideas for lesson activities as well as primary sources of data. Lesson activities are designed to develop information literacy skills among pupils.

8 Collaborative Projects

With email and the Internet, the scope for collaborative projects between pupils in different schools and different countries has increased significantly. Collaborative projects via the Internet widen the scope of learning for pupils. Pupils could explore different topics of interest with pupils from all over the world. They learn to share and exchange their ideas and, in the process, learn communication skills and how to work cooperatively. Projects involving pupils in different countries also allow them to learn about other cultures and to see themselves as part of the world community. In the last 2 years, pupils in Singapore have participated in numerous collaborative projects with their counterparts in other countries. Some of the initiatives include:

(a) Singapore-United Kingdom Collaborative Project

This project started off in 1997 in which pupils in 2 schools in Singapore collaborated with pupils in 2 schools in the United Kingdom in a project involving a British aircraft carrier which was sailing from England to Hong Kong. In this project, pupils were able to email one another and with the crew of the aircraft carrier on a range of topics, including technology on the aircraft carrier and the role of women in the navy. When the aircraft carrier stopped in Singapore, pupils went aboard the ship and shared their findings with the crew. This project now involves 33 schools in Singapore collaborating with 33 schools in the United Kingdom in a variety of projects.
(http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/5276/projlist.htm)

(b) Project Everest

In conjunction with Singapore's first expedition to Mount Everest, the Ministry of Education organised a project to encourage pupils conduct inter-disciplinary studies, ranging from challenges of climbing mountains to the geology of Mount Everest. Forty-two Singapore schools and 2 schools in England participated in this project. Pupils were able to email members of the expedition and asked them questions related to their climb.
(http://www1.moe.edu.sg/everest/)

(c) Thinkquest

Thinkquest is an initiative to encourage collaboration among pupils in different countries to produce educational resources on the Internet. This year, about 300 pupils from Singapore are participating in this project.
(http://www.advanced.org/thinkquest/)

(d) Konet World Global Environmental Projects

Sponsored by NTT and supported by the Ministry of Education of Japan, Konet World (kodomo network), this project involves the study of level of nitrogen oxide in the air around schools. Pupils in Singapore and other parts of the world were provided with simple kits to measure the level of nitrogen oxide. The results were emailed to Japan and the data plotted on a map of Singapore to show the nitrogen oxide levels in different parts of the island.
(http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-s/english/english.html)

(e) SEAMEO IT Project

Singapore, along with other Southeast Asian countries, belongs to the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO). The SEAMEO IT project involves pupils in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines exchanging information on transportation issues and publishing the findings on a webpage.
(http://tintin.iti.gov.sg:6666/)

(f) ScienceAlive

ScienceAlive is a project that allows pupils from different schools to work together on virtual science exhibits. Pupils hold virtual meetings and have on-line discussions with experts. In 1997, pupils built a Virtual Science Theme Park. This year, the project has been expanded to include pupils from Japan.
(http://www.moe.edu.sg/iteducation/initiatives/projects/sciencelive.htm)

9 As more and more schools go online, the use of the Internet will expand significantly. Some of the possible directions include:

• use of Internet to deliver lessons
• the creation of virtual learning communities
• on-line courses for teachers
• video-conferencing

Singapore looks forward to collaborating with schools in other countries in the use of Internet for education.