Education — Topics

6 Aug 2024

Tertiary Institutions Grading Students According to Bell Curve

Hazel Poa asked whether tertiary institutions grade students according to a bell curve and if there are plans to change this practice.
Chan Chun Sing stated that the question was previously addressed in a written answer on 2 July 2024, referring to an official report on bell curves in ITEs, polytechnics, and autonomous universities.

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6 Aug 2024

Data Collection on Causal Links between Academic Stress and Increased Mental Health Issues

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry of Education whether it collects data on causal links between academic stress and mental health issues like anxiety and depression among primary and secondary school students.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that academic stress can be both beneficial for resilience and harmful if excessive, but mental health issues are usually compounded by multiple factors such as self-esteem and relationships, not just academic stress alone.
The Ministry of Education, schools, and Institutes of Higher Learning will continue to collaborate with parents to strengthen students’ mental well-being and resilience, focusing on holistic development and supportive environments.

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6 Aug 2024

Powers and Training of LTA Enforcement Officers and Traffic Police Officers

Darryl David asked how the jurisdiction of LTA enforcement officers differs from that of the Traffic Police and whether LTA motorcycle officers receive the same training as Traffic Police, particularly for pursuits.
Chee Hong Tat explained that both bodies operate under the Road Traffic Act, with LTA focusing on vehicle standards, registration, and roadworthiness, while Traffic Police handle behavioral offences like speeding, reckless driving, and drink driving.
LTA enforcement officers complete an Enforcement Riding course run by Traffic Police, which includes defensive riding and methods for stopping and engaging violators to safely carry out their duties on motorcycles.

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6 Aug 2024

Amount of Government Funds Extended to MENDAKI for Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy Scheme and Amount Not Disbursed

From 2020 to 2023, the Government disbursed about $65 million annually to MENDAKI for the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) scheme, which supports eligible Malay students at local tertiary institutions.
Over 9,000 Malay students in local institutes of higher learning received TTFS subsidies each year, accounting for more than two-thirds of Malay students in these institutions, with most receiving subsidies for their full tuition fees.
Undisbursed TTFS funds are transferred to MENDAKI’s Education Development Fund to support other educational assistance schemes, with over 90,000 beneficiaries benefiting from MENDAKI’s programmes in 2023.
The Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring no Malay student is denied tertiary education due to financial difficulties, with MENDAKI and the Ministry of Education offering additional financial assistance and study loans.

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6 Aug 2024

Initiatives in Schools to Cultivate Creativity, Collaboration and Lifelong Love of Learning

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Education about whole-of-school initiatives in primary and secondary schools to foster creativity, collaboration, and a lifelong love of learning.
Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that the question had already been addressed in a written answer on 2 July 2024, referring to the "Updating Framework for 21st Century Competencies and Student Outcomes" report.
The debate highlighted the government’s focus on 21st-century competencies, with detailed information available in the referenced official report.
No new initiatives were announced in this exchange, as the matter was previously covered through written parliamentary procedures.

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6 Aug 2024

Follow-up Actions When Children Do Not Register for Primary 1 in National Schools

The Ministry of Education engages parents and guardians of children not registered for Primary 1 to provide advice and facilitate school placement, collaborating with other agencies and social service organizations when needed.
Uncooperative cases may be escalated to the Compulsory Education Board for formal hearings, with legal action possible against parents who do not comply.
MOE has enhanced its processes to contact parents more quickly and support families in placing children in suitable schools.

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6 Aug 2024

Measures to Address and Mitigate Risks of Social Media Addiction among Students

Edward Chia asked the Ministry of Education about measures to address and mitigate social media addiction risks among students, especially on short video platforms.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted that Cyber Wellness lessons teach students to balance online and offline activities, recognize digital risks, and avoid excessive social media use to protect their mental and emotional well-being.
Schools provide support through trained counsellors who assist students at risk of excessive social media use, collaborate with parents, and refer them to community resources for specialized help.
Parents are emphasized as key guides in monitoring their children’s online activities, with schools sharing resources and strategies to help parents manage technology use.

