Education — Topics

15 Feb 2022

Breakdown of Applications Received for Schemes under Financial Sector Development Fund Annually in Last Five Years

In the last five years, the Financial Sector Development Fund received annual applications for course fee subsidies for individuals, with all claims approved and S$188 million disbursed to about 176,000 individuals, 87% of whom were Singapore Citizens.
For financial institutions, nearly 600 applications were supported over five years, amounting to S$86 million and benefiting close to 2,200 Singapore Citizens, with almost all applications approved except for the Financial Specialist Scholarship, which had a 50% approval rate.
The schemes aim to support career development at various levels, from pre-entry internships to senior leadership programmes, focusing on areas like digitalisation, sustainable finance, and cybersecurity.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

15 Feb 2022

Teachers Seeking Counselling Services in Past Five Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education for the number of teachers who sought counselling services each year in the past five years, broken down by the Ministry’s in-house counselling services and the whole-of-Government counselling hotline.
The Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, stated that MOE provides various support resources for teachers, including counselling services, and noted that the number of teachers using in-house counselling averaged about 40 per year from 2017 to 2019, rising to about 70 in the last two years, with about 90 MOE staff using the whole-of-Government hotline in 2021.
MOE has adjusted system-level and school-level initiatives to pace out work for teachers, recognizing the increased demands due to COVID-19, and introduced new measures like Wellness Ambassadors, an online platform called Mindline at Work, and workshops to enhance mental well-being support for teachers.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

15 Feb 2022

Teachers' Workload and Hours Spent Working In and Outside of School

The Ministry of Education reported that teachers' average weekly work hours during term time have remained stable at 50 to 53 hours over the past five years, and they have implemented measures like enhanced IT systems and reduced examination coverage to manage workload.
In response to hybrid learning and pandemic disruptions, MOE has provided professional development, curriculum resources, and greater school flexibility to support teachers, while also upholding guidelines to protect their time outside school hours and during holidays.
MOE is strengthening teacher well-being through self-care resources, workshops, and fostering supportive school cultures, while working with stakeholders to ensure workload sustainability and holistic support.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

15 Feb 2022

Maintaining Diverse Curriculum with Liberal Arts at New NUS College Following Closure of Yale-NUS College

NUS will merge the best elements of Yale-NUS College and the University Scholars Programme into a new NUS College, offering an interdisciplinary, inclusive curriculum with small-group teaching and a residential learning environment.
The new college’s curriculum will combine liberal arts with data and computational studies, and include a Global Pathway Programme for overseas immersion in themes like technology and climate action.
For the interim, Yale-NUS College students will continue to have access to all current majors and minors until 2025, with no changes to small-group teaching or residential learning practices.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

15 Feb 2022

Character-building in Students in Tertiary Institutions' Curriculum

Lim Biow Chuan asked whether tertiary institutions in Singapore will focus on building character values in their curriculum.
The Minister for Education affirmed that character and values are essential, starting with a holistic school experience and building on foundations like Character and Citizenship lessons.
Institutes of Higher Learning shape character through experiential learning such as student life, service learning, internships, and overseas immersion programmes.
Polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education will implement a revised LifeSkills curriculum from AY2022 to strengthen key competencies and attributes like resilience and collaboration.
Autonomous Universities will continue to strengthen LifeSkills among students through a rich range of learning and student experiences.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Available Places in Special Education Schools for Students with Autism and Other Disabilities and Average Waiting Time for Enrolment

Nineteen out of 22 SPED schools have programmes for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with six focusing exclusively on ASD and others also accepting students with other Special Educational Needs.
Most applicants receive a confirmed place within three months, though processing can extend to six months if more assessment is needed, and some families opt to wait for their preferred school.
MOE supports parents through annual forums, open houses, and a system allowing up to three school choices on applications.
MOE continuously monitors demand and collaborates with Social Service Agencies to plan for various SEN profiles, including ASD.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Plans beyond COVID-19 Pandemic to Recruit Singaporeans for Jobs in Healthcare and Other Related Sectors

