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When I was a secondary school student, I always thought it was cool to study Design and Technology as an elective.
This must be the coolest subject ever, right? Then I read about Drama being offered in Deyi Secondary as a subject.
Yes, you heard that right.
Drama is offered as an O Level elective. Now THAT is cool.
Here are some of the most unique subjects to ever be offered in secondary schools under ALP (Applied Learning Programme), Applied Subjects or Special Language Programmes!
Drama
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I bet you too didn’t expect that Drama is an official O Level subject.
In this subject, students learn the ins and outs of drama through practical and theoretical study.
They learn to analyse drama performances and communicate their ideas to the audience through actions and speech.
One of the components that drama students are graded for O Levels is an acting sequence where they must act out a scene or part, and they get graded for their acting ability.
Here’s the list of schools that offer Drama:
- CHIJ Katong Convent
- CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
- Deyi Secondary School
- St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School
- St Margaret’s Secondary School
- Xinmin Secondary School
Exercise and Sports Science
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I used to think that Sports Science is just a course in Poly, there’s no way such a fun subject is offered in secondary school.
Wrong.
In this elective, students learn about physiology, biomechanics, sports psychology and more!
Students also train and acquire motor skills needed to perform physical activities proficiently by playing sports such as basketball and football.
Can you imagine doing PE for O Levels?
Exercise and Sports Science is offered in over 18 secondary schools, including:
- Bedok Green Secondary
- Boon Lay Secondary
- Catholic High School (Secondary)
- Dunman Secondary
Computing
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Do you like computers?
If so, this subject is for you!
In this subject, students learn the knowledge and skills needed to solve real-world problems using computers.
Don’t let the premise fool you though, this is a difficult subject to learn as you will need to write codes and read binary, but it will still be a fun ride, nonetheless.
A whopping 32 schools offer computing as an O Level subject, including:
- Admiralty Secondary
- Hwa Chong Institute
- Jurong West Secondary
- Monfort Secondary
MEP
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MEP stands for Music Elective Programme. It is a 4-year programme for budding musical talents to learn more about music and improve their skills.
Fun fact: while students in lower secondary usually take subjects like FCE (Food and Consumer Education) and Design & Technology, MEP students will take Higher Music along with the common music subject.
They will have access to special facilities such as practice rooms, special music technology and audio-visual materials.
The 10 schools offering the MEP are listed below:
- Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
- CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary Section)
- Catholic High School (Secondary Section)
- Crescent Girls’ School
- Dunman High School
- Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)
- Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)
- Raffles Institution
- Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
- Temasek Junior College
Bicultural Studies Programme
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Ever wanted to learn about China’s history in school but get disappointed when you realise it isn’t taught for O Levels History?
Fret not! If you are taking Higher Chinese, you have a chance to apply for the special Bicultural Studies Programme.
Students would learn about topics such as Chinese history and Western philosophy.
Here’s the draw: students under this programme have a chance to participate in overseas immersion programmes to China and Southeast Asia for up to 8 weeks, and to a Western country for up to 2 weeks!
BSP at the secondary level is offered in:
- Catholic High School
- CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
- Dunman High School
- Hwa Chong Institution
- Nanyang Girls’ High School
- River Valley High School
- Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Conclusion
This is just a small list of uncommon subjects offered by schools. There are many other subjects such as Third Languages, Humanities and STEM.
It is great for schools to offer these unique subjects as it fosters and encourages different interests of students, allowing them to learn a subject their peers might not take up.
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