Eight more schools will be participating in the Direct School Admissions Exercise (DSA) for Secondary 1 admission in 2010.

Their participation brings the total number of schools in the scheme to 74. 

One of the eight participating schools will be the new School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST). The SST, which starts in January 2010, will offer a four-year programme comprising regular academic subjects and options in applied areas related to technology, media and design.

The other schools participating in the DSA exercise are Bukit Merah Secondary (floorball) Chong Boon Secondary (Environmental Education), Evergreen Secondary (National Education), Pasir Ris Crest Secondary (Fencing), Pierce Secondary (Uniformed Groups), Seng Kang Secondary (Hockey) and Unity Secondary (Basketball).

DSA was introduced in 2004 and allows students who do well in non-academic areas - including sports and arts - to gain admission into certain schools.

This year, two non-academic areas will be introduced in the scheme - National Education (NE) and Environmental Education (EE). NE emphasises community involvent and NE-related experience, while EE selections value students' participation in environment-related projects at the National level.