Education — Topics

4 Jul 2022

Number of Resident Cleaners Attaining Minimum Progressive Wage Model Training Requirements and Planned Enforcement Actions against Cleaning Businesses for Non-compliance

As of end-February 2022, about 14,500 resident cleaners (35%) had met the PWM training requirement of two WSQ certificates, while another 21,200 (51%) had completed one of the two required modules.
Licensed cleaning businesses had until 31 December 2022 to ensure their cleaners attained one WSQ module on Workplace Safety and Health and another on environmental cleaning, per Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners' recommendations accepted in June 2021.
Cleaning businesses not in compliance face financial penalties of up to $5,000, with repeat offenders risking revocation of their cleaning business licences.
The National Environment Agency and SkillsFuture Singapore have been actively engaging licensed cleaning businesses to encourage early training of their cleaners.

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4 Jul 2022

Incentives or Regulations to Promote and Achieve Basic Competency Standards in Green Financing Amongst Financial Institutions

The government is adopting a multi-pronged approach through the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to promote sustainable finance, focusing on enhancing resilience to environmental risks, improving climate-related disclosures, supporting market development, and building capabilities.
MAS plans to introduce mandatory disclosure requirements for financial institutions once global sustainability reporting standards are established, alongside initiatives like Project Greenprint to improve ESG data quality and a taxonomy for classifying environmentally sustainable activities.
Financial incentives such as the Sustainable Bond Grant Scheme and Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan Grant Scheme are available to help corporates defray costs and encourage green financing, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
MAS and the Institute of Banking and Finance have launched Sustainable Finance Technical Skills and Competencies to set proficiency standards and are developing a talent ecosystem through university centres and training providers.
Singapore Exchange has set a roadmap for mandatory climate disclosures by listed companies, with plans to align with international standards and expand requirements across sectors over time.

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4 Jul 2022

Steps to Enhance Anti-corruption Education Especially among Singaporean Youths

The government reaffirmed incorruptibility as a core national value, noting Singapore’s consistent top rankings in global corruption indices and its unique standing in Asia.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) conducts wide-ranging preventive education, including targeted initiatives for youth such as picture books, animated videos, badge programmes, web games, and e-books co-created with students.
CPIB works with schools, the community, and media to enhance the relevance and reach of its anti-corruption messages, emphasizing collective responsibility beyond law enforcement alone.
The government highlighted CPIB’s 70th anniversary as a milestone to acknowledge the dedication of its officers in maintaining Singapore’s clean governance.

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4 Jul 2022

Employees Trained as Mental Health First Responders

Edward Chia Bing Hui asked whether the Ministry of Manpower has set targets for the number of workers trained as mental health first responders, including the rationale and timeline.
Tan See Leng explained that mental health first responders are trained to identify mental distress, provide initial support, and guide colleagues to professional help.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council offers free mental well-being workshops, with around 60 participants trained so far, and plans to promote further adoption.
The Ministry of Manpower does not set specific targets but encourages companies to adopt mental well-being initiatives suited to their needs.

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4 Jul 2022

Inclusion of More Singapore Institutes of Higher Learning in UK's High Potential Individual Visa Scheme

Desmond Choo asked if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the UK to include more Singapore universities in its High Potential Individual visa scheme.
The Ministry has not made such a request and has no plans to do so.
The government does not intervene in other countries' immigration criteria, as nations set their own immigration rules based on specific needs.

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4 Jul 2022

Special Select Committee to Review University Cohort Participation Rate and Adult Education

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked if the Ministry of Education would convene a Special Select Committee to review Singapore’s university cohort participation rate and adult education.
Chan Chun Sing stated that MOE is already reviewing the lifetime cohort participation rate and enhancing support for reskilling older Singaporeans, but does not plan to convene a select committee.
The review involves working with economic agencies to align university places with workforce demands, and stakeholders can share views by writing to MOE.

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4 Jul 2022

Flexibility of Primary and Secondary Schools to Stagger Start and End Times of Different Cohorts

Schools currently have the autonomy to stagger start and end times for different cohorts based on factors like student profiles, after-school activities, and transport conditions.
Some schools have already implemented staggered dismissal times for different levels to ease traffic congestion outside their premises.
The Ministry of Education supports such flexibility to address local needs and improve school operations.

