The author aims at answering the question: “What activities do the authorities undertake to manage the multiculturalism of the city-state which is situated at the intersection of three cultural spheres (the Chinese, Indian and Islamic) and which constitutes a unique mosaic of religions, denominations, beliefs, ideologies, ethnic and language groups? To what extent do the undertakings of state authorities affect social behaviour of citizens and their mentality?”. Using the document analysis (especially of legal acts), the author discusses: demographical issues, with special regard to the policy of positive discrimination towards autochthonous population of Singapore – Malayans; religious pluralism and secularity of the state which promotes religious harmony; some examples of reactions of the society and officials to the attitudes and statements posing threat to religious harmony; the linguistic policy called multilingualism (with special focus on the role of Singlish – the language which is becoming an attribute of the Singapore identity); the values which school implants in learners so that they could live together and build inclusive society. The author concludes that – in the conditions of Singapore – multiculturalism is becoming a socially functional phenomenon, which enhances the construction of inclusive society and its successful economic, social and cultural development. In the face of the European crisis of multiculturalism, the author encourages researchers to pay more attention to the positive experiences of the countries which do not belong to the European cultural circles.

The objective of this study is to contribute to the knowledge base of teacher professional development and formative assessment using Singapore as an example. The study was carried out through an exploratory case study in a Singapore school. Our study shows that while the teachers find formative assessment beneficial, they do not have sufficient knowledge of it and face the challenges of heavy workload, time pressure and lack of confidence. The results serve to inform policymakers and educators of the need to provide effective and sustained teacher professional development in formative assessment as well as continual teacher support and collaboration.

From the struggle for survival to world-class education – key programs in Singapore’s educational policy

The article draws attention to historical, political and legal aspects of the changes introduced in the Singapore education system. Educational reforms in this country have led to the formation of a highly effective system, i.e. world-class education. The aim of the article is to indicate some key programs of the government’s educational policy that have contributed to the country’s transition from the third world level to a leader of the first-world level. The article is a descriptive overview set in a temporal perspective. As such, it highlights the main changes in the organization and the functioning of the education system. Its five phases have been isolated and their specific features have been described. The effectiveness of the strategy adopted by Singapore has been assessed in the context of its political culture.

Ideal cities? Examples of implementing the smart city concept in Asia

The article analyzes the issue of an ideal city. The dynamic development of digital technologies leads us to believe that it is thanks to their use that the future cities will be created. At the beginning of the XXI century, the concept of a smart city became popular as a model of transforming the city using technologies to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. Projects of modern solutions are used more often in Asia than in Europe. Examples include cities built from scratch, but special attention should be paid to Singapore, which is at the top of many rankings. The article discusses all these issues, and the aim is to show the specificity of the functioning of a smart city on the example of Singapore.

The article highlights changes in Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) in Singapore. In response to the country’s current and future needs, the government has been introducing various mandatory programs aimed at integrating ethnic groups and developing human resources through education. The aim of the article is to recognize the importance attributed to CCE in educational policy and to discuss the currently implemented approach. The diagnosis takes into account the broader social, political and historical context of the country, in which CCE is embedded.