The Ministry of Health will continue to expand local recruitment and training pipelines for healthcare and community care sectors, with increased intakes for professional programmes and mid-career conversion schemes to address rising demand from an ageing population and chronic diseases.
Initiatives such as Healthcare Career Conversion Programmes and senior management schemes in community care have successfully attracted more mid-career locals, with salary enhancements rolled out in 2021 to improve competitiveness and retention.
Despite challenges like attrition and workload pressures during the pandemic, the ministry will leverage cross-deployment, partnerships with private providers, and lessons from COVID-19 to ensure sustainable manpower and service delivery.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Incentivising Bus Operators to Offer Cheaper and More Flexible Options to Encourage Students to Take School Buses

Seah Kian Peng urged the Ministry of Education to incentivise bus operators to provide cheaper and more flexible options for students using school buses.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the government already supports affordable school bus fares through measures like exempting buses from Certificate of Entitlement and offering road tax rebates.
MOE provides transport subsidies, covering 60% of school bus fares for lower-income primary school students to ease financial burdens.
The government encourages school bus or public transport use to promote student independence, environmental sustainability, and reduced traffic congestion.
No new incentives were announced, as existing measures already aim to keep school bus costs low and accessible.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Consideration for Students Affected by School Closures and Transferred to Other Schools

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry of Education to consider students' living arrangements and primary caregivers' addresses when transferring them due to school closures.
Chan Chun Sing explained that MOE merges schools instead of closing them, with students typically continuing at the merged school, but some parents request transfers.
MOE considers transfer requests based on living arrangements, caregiver addresses, transportation challenges, student interests, and school vacancies.
The response clarifies that school mergers are the norm, but individual cases are assessed with multiple factors in mind.
The debate highlights MOE's approach to balancing logistical and educational needs during school mergers.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Breakdown on Financial Aid Per Capita Provided to Students in Tertiary Institutions

Seah Kian Peng asked for a per capita breakdown of financial aid for students in NUS, Yale-NUS, Polytechnics, ITE, and private universities like SIM.
The Minister of State for Education outlined tiered bursaries, with the highest support for lower-income households, including $6,200 annually for autonomous university students and $2,750 for polytechnic students.
ITE students receive $1,500 in cash bursary plus fully covered tuition fees, while private university students get no government aid and must seek PEI or commercial loans.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Jobs Created by New Investments Brought in by EDB in Last Three Years, their Profile and Preparedness of Local Workforce for this Growth

EDB attracted investments over the last three years created about 54,000 jobs in high-value sectors like advanced manufacturing, digital, and green economy, with a focus on roles such as software engineers, data scientists, and lab technicians.
The local workforce is supported through multi-agency initiatives like Career Conversion Programmes, SkillsFuture, and partnerships with companies like Bosch and Siemens to upskill workers for Industry 4.0 and new job roles.
Approximately 80% of jobs created from 2021 investments are projected to be held by locals with salaries above $4,000, though this depends on labor market conditions and the availability of suitable local talent.
The government is calibrating foreign manpower policies to complement local talent gaps while ensuring Singaporeans benefit from new investments through training and fair recruitment practices under the Fair Consideration Framework.
Investments are increasingly focused on capital- and skills-intensive sectors to enhance productivity, with efforts to make engineering and manufacturing careers more attractive to locals as part of the Manufacturing 2030 strategy.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Training of Bus Captains in Inclusive Service Delivery to Assist Commuters with Special Needs

All public transport operators train bus captains to assist commuters with special needs, with over 6,300 BCs completing the Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme since 2016.
Training materials and programs are regularly updated based on feedback from commuters, caregivers, and social service agencies, with initiatives like the Caring SG Commuters Committee gathering input and promoting inclusive commuting culture.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that while assistance for wheelchair users is clear, helping those with strollers may be less evident, encouraging commuters to seek help and provide feedback to improve training, while also promoting a community approach through programs like the Caring Commuter Champion initiative.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

14 Feb 2022

Support for Children with Special Needs and Their Caregivers

The ministers outlined a comprehensive support framework for children with special needs, including early detection through developmental screenings, tailored educational pathways in mainstream or special education schools, and transition planning to post-school life and employment, while emphasizing the critical role of parents as partners.
Caregivers can access resources through SG Enable's Enabling Guide, training workshops, respite services, and mental health hotlines, with community initiatives like Project 3i fostering peer support and professional guidance.
Multiple MPs highlighted the need for better coordination, more strategic information sharing, proactive registries for caregivers, and stronger community involvement to prevent tragedies and ensure holistic support across national, community, and family levels.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

