There is a stereotype in place that, compared to Americans, Asian children are extremely smart. particularly in the areas of math, science and reading, kids grow up to best other American students in these areas. In fact, Singapore primary four students rank as the best in the world in math and the second-best in science, a global study shows.

Singaporean kids have consistently shown to be among the smartest in the Asian region. It is no wonder, since Singapore has some of the best colleges and schools in Asia. However, it is more than that. The reason Singaporean kids are so good at these subjects is because they enjoy them--thanks to the nurturing of primary schools in Singapore.

Singapore's Ministry of Education was reported to have said "The studies show that our students received strong support from their schools and homes, which has helped to cultivate their interest in these subjects. Our students liked mathematics and science more than their international peers." This is why for many parents with young kids, the first important step to a life of good education is to find a good primary school in Singapore that is both competitive, nurturing and will pay attention to their child's needs.

This is not a problem since there are so many primary schools in Singapore that have been accredited by the Ministry of Education. In fact, they laud the efforts of these schools, saying, "Internationally, the studies show that students benefitted from engaging in early-literacy activities such as reading books, telling stories and singing songs before starting P1."

This shows that primary education must be taken seriously as it forms good study habits early on. It is precisely because of this detail to the education structure that Singapore has so many skilled workers under its belt. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Singapore's government instituted the practice of streaming (or tracking) students based on their academic ability from elementary school onward. After six years of primary-school education, Singaporean students take a test that determines whether they'll be placed in a special school for the gifted, a vocational school or a special education program, and another test later determines their higher-ed options.

In math and reading, good primary schools in Singapore teach fewer subjects in greater depth before students are able to move on. This allows them to learn at a pace they are comfortable at. Other countries have adopted this type of teaching, called "Singapore Math" and offer them as extra classes for students who would like to improve their skills in math and reading out of school.