Education — Topics

4 Nov 2025

Current Training Certification towards Lifestyle Medicine Competencies for Healthcare Professionals

Ms. Mariam Jaafar inquired about existing and developing training or certification pathways for healthcare professionals in lifestyle medicine competencies.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that promoting healthy lifestyle habits is a core component of the education for healthcare students, including those in medical and nursing programs.

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4 Nov 2025

Partnership Arrangements between Special Education and Mainstream Schools

The Minister for Education provided an update on the partnership arrangements between special education (SPED) schools and mainstream schools, highlighting their establishment since 2007.
Partnerships are based on shared educational outcomes, complementary interests, geographical proximity, school readiness, and staff capacity.
All SPED schools, except for two new ones, currently have at least one mainstream partner school, with plans to increase this to two to three partners for each SPED school.
The Ministry aims to strengthen these partnerships through enhanced student learning experiences and professional exchanges for staff, including teacher attachments and joint community service initiatives.

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4 Nov 2025

Singapore Sign Language as Elective for Secondary School Students

Ms. Denise Phua Lay Peng proposed that Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) be offered as a language elective in secondary schools.
Minister Desmond Lee highlighted that SgSL is already used by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and is supported in designated mainstream schools.
Initiatives to promote SgSL include signing interpretation at school assemblies and opportunities for hearing students to learn SgSL at specific schools.
Other students interested in learning SgSL can seek resources from organizations like the Singapore Association for the Deaf.

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4 Nov 2025

Post-graduation Employment Rates of ITE Graduates with Special Educational Needs

Mr. Cai Yinzhou inquired about the post-graduation employment rates of ITE graduates with special educational needs over the past five years, specifically within six months, one year, and two years after graduation.
Minister Desmond Lee reported that employment rates for fresh ITE graduates with special educational needs have remained stable, with approximately 80% employed six months post-graduation, similar to their peers without special needs.
About 70% of employed graduates, both with and without special educational needs, found jobs related to their course of study.
The ITE has expanded its internship and employment support programs to assist students with special educational needs in gaining workplace skills and job placements.
The Government will continue to monitor employment outcomes for ITE graduates and provide additional support as necessary.

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4 Nov 2025

Increasing Intake for Educational Psychology Master's Programmes to Support Needs and Development of Neurodiverse Children

Christopher de Souza raised concerns about the need to expand the intake for educational psychology master's programmes to better support neurodiverse children in Singapore.
He inquired about additional measures being taken to address the shortage of educational psychologists in the context of inclusive education.
Desmond Lee responded that the National Institute of Education currently offers the only master's programme for training educational psychologists and can increase intake if demand rises.
The Ministry of Education regularly reviews the needs for educational psychologists and collaborates with various school personnel to support students with special educational needs.
The Ministry is committed to monitoring and adapting to the evolving needs of students and schools in Singapore.

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4 Nov 2025

Students Progressing from Special Education School into ITE Progammes

The Minister for Education provided data indicating that approximately 480 students graduate from special education (SPED) schools each year, with around 90 accessing the national curriculum.
About 70 students annually, or 80% of those who complete the national curriculum, progress to private educational institutions, including the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics.
A smaller group of around 10 graduates from the customized SPED curriculum progress to ITE, while most others secure direct employment.
The Ministry of Education is focused on facilitating transitions from SPED schools to the workplace for students with diverse needs through partnerships and programs.

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4 Nov 2025

Mental and Emotional Well-being Support for Educators in Special Education Schools

The Minister for Education acknowledged the challenges faced by educators in special education schools and emphasized the importance of their mental and emotional well-being.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) collaborates with Social Service Agencies to enhance support for SPED teachers, including initiatives shared in a previous parliamentary session.
MOE has established SPED Communities of Practice to foster peer support and professional collaboration among teachers.
Efforts are being made to manage teacher workload sustainably, including recruitment initiatives and exploring digital solutions to reduce administrative tasks.
Many SPED schools have implemented dedicated well-being committees to provide practical support for teachers in managing stress and promoting self-care.

