Education — Topics

7 Mar 2024

Assessment of Recent Classroom Sharing of Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Ministry of Education addressed multiple parliamentary questions on how schools handle the Israel-Hamas conflict in Character and Citizenship Education, including lesson delivery methods and teacher preparation.
Questions focused on ensuring balanced, sensitive coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, providing teachers with support, and managing potential backlash from stakeholders.
The Ministry outlined its process for incorporating stakeholder feedback and updating the curriculum, emphasizing transparency and comprehensive content on global issues.
Officials highlighted the importance of fostering thoughtful and compassionate global citizenship while respecting diverse viewpoints in classrooms.
The debate concluded with references to prior discussions in the Committee of Supply, indicating existing policies and frameworks for such educational content.

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7 Mar 2024

Attendance at Appointments with Family Coaches by Recipients of ComLink+ Enhanced Package

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the percentage of ComLink+ families who have met their family coaches and the expected frequency of future check-ins, as well as the average monthly pre-school fees for eligible households.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that family coaches contact new families within one month and check-ins occur every one to two months based on need, with a focus on outcomes rather than visit counts.
He clarified that the ComLink+ Packages, including preschool subsidies, have not yet been rolled out and are scheduled for launch in the second half of 2024.
He noted that all Singaporean children in public rental flats, including ComLink+ families, automatically qualify for maximum preschool subsidies, costing $3 per month for full-day childcare or $1 per month for half-day kindergarten at designated operators.

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7 Mar 2024

Review of and Actions Taken Following Study on Teachers' Mental Health

The Ministry of Education monitors teachers' well-being through internal surveys and regular engagements, and provides support channels including supervisors, school Wellness Ambassadors, and in-house and external counselling services.
The Minister confirmed that MOE reviewed the 2021 study on teachers' mental health but noted the situation may have changed post-COVID-19, and senior officials regularly visit schools to understand and address teachers' concerns.
The Ministry does not have specific figures on the number of teachers seeking counselling help, but emphasized its commitment to creating a supportive infrastructure and ecosystem for teachers.

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7 Mar 2024

Factors to Determine Number of Lactation Rooms in Institutes of Higher Learning

Ms Gan Siow Huang explained that the number of lactation rooms in Institutes of Higher Learning is determined not only by campus size but also by factors such as the age profile of the workforce and the proximity of the rooms to workspaces, and she noted that comparing average campus area per room is not meaningful due to varying campus functions.
Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the average number of lactation rooms per university, polytechnic, and ITE campus, and highlighted that teachers face time constraints because they cannot express milk while teaching, leading to requests for more rooms and concerns about queuing.
Ms Gan Siow Huang emphasized that each IHL provides multiple lactation rooms and that accessibility from workspaces is prioritized over comparing average room counts or campus areas, underscoring the importance of convenience for nursing mothers.

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7 Mar 2024

Point of Order

Leong Mun Wai requested the Speaker to extend Question Time to one and a half hours to allow more parliamentary questions on the Israeli-Hamas content in CCE lessons to be answered, citing public concern.
The Speaker declined the request, stating that Question Time was allocated 30 minutes from the start of the COS debate and that changing the timing would disrupt the schedule for other debates.
Leong Mun Wai urged the Speaker to ensure the related questions are prioritized in the next Sitting if not addressed today, referencing the Minister for Education's earlier assurance.
The Speaker reiterated that the questions had been discussed during the MOE COS debate, emphasized keeping responses and clarifications short to cover more questions, and affirmed adherence to standing orders for future sittings.
The exchange highlighted tensions over parliamentary time allocation and the handling of public interest issues within the debate schedule.

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6 Mar 2024

Clarification by Minister for Health

Minister Ong Ye Kung corrected his earlier statement, noting that Changi General Hospital has six ambulance bays, not four as previously mentioned.
He clarified that the intake for local medical schools has increased by about 30% over the past 10 years, reaching approximately 500 students annually.
The total student cohort is slightly over 35,000, with about half attending autonomous universities and 500 training to be doctors, not 30,000 and 15,000-17,000 as earlier stated.
The corrections were made to address inaccuracies from a previous speech during the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of Health.
The Minister acknowledged the issue of Changi General Hospital's aging structure and limited ambulance bays, as reported in the Straits Times.