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4 Jul 2022

Hiring of More Staff to Reduce Administrative Workload of Teachers and in Planning of Events

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Education will hire more staff to reduce teachers' administrative workload and assist in event planning.
Chan Chun Sing responded that schools already have administrative teams and flexible funding to hire adjunct or casual staff, but national manpower constraints limit expansion.
The Ministry has reduced administrative burdens by centralizing services like procurement and finance, and using technology such as Parents’ Gateway for tasks like collecting consent forms.
MOE provides funding for schools to engage vendors for event planning and enrichment activities, but teachers remain responsible for oversight and student care.
The Ministry will continue to streamline processes, use technology, and support administrative staff to manage teachers' workload effectively.

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4 Jul 2022

Annual Preschool Enrolment of Children Aged Three as a Percentage of Each Cohort Size and Socio-economic Background in Last Five Years

Over the past five years, preschool enrolment for children aged three to four has risen, with nine in ten Singaporean children in this age group enrolled in 2021, up from eight in ten in 2017, though participation among lower-income families remains below the national average.
The government provides targeted support for lower-income families, including automatic eligibility for maximum preschool subsidies and low monthly fees at Anchor Operator preschools, while outreach programs like KidSTART and Preschool Outreach help address barriers to enrolment.
The government maintains its stance against making preschool education mandatory, preferring to focus on improving access, affordability, and quality of preschool services, along with proactive outreach to encourage enrolment, especially among disadvantaged children.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of Childcare and Infant Care Spaces with Existing Capacity but Face Shortage of Teachers

The Minister reported that the early childhood educator workforce grew by over 30% in the past five years, supporting a 17% expansion in preschool capacity to meet rising demand.
Localised mismatches between preschool supply and demand exist due to factors such as new preschools ramping up operations, internal placements for progressing children, and managed enrolment pacing.
ECDA collaborates with Anchor Operators and preschools to address localised shortages through recruitment drives, internal manpower diversion, and enhancing career development to attract and retain educators.

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9 May 2022

Average Preschool Enrolment Rate of Families Residing in HDB Public Rental Flats Compared with National Average Enrolment Rate

In each of the past five years, the preschool enrolment rate for children aged three to four from HDB public rental flats was about 80%, slightly below the national average of 88%, while for children aged five to six it was comparable at around 95%.
The Ministry is enhancing subsidies and outreach programmes, such as KidSTART and Preschool Outreach, to automatically provide maximum preschool subsidies to families under public rental and ComCare schemes, making full-day childcare available for $3 per month at Anchor Operator preschools.
Instead of making preschool education compulsory, the Ministry focuses on ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality preschool services with targeted assistance for lower-income families to address practical barriers to enrolment.

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9 May 2022

Annual Average Expenses in Caring for Special Needs Child between Ages of Seven and 18 for Education, Therapy Support and Rehabilitation Treatment

The debate highlighted that special needs children aged seven to 18 in Singapore receive educational and therapeutic support primarily through mainstream and SPED schools, with most attending mainstream schools where SEN services are provided at no additional cost.
Mainstream students access support such as SEN officers, targeted interventions, and partnerships with organizations for specialized services, with financial assistance available to defray costs like those for the Dyslexia Association's MLP programme.
SPED schools serve students with more intensive needs, offering fully funded teachers, therapists, and other personnel, with school fees for citizens ranging from $14 to $250 monthly and financial schemes covering costs for lower-income families.
The government emphasizes affordability and accessibility of support services, including assistive technology devices and transport subsidies, to help special needs children lead independent lives.
The response did not provide specific annual average expense figures for education, therapy support, or rehabilitation treatment from 2010 to 2020, focusing instead on the structure and funding of support systems.

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9 May 2022

Long-Term Plans to Increase Recognition of Skills and Vocation-based Training with Tiers for Experience and Skills Certifications

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about long-term government plans to enhance recognition of skills and vocation-based training, suggesting a tiered certification system like Germany's or the US's apprentice-journeyman-master model.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system already provides a tiered national framework with six qualification levels, regularly reviewed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to align with economic needs.
The WSQ system includes an Assessment-Only Pathway to certify skills without additional training and partners with industry bodies to develop sector-specific certification pathways, starting with the ICT sector.

