Education — Topics

29 Feb 2016

Employment Rights of Tertiary Students who Work Part-time

The Ministry of Manpower and CPF Board conduct public education on employment rights through the WorkRight initiative, including social media outreach and mobile clinics across heartlands.
Institutes of Higher Learning supplement national efforts with their own programs, such as training Career Guidance staff and integrating employment rights into curricula like ITE's Education and Career Guidance module.
Students can access employment rights information via the MOM website and institutional online career portals, with guidebooks from WorkRight provided to graduating students.
There are plans for closer collaboration between Institutes of Higher Learning and the National Trade Union Congress to enhance education through talks and roadshows on campus.

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29 Feb 2016

Support for Retrenched Workers and Their Families

The government provides a range of assistance for retrenched workers and their families, including employment support, financial aid, and help with housing, healthcare, and education costs during an economic downturn.
Employment measures include scaled-up training programmes, career coaching, job search workshops, and initiatives like the Career Support Programme and the Jobs Bank to help workers re-skill and find new jobs.
Financial and social assistance can be accessed quickly through Social Service Offices, with increased capacity and flexibility in schemes like ComCare, while Family Service Centres offer support for stress and family issues.

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29 Feb 2016

Building a Ready, Resilient and Relevant Workforce in the Financial Sector

Patrick Tay highlighted the financial sector's vulnerability to global economic pressures, citing layoffs by major banks and the need for a "3R" (ready, resilient, relevant) workforce, proposing tripartite collaboration and skills upgrading through the new Financial Sector Tripartite Committee and a career advisory centre.
Lawrence Wong acknowledged global consolidation pressures but noted Singapore's relative containment of impact, emphasizing growth in areas like fintech and asset management, and committed to enhancing education curricula, expanding SkillsFuture programs, and fostering a Singaporean core in leadership roles.
Both speakers stressed the importance of tripartite partnership—among unions, employers, and government—to support displaced workers, promote fair employment practices, and prepare the workforce for future industry changes through continuous learning and structured career pathways.

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29 Feb 2016

School Procedures for Students Involved in Police Investigations

Mr Dennis Tan inquired about how schools inform parents when students are involved in police investigations, the monitoring of protocols to protect minors, the review process for these protocols, and their alignment with Singapore's commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Mr Ang Wei Neng specifically asked about the procedures when police interview a student at school and subsequently take them to the police station for further questioning.
The Acting Minister for Education, Mr Ng Chee Meng, sought and received permission to address both questions later in a joint ministerial statement following a statement from the Minister for Home Affairs.

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28 Jan 2016

Cannabis Abuse in Singapore

The Minister reported that arrests for cannabis abuse have risen over the past three years, with 94% of those arrested being male and 57% under age 30, indicating a growing concern, particularly among youth.
The Ministry and Central Narcotics Bureau are intensifying anti-drug campaigns by targeting youths through school roadshows, social media, and advertisements to correct misperceptions that cannabis is a "soft drug."
Authorities are engaging parents and teachers by providing resources, updating schools on the drug situation, and informing institutions when a student is arrested for drug abuse to enable further investigations and preventive talks.
Rehabilitation for cannabis abusers is tailored to individual risk profiles, with programs ranging from six to 18 months based on assessments by trained psychologists.
When a student is arrested for drug abuse, the school is notified and may conduct additional investigations and educational sessions to address the issue within the student population.

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28 Jan 2016

Actions against Educators for Sexual Misconduct

MOE reports 14 cases of educator sexual misconduct over the past five years, with all cases reported to police, suspended officers during investigation, and dismissal for those found guilty or with serious boundary breaches, while redeployment is used for inconclusive cases with lingering concerns.
Dr Lim Wee Kiak questioned how this figure compares internationally and raised concerns about undetected cases, suggesting the need for whistleblower mechanisms, student education on sexual harassment, reporting hotlines, and surveys to gauge prevalence.
The Minister emphasized that educators are trained on conduct codes from recruitment through professional development, with explicit scenarios and expectations, while students receive age-appropriate education on sexual misconduct and grooming from Primary 1 onward, including peer support and reporting duties for staff.

