Schools in Singapore Transform Underused Spaces into Makerspaces
Many schools in Singapore have turned underutilized spaces into productive learning hubs with the help of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) “School White Area and Canteen Grant.” Launched in April 2024 with a budget of $64 million, the program aims to modernize school facilities to meet evolving educational needs.
By mid-2025, 110 schools had benefited from the grant, establishing makerspaces, environmental hubs, and edible gardens. At Palm View Primary School in Sengkang, an old art room was transformed into a makerspace where students design projects using 3D printers and Lego sets. Principal Ming Kum said the space allows children to “step away from screens and create things with their own hands.”
Similarly, Greendale Secondary School in Punggol converted a 1,200-square-meter grass field into a “living classroom” and edible garden, where students engage in hands-on lessons on sustainable agriculture and nutrition.These projects reflect a growing shift in Singapore’s education system toward a learning culture rooted in creativity, sustainability, and social awareness.