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6 Aug 2024

Conflict of Interest Declaration by Individuals Involved in DSA Selection Process

Minister Chan Chun Sing confirmed that all individuals involved in the Direct School Admission (DSA) selection process are required to declare any potential conflict of interest and recuse themselves if necessary.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) oversees the DSA process with guidelines emphasizing transparency, objectivity, and school leadership involvement, while also de-registering or sanctioning coaches or staff who imply influence over outcomes.
Following allegations involving a basketball coach, MOE has taken action by de-registering the coach and reminding schools to adhere to guidelines, while committing to regular reviews and firm action against any proven wrongdoing in the DSA process.

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2 Jul 2024

Update on PTC's Review on Extending Concessionary Fares to Graduating Students Transiting to Next Stage of Education

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the PTC’s review of extending concessionary fares to graduating students before they enter the next stage of education.
The suggestion was originally raised in the context of the 2024 Fare Review Exercise due to feedback from parents and students.
The Public Transport Council is currently reviewing the proposal to extend the concession period for graduating students such as those taking GCE A-levels, IB, or ITE.

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2 Jul 2024

Training Requirements for Locally-based Pilots and Technology to Address Increased Frequency in Flight Turbulence

Miss Rachel Ong inquired whether Singapore-based pilots are trained to handle weather volatility and turbulence due to climate change, and if the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is collaborating with airlines to explore technology for better turbulence detection and reduction.
Chee Hong Tat confirmed that pilots undergo recurrent training and assessment to operate aircraft under various scenarios, including turbulence, ensuring their competencies are regularly practised and tested.
He added that CAAS works closely with Singapore carriers to explore new aircraft technology and advanced flight planning tools for real-time prediction of adverse weather, including turbulence.

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2 Jul 2024

Child Abuse Cases in Preschools and Teacher Support Measures Identified

Melvin Yong inquired about the number of child abuse cases investigated by ECDA in preschools over the past five years, any rising trends, and upstream measures to support teachers.
Masagos Zulkifli reported a slight increase in child mismanagement cases, from 137 in 2022 to 147 in 2023, attributing this to greater awareness and reporting.
ECDA has strengthened training and is reviewing regulations to enhance penalties for errant operators, aiming to ensure child safety.
Measures to improve teacher well-being include removing Saturday operations, designating additional holidays, creating a relief staff pool, and promoting reasonable parental expectations.
These steps aim to create a safer environment for children while supporting educators in their demanding roles.

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2 Jul 2024

Unsuccessful Applications for Student Care Fee Assistance and Requests for Backdating

About 10% of Student Care Fee Assistance applications were unsuccessful from January 2021 to March 2024, with only 0.4% of unsuccessful cases involving late requests for retrospective payment.
Student Care Centres assist parents in submitting applications up to four months in advance, and MSF considers appeals for retrospective payments if delays are substantiated.
Families can appeal against a centre’s assessment, as MSF oversees the process and allows for review of decisions.

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2 Jul 2024

Actual Vacancies Available in Infant Care and Preschools and Expanded Powers for ECDA to Regulate Operators

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin raised concerns about discrepancies between listed and actual preschool vacancies and whether ECDA’s regulatory powers should be expanded to address this.
ECDA acknowledged feedback about mismatches in vacancy information on LifeSG and noted that most cases were due to inaccurate reporting by operators, which ECDA has worked to rectify.
ECDA urged operators to regularly and accurately update vacancy information to aid parents’ decision-making and is exploring ways to improve the Preschool Search function.
The Ministry stated that existing regulations already cover capacity and enrolment reporting and does not plan to impose additional regulations on vacancy reporting.

