Singapore's schools have become global role models, with consistently high results in international tests.But now they want to move beyond this - towards something that cultivates creativity and what they term as ''holistic education''.

Minister for Education, Heng Swee Keat, said this is ''less about content knowledge'' but ''more about how to process information".This strategy aims to prepare today's students for the demands of the next 20 years.

Outside the classroom

So instead of the traditional images of high-pressure Asian schools - with rows of heads buried in books - they are trying different approaches to learning.Putting this into practice, on a sunny April morning, 80 students from one of Singapore's top schools were trekking outdoors.

'Quality teachers'
This next stage of development follows Singapore's huge improvement at school level - which has been hailed by education leaders in the US and the UK.

'Survival years'
Singapore, a tiny island with few natural resources, has promoted education as a pillar of economic growth since its independence in 1965.Teachers such as Mr Lin are seen as key to raising standards in Singapore's schools. Those were the ''survival driven'' years, Mr Heng told the Singapore Conference in Washington DC in February.

East-west bridge
In higher education, the island nation has attracted universities from the US and Europe looking for a base in Asia.

These include the top business schools INSEAD and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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