Debated in Parliament on 16 Sep 2013.
Ms Janice Koh asked the Minister for Education (a) what is being done to encourage principals and school leaders to increase the take-up rate of Humanities as full subjects at Upper Secondary level and Institutes of Higher Learning; (b) what is being done to support students from schools that do not offer full Literature, Geography or History at "O" levels but who wish to take up these subjects; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider setting up an external academy for Humanities to pool resources and cater to such students.
At the Secondary level, students offer a range of subjects as part of a broad-based education. While schools are given the autonomy to decide on subjects to be offered at the upper Secondary level, MOE has actively encouraged schools to promote the teaching of the Humanities. To support schools, MOE has designed syllabuses that are relevant and forward-looking and the development of resources that support teachers in teaching the Humanities more effectively. MOE will continue to provide support to schools so that more students would offer the Humanities.
MOE also offers the Humanities Scholarship Programme in some Junior Colleges to provide for students passionate about the Humanities to pursue it at a deeper level. The intent is also for such students to continue pursuing the Humanities at the tertiary level.
Our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) similarly offer many options in the Humanities, some of which are new programmes and initiatives to attract students to the Humanities. One such initiative is the newly-established Yale-NUS College at NUS, which allows students to develop integrated competence in Social Sciences and the Humanities.
It would not be necessary to set up an external academy as there is sufficient capacity for teaching Humanities in schools and in our IHLs.
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