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6 Mar 2024

Help for Graduates to Find Employment amidst Tightening Labour Market

The Minister highlighted tripartite initiatives, including curriculum reviews by universities, quality internships via the National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning, and career advisory services through Workforce Singapore and NTUC’s e2i to support graduate employment.
NTUC and SNEF have piloted programs like Career Starter Lab and mentorSHIP to provide career trials, attachments, and mentorship, helping graduates clarify job fit and find roles matching their skills and aspirations.
Despite a slight dip in recent graduate employment rates, overall figures remain above pre-COVID levels, with starting salaries also increasing, indicating a generally favorable labor market for graduates.
The Ministry is exploring partnerships with tech companies and startup incubators, guided by programs like T-UP, to create new job opportunities while ensuring clear career paths for graduates.
Technology and data analytics, such as the CareersFinder tool and career health nudges, are being leveraged to improve job matching and support graduates in making informed career decisions.

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5 Mar 2024

Cases of Preschools and Kindergartens Breaching Staff-Child Ratios and Measures to Ensure Compliance

In 2023, about 1% of preschools (23 centres) did not meet the minimum qualified staff-child ratios at license renewal and are on six or 12-month licenses.
Operators must ensure ratios are met at all times during operating hours by redeploying staff or engaging relief staff, and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is reviewing ways to grow a relief staff pool.
ECDA is also improving career prospects and working conditions to attract and retain educators, though raising the minimum ratios across the sector is considered carefully due to potential impacts on manpower and service availability.

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5 Mar 2024

Study on Extending Development and Learning Support Programme to Differently-abled Children at Nursery Levels

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for an update on the ECDA's study about extending the Development Support and Learning Support Programme to differently abled children at nursery levels.
The Development Support-Learning Support (DS-LS) Programme currently supports preschool children aged five and six with mild developmental delays or learning needs.
In 2021, the Early Childhood Development Agency piloted extending the DS-LS programme to children aged three and four in 20 preschool centres.
The pilot extension to younger children is still in progress.
The debate focused on whether the programme can be further extended to include differently abled children at the nursery level.

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5 Mar 2024

Full-time Undergraduates on Study Loans under MOE Tuition Grant Scheme and Interest Charged

Over the last 10 years, around 18,800 undergraduate and 2,300 diploma students annually took up MOE Tuition Grant Scheme study loans, with interest-free periods during study and a current interest rate of 4.75% per annum after graduation.
As of September 2023, about 500 loans (2.6% of outstanding loans) had arrears of three months or more.
Borrowers facing repayment difficulties can appeal for deferment, and MOE reviews these appeals on a case-by-case basis.

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5 Mar 2024

Annual Number of Students Placed in Time Out Programme and Its Effectiveness

Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Ministry of Education for the annual number of students placed in the Time Out Programme over the last five years, the main reasons for their disengagement, the programme's effectiveness, and what adjustments are being made for customised support.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that the Time Out Programme was originally designed to improve student belonging, attendance, and confidence, but disengagement often stems from family issues, negative peer influence, and lack of direction.
The Ministry ceased the Time Out Programme in 2019, reallocating resources to broader support for at-risk students through after-school programmes, mentoring, and interest-based activities to strengthen school connections.
Schools now deploy Student Welfare Officers to engage students with irregular attendance and work with parents and community partners like Social Service Offices to address home-based challenges and facilitate reintegration.
The Ministry emphasises a multi-faceted approach combining school-based support and community collaboration to address student disengagement more comprehensively than the previous Time Out Programme.

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5 Mar 2024

School Educators' Awareness of Academic and Practice Pathways for Emerging Careers

Ms See Jinli Jean asked whether the Ministry of Education requires all secondary school educators to be familiarized with academic and practice pathways for emerging careers under future economic clusters.
The Minister of State for Education replied that teachers can learn from Education and Career Guidance counsellors and attend industry networking sessions organized by MOE to gain insights into future career trends.
Ms See followed up by asking how frequent these sessions are and how teachers are supported to stay updated on developments like AI to better guide students.
The Minister of State explained that MOE sends quarterly newsletters on emerging economic clusters and encourages students to consult ECG counsellors, use the MySkillsFuture portal, and seek mentorship from organizations like NTUC Youth.

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4 Mar 2024

Response to Calls for More Proactive Initiatives to Safeguard Employment

The Government’s strategy focuses on creating good jobs and equipping workers with the necessary skills through a two-pronged approach: driving economic competitiveness and investing in workforce skills development.
Key initiatives include the Industry Transformation Maps and Jobs Transformation Maps to guide business and job redesign, alongside collaboration between ministries to identify and address future skill needs through programmes like Career Conversion and SkillsFuture Career Transition.
Targeted support is provided for retrenched workers, and the Government aims to improve long-term career planning through better job matching and data access, while highlighting successful employment outcomes like low unemployment and sustained wage growth.