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4 Nov 2025

Considerations when Allocating Counsellors to Schools

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about how the Ministry of Education allocates counsellors based on reported caseloads and whether this accurately reflects student needs.
Desmond Lee clarified that school counsellor allocation is based on student engagement and various indicators, including referrals and termly check-ins, rather than limited access to counsellors.
The Ministry supports educators' mental health through separate programs and does not factor this into counsellor allocation.
Schools can increase their counselling capacity by hiring additional flexi-adjunct counsellors when needed.
The Ministry collaborates with community resources to enhance youth mental health support, providing students with access to various mental health services.

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4 Nov 2025

Data to Support Move towards Skills-based Hiring in Civil Service

Ms. Eileen Chong Pei Shan inquired about the percentage of public service jobs since January 2024 that waive formal academic qualifications and utilize skills-based assessments for hiring.
The Public Service has adopted a competency-based framework to guide recruitment, emphasizing the specification of skills and competencies in job advertisements.
There is no tracking of job postings that include or exclude formal academic requirements, as some specialized roles necessitate specific qualifications.
Recruiters are encouraged to evaluate candidates holistically, considering skills, competencies, and work experience, regardless of formal academic qualifications.

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4 Nov 2025

Statistics on Mobile Dental Clinics Serving Schools without Dental Clinics

Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the number of mobile dental clinics serving schools without dental clinics, their waiting times, and visit frequency.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that there are 30 mobile dental clinics serving secondary and Special Education schools, which visit each school once a year.
He noted that there is no need for schools to book appointments for the mobile clinics, and most primary schools already have dental clinics on-site.

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4 Nov 2025

Update on Review of Direct School Admission Scheme

Ms. Eileen Chong Pei Shan inquired about the status of the review of the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme and its prioritization by the Ministry of Education for 2025.
She requested information on when the outcomes of the review would be released and the reasons for any de-prioritization if applicable.
Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that the review of the DSA scheme is ongoing and that more details will be shared when available.

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4 Nov 2025

Incorporating Animal Welfare and Anti-cruelty Themes and Modules in School Syllabus

Ms. Lee Hui Ying inquired about the inclusion of more animal welfare and anti-cruelty themes in the school syllabus, suggesting they be added to voluntary learning modules or incorporated into exam questions.
Minister Desmond Lee responded that animal welfare and anti-cruelty topics are already included in subjects like Character and Citizenship Education, Social Studies, and Science.
The curriculum is regularly updated with contemporary examples, and the lessons are accessible in the Student Learning Space for students to review independently.
The Ministry of Education will continue to assess and refresh the curriculum regarding these themes.

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4 Nov 2025

Expanding Learning Support Programmes to Include all Primary School Subjects and Levels

Ms. Hany Soh raised concerns about the adequacy of current learning support programmes for students with greater learning needs and suggested expanding these programmes to cover all primary school subjects and levels.
Minister Desmond Lee outlined existing learning support programmes aimed at strengthening literacy and numeracy for primary school students, including specific programmes for different grades.
The Ministry of Education has recently extended certain programmes to include Primary 3, 4, and 5 students to better support those who struggle with learning milestones.
Schools provide additional targeted support for students as needed, and the performance of academically weaker students has improved compared to international peers, indicating the effectiveness of current support measures.
The Ministry will continue to review and refine learning support programmes to ensure they meet the needs of all students.

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4 Nov 2025

Unfair Contractual Terms in Career Conversion Programmes that Require Trainees to Pay Compensation for Termination

Miss Rachel Ong raised concerns about unfair contractual terms in Career Conversion Programmes, specifically regarding liquidated damages for employer-initiated terminations and the need for regulatory safeguards.
She proposed the establishment of clear guidelines on prohibited contractual terms, ensuring trainees are informed and have access to advice on the fairness of these terms.
Minister Tan See Leng affirmed the government's commitment to protecting trainees' interests and stated that companies must not recover more than their actual training costs, excluding government subsidies.
Companies engaging in unfair practices may face suspension from the Career Conversion Programmes, and trainees can seek assistance from unions or relevant government bodies if they encounter unreasonable clauses.

