Education — Topics

11 May 2015

Re-scheduling Sports Competitions to Avoid Thunderstorm Peak Hours

Benedict Tan proposed shifting school sports competitions to night sessions during the rainy season to avoid thunderstorm peak hours and improve attendance for families and alumni.
MOE emphasized the need to balance safety, student well-being, and stakeholder needs, noting that some sports cannot be held indoors and are postponed during bad weather.
Scheduling in the evening would strain public sports facilities and extend school hours for students and teachers.
MOE has no immediate plans to move competitions to evenings but will explore ways to enhance parental involvement while considering all parties' needs.

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11 May 2015

Opportunities for Private Candidates to Interact with Students and Use Facilities in Mainstream Schools

Prof Tan Tai Yong inquired about avenues for private GCE "O" level candidates to interact with mainstream school students and use facilities like laboratories and sports equipment, a structured programme for CCA participation, and similar integration for home-schooled primary children.
The Minister of State for Education responded that private candidates are grouped into those for whom mainstream school is not age-appropriate or meaningful and those who opt out, noting that CCAs are tailored for age-specific students and facilities like labs require supervision, while sports facilities are shared with the community.
For home-schooled primary children, the Ministry facilitates entry into mainstream schools if they wish to use facilities, though the preference is for all children to attend mainstream schools for a common educational experience.

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11 May 2015

Educational Qualifications of Persons Applying for Permanent Residence or Citizenship

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the ICA about the universities declared by new citizens and PRs from 2010 to 2014, how ICA verifies educational qualifications, and whether ICA maintains a list of suspected degree mills.
The Second Minister for Home Affairs responded that PR and SC applications are evaluated on multiple criteria including economic contributions and qualifications, not solely on education, and that declared qualifications come from both Singaporean and foreign institutions.
ICA conducts multi-level checks including requiring original documents, verifying with overseas authorities, and conducting interviews, and takes firm legal action against false information in applications.

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11 May 2015

Rehabilitation Programmes for Youth Offenders who make Seditious Remarks

The Ministry of Social and Family Development implements rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders who make seditious remarks, including counselling, community service, and mentorship to foster respect for different races and religions.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Education includes cyber-wellness curricula and school counsellors to address online behaviour and support parents in guiding youth.
Programmes like OnePeople.sg’s Explorations in Ethnicity offer experiential learning to help youth navigate sensitive topics online, with strong support from relevant ministries.

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11 May 2015

Criteria for PSC's Honorary or Nominal Scholarships

Prof Tan Tai Yong inquired about the history, purpose, and potential expansion of PSC's honorary or nominal scholarships, which are awards without funding.
The Deputy Prime Minister responded that PSC no longer awards such scholarships, having only granted 10 unfunded President's Scholarships between 1968 and 1992 to recognize overseas studies not funded by PSC, and now all scholarships are fully funded with a bond to serve in the Public Service.
Prof Tan suggested that honorary scholarships could acknowledge academic excellence without financial cost for students who do not need support, but the Deputy Prime Minister clarified that PSC scholarships are specifically for those committed to a career in the Public Service, not just for recognition of academic achievement.

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11 May 2015

Assistance to and Inclusion of More Industry Sectors in SkillsFuture Learn and Earn Programme

Mr Thomas Chua questioned how companies outside the 17 priority sectors could join the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme and asked if trade associations from non-priority sectors could get more resources to develop industry manpower plans.
Minister Lim Swee Say explained that the programme prioritises industries that are more ready, with food manufacturing already launched and others like retail and tech following, aiming to cover one-third of polytechnic and ITE graduates.
The Minister encouraged all trade associations, including those from non-priority sectors, to participate, with the government providing additional support to design relevant and quality programmes for broader industry skills progression.

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13 Apr 2015

Update on Junior Sports Academy Programme

Benedict Tan asked about the outcomes, selection criteria, future expansion, popularity, and stakeholder needs for the Junior Sports Academy (JSA) programme, while Heng Swee Keat outlined its history, benefits, and revised structure.
The JSA, established in 2008, has engaged over 2,200 students, fostering sports skills, teamwork, and values, with a revised programme offering two years of sports modules and educational workshops for Primary 4 students.
The revised JSA, based on global best practices, will start with 12 sports and expand to 28, aiming to provide a holistic pathway for talent development with support from parents, coaches, and sports associations.