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28 Jan 2016

Tightening Regulation of Private Schools

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked how many private schools have been ordered to stop operations and owners taken to court since the Council for Private Education (CPE) was established, and questioned why one school operated for years before being stopped, whether registration could be tightened with ACRA, and how CPE ensures compliance.
Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that since 2009, six private education institutions have been ordered to close, four cases taken to court, and CPE monitors schools through checks, inspections, and a dedicated Monitoring and Investigation Department established in 2014.
Dr Lim further inquired about the total number of students, Singaporeans enrolled, and the employability of graduates, noting complaints that some government jobs do not recognise degrees from private institutions despite CPE recognition.
The Minister highlighted that about 14,000 Singaporean students are enrolled annually, stressed the importance of career guidance and SkillsFuture, and mentioned that MOE is surveying top private institutions to disclose employment outcomes to improve transparency and balance in the education system.

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27 Jan 2016

Use of Portable Airconditioners and Air Purifiers in School Classrooms when PSI > 100

Christopher de Souza asked if the Ministry of Education would use portable air conditioners and air purifiers in classrooms when the PSI exceeds 100.
Ng Chee Meng announced that the Ministry will deploy about 25,000 air purifiers to all primary and secondary schools, MOE Kindergartens, and special education schools by July 2016.
The decision follows a haze management review, considers the prolonged 2015 haze season, and was made in consultation with the NEA and MOH.

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27 Jan 2016

Debate on President's Address

Parliament supports the President's Address, emphasising the need for a resilient, innovative economy and a caring society, with particular focus on education reform, lifelong learning, and addressing ageing demographics.
Speakers highlight economic restructuring towards value creation and innovation, calling for education system changes to reduce exam stress, foster creativity, and support lifelong learning through initiatives like SkillsFuture.
The debate stresses the importance of national security and social cohesion in countering terrorism, alongside proposals for inclusive education and stronger support for the elderly, including better long-term care options and anti-ageism measures in workplaces.

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27 Jan 2016

Education on Ballot Secrecy in Schools

Leon Perera asked if the social studies curriculum would include detailed explanations on why ballot secrecy is inviolable in elections.
The Acting Minister explained that while the curriculum covers elections and citizenship, specific topics like ballot secrecy are not included due to limited time, but students are encouraged to explore further using resources like the Elections Department website.
Perera suggested including a brief element on ballot secrecy in the curriculum, citing concerns from a minority of Singaporeans about the issue.
The Minister reiterated that voting is secret and affirmed, and that MOE aims to equip students with the skills to evaluate this on their own through curriculum and exploratory learning.

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15 Jan 2016

Ministry of Education

The Ministry aims to nurture every child into well-rounded, curious, and skilled adults through a student-centric, values-driven education system that reduces excessive academic focus and provides wider opportunities to discover interests.
Enhancements will be made across all education levels, including stronger preschool curriculum resources, diverse secondary school programmes, applied learning in junior colleges, and expanded pathways in institutes of higher learning to support varied talents and industry needs.
The ministry will increase university participation rates, strengthen regulation of private education, and deepen partnerships with communities and employers to ensure education remains a lifelong journey that bridges societal gaps and fosters innovation and resilience.

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18 Aug 2015

Primary 1 Enrolment into Full-time Madrasahs

For the 2016 academic year, six full-time madrasahs received 569 Primary 1 applications, with 391 students accepted after admission tests.
The madrasahs are currently deemed sufficient to meet community needs, so there are no plans to increase the annual Primary 1 intake.
MUIS will collaborate with madrasahs to enhance education quality, and the government is studying ways to improve secular subjects to better prepare future scholars and teachers.

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18 Aug 2015

Preparing Firefighters for Post-retirement Career Switches

K Karthikeyan asked if firefighters receive training for different jobs before early retirement to help them switch careers.
Teo Chee Hean responded that since 2012, SCDF has collaborated with the Workforce Development Agency to align its firefighting training with the national Skills Qualifications framework, making skills recognizable to private employers.
He added that SCDF offers courses for retiring officers, including resume writing and interview skills, to prepare them for second careers.

