4-Day School Week & 1 CCA Day: Should More Schools Follow Christ Church Secondary's Unique System?

Since 2010, Christ Church Secondary School students have been following a four-day lesson week, sort of. The school's “4+1” curriculum encompasses regular academic lessons from Monday to Thursday, with Fridays reserved for co-curricular activities (CCA). This is a departure from most schools where CCAs are usually scheduled after a full day of classes. 

Should more schools follow suit? No surprises here — the idea is a hit among students and teachers alike, as Yes 933 jocks Zeliang and Chen Qijia found out on the latest episode of Gen Z Crash Course when they visited the school.

Students from Christ Church Secondary explained how the arrangement works for them. 

“When I have one day just for CCA, that means I end school earlier on normal school days. This gives me more time to pursue other hobbies and do my homework without feeling overly stressed,” said a student from the school's Outdoor Adventure Club.

Another student from the Infocomm Club added that having CCA on Fridays gives her “more motivation to complete the week” since she has more time to relax and catch up with friends then. 

Yi Xin, the chairperson of the National Police Cadet Corps, also feels like she has more energy to fully dedicate herself to her CCA on Fridays, even though it can be physically demanding at times. 

“Once Thursday wraps up, I can put my academic pressure aside and I can be mentally prepared on Friday,” she said.

Is it stressful to cram five days of lessons into four days? Not really, according to the students. Some shared that the teachers usually plan out lessons well so they don’t feel like regular days are busier than usual. 

Students also disagree with people who think the school “puts less focus on academics”. 

“During the four days of [lessons], we still cover the content that is needed, and after our academic days, we still need to revise. The CCA day is more an advantage than a disadvantage,” Yi Xin explained.

The students are not the only ones who have grown to enjoy such a curriculum. 

According to Tina, a mum serving as the chairperson of the school’s Parent Support Group, she initially had “mixed feelings” upon finding out about the school’s four-day lesson plan. However, she soon saw the benefits of the arrangement. 

“Studying for four days instead of dragging out lessons over five days feels neater and more focused. It helps with time management,” she said. 

Ms Loke, a teacher at the school, also shares: “Most teachers in Christ Church Secondary generally love Fridays. I wouldn’t say we don’t do any planning — there’s a lot of planning involved — but there’s a lot of student-led [activities] with guidance from the teachers. On Fridays, we see the students blossom and shine in their own roles.”

“Generally, [the students] are all on task because we have a few breaks in-between. I do see that the kids are extra happy on Fridays. Having this approach helps to tell the students how important it is to look beyond their academics, and I think that’s something we’re driving at as a school, ” she added.

The consensus? A curriculum like Christ Church’s might very well bring more benefit to students, and should other schools have the infrastructure to allow them to have their CCAs at the same time, is highly recommended by those who’ve experienced it first-hand. 

Could this work out as the future of education in Singapore? What do you think?

Watch the full episode of Gen Z Crash Course below to find what the other students have to say.