Education — Topics

3 Oct 2023

Percentage of Schools and Tertiary Institutions with Lactation Facilities for Nursing Mothers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Education about the percentage of schools and tertiary institutions with lactation rooms and suitable rooms for nursing mothers.
Chan Chun Sing stated that 95% of primary schools, 80% of secondary schools, and 90% of junior colleges/centralised institutes have lactation rooms, while the remaining schools have suitable rooms.
The Ministry is working with the remaining schools to set up dedicated lactation rooms.
All autonomous universities, polytechnics, and Institutes of Technical Education campuses have at least one lactation room.

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3 Oct 2023

Standardised Training on Procurement Procedures for All Officers across Public Service

Hazel Poa asked whether the Public Service conducts standardised procurement training for all officers, why not if absent, and if such training could prevent procurement lapses.
Lawrence Wong stated that since 2018, all new procurement officers must complete a compulsory e-learning module on standard procedures.
He noted that while training is important, it cannot fully prevent lapses given the volume of transactions, and the Government aims to reduce such issues.
The Ministry of Finance’s Finance and Procurement Academy regularly shares lessons from past lapses and good practices with procurement officers.

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3 Oct 2023

Proposal for Dedicated Funds to Subsidise Early Childhood Sector's Manpower Costs

Carrie Tan proposed allocating funds to subsidize early childhood sector manpower costs to raise salaries and improve talent quality.
The Minister highlighted that ECDA already supports salary uplifts for educators through government funding to ensure market competitiveness and retention.
ECDA also provides resources for educators’ professional development and career advancement to deepen expertise.

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3 Oct 2023

Effect of Removing Mid-year Examinations on Students’ Well-being

Gerald Giam asked whether the Ministry has assessed how removing mid-year exams affects student well-being and if pressure has shifted to year-end exams, and whether the Ministry is working with schools to rebalance emphasis on exams with alternative assessments.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that the goal is not just to reduce stress but to lessen overemphasis on exams and grades, freeing up time for more engaging learning and helping students develop self-directed learning and 21st-century skills.
He noted that students still receive feedback through weighted assessments and classroom assignments, and schools design varied assessments aligned with learning objectives.
Schools reported that students and parents appreciate more opportunities to discover interests and strengths, while teachers have more time to provide diverse learning experiences and feedback.
The Ministry will continue working with schools and stakeholders to ensure assessments support learning while considering student well-being.

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3 Oct 2023

Suicide and Attempted Suicide Cases Reported in Schools

Darryl David asked the Minister for Education about the number of suicide and attempted suicide cases reported in schools over the last five years and whether certain schools had higher rates.
Chan Chun Sing stated that suicide incidence rates for youths aged 10-19 fluctuated between 2018 and 2022, with rates lower than the national average.
Chan Chun Sing confirmed there are no indications that specific schools or institutions report higher suicide rates.

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3 Oct 2023

Attract and Train More Manpower for Special Needs Care and Education Sector

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), SG Enable, and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) collaborate with agencies to attract manpower, with revised salary guidelines increasing recommended pay for sector professionals by 4% to 15% this year.
Training initiatives include a competency framework and roadmap by the Social Service SkillsFuture Tripartite Taskforce, programmes from the Social Service Institute and SG Enable’s Enabling Academy, and specific pathways for early intervention and special education professionals.
Community training focuses on caregivers, with SG Enable and the Agency for Integrated Care offering courses supported by the Caregivers Training Grant to help cover costs.
MSF and the Ministry of Education will continue working with stakeholders to attract and retain manpower while reviewing policies like the Journeys of Excellence Package for special education teachers.

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3 Oct 2023

Students Referred to Authorities for Vaping in Last Five Years

Joan Pereira asked how many students were referred to the Health Sciences Authority for vaping in the last five years, to which the Second Minister for Education replied that referrals increased from less than 50 before 2020 to about 800 in 2022, with ongoing inter-agency efforts to boost detection, enforcement, and education.
Pereira followed up by asking if more resources such as technology, teaching tools, or manpower would be allocated to help schools address youth vaping, with the Minister affirming that necessary resources will be provided to enhance outreach efforts.
The Minister detailed current preventive measures, including embedding anti-vaping messages in curricula like Physical Education, Science, and Character and Citizenship Education, as well as training teachers to mentor students and engage parents to combat the trend.

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19 Sep 2023

Staff-to-children Ratio, Salaries and Working Conditions of Educators of Preschools Operated by MOE, Anchor Operators and Private Operators

Member Hazel Poa queried the average staff-to-children ratios, average salaries of early childhood educators, and improvements to salaries and working conditions since October 2022 across MOE, anchor, and private preschool operators.
The Minister responded that the questions had already been addressed in a previous parliamentary reply on 18 September 2023 regarding an investigation into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain.
The reply directed members to the official report for detailed information on the topics raised in the query.

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19 Sep 2023

Training of Early Childhood Educators to Include Definition of Mistreatment or Abuse of Children

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether the training of early childhood educators includes a clear definition of child mistreatment or abuse, noting that educators may have differing standards on what constitutes abuse.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M referred to a prior reply on this matter from a parliamentary session on 18 September 2023.
The referenced reply addressed concerns about investigations into alleged mistreatment at preschool centres and was part of the Official Report for that date.

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19 Sep 2023

Ensuring Safety and Well-being of Children Enrolled in Preschools

Dr Wan Rizal asked about immediate measures to protect children, how the Ministry is preventing similar incidents in other preschools, and steps to hold school management accountable for alleged child abuse.
The Minister referenced a prior reply from 18 September 2023 regarding investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain, directing further details to the Official Report.
The debate highlights government accountability and the need for proactive safeguards in preschools following abuse allegations.