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18 Aug 2015

Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education

Hawazi Daipi corrected his earlier statement, clarifying that the MOE-Temasek Cares initiative he mentioned was actually a joint MOE-Temasek Foundation donation drive for the Sabah Earthquake Fund, not assistance for insurance coverage gaps.
The original incorrect statement was made in response to a question about the cost of treatment after insurance coverage caps for overseas school trips.
MOE is directly engaging with parents of affected students to assure them of continued support for their children's recovery, even if medical costs exceed insurance coverage.
The Sabah Earthquake Fund primarily benefits dependents of Singaporean adults who died, as well as Malaysian trainers and guides affected by the earthquake.

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18 Aug 2015

Tuition Grants for Foreign Students at Secondary and Junior College Levels

Png Eng Huat asked how many foreign students who became PRs between 2001 and 2014 received scholarships or tuition grants and how many did not fulfill their obligations.
Hawazi Daipi clarified that no tuition grants exist for secondary and junior college levels, and about a quarter of these PR students were on scholarships like the ASEAN scholarship, with over 99% meeting the requirement to attain "A" levels or equivalent.
Png Eng Huat sought confirmation on whether scholarship obligations ended at attaining "A" levels without requiring work in Singapore, which Hawazi Daipi affirmed, noting that such obligations differ from university-level scholarships.

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17 Aug 2015

Human Resource Needs of Local Funeral Industry

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Ministry for Manpower about employment numbers, projected human resource needs, and collaboration with the Ministry of Education to set up relevant courses for the funeral industry.
Minister Lim Swee Say stated that the industry employs fewer than 1,000 people, has grown steadily at about 6% annually, and is expected to have sufficient manpower given current growth rates.
The Minister noted that employers provide on-the-job training and encouraged the industry to identify and develop necessary skills, with the government ready to support training efforts.

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17 Aug 2015

Security Sector's Readiness to Implement Progressive Wage Model

The Security Tripartite Cluster has set PWM requirements to be incorporated into licensing by 1 September 2016, with non-compliance leading to license non-renewal, and active engagement is underway to brief agencies and service buyers.
Measures to assist security guards include ensuring current officers can remain in the industry without forced transition, with flexible training options and an Assessment Only Pathway for experienced professionals to gain certification.
Training capacity has been increased to 2,800 places monthly, and integrated curricula and flexible arrangements are in place to help meet PWM training requirements.
Service buyers are being reached out to explain PWM benefits and cost implications, with funding schemes like the Progressive Wage Incentive providing grants up to $150,000 to support cost increases in contracts.

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17 Aug 2015

Subsidies for Dyslexic Students in Specialised Independent Schools

Hri Kumar Nair questioned why dyslexic students in Specialised Independent Schools are excluded from subsidies for the dyslexia remediation programme and asked for a policy review.
The Minister of State for Education stated that these schools offer customised curricula and that financial assistance is already provided, with plans to rationalise and extend subsidies to eligible students from January 2016.
The debate concluded with the Speaker ending Question Time and noting that any unanswered questions would be addressed in writing.

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17 Aug 2015

Travel Insurance for Overseas School Trips

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked whether MOE would require all schools organising overseas trips to purchase travel insurance covering medical evacuation and pre-existing conditions.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary stated that MOE already mandates travel insurance with unlimited coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation for supervised schools, but most policies exclude pre-existing conditions; schools instead assess each case and make alternative arrangements if needed.
Dr Chia suggested allowing schools the option to purchase enhanced policies covering pre-existing conditions at an additional premium, while the Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted low demand for such coverage.
Mr Pritam Singh inquired whether the insurance for the Tanjong Katong Primary School tragedy covered medical treatment and if a fund would assist with long-term injuries, and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed coverage for accidents and indicated that assistance is available through existing schemes after insurance caps are reached.

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14 Jul 2015

Extending Subsidies to Families of Children with Dyslexia

Dr Chia Shi-Lu proposed extending subsidies under the MOE-Aided Dyslexia Association of Singapore Literacy Programme to children with dyslexia attending special education schools to alleviate family financial burdens.
Minister Heng Swee Keat explained that the literacy programme is specifically designed for mainstream school students without other special educational needs, with subsidies currently limited to this group.
Special education schools already provide customised literacy support programmes, such as the Direct Instruction Reading and Oral Language Programme and Pathlight School’s Literacy Remediation Programme, which are funded by the government and offered at no additional cost to parents.
The Ministry of Education will continue to collaborate with special education schools to support students requiring tailored literacy assistance.

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