SOTA to offer first IB career-related certificate programme in S’pore

SINGAPORE — The Singapore School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA) will be the first in Singapore to offer the International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate (IBCC) programme, a new option tailored for Year 5 and 6 students who show capacity to pursue a professional career in the arts.

A total of 25 Year 5 students have been selected for this year’s inaugural IBCC batch, where they will undergo specialised training to develop their artistic skills and prepare them for admission into arts institutes and conservatories both locally and internationally.

Speaking at the SOTA Awards Day, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong said: “SOTA has to be a specialised school where the arts take centre stage, and where there is a strong and dedicated focus in nurturing artistic talents. In particular, we recognised that in today’s environment, achieving success as an arts practitioner requires more dedicated and full-time training.”

Complementing the more academically rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) offered in other local and international schools, the new IBCC is an additional specialised pathway for students with artistic talent that offers a more flexible curriculum to achieve both academic and artistic excellence.

Under the new programme can look forward to career-related learning where core subjects in the IBCC programme are taught in consideration of the students’ artistic career. Students will also receive authentic learning opportunities through work attachments and practicum with various companies in the arts industry.

“We envision that through the provision of this new programme, we will be able to nurture the artistic talent, academic merits and character of students and groom the next generation of professional artist for the local arts scene,” said SOTA principal Lim Geok Cheng.

Both local and international art institutions like LASALLE College of the Arts, Yong Siew Toh Conversatory of Music, New England Conservatory (USA) and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance (UK) have all indicated their support of the IBCC qualification.