Education — Topics

14 Jul 2015

Benefits of Smart Nation Project for Persons with Disabilities

The Smart Nation project aims to benefit persons with disabilities through technology initiatives like enhanced subsidies for assistive devices, funding for special education schools, and grants for innovative projects to improve daily living and independence.
Government and partners are building capabilities within the social service sector, including training for professionals and setting up centers to provide assessments, loans, and IT training to bridge the digital divide for persons with disabilities.
There is a call for a more integrated, whole-of-government approach with a clear roadmap and timeline to ensure persons with disabilities are included in Smart Nation planning, with upstream involvement in design and feedback mechanisms to address accessibility issues.

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13 Jul 2015

Scholarships Awarded by Ministries to International Students for Undergraduate Studies at Local Universities

About 900 scholarships are awarded annually to international students for undergraduate studies at local universities since 2012.
The annual cost per scholarship averages around $25,000, covering school fees, accommodation, and allowances.
The number of scholarships awarded each year has decreased in recent years.

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13 Jul 2015

Cancellation or Non-renewal of Registration of Private Education Institutions by Council for Private Education

Since the Private Education Act was enacted in 2009, the Council for Private Education has cancelled the registrations of four private education institutions and rejected eight out of 526 renewal applications.
The Council has published details of regulatory actions and enforcement measures on its website, including past names of institutions, to provide transparency on the track records of private education institutions.
The Council engages in consumer education by participating in fairs and talks, collaborating with the Ministry of Education on career guidance, and publishing student advisories to help prospective students make informed choices.
The Ministry of Education and the Council continue to enhance information dissemination and support initiatives to protect student interests and ensure standards in the private education sector.

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13 Jul 2015

Nexus between Income Earned and Attendance at Continuing Education & Training (CET) Courses

Mr Yee Jenn Jong asked the Ministry for Manpower whether it tracks data linking Continuing Education and Training (CET) course attendance to income gains and if this data can be published regularly.
The Ministry responded that the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) conducts annual Outcome Evaluation Surveys on training outcomes, with findings already published, showing that in 2014, 19% of respondents reported a pay increase and 37% had a new or enlarged job scope after training.
A 2013 longitudinal study found that individuals who completed some WSQ training had 1.3% to 4.3% higher wages than those who did not, with full qualification leading to 5.3% higher wages, and benefits were particularly strong for lower-wage workers.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of skills development and lifelong learning for employability and stated it will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the training system.

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13 Jul 2015

Base Score for International Students on Singapore Government Scholarships

Since 2012, about 68% of international students on Ministry of Education scholarships graduated with second class upper honours or better, which is comparable to Singaporean scholars and higher than the overall student average of 38%.
The Minister noted that comparisons with Public Service Commission scholars are not meaningful due to their small numbers and diverse study locations.
International scholars must maintain a minimum GPA (3.5/5 for NUS, NTU, SUTD; 3.4/4 for SMU) to renew their scholarships, which aligns with requirements for Singaporean scholars and balances academic standards with holistic learning.

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13 Jul 2015

Length of Stay for Foreign Students Given Tuition Grants to Study in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the number of foreign students receiving tuition grants in 2014, employment statistics for graduates from 2011 to 2014 by faculty, and their options to stay or leave Singapore.
Heng Swee Keat stated that about 3,650 international students in the 2014 cohort received tuition grants, and most either work in Singapore or have deferred service obligations.
Faculty-level employment data is not available, but on average 80% of grant recipients are working or have deferred service, with career guidance provided by institutions.
International students seeking employment can apply for a one-year Long-Term Visit Pass with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority after graduation.

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13 Jul 2015

Creating Job Opportunities for PMETs through Place-and-Train Programmes

Lim Swee Say outlined government measures to support PMETs facing industry restructuring, including the Professional Conversion Programme which has helped over 6,000 PMETs since 2007, and the new Career Support Programme providing wage support to employers hiring mature PMETs in mid-level jobs from October 2015.
He emphasized the need for both employers to value the experience of mature PMETs and for PMETs themselves to adapt and upskill to seize new opportunities in the innovation-driven economy.
Foo Mee Har's query about expanding place-and-train programmes to aid mid-career switches prompted the Minister's detailed response on existing and enhanced initiatives, affirming the government's commitment to helping PMETs through restructuring.

