Curriculum for Primary and Secondary Pupils in Full-day Schools

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Education (a) what proportion of time in a full-day school curriculum for Primary and Secondary schools is utilised for character-building and co-curricular activities; and (b) whether academic lessons can be conducted during these periods.

Periods set aside for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), which include weekly assembly time, take up about two hours and two hours and 30 minutes per week in Primary and Secondary schools respectively. This constitutes about 10% of formal school hours.

Co-curricular Activities (CCA) occur outside formal school hours and span 30 of the 40-week school year. On average, Secondary students spend five to six hours per week on CCA. In Primary school, CCA is optional and generally starts in Primary 3 or 4. Students spend an average of two to three hours per week on CCA.

The curriculum time set aside for CCE and CCA cannot be replaced by academic lessons. Teachers use CCE periods and CCA time to facilitate students' learning and application of values and to build their character. A key component of CCE is the Values-In-Action programme, where students develop values, such as empathy and care for others, through serving the community.

Schools nurture character and inculcate values through all subjects and programmes, not just during CCE and CCA. On top of these, schools also utilise other enrichment and life skills programmes, such as specialised workshops or learning journeys, to reinforce students' learning in CCE. Our schools adopt an integrated approach and seek the support of parents and our community in bringing out the best in every child.