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19 Sep 2023

Training and Other Measures to Address Workload, Stress Management and Mental Well-being Issues for Staff at Preschools and Childcare Centres

The debate was initiated by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about mandatory training or other measures by ECDA to address workload, stress management, and mental well-being for preschool and childcare staff.
The Minister’s response referred to a prior reply given on 18 September 2023, directing attention to the Official Report on investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain for relevant information.
The exchange highlighted a focus on staff well-being within early childhood settings, but specific details on new or existing measures were not elaborated in the provided excerpts.
The response indicated that the matter had been previously addressed in Parliament, suggesting ongoing government attention to staff welfare in preschools.
No new policy announcements or concrete measures were presented in this debate segment, as it primarily served as a follow-up reference to earlier discussions.

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19 Sep 2023

Increasing Range of Early Identification, Intervention and Support Programmes for Families with Special Needs Children

The Ministry has strengthened early identification through developmental screenings, subsidized services, and Inclusion Coordinators in all preschools by end-2023.
A variety of early intervention programmes exist for different age groups and support levels, and caregiver engagement is provided to equip parents with skills to support their children at home.
Support resources like the Parents’ Guide and Step One programme have been launched to help caregivers access information and connect with support networks.
The Ministry of Education collaborates with healthcare and special education providers to align assessments and offers forums and festivals to educate parents on school options.
The government aims to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure robust early identification, intervention, and caregiver education, while encouraging community support for families with special needs children.

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19 Sep 2023

Protocols for Schools' Overseas Trip or Expeditions Undertaken without Accompanying Teachers or Adults

The Minister confirmed that all overseas trips organised by MOE schools, polytechnics, and ITE have accompanying staff to oversee student safety and well-being.
For longer overseas exchange programmes and internships, there are either accompanying staff or on-site support from host institutions or companies.
The debate clarified that there are no unaccompanied overseas trips or expeditions required by these institutions.

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19 Sep 2023

Lactation Rooms in Schools

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Education for an update on the percentage of primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools with lactation rooms and whether it can be made compulsory for all institutions.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that all its schools and tertiary institutions already have either a lactation room or a suitable room for nursing mothers.
The debate highlights the government's commitment to supporting nursing mothers in educational workplaces without needing to mandate additional rooms.

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19 Sep 2023

Expenditure Per Student Spent on Mother Tongue Language Education

The Ministry of Education does not track expenditure per student by subject, as resources are interdependent across subjects and programmes.
The government remains committed to bilingualism and offers differentiated Mother Tongue Language curricula at all levels, with updated methods like multi-modal, technology-enhanced, and authentic learning approaches.
Future plans include enhancing teaching through cross-cultural competencies and greater community partnership to promote Mother Tongue use beyond the classroom.

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19 Sep 2023

Reasons for Granting Disruption from National Service

From 2018 to 2022, about 580 full-time National Servicemen disrupted NS annually for university studies, with 60 pursuing overseas studies each year.
The main reasons for disruption are to allow later enlistees to start university with their cohort (70%), to enable medical studies for future SAF Medical Officers (27%), and for Public Service Commission scholars (3%).
Disruptions follow a long-standing policy to attract top talent and ensure NSFs complete their remaining service after the disruption period.

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18 Sep 2023

Plans to Facilitate Training and Recruitment of Manpower to Ensure Good Care and Service Standards in New Nursing Homes

The Ministry of Health collaborates with the Agency for Integrated Care to provide training programmes and subsidies for nursing home staff, including the Community Care Traineeship Programme and development awards for clinical and non-clinical skills.
Efforts since 2020 have focused on redesigning support care roles to equip workers with broader skills and create pathways for progression, alongside initiatives like job fairs, an online careers portal, and overseas recruitment for foreign staff.
Salaries in the community care sector, including for local and foreign nurses and support staff, have been enhanced over the past three years, with a recent sign-on bonus introduced for eligible fresh nursing graduates joining publicly-funded residential care organisations.

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18 Sep 2023

Manpower Resources in Early Childhood Sector

Miss Rachel Ong queried whether guidelines will be issued on educators' use of personal mobile devices and if child progress updates must be recorded only on company-issued devices.
Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about checks and balances for reporting incidents of alleged ill-treatment, as well as monitoring and supporting the mental well-being of early childhood educators.
Nadia Ahmad Samdin also asked whether there is a shortage of qualified early childhood staff and what measures are being considered to increase manpower resources.
Mariam Jaafar asked if a code of conduct for preschool teachers can be implemented.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M noted that these questions were addressed in a previous oral reply on 18 September 2023.

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18 Sep 2023

Childcare Subsidy for Working Mothers Undergoing Skills Training, Upgrading or Studying to Obtain Certification Pre-employment

Patrick Tay asked whether childcare subsidies for working mothers should be extended to those undergoing skills training, upgrading, or studying for pre-employment certification.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that mothers in training or study are already eligible for preschool subsidies equivalent to working mothers.
He noted they can apply for Special Approval during childcare enrollment or seek assistance from their childcare center.
The current framework already provides support for mothers not yet employed but pursuing skills or education.
The Ministry confirms existing measures address the concern without requiring further extension of subsidies.

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18 Sep 2023

Provision of Direct Funding for Engaging Full-time School Counsellors Including to Madrasahs

Syed Harun Alhabsyi asked if MOE provides direct funding for full-time school counsellors and whether the same support could be extended to madrasahs or through collaboration with MUIS.
Chan Chun Sing clarified that MOE hires and deploys full-time counsellors to Government and Government-Aided schools, but madrasahs, being private, do not receive MOE funding for staff.
He noted that MUIS partners with community organisations to provide counselling services for madrasah students and that madrasahs are equipping teachers with basic counselling skills and sharing mental health information.

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