Education — Topics

11 Jan 2022

Impact of New PSLE Scoring System on Madrasahs' Primary School Admission Benchmark

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked how the 2021 PSLE scoring system affects the benchmark madrasahs must meet to admit Primary 1 pupils.
Chan Chun Sing clarified that the benchmark remains unchanged and is pegged to the average PSLE score of Malay pupils in the six lowest-performing national Primary schools.
All madrasahs met the benchmark in 2021 and can continue admitting Primary 1 students.

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11 Jan 2022

Transferability of SkillsFuture Credits from Parent to Child

Carrie Tan asked if SkillsFuture credits can be transferred from a retired parent to their child.
The Minister replied that credits are non-transferable to encourage individual ownership of lifelong learning, even for retirees.
He noted that many courses are already subsidised and credits can be used on top of these subsidies.
Retirees can use credits on senior-friendly courses like those from the National Silver Academy or Silver Infocomm Junctions.
The policy remains unchanged, focusing on personal skill development rather than intergenerational transfer.

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11 Jan 2022

Proportion of Female Students in STEM Courses and Plans to Enrol More of Them

In 2021, about 40% of students in STEM disciplines at Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning were female, and roughly one-third of employed residents in STEM jobs were women.
Top courses with high female enrolment include Early Childhood Education, Beauty and Wellness, and Speech and Language Therapy, while efforts in schools and IHLs—such as Applied Learning Programmes, national competitions, career guidance, and initiatives like Women@NTU and POWERS—aim to build interest in STEM and counter gender stereotypes.
The Ministry of Education and IHLs plan to continue working with partners to encourage female participation in STEM courses and careers, focusing on interest and aptitude rather than setting specific enrolment targets.

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11 Jan 2022

Assessing Students for Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service Given Minimal CCA Sessions in COVID-19 Pandemic

Patrick Tay asked how the Ministry assesses students for the Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES) given minimal co-curricular activity sessions in 2021, particularly in primary schools.
Chan Chun Sing explained that EAGLES recognizes leadership, service, non-academic excellence, and good conduct, with schools autonomously nominating students based on criteria reflecting their co-curriculum, including CCAs and school-based programmes.
In 2021, schools adapted to pandemic restrictions by resuming some activities with safe management measures, pivoting to online or modular CCAs, and continuing leadership and development programmes to ensure student learning was not compromised.
Schools adjusted award criteria to consider alternative indicators like leadership roles, Values in Action projects, and teacher observations of learning dispositions, and the proportion of primary school awardees remained stable at 9% in 2021.

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11 Jan 2022

Assessment of Academic Merit for Edusave Awards in Absence of Exams for Lower Primary School Students

Patrick Tay questioned how academic merit is assessed for Edusave Awards without formal exams for lower primary students.
Chan Chun Sing explained that Edusave Awards recognize performance using school-based assessments like weighted assessments and mid-year exams.
For 2021, Primary 3 and 4 students used prior school assessments due to canceled year-end exams, while Primary 5 and 6 used unchanged exam-based criteria.
For Primary 1 and 2, where no exams exist, awards are based on conduct and learning dispositions like curiosity and resilience.

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11 Jan 2022

Prisons (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces the Employment Preparation Scheme to replace the Work Release Scheme, allowing inmates to work, receive skills training, or pursue education in the community under supervision to improve employability and reduce recidivism.
Amendments enhance administrative flexibility for the Singapore Prison Service, including extending the period for deferring inmate release to carry out court-ordered punishments and updating prison offences to reflect current practices.
New regulations empower the Minister to restrict inmate correspondence and require undertakings from visitors to maintain prison security, while also granting prison officers powers to obtain information for investigations and providing legal protection for officers acting in good faith.

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11 Jan 2022

Personal Explanation by Member

Leong Mun Wai attempted to clarify that he raised concerns from parents about vaccination-differentiated measures in schools, but the Speaker repeatedly interrupted him to request specific details like school names, which he could not provide.
Leong clarified that his information came from a public Telegram chat group called "sgconcernedparents," but he admitted he did not verify the details or know the specific schools involved.
The Leader of the House criticized Leong for making unsubstantiated allegations against teachers and failing to provide responsible evidence, emphasizing the need for accountability in Parliament.
The Speaker concluded that Leong's explanation was insufficient and moved on, noting that the clarification was about the source of his claims rather than a formal personal explanation.
Pritam Singh raised a procedural point about whether Leong followed Standing Order 25 for a Personal Explanation, but the Speaker confirmed it was handled as a clarification under the appropriate category.

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10 Jan 2022

Efforts to Mitigate Possible Long-term Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Resulting in Widespread Insecurity and Anxiety among Youths

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth highlighted that youths face uncertainty, job security, and financial worries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a range of job, training, and skills upgrading initiatives like the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and SkillsFuture programmes to boost employability and resilience.
Efforts to support mental well-being are coordinated through the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being, which is developing a national strategy that includes specific measures for youths, alongside partnerships with schools, healthcare institutions, and community organizations.
Past crises like SARS have informed the need for a strong social compact, and the government is fostering this by engaging youths in volunteerism through Youth Corps Singapore and ground-up movements, which have supported vulnerable communities during the pandemic.

