Education — Topics

8 May 2017

Statistics on PSLE Cohorts and Their Progression to Alternative Qualifications

Mr Darryl David asked for the number of students in each PSLE cohort from the past five years and the percentage who opted for alternative qualifications like the Integrated Programme (IP) or International Baccalaureate instead of the GCE O-levels.
The Ministry of Education provided data on PSLE sitters from 2012 to 2016 and explained that the IP is a six-year pathway leading to A-levels, IB, or a specialist diploma, without taking O-levels.
The IP intake was planned to accommodate about 10% of each PSLE cohort, starting at a lower percentage in early years and increasing to 8% for the 2012 cohort and 10% for the 2016 cohort.

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8 May 2017

Conversion or Bridging Programmes for Non-Ministry Kindergarten Teachers to Gain Access to Ministry's Kindergartens

Ang Hin Kee asked whether there are conversion or bridging programmes for non-Ministry kindergarten teachers to join Ministry kindergartens to expand the pool of qualified educators.
MOE responded that there is no need for such programmes as it already recruits experienced educators and fresh graduates from relevant courses.
MOE partners with Ngee Ann Polytechnic to offer a full-time Diploma (Conversion) in Early Childhood Teaching for mid-careerists without the required qualifications.
The programme aims to prepare them for roles as MOE Kindergarten educators.
MOE will continue efforts to attract and retain good educators for its kindergartens.

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8 May 2017

Asian Nursing Scholarship Recipients and Their Performance

Minister Gan Kim Yong reported that between 1994 and 2016, about 200 Asian Nursing Scholarships were awarded annually, with less than 1% of scholars failing to complete their studies and less than 3% not fulfilling their bond after graduation.
For the 2013 intake cohort, none of the 301 scholarship holders have failed their work probation thus far, and the Ministry will continue to recover liquidated damages from those who breach their bonds.
Applicants must meet academic requirements, including English proficiency, and may undergo additional selection tests; the Ministry monitors scholars' performance and provides support, and the programme will be regularly reviewed to enhance its effectiveness.

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8 May 2017

Falls from Personal Mobility Devices and Progress of Safe Cycling Programmes for Students

Dr Lim Wee Kiak inquired about the progress of safe cycling programmes for students, whether they cover all types of personal mobility devices (PMDs), and the number of PMD-related injury cases treated in government hospitals or polyclinics over the past two years.
The Land Transport Authority has engaged over 70,000 primary school students through publications and piloted a Safe Riding Programme in four schools, with plans to expand it further this year.
The programme covers PMDs and teaches users to handle various situations, requiring participants to have basic device skills, and new users can seek training from retailers.
Government hospitals and polyclinics do not track statistics on injuries from PMD falls.

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8 May 2017

Maintenance and Safety Inspection of Sports Equipment and Facilities in Schools

Schools conduct risk assessments and inspections for all physical activities to identify and mitigate safety risks, examining factors like facilities, equipment, and participant readiness.
Sports facilities and equipment are maintained based on manufacturer schedules or regular school inspections if no recommendations exist.
Students are taught personal responsibility for safety through the PE curriculum, including proper equipment handling and adherence to safety briefings before activities.

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8 May 2017

Directory of Qualified Subject Teachers

Murali Pillai proposed creating a directory of qualified teachers for subjects not offered in Special Education (SPED) schools and monitoring parental and student interest to expand future subject offerings.
The Ministry representative explained that SPED schools offer a customized curriculum or national curriculum with certifications, and subject availability is determined by student interests and needs with adequate teachers.
The debate highlighted the ministry’s focus on tailored education for students with disabilities and its current approach to subject selection and teacher adequacy.

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8 May 2017

Support for SMEs in Succession Planning and M&A Advisory

The government supports SME succession planning through grants and training, including SPRING’s Capability Development Grant to fund external consultants for talent management and leadership development, and SkillsFuture programmes such as the Leadership and People Management WSQ courses and the NextGen Leadership Series.
SMEs can enhance succession capabilities by sending HR practitioners to SkillsFuture’s Continuing Education and Training Centres for specialist diplomas that include succession management modules, and by using the SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative to design leadership roadmaps.
SPRING collaborates with partners like SGX and UOB to run M&A seminars and networking events to help SMEs understand the M&A process and connect with potential buyers.
SMEs can seek M&A guidance from any of the 12 SME Centres and tap the Capability Development Grant to engage certified consultants for strategy formulation, target identification, due diligence, and post-transaction integration.
The initiatives address the challenge that many SMEs cannot afford conventional M&A advisory firms due to small deal sizes by providing affordable support through government-backed schemes and partnerships.

