MOE to extend enhanced art, music programmes to more secondary schools

FROM next year, students will have more opportunities to enrol in art and music talent development programmes at the secondary level, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Wednesday.

MOE will extend the Enhanced Art Programme (EAP) and Enhanced Music Programme (EMP) to seven more schools, starting from 2016.

The EAP will be extended from four to nine schools and EMP will be extended from two to four schools. The new schools will receive support from MOE in terms of additional facilities, equipment and teaching personnel.

MOE will also appoint three schools that are hosting the Art Elective Programme (AEP) or Music Elective Programme (MEP) as AEP or MEP centres. These centres will accept students from other schools into their respective AEP or MEP.

Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat said: "With more schools offering the art and music programmes, talented students do not have to travel so far to enrol in these programmes."

The two-year EAP and EMP are for Secondary 3 and 4 students inclined towards art and music respectively.

These students will take the GCE 'O' Level art and music examinations. Beyond the O-level syllabus, students also get exposure to the arts and creative industries in the form of master-classes with artists/musicians, and studio sessions and visits by practitioners. They also have opportunities to hold exhibitions and perform at concerts.