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13 Jul 2015

Increasing Annual Cap for Caregiver Training Grant

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if the Ministry of Health would raise the annual cap for the Caregiver Training Grant.
The Ministry of Health said there are no plans to increase the cap, as the current $200 limit is adequate, with 80% of approved courses costing $200 or less.
Over the last four years, the average annual grant utilization was about $160 per caregiver, indicating the cap is sufficient.
The grant now benefits over 6,000 caregivers annually, and more than 26,000 caregivers have used it to date.
The Ministry will continue to monitor the grant's utilization and adequacy but has no immediate plans to change the cap.

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13 Jul 2015

Waiver of National Examination Fees for Private Candidates and Those Making Second and Subsequent Attempts

Patrick Tay asked whether exam fee waivers apply to students retaking national exams or taking them as private candidates.
Heng Swee Keat confirmed that since 2015, fees for PSLE, GCE "N", "O", and "A" levels are waived for Singapore Citizen students in government-funded schools, including those repeating exams.
The waiver does not cover Singapore Citizens taking exams as private candidates.

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13 Jul 2015

Relocation of New Junior College Originally Planned at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Area

Inderjit Singh and Seah Kian Peng asked the Ministry of Education to reconsider the temporary campus location of a new junior college from Mount Sinai to Ang Mo Kio and to provide an update on the review and learning points from construction delays.
Heng Swee Keat explained that the permanent campus at Sin Ming Avenue was chosen for its suitability but faced delays due to Cross Island Line alignment changes and tenancy issues, pushing completion to end-2019, while the interim site shifted from ITE Bishan to Mount Sinai after SJI's extension.
MOE reaffirmed Mount Sinai as the best interim campus due to its facilities, accessibility via public transport, and past successful use by other schools, despite parental concerns about distance, and committed to refurbishing the site.
The new JC, starting operations in 2017, will continue an Integrated Programme from three partner schools, offering specialized curricula and fostering student-led identity building, with stakeholder engagement on name, advisory committee, and school elements.

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13 Jul 2015

Sabah Earthquake

The Minister for Education expressed deep condolences for the nine Singaporeans and six Malaysians who died in the Mount Kinabalu earthquake during a school trip, thanking Malaysian authorities and all who assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts.
The minister explained that the Tanjong Katong Primary School trip was part of a valued outdoor adventure learning program with safety precautions in place, but the earthquake was a sudden, unpredictable natural disaster that led to the tragedy.
The government will honor the courage of the teachers and staff, support affected families through counseling and a Sabah Earthquake Fund, and enhance safety reviews for all overseas learning journeys.

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13 Jul 2015

Lessons from Sabah Earthquake Tragedy

Several MPs raised concerns about the safety, objectives, and review of overseas student programmes following the Sabah earthquake tragedy, with specific queries on risk assessment, lessons learned, and recognition for acts of bravery.
Proposals included establishing a special award or posthumous national honor for teachers and guides who demonstrated heroism during the disaster.
The Senior Minister of State for Education indicated that the Minister would address these issues in a forthcoming Ministerial Statement, deferring detailed responses until then.

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11 May 2015

Promotion of Greater Awareness Among Parents and Early Childhood Teachers for Special Needs Students

The Ministry of Education works with the Early Childhood Development Agency and the Ministry of Social and Family Development to equip preschool educators with skills to identify special needs early and raise awareness of intervention strategies, while also involving the Ministry of Health and voluntary welfare organisations to support the psychological and socio-emotional well-being of children and parents.
Support programmes such as the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children and Development Support Programme are available for preschool children with special needs, and in mainstream schools, trained personnel like Allied Educators and school counsellors provide case consultation and intervention, with collaboration from the Institute of Mental Health for mental health services.
Parent support groups exist in mainstream and special education schools, and resources are provided through the Parents-in-Education website, with the Ministry also engaging voluntary welfare organisations to offer post-diagnosis educational guidance and emotional support for parents.