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8 May 2017

CPF Education Scheme for All Approved Educational Institutions

Patrick Tay asked to expand the CPF Education Scheme to all programmes at approved institutions, beyond full-time subsidised diploma and degree courses.
Lim Swee Say explained that the CPF scheme for education, introduced in 1989, is a loan limited to full-time subsidised diploma and degree courses to protect retirement savings.
The minister emphasized caution in expanding CPF use for education to ensure retirement adequacy, given increasing life expectancy.

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8 May 2017

Primary One Admission Based on Active Community Participation

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked for statistics on the number of children admitted under the priority for active community leadership in 2015 and 2016, and for schools where Phase 2B filled almost all places leaving only 20 for Phase 2C.
Ng Chee Meng stated that only about 1% of the Primary 1 cohort was admitted under the active community leader scheme, with the majority of Phase 2B places going to parent volunteers and members of affiliated groups.
All schools in 2015 and all but one school in 2016 had more than 20 places left for Phase 2C, with the exception having 1% of its cohort admitted via the community leader scheme.

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8 May 2017

Progress of "Teach Less, Learn More" Policy

The "Teach Less, Learn More" policy, launched in 2005, aims to engage students through diverse teaching methods and has shown positive outcomes, including increased student engagement and teacher reflectiveness.
International assessments like TIMSS 2015 and PISA 2015 indicate that students enjoy learning, particularly in Mathematics and Science, under this policy.
The Ministry of Education has reduced curriculum content by 30% on average since 2005 to manage student workload and regularly reviews curriculum load based on feedback from teachers and students.
MOE continues to monitor homework policies to ensure appropriateness, allowing students time for family, rest, and personal interests while promoting a joyful learning experience.
The Ministry will work with schools to strengthen teaching practices and support inquiry-based learning, though teachers need time to develop these skills.

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8 May 2017

Singapore University of Social Sciences Bill

Minister Ong Ye Kung introduced the bill to establish SUSS as Singapore's sixth autonomous university, highlighting its unique focus on lifelong learning, applied social sciences, and serving adult learners.
MPs supported the bill but raised concerns about SUSS's broad programme offerings beyond social sciences, its name change, and ensuring support for working adults' financial and admission needs.
The Minister clarified that SUSS will retain its diverse programmes, the name reflects a broad academic approach, and it will not reduce opportunities for adult learners while enhancing its role in applied learning and social development.

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8 May 2017

Promotion of Financial Technology

The Ministry of Education (Higher Education and Skills) responded on behalf of the Prime Minister, stating that financial technology is transforming the industry and financial institutions are investing in fintech capabilities while the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) supports development through a regulatory sandbox and updated policies like cloud computing guidelines.
MAS encourages collaboration between established financial institutions and fintech players, as evidenced by events like the Fintech Festival and the establishment of innovation labs by global financial institutions, aiming to foster a Smart Financial Centre where innovation is pervasive.
To ensure workforce readiness, MAS is working with Institutes of Higher Learning to align curricula with industry needs, and initiatives like the Financial Information Technology Academy and IBF offer training in areas such as data analytics and cybersecurity, supported by funding schemes for skills upgrading.

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8 May 2017

Proposal for Compulsory Law, Social Norms and Security Awareness Courses for Foreigners Working or Residing in Singapore

Patrick Tay proposed that foreigners on longer-term passes undergo compulsory courses covering Singapore laws, social norms, and security awareness to aid integration.
The Prime Minister's Office responded that various existing compulsory and voluntary programmes already cover these topics for specific groups like Work Permit holders, foreign domestic workers, and students.
The government highlighted that integration is an ongoing process requiring collective effort from both Singaporeans and foreigners, rather than being achievable through one-off compulsory courses alone.

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8 May 2017

Impact of Junior College Mergers on Supply of Students for University Admission

The Minister explained that falling secondary school cohort sizes will reduce the number of university entrants, but this will be offset by raising the cohort participation rate to 40% by 2020, aiming to maintain a sufficient and diverse student supply for universities.
Assoc Prof Daniel Goh raised concerns that the merger of junior colleges (JCs) might reduce the JC pathway and make it more elitist, questioning if this preserves multiple pathways to university or promotes elitism.
The Minister responded that JC eligibility criteria remain unchanged (at 20 points), and while all pathways will shrink due to smaller cohorts, the education system will strive for greater diversity in pathways to help students fulfil their potential.
Both speakers acknowledged that even with a smaller cohort, the focus is on expanding and diversifying higher education pathways, including lifelong learning, rather than relying solely on traditional routes like JCs.

