School Curriculum to Educate Students on Body Image and Self-esteem Related Issues

Ms Raeesah Khan asked the Minister for Education (a) whether any aspects of the current school curriculum seek to educate students about body image and self-esteem related issues, especially in relation to the use of social media platforms; (b) if yes, at which levels of education does this occur and what is the content covered; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will consider introducing such content into the school curriculum.

The Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum equips students with age-appropriate knowledge and skills to help them build healthy self-esteem and positive self-identity, and also in relation to the impact of social media.

At the Primary level, students acquire social and emotional competencies, such as emotional regulation, perspective taking and self-confidence. They learn to recognise and appreciate their strengths and personal qualities and understand the developmental changes that they will experience as they grow, such as physiological, social and emotional changes.

At the Secondary and Pre-University levels, students have opportunities to discuss how their perception of their body image can be affected by external influences, such as social media and social comparison. They learn to appreciate that their self-esteem and sense of worth do not need to depend on external affirmation, but can be anchored on their understanding of themselves and their intrinsic qualities. They also learn how to manage online interactions that may undermine their self-confidence.

Parents can also help support their children to be discerning users of the digital space. Schools are provided with Cyber Wellness resources to engage parents as our partners to educate their child and equip parents with strategies for digital parenting.