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4 Nov 2025

Professionalising Skilled Trades

The debate focused on the professionalisation of skilled trades, emphasizing the need for structured career pathways, formal training, and certifications to enhance recognition and support for tradespeople.
The Ministry of Manpower is collaborating with skilled trades associations to develop initiatives like apprenticeship programs aimed at skill development and career progression for tradespeople.
There are currently no specific wage growth targets set for the professionalisation initiative, but wages will be monitored to ensure they align with service quality.
Existing regulations require licensed tradespersons for certain tasks, and relevant agencies will enforce these regulations to ensure compliance.

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4 Nov 2025

Expanding Uses of CDA Funds and Applying Means-testing to CDA Top-ups for More Equitable Assistance to Lower-income Households

David Hoe proposed expanding the permissible uses of Child Development Account (CDA) funds to include subsidies for enrichment classes beyond preschools and suggested applying means-testing to CDA top-ups for better support of lower-income households.
Indranee Rajah responded that the scope of CDA use was already expanded in May to cover preschool incidental charges and optional in-school enrichment programmes, but not for external enrichment programmes to ensure funds are used for preschool-related expenses.
The government provides broad-based CDA top-ups to assist families with child-raising costs, with additional means-tested subsidies available for lower-income families through preschool subsidies and Social Service Offices.

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4 Nov 2025

Curriculum Time Spent on PSLE Preparation

Ms. Eileen Chong Pei Shan inquired about the Ministry of Education's data on curriculum time spent on PSLE preparation, including trends since the removal of mid-year exams.
The Ministry of Education does not track specific curriculum time for PSLE preparation but provides guidance on overall curriculum time for syllabus completion.
Since the removal of mid-year exams, schools have utilized the time for more engaging learning experiences and to enhance students' competencies rather than focusing solely on exam preparation.
The Ministry emphasizes a balanced approach to education, aiming to reduce the over-emphasis on examination grades while allowing schools to adjust their schedules based on student needs.

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4 Nov 2025

Addressing Shortage of Licensed Electrical Workers

The shortage of licensed electrical workers (LEWs) in Singapore is a concern, with around 3,700 LEWs currently, of which 1,400 are aged 60 and above.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is collaborating with educational institutions and industry partners to attract younger individuals to the profession through curriculum enhancements and internship opportunities.
Initiatives include a Technical Engineer Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Clean Energy) and an Internship Training Plan to support students in qualifying for LEW licenses.
EMA is also focusing on mid-career workers with relevant skills and enhancing preparatory courses for those lacking formal qualifications to help them qualify as LEWs.
The EMA will continue to monitor the supply and demand for LEWs and implement additional measures as necessary to ensure a sufficient workforce.

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4 Nov 2025

Statutory Study and Training Leave Policies in Other Countries that May Be Feasible for Singapore

Dr. Charlene Chen inquired about the Ministry of Manpower's study on statutory study or training leave policies in other countries and their potential implementation in Singapore.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that the government regularly reviews international workforce development strategies, including training leave entitlements.
Singapore has opted for a flexible system supporting lifelong learning rather than mandating training leave, focusing on initiatives like SkillsFuture and Workforce Singapore.
The government encourages flexible work arrangements to help workers manage training alongside their jobs while ensuring the workforce remains competitive.

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4 Nov 2025

Strengthening the Mental Resilience of Our Young

The debate highlighted the increasing mental health challenges faced by youths in Singapore, with one in three reporting severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, often exacerbated by social media use.
Dr. Charlene Chen proposed the establishment of a School Mental Well-being Charter to systematically embed mental resilience into the education system, emphasizing the need for a supportive culture, effective measurement, and experiential learning.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been enhancing its Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum to include mental health literacy and coping strategies, while also training over 1,000 teacher-counsellors to support students.
The importance of a collaborative approach involving educators, parents, and community resources was stressed, with a focus on creating a culture of wellness, belonging, and redefined success in schools.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the need for ongoing efforts to build mental resilience and indicated that the MOE would consider the proposed Charter while continuing to implement existing systemic processes for student well-being.

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