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4 Apr 2017

Opening of New Primary School at Designated Education Site Next to Teban Vista

Ms Foo Mee Har inquired about the possibility of opening a new Primary school at the Teban Vista site to serve residents in Ayer Rajah and West Coast constituencies.
MOE assesses demand and supply at national and regional levels, considering population and housing projects to ensure sufficient school places.
The Ministry prioritizes placing children in schools reasonably near their homes but notes the need for a sufficient catchment area to operate new schools efficiently.
There are six Primary schools within two kilometres of the affected estates, and MOE has no plans for a new school due to the availability of sufficient places.

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4 Apr 2017

Update on Global Schoolhouse Initiative Given Recent Private School Closures

Leon Perera asked for an update on the Global Schoolhouse initiative given the recent closure of many private schools.
The government noted that the Private Education Act introduced in 2009 led to consolidation, with the number of registered private education institutions remaining stable in recent years.
The Global Schoolhouse initiative, launched in 2002, attracted top international institutions like INSEAD and ESSEC to Singapore, enhancing the education landscape and talent ecosystem.
The focus has now shifted toward collaborating with local institutions and companies to develop industry-relevant talent and build a robust ecosystem for businesses.
The overall goal is to strengthen Singapore's education diversity and talent pipeline while adapting to sector changes.

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4 Apr 2017

Funding Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Pursuing University Studies

Leon Perera asked about funding help for persons with disabilities pursuing their first degree who are ineligible for scholarships or grants due to age.
The government provides subsidies, bursaries, loans, and allows use of Post-Secondary Education Account funds to ensure no student is denied education due to financial constraints.
Additional targeted measures include the SkillsFuture Study Award for Persons with Disabilities and financial assistance for assistive technology and support services at universities.
SPD scholarships are merit-based and not age-restricted, though they are managed independently of the Ministry of Education.

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4 Apr 2017

Pervasiveness of Adapt and Grow Initiative in Healthcare Sector

Ms K Thanaletchimi asked about the pervasiveness of the Adapt and Grow initiative in the healthcare sector, and the Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, responded that in 2016, about 300 jobseekers were placed into healthcare through this initiative, complemented by recruitment fairs that hired about 400 mid-career locals.
The Minister outlined enhancements to the Professional Conversion Programme and other schemes to support mid-career Singaporeans in becoming nurses, administrators, and support care staff, including increased funding for training and new scholarships for nursing studies.
The government will work with partners like MOM, WSG, e2i, healthcare employers, and unions to reach out to mid-career job seekers and facilitate their transition into the healthcare sector.
Ms Thanaletchimi sought clarification on the Attach and Train programme's pervasiveness across all healthcare institutions, including the long-term care sector, and the Minister agreed to work with unions and employers to expand the programme.
The overall response emphasizes collaboration and multiple initiatives to make the Adapt and Grow and related programmes more pervasive in the healthcare sector.

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4 Apr 2017

Success Rate of Professional Conversion Programme

The Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) has admitted over 400 Singaporeans since 2009, with 82% of those enrolled between 2009 and 2011 completing training and being successfully placed into healthcare jobs.
Among those successfully placed, 92% remained in their roles after the minimum service period, indicating strong retention.
Public healthcare institutions also support non-clinical staff in converting to clinical roles, with 54 scholarships or sponsorships provided over the last three years.
Over 750 enrolled nurses have advanced to become registered nurses through polytechnic programmes in the last three years, showing upward mobility within the sector.
The PCP is largely standardised based on professional modules but includes institution-specific on-the-job training, with some variations across organisations.

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4 Apr 2017

Investment in Infrastructure to Support Social and Economic Development as Population Ages

The government has adopted a whole-of-government approach through the Action Plan for Successful Ageing to support Singaporeans in an ageing society, overseen by a ministerial committee.
Investments include continuing education and training infrastructure, SkillsFuture initiatives, and the WorkPro scheme to keep older workers employable and support mid-career changes.
Infrastructure and programs for seniors’ social needs are being expanded, such as HDB’s housing options, Active Ageing Hubs, and enhanced home safety measures.
Healthcare and aged care infrastructure has been growing since 2012, with additional hospital beds, nursing home places, and community care facilities.
Efforts are also being made to make housing, transport, parks, and buildings senior-friendly, including barrier-free designs, accessibility funds, and therapeutic gardens.

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