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13 Apr 2015

Promoting Local Talent in Financial Services Sector

Benedict Tan inquired about efforts to promote local talent in the financial sector and the impact of overseas bank retrenchments on Singaporean job seekers.
Lawrence Wong responded that financial institutions in Singapore aim to build globally competitive teams, and MAS is enhancing training pathways, leadership programs, and fair employment practices to support Singaporeans.
MAS will collaborate with industry partners to develop skills, provide learning opportunities, and ensure merit-based hiring to maintain a level playing field for local talent.

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13 Apr 2015

Efforts to Reverse Drop in Sports Participation Rates among Students in Tertiary Institutions

The Ministry of Education has implemented a holistic approach to sports education, including compulsory sports modules at polytechnics and ITE, and credit-bearing sports modules at universities like NUS and NTU, to foster lifelong healthy habits.
Tertiary institutions support sports participation through mass events, inter-institution games, and subsidized programs to keep costs low, alongside access to facilities for students to engage in recreational or competitive sports.
Dipstick figures from 2012 to 2014 indicate a rebound in sports participation rates for the 20–24 age group to about 70%, reflecting the effectiveness of these efforts.
Beyond formal education, initiatives by institutions and government agencies aim to encourage continued sports engagement in adulthood, ensuring sports participation remains a lifelong activity.

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13 Apr 2015

Employment of Eligible Singaporeans at Autonomous Universities

Lim Biow Chuan proposed that autonomous universities receiving government funding should prioritize hiring eligible Singaporeans and require their human resource departments to be headed by Singaporeans to ensure fair consideration for local applicants.
The Ministry of Education emphasized that academic hiring is based on merit and follows established non-discriminatory processes, while also highlighting initiatives like the Singapore Academic and Research Talent Scheme to develop local academic talent.
Lim expressed concern that the current merit-based approach might lead to a disproportionate number of foreign hires in universities, similar to banking, and suggested applying tripartite fair employment guidelines to academia.
The Senior Minister of State agreed on the need for a strong Singaporean academic core but cautioned against micromanagement, noting that most university HR heads are already Singaporeans and that policy must balance local talent development with global expertise.
Following a question about low Singaporean representation at NUS Yale-NUS College, the ministry stated it would monitor the institution, which is not classified as an autonomous university, as it develops.

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13 Apr 2015

Comparing SME Talent Programme and SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme

The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) is a work-study scheme for fresh graduates from ITEs and Polytechnics, offering income and skill development with career progression pathways across both SMEs and non-SMEs.
The SPRING-administered SME Talent Programme (STP) targets building a talent pipeline for SMEs through internships, sponsorships, and HR support, with students working in SMEs after graduation.
Both programmes are complementary to national SkillsFuture goals, and as the ELP expands, the STP will scale down and eventually cease for sectors covered by the ELP.

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13 Apr 2015

Edusave Awards for Full-time Madrasah Students

Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap questioned whether the Edusave Awards could be extended to full-time madrasah students.
The Senior Minister of State for Education responded that Edusave is designed to support secular development in MOE-funded schools.
She noted that while Edusave contributions are available to all Singaporeans aged 7–16, the awards themselves recognize achievements in MOE-funded settings.
She stated that extending the awards to private schools, including madrasahs, is not appropriate.
She highlighted that madrasah students already receive support through MUIS initiatives like the PROMAS Performance Award.

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13 Mar 2015

List of Approved Universities for Admission to Singapore Bar

Mrs Lina Chiam questioned the basis for dropping eight UK universities from the approved list for Singapore Bar admission, whether free trade agreement obligations were considered, and whether legal education quality should be the primary criterion.
Minister K Shanmugam explained that the list is periodically revised based on recommendations from the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) and the Fourth Committee on the Supply of Lawyers, using objective standards and rankings to ensure quality.
The latest SILE review retained 11 UK and two New Zealand universities deemed suitable, and transitional provisions allow affected Singaporean students to complete their studies and be admitted to the Bar.
The Minister emphasized that the review considered quality as the main criterion, while noting that free trade agreement obligations only apply to specific universities not under the review.
SILE will continue reviewing the list every five years to maintain standards for overseas-trained entrants to the Singapore Bar.

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11 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head X (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)

Baey Yam Keng urged the government to leverage SG50 and the 2015 SEA Games to sustain patriotism and strengthen Singaporean identity, calling for policies to nurture uniquely Singaporean cultural icons like hawker food, xinyao, and getais.
Several MPs asked about the expansion and monitoring of MENDAKI's education programs, including its tuition scheme and potential involvement in early childhood education, to better serve the Malay/Muslim community.
Questions were raised on financial and policy support for Madrasah kindergartens, the use of funds like Zakat and the Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund, and initiatives to address high consumer debt and divorce rates in the Malay/Muslim community.

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9 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)

The debate centered on the SkillsFuture initiative to equip Singaporeans with lifelong learning and leadership skills, with members urging that it be made inclusive, accessible, and quality-assured, particularly for mature workers, mid-career PMETs, and those in low-wage sectors.
Multiple MPs highlighted challenges with wage growth for low-income workers, the need to expand the Progressive Wage Model beyond current sectors, and concerns about ensuring fair employment practices and CPF adequacy for retirement.
The Minister of Manpower responded by outlining enhancements to training subsidies, CPF flexibilities, and workplace safety, while affirming the government’s commitment to supporting older workers, improving job matching, and maintaining a balanced approach to foreign manpower policies.

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6 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head K (Ministry of Education)

Parliament debated the Ministry of Education's budget, focusing on concerns over academic pressure, the tuition culture, and the need for education to prepare students for future job markets, with members highlighting parallels to high youth unemployment in South Korea and China.
The SkillsFuture initiative was a central topic, with MPs seeking details on its implementation, course relevance, and subsidies for mid-career learners, while the Minister emphasized a shift toward lifelong learning, skills mastery, and multiple pathways beyond academic grades.
Discussions also covered support for students with special needs, the role of outdoor education and arts, and the importance of character development, with the Ministry committing to inclusive policies, enhanced financial assistance, and expanded school-based student care centres.

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5 Mar 2015

Immersion Programmes to Encourage Cultural Exchanges in ASEAN

Christopher de Souza asked about plans to increase immersion programmes between Singapore and ASEAN neighbours to boost cultural exchanges.
The Ministry of Education highlighted the value of overseas experiences for developing cultural sensitivity and broadening worldviews.
About 60% of students' overseas learning journeys in 2014 were to ASEAN countries, often involving student interactions.
MOE coordinates immersion and school twinning programmes with ASEAN nations, including 65 twinned schools and an annual ASEAN Student Exchange Programme.
The exchange programme brings together about 40 students from ASEAN countries for a one-week residential cultural sharing and learning experience.

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5 Mar 2015

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Speakers supported the Budget’s long-term focus on skills development and economic restructuring, with SkillsFuture and the Silver Support Scheme highlighted as key initiatives for future prosperity and social equity.
Debates emphasized challenges in implementing these policies, including ensuring quality training courses, supporting SMEs, and maintaining fairness without fostering dependency or unsustainable welfare.
The Deputy Prime Minister defended the fiscal sustainability of the Budget, stressing the importance of balancing current needs with future generations through prudent reserves management and avoiding long-term deficits.

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4 Mar 2015

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate centered on Budget 2015's focus on social security and future readiness, with many speakers praising initiatives like SkillsFuture for lifelong learning, the Silver Support Scheme for low-income elderly, and enhanced CPF benefits, while also questioning their long-term sustainability and implementation.
Concerns were raised about the impact on SMEs, rising business costs, and the need for better support for the middle class, including proposals to extend benefits like SkillsFuture credits to stay-at-home mothers and to review housing and examination fee policies for greater inclusivity.
Speakers emphasized the importance of mindset shifts towards innovation, skills-based meritocracy, and collective responsibility, with some urging caution against excessive welfare dependency and others calling for more aggressive redistribution to address income inequality and ensure a fairer society.

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23 Feb 2015

Annual Budget Statement

The Singapore government projects a near-balanced budget for FY2014 and aims for 2-4% GDP growth in 2015, with low inflation and a tight labor market, while outlining a long-term economic restructuring toward innovation and productivity.
A major focus is the "SkillsFuture" initiative to provide lifelong learning support, including a SkillsFuture Credit for all Singaporeans, enhanced subsidies for mid-career training, and grants to foster innovation and internationalization for businesses.
The budget introduces the Silver Support Scheme for low-income retirees, enhances CPF savings through a higher salary ceiling and contribution rates for older workers, and provides various cost-of-living support such as GST vouchers and education fee waivers.
To fund increased spending on healthcare, infrastructure (including Changi Airport Terminal 5), and social security, the government will include Temasek in the Net Investment Returns framework and raise the top marginal personal income tax rate from 20% to 22%.

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