12 Jan 2022

Registration of Real Estate Salespersons on Basis of Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Since 2020

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for National Development how many real estate salespersons have been registered since 2020 using the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) assessment in place of four GCE “O” Level passes, broken down by age decade.
The Council for Estate Agencies requires real estate salespersons to have at least four GCE “O” Level passes or equivalent to ensure they can understand property laws and provide accurate client advice.
Applicants without these qualifications can take the highly subsidised WPLN assessment and need a Level 5 or above to qualify, which can be paid for using SkillsFuture Credits.
In 2020 and 2021, 227 new real estate salespersons registered using the WPLN assessment as an alternative to the traditional educational requirement.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

12 Jan 2022

Building on Success that Singapore Football Team Achieved at AFF Suzuki Cup 2021

The Ministry will build on the Lions' AFF Suzuki Cup 2021 success through the Unleash the Roar! initiative, which aims to uplift football at amateur and professional levels and rally national support.
A key strategy is strengthening youth development by establishing School Football Academies in secondary schools and introducing a National Football Curriculum with trained coaches.
Strategic partnerships with Borussia Dortmund and La Liga are formed to accelerate local talent development and strengthen the football ecosystem.
The government emphasizes the need for continued public support to inspire young football aspirants and unite Singaporeans behind the national team.
These efforts focus on creating a sustainable pipeline of players and raising standards to achieve long-term success for Singapore football.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

12 Jan 2022

Data on Educational and Family Backgrounds of PSC Scholars and Steps to Ensure Diversity amongst Them

The PSC awards scholarships based on merit and has expanded outreach to all pre-university institutions, polytechnics, and local universities, with particular attention to students from humble backgrounds and institutions with traditionally fewer recipients.
Over the past decade, the share of scholarships from RI and HCI has decreased from over 60% to less than half in recent years, while awards to other junior colleges and specialized schools have risen from 32% to 37%, and polytechnic recipients have increased from 1-5% to 6-10%.
The proportion of scholarship awardees living in public housing has ranged between 39% and 54% over the last 10 years, and the PSC continues to monitor the effectiveness of its diversity measures.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

12 Jan 2022

Numbers of Graduates from ITE's Full-time Technical Diploma Courses and Their Starting Salaries

Abdul Samad inquired about the number of graduates from ITE's three Technical Diploma courses and whether their starting salaries matched those of polytechnic diploma holders, requesting salary ranges if not.
Chan Chun Sing stated that ITE offers three Technical Diplomas in Machine Technology, Automotive Engineering, and Culinary Arts, with about 800 graduates since 2008.
He added that the median starting salaries of Technical Diploma graduates in full-time employment have been comparable to polytechnic diploma holders over the last five years.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

12 Jan 2022

Academic and Other Considerations in Streaming of Primary School Students

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether primary school students are streamed by academic results and, if so, the rationale, or what other criteria are used instead.
Chan Chun Sing replied that schools aim for diverse form classes based on gender, race, nationality, and learning ability, keeping them together for at least two years.
At upper primary levels, schools may use Subject-Based Banding to create broad teaching groups due to differing subject combinations.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

11 Jan 2022

Secondary One School Posting Exercise for Students Who Took PSLE from 2019 to 2021

The Ministry of Education (MOE) explained that Secondary 1 school posting is merit-based and considers student preferences, with over 80% of students posted to one of their top three school choices and over 90% to one of their six choices in the 2019-2021 period.
MOE advises parents and students to carefully select a range of schools, use all six choices, and include schools where the student’s PSLE score is better than the indicative Cut-Off Point (COP) to increase chances of placement.
Students who do not secure any of their six choices are posted to the nearest school with remaining vacancies based on their PSLE score and address, which typically results in a commute of 30 to 45 minutes by public transport.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

11 Jan 2022

Factors for Provision of Mother Tongue Languages in Secondary Schools

The provision of mother tongue languages in secondary schools depends on factors such as teacher availability and student enrollment numbers.
All secondary schools can offer Chinese and Malay language instruction, but Tamil language instruction is not available in all schools due to limited teachers and small student numbers.
Students needing Tamil instruction but without it in their school can attend lessons at regional centers to ensure access despite some having to travel.
The Ministry of Education will continue supporting schools to provide Tamil language instruction.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source