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9 May 2022

Extend Tuition Grant to All Graduate Law Students in Local Universities Even If They have Utilised Grant for Their First Degree

Raj Joshua Thomas proposed extending MOE Tuition Grants to all graduate law students, even those who used the grant for their first degree, to encourage diverse entrants into the legal profession.
Chan Chun Sing explained that MOE subsidies are only for first tertiary qualifications, with no further subsidies for second degrees to ensure parity in public funding.
He noted that NUS, SMU, and SUSS offer Juris Doctor programmes for students with non-law undergraduate degrees, and SUSS JD students without MOE subsidies can apply for a MinLaw-SUSS Study Award.
The SUSS JD programme mainly serves mid-career adult learners with backgrounds in paralegal, law enforcement, or social work roles.

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9 May 2022

Rationale for Retaining Name of One School over Other when Schools are Merged

The Ministry of Education considers factors such as school history, heritage, the final site of the merged school, stakeholder sentiments, and the appropriateness of name retention or combination when deciding on names for merged schools.
For the merger of Tanglin Secondary School and Stamford Primary School, the English names were not retained due to the above considerations, and the Chinese names, which are phonetic translations, were also not retained as they may not be meaningful for the merged school.
To preserve heritage, the Design and Technology block will be named "Tanglin Design Centre" and the parade square "Stamford Square" at the merged school site.
School leaders engage staff, students, parents, alumni, and advisory committees on key issues like school name, programmes, identity, and values for the merged school.
The engagement process for this merger has been completed, and MOE will proceed with the planned names and focus on the merger process.

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9 May 2022

Proposal to Allow Full-time National Servicemen to Pursue Part-time Courses Relevant to Future Employment or Education during National Service

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) be allowed and encouraged to pursue part-time courses relevant to their future employment or education during service.
Minister Ng Eng Hen affirmed that military duties remain the priority but highlighted existing support initiatives like SkillsFuture@NS, which provides $350 credits for over 3,000 courses, and Enhanced Career and Education Fairs for NSFs nearing the end of service.
MINDEF/SAF has launched five Work-Learn Schemes since 2018 in fields like Cybersecurity and AI, enabling NSFs to earn diplomas or credits while serving.
The Ministry remains committed to supporting NSFs’ transition to higher education or the workforce while meeting operational needs.

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9 May 2022

Accreditation by SkillsFuture Singapore of Apprenticeships Through Practical Experience under Skilled Practitioner

Raj Joshua Thomas asked whether SkillsFuture Singapore could accredit apprenticeships in specific professions to formally recognize skills gained through practical experience under a skilled practitioner.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework, including its Assessment-Only Pathway, already certifies skills acquired through on-the-job training like apprenticeships across various sectors.
SkillsFuture Singapore plans to partner with sectoral agencies and professional bodies as Skills Development Partners to identify in-demand skills and establish structures for accrediting workplace-acquired skills.

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9 May 2022

Regulation of Food and Beverage Vending Machines in Schools and Educational Institutions

Darryl David asked whether the Ministry of Education regulates food and beverage vending machines in schools and what guidelines apply to their types.
Chan Chun Sing confirmed that F&B sold via vending machines in schools follows the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy Meals in Schools Programme guidelines and undergoes compliance assessments.
The guidelines aim to promote healthy eating habits, including requirements like water coolers and limits on sugar levels in commercial drinks.
Institutes of Higher Learning also collaborate with vendors, including vending machine operators, to offer healthier F&B choices on campus.

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9 May 2022

Update on Impact of Holistic Health Framework in Primary and Secondary Schools

The Holistic Health Framework (HHF) supports all students in Primary and Secondary schools to acquire knowledge and skills for a healthy lifestyle through Physical Education and Character and Citizenship Education, with schools partnering parents and referring severely underweight or overweight students to Health Promotion Board's Student Health Centre for medical screening and counselling.
To manage weight issues without stigma, schools use sensitive and discreet engagement strategies like journaling, goal setting, and action planning in physical activities and nutrition, focusing on positive self-image and building active lifestyles.
The proportion of overweight students in schools has remained stable at 11–13% over the past decade, rising to 16% in the last two years due to COVID-19 impacts on physical activity, though this remains low compared to many other countries.

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9 May 2022

Provision of Professional Development Leave for Teachers Ranked Lower in Performance Management System

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if teachers with C-minus or lower performance grades could receive professional development leave.
Chan Chun Sing stated that weaker-performing teachers should focus on on-the-job improvement and can attend in-service courses rather than taking extended leave.
The Ministry typically does not grant professional development leave to lower-ranked teachers but is prepared to allow no-pay leave for relevant activities.

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