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4 Mar 2024

Committee of Supply – Head K (Ministry of Education)

MPs raised concerns about the implementation and support for lifelong learning initiatives, questioning the selection of SkillsFuture courses, job market readiness for graduates, and the adequacy of financial and emotional support for mature learners and freelancers.
The Ministry outlined enhancements, including the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme with subsidies and training allowances for mid-career Singaporeans, new pathways for ITE graduates via the ITE Progression Award, and changes to polytechnic admissions from 2028 to accommodate diverse learner profiles.
Ministers addressed the delivery of Character and Citizenship Education lessons on the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the need to equip students with skills to navigate sensitive global issues, protect teachers from online abuse, and update materials based on feedback.

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1 Mar 2024

Enrolment and Accessibility of SkillsFuture Courses for Persons with Disabilities

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Ministry for Education for data on the number and reasons for rejections of persons with disabilities applying for SkillsFuture courses over the last five years, including whether providers rejected applicants due to an inability to provide reasonable accommodations, and whether the Ministry would collect such data if unavailable.
She also inquired about the proportion of SkillsFuture course enrollees who are persons with disabilities and whether the Ministry would review protocols within the SkillsFuture scheme to increase accessibility beyond the specially curated courses at Enabling Academy.
Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) provides enhanced training support through Enabling Academy, benefiting about 380 persons with disabilities annually from 2021 to 2023, and that persons with disabilities can also access mainstream courses with subsidies.
SSG does not collect data on unsuccessful applicants, including those with disabilities, but engages with stakeholders like SG Enable and training providers to gather feedback and improve accessibility, including through grants for assistive technology and programme development.

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1 Mar 2024

Proportion of Students with Disabilities in Polytechnics and Institutes of Higher Learning

Ms He Ting Ru requested the proportion of students with disabilities admitted to polytechnics and other Institutes of Higher Learning over the last five years.
The Ministry of Education does not track admissions specifically for students with disabilities but instead monitors students with special educational needs (SEN), which includes various disabilities and conditions.
From 2019 to 2023, approximately 3% to 5% of those admitted to polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education, and autonomous universities were students with SEN.

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1 Mar 2024

Caseload Handled by School Counsellors

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Education for the mean and median number of students handled by each school counsellor and hours spent per student over the past five years, and whether the ministry would consider collecting such data if it is not already tracked.
Chan Chun Sing replied that over the past five years, each school counsellor supports an average of 70 students annually with social-emotional and mental health issues, with time spent varying by student needs and support intensity.
The Ministry of Education does not track the time spent on each case and has no plans to do so, noting that counsellors also collaborate with school personnel, community partners, and parents on preventive programmes and other support ecosystem activities.

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1 Mar 2024

Committee of Supply – Head K (Ministry of Education)

MOE announced a SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme with a $4,000 credit top-up for Singaporeans aged 40 and above, full-time training subsidies, and a training allowance to support mid-career reskilling, aiming to invest in lifelong learning beyond formal schooling.
Full Subject-Based Banding (SBB) is now fully implemented for Secondary 1 students, with a new SEC examination system from 2027 to replace O/N levels, allowing mixed subject levels and wider post-secondary pathways, while increasing non-academic awards to balance academic emphasis.
Discussions highlighted needs for special education (SPED) including reducing school fees, improving teacher remuneration and career pathways, enhancing support for families, and better employment opportunities for graduates, with MOE committing to a shared vision for inclusive education.

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1 Mar 2024

Removal of Proverb or "Peribahasa" Section from GCE "O" Level Malay Language Examinations from 2024

The Ministry clarified that while the proverb (Peribahasa) section is removed as a standalone exam component from 2024, it will still be taught in lessons and assessed within texts to promote contextual understanding and inferential skills.
Schools will continue to integrate Peribahasa in textbooks, lessons, and activities like discussions and research, with the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee organizing community events to foster appreciation of cultural values.
To engage students, the Ministry encourages using modern methods like TikTok competitions and video production, helping students explore Peribahasa through technology and critical thinking in their daily lives.

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29 Feb 2024

Revision of Syllabus for Social Studies in Primary and Secondary Schools

Leong Mun Wai inquired about the revision timeline for the Social Studies syllabus in primary and secondary schools.
Chan Chun Sing stated that the primary school syllabus was revised and implemented in 2020.
Chan Chun Sing also confirmed that the secondary school syllabus was revised and implemented in 2023.
The debate focused on providing specific dates for the syllabus revisions across different education levels.
The exchange clarified the implementation schedule for the revised Social Studies curriculum.

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