Singapore’s IMU Adhering Organization is the Singapore Mathematical Society (SMS). SMS oversees the nomination of the ICMI Country Representative (CR). The selection typically involves consultation with senior members of the mathematics and mathematics education community, and the CR serves as the liaison between ICMI and national stakeholders, facilitating communication, reporting, and engagement with international mathematics education activities.
The primary professional association supporting mathematics educators in Singapore is the Association of Mathematics Educators (AME). AME is a national, non-profit organization that brings together mathematics teachers, curriculum specialists, researchers, and education leaders across primary, secondary, pre-university and tertiary levels. Membership is open to both local and international educators. AME advances the teaching and learning of mathematics through conferences, seminars, workshops, public lectures, and publications. A centerpiece of AME’s activities is the annual Mathematics Teachers Conference (MTC), jointly organized with the Mathematics & Mathematics Education Department at the National Institute of Education (NIE). The association also publishes The Mathematician Educator, a peer-reviewed journal that supports scholarship and practitioner-focused inquiry in mathematics education. It features research articles, theoretical papers, practitioner reports, and commentaries that inform mathematics teaching, learning, and curriculum development. The journal continues the work of its predecessor, The Mathematics Educator, and serves both local and international audiences engaged in mathematics education research and practice.
Mathematics education research in Singapore is primarily conducted at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). NIE is the nation’s sole teacher education institute and a major center for educational research. Within NIE, the Mathematics and Mathematics Education (MME) Department focuses research on both mathematics and mathematics education, and leads local research in mathematics pedagogy, curriculum studies, assessment, mathematical thinking, computational thinking, technology-enhanced learning, and teacher professional development. MME researchers collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE), schools, and international partners, contributing to policy development, curriculum innovation, and research-informed teaching practices.
Mathematics teacher education in Singapore is centrally coordinated by the National Institute of Education (NIE). The system includes:
Pre-service Teacher Education. All primary, secondary, and junior college mathematics teachers complete their initial preparation at NIE. There are two major programs for pre-service teacher education. First, as part of NIE’s signature Double Major Program (DMP), MME offers the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics & Computational Thinking and Education, which combines mathematical foundations with computational thinking and pedagogy. Second, NIE offers the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), which aims to prepare university graduates to become primary, secondary, and junior college teachers. Both programs integrate mathematical content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, classroom practice, assessment literacy, and educational theory.
In-service Teacher Education. NIE also provides continuing professional development for practicing mathematics teachers. Professional learning opportunities include short courses, modular programs, advanced certificates, and customized school-based training. These programs strengthen teachers’ content knowledge, pedagogy, assessment practices, and integration of technology and computational thinking. The Ministry of Education, together with its Academy of Singapore Teachers, also work with NIE to design and implement nation-wide professional development for teachers in curriculum, pedagogy, and educational leadership.
Postgraduate Programs. NIE offers advanced degrees such as the Master of Education (Mathematics) and research-based postgraduate routes such as PhD (Mathematics Education) to prepare curriculum specialists, researchers, and teacher educators in mathematics education.
Program information:
https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nie/admissions/undergraduate-programmes
https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nie/admissions/graduate-education
Singapore’s mathematics curriculum is centrally designed and maintained by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It provides clear learning goals and coherent progression across educational levels. Key features across the system include:
• Mathematical problem solving as the central focus of the curriculum
• Emphasis on reasoning, communication, applications, modelling, and metacognition
• A spiral curriculum structure supporting conceptual depth and connection across topics
• Integration of technology and computational thinking
• Alignment of curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment to promote deep and meaningful learning
Primary Level. The primary mathematics curriculum establishes foundational numeracy, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving skills. Details:
https://www.moe.gov.sg/primary/curriculum/syllabus
Secondary Level. Secondary mathematics offers differentiated pathways (e.g., G1–G3 Mathematics, Additional Mathematics) to cater to varied learner profiles while maintaining strong emphasis on big ideas, mathematical processes, and applications.
https://www.moe.gov.sg/secondary/schools-offering-full-sbb/syllabus
Post-Secondary Level. A-Level mathematics is offered at H1, H2, H2 Further Mathematics, and H3 levels, preparing students for diverse university pathways in the sciences, engineering, business, and social sciences.
https://www.moe.gov.sg/post-secondary/a-level-curriculum-and-subject-syllabuses
The most up-to-date and authoritative curriculum documents can be found on the MOE website:
https://www.moe.gov.sg/