EIGHT secondary schools will partner the polytechnics to offer three new 'O' level subjects in applied disciplines starting January.

These new Applied Subjects will be reflected in the students' GCE 'O' level Examination Certificates and be recognised for admission into Junior Colleges and Polytechnics, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a press release on Thursday.

The three Applied Subjects, to be offered to Express and Normal (Academic) students, are Creative 3D Animation, Fundamentals of Electronics and Introduction to Enterprise Development.

Creative 3D Animation will bring students through the whole development cycle experience of a 3D animation production, from preproduction to production and postproduction. It will be offered by Dunman Secondary, Pasir Ris Secondary and Temasek Secondary, which will be partnering Temasek Polytechnic.

Partnering Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Hong Kah Secondary, St Andrew's Secondary ad Tanglin Secondary will offer Fundamentals of Electronics, which introduces students to electronic circuit theories, device operating principles and applications of techniques of electronics in circuit design.

Fairfield Methodist Secondary and Outram Secondary will offer Enterprise Development - a course that provides students with the basic knowledge of planning and organising a business, helping them apply concepts in marketing and finance to develop a sound business plan - with Singapore Polytechnic.

'The new Applied Subjects will enhance our existing curriculum offerings. Students can choose to pursue their interests in applied areas of learning. Express and Normal (Academic) students in the eight selected schools can offer the Applied Subjects in addition to the core subjects,' the MOE said.

The core subjects are English Language, the Mother Tongue Language, Mathematics, Combined Humanities and a Science subject.

MOE said the Applied Subjects 'will be similar to existing GCE 'O' level subjects in rigour and scope and comprise at least 120 hours of instruction time'. The subjects will be conducted by polytechnic lecturers or secondary school teachers at the school over the upper secondary years.

Greater emphasis will be placed on practice-based learning such as laboratory sessions, project-based work ad group work.

The assessment framework will be similar to that in polytechnics. Comprising two components, there will be a written examination in addition to coursework or project work, which may include oral presentations, project reports or assignments.

Students may include their grades in Applied Subjects in the computation of the L1R5 score, which is the aggregate score of a first language (English or Higher Mother Tongue Language) and five relevant subjects. The five relevant subjects must include at least one humanities subject.

The student's GCE 'O' level Examination Certificates will also reflect the new Applied Subjects and the subjects are recognised for admission into Junior Colleges and Polytechnics.

if the Applied Subjects are relevant to the student's subsequent course of study in the polytechnic, he may be considered for credit exemption.

'Over time, as schools and polytechnics gain more experience in offering Applied Subjects, we expect more secondary schools to work with the polytechnics to offer Applied Subjects to their students. This will allow more students to benefit from being exposed to applied learning options in their secondary school years,' the MOE said.