Additional Time Allocated for Character and Citizenship and Physical Education

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the additional time allocated for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and Physical Education (PE) has resulted in longer school hours; (b) whether there is sufficient time for the completion of curriculum for the other subjects; and (c) whether schools are using time after the official curriculum hours to complete the syllabus for examinable subjects.

Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and Physical Education (PE) are important ways through which our students are

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developed holistically. In developing the CCE curriculum for implementation this year, the allocation of curriculum time was reviewed to allow schools to have sufficient time to inculcate values and build social-emotional competencies in their students. For instance, the Form Teacher Guidance Period was introduced in Primary school to provide Primary school teachers with more time to interact with their students.

The curriculum time for PE lessons was also reviewed and increased to provide enough time to develop in students the knowledge, skills and attitudes that would help them pursue an active and healthy lifestyle.

In summary, there has been an increase in curriculum time by between one to two hours per week to meet the holistic development needs of students. This increase in time is aligned with the Ministry's commitment to investing more resources in developing students beyond the academic curriculum. The Ministry appreciates the support of parents, who have responded positively to these changes.

The Ministry designs the curriculum such that the learning outcomes for each subject are achievable within the recommended curriculum time. As students may have different learning needs, schools have some flexibility to adjust the curriculum time allocated to the teaching of the various subjects.