Sota looks to draw more students from lower-income families

SINGAPORE — To draw more children from lower-income families and identify and nurture students with a flair for the arts, the School of the Arts (Sota) will improve its outreach to primary schools.

Without providing a timeline, the school said it plans to roll out targeted and intensive arts enrichment programmes for those with an aptitude for the arts.

Presently, its outreach to primary schools serves to raise awareness of the school and its application process.

Sota, set up 10 years ago, is the only national specialised pre-tertiary arts school with a six-year integrated arts and academic curriculum, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma or Career-related Programme. Without providing the proportion of its students who now come from lower-income families, the school said the plans to improve its outreach stem from a 10-month review of the school's strengths and areas for improvement.

To increase early access to training for young talent, Sota officially launched an Arts Development Award for upper-primary pupils from low-income households on Monday (July 30).

Twenty-three pupils were selected from 52 nominees for the award, which is funded by philanthropic organisation Temasek Foundation Nurtures.

While the award is presently for pupils interested in or showing an aptitude for dance or visual arts, Sota principal Lim Geok Cheng said it is "looking at expanding it to include other art forms" in future.

Award recipients are matched with a "buddy" — a Sota student who supports them in their academic, artistic and personal growth.

All primary schools are invited to nominate students for the award, and nominees submit their artwork or dance video clip for review.

Award recipients who are keen to enrol in Sota down the road will do so through its Talent Academy under the Direct School Admission exercise, which allows students to gain entry to a school based on their talent and achievements in non-academic areas such as the arts.

Park View Primary student Dwi Tiara Haqiem Mohd Fazel, 11, is among this year's award recipients.

She was nominated by her school's art coordinator, Mrs Eileen Yap, 51, who said the Primary Five student shows potential and articulates ideas for her artwork well.

Tiara's mother, Ms Jana Ismail, 38, said she would otherwise be unable to sign her daughter up for an art class, as she is a single parent of four children. She lost her husband to nose cancer five years ago and works part-time as a teacher's assistant or receptionist to support her family.

"Tiara has always wanted to be in an art class since she was small. She just didn't have the opportunity," said Ms Jana.

The award allows Tiara to attend art lessons for a year at children's art academy Artary in Tampines Mall every Sunday afternoon, where she dabbles in everything from three-dimensional artwork to pastel and acrylic.

Tiara – who hopes to attend Sota and teach art in a primary school in future – will have her "buddy", fifth-year Sota visual arts student Aum Sebin, 18, to guide her through the process of preparing her portfolio when the time comes.

Speaking at Sota's Awards Day on Monday, Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu said broader access to the school will ensure that children "have opportunities to realise their potential, regardless of their family circumstances".

As part of other recommendations from the review, the school will deepen its partnerships with local arts groups and cultural institutions to create "more authentic learning opportunities" for its students.

It will also tie up with community-service providers that help children with special needs and those from disadvantaged families, as well as the elderly. This will allow students to develop compassion and apply their talent in service of the community, Sota said.

Sign up for TODAY's WhatsApp service. Click here:
 

Sign Up