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2 Jul 2024

Adequacy of Infant Care and Preschool Vacancies in Bidadari Estate

Sitoh Yih Pin sought the Minister's assessment on whether infant care and preschool vacancies in Bidadari Estate are adequate and asked for an update on plans and timelines for new preschools to meet rising demand from young families.
The Minister stated that as of April 2024, there are about 660 infant care and 8,110 childcare places in the Toa Payoh Planning Area, which includes Bidadari, with a utilization rate of about 70%.
To meet future demand, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has increased infant care and childcare places by 130% and 90% respectively in Toa Payoh over the past five years, significantly above national rates, and plans to add 150 infant care and 920 childcare places in Toa Payoh by 2025, mostly in Bidadari.

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2 Jul 2024

Counsellor-Student Ratio in Schools and Percentage of Students Seeking Help

Hazel Poa asked about the current counsellor-student ratio across schools, the percentage of schools with two or more counsellors, the percentage of students seeking help, and changes since 2020.
Chan Chun Sing stated that schools are resourced with one or two counsellors based on need, with additional support from flexi-adjunct or teacher-counsellors.
About one-third of schools have had two school counsellors since 2020, with an average of 1.5% of students approaching counsellors annually during this period.

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2 Jul 2024

Policy on Allowing Exceptionally Gifted Children to Skip Grades and Attend University Earlier

Hazel Poa asked the Ministry of Education about its position on allowing exceptionally gifted children to skip grades or attend university earlier and the number of such cases in the past five years.
The Ministry of Education allows grade-skipping only if a student is assessed to be ready academically and socio-emotionally, with early university admission evaluated case-by-case.
In the last five years, no exceptionally gifted students skipped grades in MOE schools, and one such student gained early admission to a local autonomous university.

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2 Jul 2024

Data on Resignation Rates for Teachers Since 2018

The annual resignation rate for teachers has remained stable at around 2% since 2018, with a slightly higher rate of 2.5% in the first five years of service.
The resignation rate for teachers when their bonds end (three to five years of service) is about 4%, which is higher than the overall rate.
Workload or burnout is not a commonly cited reason for teachers leaving the service, according to the response from the Minister for Education.

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2 Jul 2024

Scholarships Granted by Government to International Pre-tertiary and Tertiary Students Since 2019

Hazel Poa asked for statistics since 2019 on the number of international pre-tertiary, polytechnic, and university students receiving government scholarships, the median annual cost per category, and the proportion of undergraduate international students on tuition grant only, tuition grant with scholarships, or full-fee paying.
Chan Chun Sing responded that less than 1% of international pre-tertiary and tertiary students are on scholarships, with the average value varying by level and course, and that no scholarships are offered for international students at polytechnics.
About half of undergraduate international students pay net tuition grant fees, a quarter receive both tuition grant and scholarships, and the rest pay full fees.
All students receiving tuition grants are required to work in Singapore for at least three years after graduation.
The median annual scholarship cost was not provided as the minister cited dependence on level and course of study.

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2 Jul 2024

Total Government Expenditure on Permanent Resident and Non-Resident Students in FY2022 and FY2023

Leong Mun Wai requested a detailed breakdown of government spending on permanent resident and non-resident students across primary, secondary, and pre-tertiary institutions for FY2022 and FY2023.
Chan Chun Sing stated that Singapore Citizen students receive the highest per capita expenditure, followed by permanent residents and international students, with corresponding fee structures.
He emphasized that total government spending on Singapore Citizen students exceeds that for permanent residents, which in turn exceeds spending on international students.

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2 Jul 2024

Success of Hawkers' Development Programme

Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis queried the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment on the number of applicants who have enrolled, completed training, completed apprenticeship, started business operations, and remained in operation under the Hawkers' Development Programme.
The programme, launched in 2020 by the National Environment Agency, combines training, apprenticeship, and mentorship for aspiring hawkers.
As of 30 April 2024, 566 aspiring hawkers enrolled and completed classroom training, with 120 completing their apprenticeship.
Out of the 29 who started business operations in hawker centres, 16 remain in operation.

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