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11 May 2015

Breakdown of Annual Expenditures of Autonomous Universities

Yee Jenn Jong requested detailed breakdowns since 2000 of autonomous universities' annual expenditures across categories like instruction, student services, financial assistance, research, administration, and capital investment, including dollar amounts, percentages of total budgets, and per-student spending.
Heng Swee Keat responded that for FY2006, the three autonomous universities (NUS, NTU, SMU) spent $1.1 billion on manpower and $0.8 billion on other operating expenses, rising to $2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively in FY2013.
The response clarified that autonomous universities only existed from FY2006 onwards, limiting available data to NUS, NTU, and SMU during the specified period.
The Minister did not provide the requested year-by-year breakdowns since 2000 or the detailed categorization and per-student metrics outlined in the question.

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11 May 2015

Breakdown of Annual Sources of Income of Autonomous Universities

Yee Jenn Jong asked for detailed annual income breakdowns from 2000 for autonomous universities, covering government funding, philanthropy, endowments, auxiliary income, and research grants, along with percentage shares and per-student figures.
Heng Swee Keat responded with financial data for FY2006 and FY2013, noting that only NUS, NTU, and SMU were autonomous then, with government funding at $1.9B and $2.8B, and investment income at $0.3B and $0.5B respectively.
The reply indicated that per-student calculations were not provided, and the figures referenced operating and research grants within government funding.

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11 May 2015

Student to Teaching and Non-teaching Staff Ratios in Autonomous Universities

Yee Jenn Jong requested from the Minister for Education the annual student-to-full-time faculty, student-to-teaching staff, and student-to-non-teaching staff ratios for all autonomous universities since 2000, broken down by university.
Heng Swee Keat provided 2013 ratios for NUS, NTU, and SMU, showing 17.8 students per full-time faculty, 16.7 students per teaching staff (including part-time), and 5.6 students per non-teaching staff.
The minister noted these 2013 figures were improvements from 2006, when the corresponding ratios were 19.3, 18.5, and 8.
Data for SUTD and SIT were excluded as they only became autonomous universities in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

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11 May 2015

Outcomes of Max Talent Place-and-Train Programme

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan questioned the outcomes of the Max Talent place-and-train programme, the reasons for PME attrition within six months, and whether the enhanced P-Max programme would perform differently.
The Ministry reported that Max Talent successfully placed 1,000 PMEs in 954 SMEs, with 88% remaining employed after six months, and most early departures were due to personal reasons.
The new P-Max programme introduces an SME Workshop for supervisors and an enhanced PME Workshop to improve talent management, aiming to place 3,000 PMEs and technicians in SMEs over three years.

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11 May 2015

Sensitising Youths to Inter-cultural Issues

The Ministry of Education teaches inter-cultural issues through Character and Citizenship Education and various subjects, with age-appropriate methods such as stories for younger students and case studies for older ones, supplemented by activities like Racial Harmony Day and dialogues with community leaders.
For online communication, Cyber Wellness lessons focus on digital responsibility, teaching netiquette, consequences of online behavior, and laws related to social media, with increasing emphasis on active role promotion and awareness of issues like mob mentality as students advance.
Institutes of Higher Learning deepen these lessons through scenario discussions, projects, and experiential activities, while enforcing student codes of conduct that prohibit inflammatory content and emphasize mutual respect in both physical and online interactions.

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11 May 2015

Central Authority to Screen Foreign Degrees for Public Service Employment

Png Eng Huat proposed a central authority to screen foreign degrees for Public Service employment given varying degree quality.
Teo Chee Hean clarified that hiring considers multiple factors like work experience and personal attributes, not just academic qualifications.
He explained that each agency is best placed to assess degree relevance based on job requirements and candidate credentials.
The current approach checks if foreign degrees are accredited by their home government or recognized by Singapore professional bodies.
Teo concluded that a central authority is not practical, as hiring needs vary too much across jobs and individuals.

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11 May 2015

Checks on Educational Credentials of S Pass and Employment Pass Applicants

The Ministry of Manpower assesses S Pass and Employment Pass applications based on declared qualifications, work experience, and salary, with employers primarily responsible for verifying the authenticity of academic credentials.
MOM conducts additional checks including internal database reviews, third-party screenings, direct verification with institutions, and requires employers to provide proof of verification to detect forged qualifications.
Applicants found submitting forged documents face fines up to $20,000, imprisonment up to two years, and a bar from working in Singapore; qualifications from unaccredited institutions are disregarded entirely and require stricter criteria for eligibility.

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