Ratio of Student Welfare Officers to Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Louis Ng asked for the median and average ratio of Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) to students in primary and secondary schools over the past five years.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that SWOs support students absent for long periods, those with legal issues, probation, or under child protection, and that a needs-based approach is used rather than looking at averages across schools.
Schools with higher need for such support have one or two SWOs each, with 102 school-based SWOs currently deployed, while other schools rely on teachers, school counsellors, and 21 roving SWOs for support.
The Ministry of Education will continue to periodically review SWO numbers and collaborate with partner agencies to support at-risk students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Louis Ng Kok Kwang

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education in each year for the past five years, what is the median and average ratio of student welfare officers to students in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools respectively.

Chan Chun Sing

Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) only support students who are absent from school for prolonged periods of time, those with brushes with the law and under probation, or under child protection. The needs of the schools vary, and it is not meaningful to look at averages across schools.

Taking a needs-based approach, primary and secondary schools with a higher number of such students are resourced with one or two SWOs each. There are 102 school-based SWOs currently.

Schools without a school-based SWO have a team of staff comprising teachers and school counsellors to support students who are at risk of not completing school. The Ministry of Education (MOE) also deploys roving SWOs to support these schools. Currently, there are 21 roving SWOs.

MOE will continue to periodically review the number of SWOs needed to support our students and work with other partner agencies to help uplift these students.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Louis Ng asked for the median and average ratio of Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) to students in primary and secondary schools over the past five years.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that SWOs support students absent for long periods, those with legal issues, probation, or under child protection, and that a needs-based approach is used rather than looking at averages across schools.
Schools with higher need for such support have one or two SWOs each, with 102 school-based SWOs currently deployed, while other schools rely on teachers, school counsellors, and 21 roving SWOs for support.
The Ministry of Education will continue to periodically review SWO numbers and collaborate with partner agencies to support at-risk students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Ratio of Student Welfare Officers to Students in Primary and Secondary Schools | PAPERCUTS

Ratio of Student Welfare Officers to Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2023.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Louis Ng asked for the median and average ratio of Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) to students in primary and secondary schools over the past five years.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that SWOs support students absent for long periods, those with legal issues, probation, or under child protection, and that a needs-based approach is used rather than looking at averages across schools.
Schools with higher need for such support have one or two SWOs each, with 102 school-based SWOs currently deployed, while other schools rely on teachers, school counsellors, and 21 roving SWOs for support.
The Ministry of Education will continue to periodically review SWO numbers and collaborate with partner agencies to support at-risk students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Louis Ng Kok Kwang

Chan Chun Sing

Taking a needs-based approach, primary and secondary schools with a higher number of such students are resourced with one or two SWOs each. There are 102 school-based SWOs currently.

MOE will continue to periodically review the number of SWOs needed to support our students and work with other partner agencies to help uplift these students.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Mr Louis Ng asked for the median and average ratio of Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) to students in primary and secondary schools over the past five years.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that SWOs support students absent for long periods, those with legal issues, probation, or under child protection, and that a needs-based approach is used rather than looking at averages across schools.
Schools with higher need for such support have one or two SWOs each, with 102 school-based SWOs currently deployed, while other schools rely on teachers, school counsellors, and 21 roving SWOs for support.
The Ministry of Education will continue to periodically review SWO numbers and collaborate with partner agencies to support at-risk students.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Ratio of Student Welfare Officers to Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Louis Ng Kok Kwang

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified

Ratio of Student Welfare Officers to Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Louis Ng Kok Kwang

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified