Education — Topics

12 Feb 2015

Requirement for Schools' CCA Teachers in Charge to be Present at Training Venues

Benedict Tan suggested removing the requirement for teachers to be physically present at CCA training venues and leaving duty of care to external providers, citing heavy teacher workloads and resource constraints.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary emphasized that teacher presence is essential for student safety and holistic education, especially in overnight or competitive activities, and that schools match teachers to CCAs based on interests when possible.
In response, the official reiterated that while tasks can be outsourced, teachers must retain responsibility to model values, build team spirit, and handle stakeholder interactions during CCA.

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12 Feb 2015

Ensuring Sufficient Numbers of Preschool Centres and Childcare Teachers

The Ministry is on track to add 200 new childcare centres with 20,000 places, having already created 17,000 new places, and monitors demand to expand capacity in estates with young families.
The Early Childhood Development Agency has implemented multiple initiatives, including career fairs and a traineeship programme, to attract and retain preschool teachers, with a four-pronged strategy to reduce the high attrition rate.
Efforts are underway to integrate childcare spaces into new housing developments, and the Ministry will collaborate with other agencies to address student care needs as part of broader family support measures.

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29 Jan 2015

Quality Jobs for Increasing Number of Graduates

The Government adopts a two-pronged approach: growing knowledge-intensive and productivity-driven industries to create quality jobs, and investing in education and training to equip Singaporeans with the right skills, including applied degree pathways to meet economic needs.
The 40% publicly funded university cohort participation rate by 2020 is designed to create a diverse graduate talent pool, but it is supplemented by private and part-time courses, with the young workforce expected to have over 50% degree holders.
The Minister emphasizes that while the government tries to align graduate supply with industry demand, such as through industry-education partnerships and anticipating job needs, some mismatches are inevitable, and Singaporeans must also take ownership of their career development.

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29 Jan 2015

Non-graduates Joining General Education Officers Scheme

From 2012 to 2014, the Ministry of Education recruited 663 non-graduate Education Officers, representing 17% of all new teachers hired during that period.
The 17% figure specifically refers to General Education Officers and does not include teachers in supplementary schemes.
Despite a reduction in overall teacher hiring, MOE will continue to hire both graduates and strong non-graduate candidates based on academic mastery and teaching passion.

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20 Jan 2015

Feedback on Language Abilities of Bus Captains

The Land Transport Authority received around 200 pieces of feedback from 2012 to 2014 regarding bus captains' language abilities, primarily concerning their conversational English.
All bus captains must already demonstrate basic competency in conversational English before being deployed.
When legitimate feedback is received, the relevant public transport operator sends the bus captain for a refresher course and requires them to pass a language test before being redeployed.

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20 Jan 2015

Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme

Mrs Lina Chiam asked if the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) would include perfusionists, podiatrists, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants.
The Minister for Health, Gan Kim Yong, stated that the programme currently focuses on roles with critical manpower shortages and sufficient training capacity, such as nurses and physiotherapists, and there are no plans to expand it to the requested roles.
Instead, the Ministry provides overseas scholarships for podiatry and respiratory therapy, in-house training for perfusionists, and is reviewing future healthcare roles, including physician assistants.

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20 Jan 2015

Primary 1 Student Enrolment in Full-time Madrasahs

For 2012 to 2014, Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah enrolled about 30 Primary 1 students each year, Madrasah Al-Maarif Al-Islamiah about 67, and Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah about 204 each year.
Madrasahs Aljunied Al-Islamiah and Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah stopped taking Primary 1 students from 2009 as they only admit secondary students under the Joint Madrasah System.
Madrasah Wak Tanjong Al-Islamiah enrolled no Primary 1 students from 2012 to 2014 for not meeting the PSLE benchmark, but resumed admission in 2015 after meeting the standards.
MUIS and madrasahs use admissions tests to ensure students can handle the curriculum, which includes five Islamic subjects plus four PSLE subjects, with up to 400 Primary 1 places available.
MUIS invests in recruiting and retaining quality teachers and in the professional development of madrasah leaders and teachers to support enrolment and education quality.

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20 Jan 2015

Sectoral Manpower and Skills Development Strategies for Traditional Industries

The Ministry of Manpower outlines the Sectoral Manpower Strategies initiative to identify future skills needs, develop career progression pathways, and enhance talent attraction across industries, with a focus on lead sectors such as healthcare, biopharmaceuticals, and construction.
The Ministry addresses SME challenges by providing clearer sector direction and resources through schemes like the Enterprise Training Support Grant and SME Centres, while encouraging employers to move from a "plug and play" hiring mindset to proactive worker development.
The Ministry commits to considering the skills needs of freelancers and ensuring lifelong learning opportunities for all Singaporeans, beyond the targeted lead sectors, to support career deepening or transitions.
In response to manpower shortages in childcare, the Ministry acknowledges broader sectoral challenges and directs further inquiry to specific Parliamentary Questions while emphasizing support for training and sector growth.

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19 Jan 2015

Breakdown of Foreigners and Permanent Residents Attending Public Schools in Singapore

Mr Png Eng Huat requested a breakdown of the number and percentage of foreigners and permanent residents attending public schools from 2012 to 2014, by education level.
Minister Heng Swee Keat highlighted that international students benefit Singaporeans by enhancing global awareness, easing labor shortages, and fostering goodwill.
In national schools, around 9% are permanent residents and 5% are international students, while at the tertiary level, international students make up about 1% at ITE, 10% at polytechnics, and 15% at autonomous universities.
Permanent Residents constitute an additional 3% to 5% of the cohort at the tertiary level.

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19 Jan 2015

Students Exempted from Taking Mother Tongue Language at PSLE

Yee Jenn Jong asked the Minister for Education for the average number of students exempted from Mother Tongue Language at the PSLE in the top five schools with the highest exemptions over the past five years.
Heng Swee Keat responded that the average number of students given MTL exemption in those five schools is 178 over the past five years.

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19 Jan 2015

Degree Programmes Offered by Private Educational Institutions

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked how the Ministry ensures private degrees match local university standards, the value of Council for Private Education audits, and whether the Ministry coordinates with the Public Service Division on civil service requirements.
Heng Swee Keat clarified that CPE registration ensures minimum standards and student protection but does not endorse academic quality or guarantee private degrees are equal to local university degrees.
There is no central authority to assess private degrees for employment due to diverse qualifications, programmes, and employer needs; CPE focuses on minimum thresholds for external degree programmes.
PEIs should reorient to provide industry-relevant skills that help graduates advance in careers, and individuals must carefully research education choices to avoid poor returns on investment.

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19 Jan 2015

Regulation of Private Tuition Teachers and Tuition Agencies

Ang Hin Kee asked if the Ministry of Education plans to regulate private tuition teachers and agencies and what dispute resolution mechanisms exist for consumers.
Heng Swee Keat stated that only tuition centres with 10 or more students need to be registered, while private tutors and agencies are not currently regulated.
He noted that disputes can be resolved through mediation, the Consumers Association of Singapore, Small Claims Tribunal, or legal action, depending on the case.
The government has no current plans to regulate private tuition teachers or agencies, and advised parents to check tutors’ credentials before engaging them.

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19 Jan 2015

Educational Sponsorships and Training Allowance for Health Professionals

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the number of educational sponsorships for nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists, their training allowances, and potential increases.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that MOH provides scholarships and sponsorships covering tuition, maintenance, and salaries, with over 1,000 awards in the past five years and about 200 in FY2014.
The Ministry regularly reviews these programmes to ensure benefits remain adequate and aligned with healthcare needs, though no specific details on current allowance amounts or future raises were provided.

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19 Jan 2015

Breakdown of Number of Graduates and Non-graduates Commissioned as SAF Officers

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for Defence for the current breakdown of graduates and non-graduates commissioned as SAF officers at commissioning and whether Junior College BMT batches have more officer placements than non-Junior College BMT batches.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that NSFs are selected for officer roles based on operational and manpower needs, as well as individual suitability, interest, medical fitness, aptitude, and BMT performance.
Most officers are selected from NSFs with GCE "A" levels or Polytechnic diplomas before university, with 11–13% of combat-fit "A" level holders and 10–14% of polytechnic diploma holders commissioned over the last three years.

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19 Jan 2015

Granting Permission to Students to Take Non-official Mother Tongue in PSLE

The Ministry of Education allows exceptional cases, such as students joining mid-stream from non-MTL-speaking countries or those with a foreign-born parent of non-Chinese/Malay/Indian ethnicity, to take an approved foreign or Asian language instead of Mother Tongue in PSLE.
Over the past five years, about 1% of each PSLE cohort took a non-official mother tongue language, with Singaporean students making up a stable proportion of around 0.2% of each cohort.
The main reasons for granting such permissions are to accommodate students with unique backgrounds or circumstances under the bilingual education policy while maintaining its overall framework.

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19 Jan 2015

Continuing Education Plans for Special Needs Children

Heng Swee Keat outlined progress on the Enabling Masterplan 2012–2016, emphasizing curriculum reviews, teacher training, and infrastructure investments to enhance Special Education quality and accessibility.
While overall SPED schools have sufficient vacancies, the minister noted increased demand for Autism Spectrum Disorder placements, prompting capacity expansion and teacher recruitment efforts.
The government is introducing vocational education and post-school transition support, with SG Enable enhancing training and employment options for persons with disabilities beyond school years.

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19 Jan 2015

Implementation of New Enhanced Nursing Home Standards

The Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care launched a guide and voluntary baseline assessments to help nursing homes prepare for the new Enhanced Nursing Home Standards, with over 90% of homes participating.
Baseline assessments identified key areas for improvement, including care planning, emergency preparedness, and new requirements like advanced care planning and dignity of care.
Training programs with subsidies up to 90% were conducted, with over 200 runs and 4,000 training places provided in 2014, and additional training planned for 2015.
The standards will be implemented in April 2015 with a one-year grace period before enforcement in April 2016, with ongoing support to help nursing homes meet the requirements.

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19 Jan 2015

Basic Theory and Practical Driving Tests for Foreign Drivers

Member K Karthikeyan proposed requiring foreigners to take Basic Theory Tests, Final Theory Tests, and defensive driving courses to convert foreign driving licences.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean stated that existing rules already require foreign licence holders to pass the Basic Theory Test to convert to a local motorcycle or Class 3/3A licence.
For heavy vehicle licences, foreign driving licence holders must pass Class 4 or 5 Practical Driving Tests before obtaining a local licence.
The government reviewed licence conversion for foreign workers and, from 1 June 2015, will require Work Permit and S Pass holders to pass both the Practical Driving Test and Basic Theory Test to convert a Class 3 licence.
The changes aim to ensure foreign drivers are competent and familiar with Singapore’s traffic rules, signs, and road conditions.

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19 Jan 2015

Review of Provision of Sexuality Education in Schools

Prof Tan Tai Yong questioned the Ministry of Education on the number, cost, and evaluation of external providers for sexuality education programmes, and whether a review of the practice would be conducted.
The Senior Minister of State for Education responded that schools engage external providers for supplementary programmes based on needs, with $460,000 spent since 2009, and that MOE is reviewing the system as part of regular evaluations.
Prof Tan sought clarification on whether using external providers constitutes community partnership or outsourcing, with the Minister explaining that external vendors are used for specific expertise like cyber safety and STI/HIV prevention, while community involves broader values support.
Zaqy Mohamad raised concerns about the effectiveness of cyber wellness programmes in preventing sexual grooming, asking if these can be strengthened and whether in-sourcing might be better, with the Minister acknowledging the need for age-appropriate enhancements and external expertise.
The debate highlighted ongoing reviews, cost details, and the balance between using external experts for specialized topics versus relying on MOE-trained teachers for core sexuality education.

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5 Nov 2014

Provision of English Language Courses for Foreign Army Officers

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the tender process for an English language course for a People’s Liberation Army officer, including details on the tender amount and award circumstances.
The Minister for Defence explained that language courses are standard for foreign officers to ensure they can benefit from military exchanges, with a 360-hour one-on-one course tendered via GeBiz and awarded to the lowest compliant bidder at $25,900.
The Minister confirmed that MINDEF routinely provides language courses for foreign officers as part of relationship-building, with some reciprocity from other countries, though not all offer it.

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