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10 Jan 2022

Average Waiting Time for ECDA-Approved Infant Care Places and Plans to Increase Number

The Minister stated that waiting times for ECDA-approved infant care places range from a few weeks to a few months, with factors like centre preference and early registration affecting durations.
The government plans to add 1,000 new infant care places by the end of 2022 through anchor operators, focusing on areas with upcoming HDB developments.
Parents can search for available places via the Preschool Search Portal, though registration with individual centres is also an option.

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10 Jan 2022

Data on Tertiary Students from Institute of Technical Education, Polytechnics and Universities Holding Part-time Jobs while Studying Full-time

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for Education if the Ministry has data on the estimated number of full-time tertiary students from ITE, Polytechnics, and Universities who hold part-time jobs.
Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that the Ministry of Education does not track whether students from Institutes of Higher Learning hold part-time jobs while studying full-time.
He noted that students are not required to report this information to their institutions, hence no such data is available.

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10 Jan 2022

Plans for Teachers and Students to be More Equipped to Deal with Online Harms

MOE has refreshed its Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to focus on building healthy self-esteem and positive self-identity, with progressive implementation from 2021 to help students manage online harms like sexual abuse and grooming.
Primary students are taught about online dangers, protective measures, and relevant laws, while secondary and pre-university students learn to evaluate self-perception, address unhealthy social media expectations, and differentiate healthy relationships from sexual grooming.
The curriculum emphasizes peer support and seeking help from trusted adults for issues such as online harassment and grooming, and teachers and school staff are trained to identify and support students in distress.

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10 Jan 2022

Resumption of In-person Co-curricular Activities and Varying Group Sizes for Team Sports Training in Schools

Mr Christopher de Souza raised questions on resuming in-person co-curricular activities and modifying group sizes for team sports to allow smaller training groups and five-a-side formats instead of eleven-a-side.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing confirmed that in-person CCAs resumed for secondary schools and junior colleges from November 2021 with safe management measures, and plans are underway to resume national competitions like the National School Games and Singapore Youth Festival in 2022.
Modifications will be made to team sports by adjusting game formats, such as four-a-side hockey instead of eleven-a-side, and a pilot since November 2021 allows team sports training in groups of up to 10 students.
For primary schools, in-person CCAs will resume from January 2022, but the ministry will adopt a cautious approach to resuming inter-school events due to students’ vaccination status.

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10 Jan 2022

Family and Education Section of Personal Profile in Singpass

Joan Pereira questioned why Singpass’s Family section includes only children and not spouses or parents, and why the Education section only shows GCE O/A Level results and not higher formal education achievements.
Teo Chee Hean explained that adding family details like spouses or parents requires careful consideration of privacy, consent, and potential sensitivities, such as estranged relationships or changes in personal information.
On education records, the government is working to include more digitalised records, such as those from local Polytechnics and Universities, as they become available, starting with GCE O, N, and A Level results.

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10 Jan 2022

Number of Students Admitted to Secondary Schools through Annual Direct School Admission Exercises

The Direct School Admission for Secondary Schools (DSA-Sec) allows students to enter secondary schools based on talent, passion, and potential, aiming to broaden merit and holistic education.
Applications via the centralized DSA portal rose from 18,000 in 2018 to 31,400 in 2021, with unique applicants increasing from 9,000 to 12,100 over the same period.
DSA admissions grew from about 3,000 students (7% of the 2019 Secondary 1 cohort) to approximately 3,700 students (10% of the 2022 Secondary 1 cohort).

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10 Jan 2022

Inclusion of Mental First Aid Responder and Other Practical Skills in BizSAFE Workplace Training

The Minister affirmed that Singapore’s workplace safety and health system already includes mental health considerations, with bizSAFE training enhanced to address psychosocial hazards and mental well-being in risk assessments.
The WSH Council has expanded its Code of Practice on Risk Management to guide companies on mental health initiatives, such as employee education and periodic well-being surveys, which are reflected in bizSAFE training.
Existing support tools like iWorkHealth are available to help companies identify and mitigate workplace stressors as part of total workplace safety and health programmes.
The Minister acknowledged the suggestion to include mental first aid responder training and confirmed it will be incorporated into the Total WSH programme for all companies to access.
The debate underscores a proactive approach to evolving workforce needs by integrating mental health support into workplace safety frameworks and training.

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10 Jan 2022

Findings in Academic Freedom Survey 2021 by AcademiaSG

Leon Perera questioned the government on the 2021 Academic Freedom Survey findings, which showed that academics working on politically sensitive topics, especially in Singapore studies and among women, felt more constrained, and asked if steps would be taken to improve academic freedom.
The Second Minister for Education responded that autonomous universities are committed to academic freedom, highlighted the low 10% response rate of the survey, and cautioned against generalizing its findings, asserting that academics are not inhibited in researching sensitive topics.
The minister cited examples of published Singapore studies and government-funded research on sensitive issues, including projects led by female academics, to demonstrate that academic freedom is protected and that academics do not self-censor.

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10 Jan 2022

Vaccination for Primary School Students and Possibility of Vaccination-differentiated Measures for Preschools and Primary Schools

The Minister confirmed there are no plans to require COVID-19 vaccination for physical attendance in preschools or primary schools, and any vaccination-differentiated measures would be limited to higher-risk activities like team sports, with core curriculum participation being a priority.
Parents were encouraged to vaccinate their children early, with support provided for students to catch up on missed lessons if they are absent due to vaccination appointments or adverse reactions.
The government emphasized the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines for children, addressing parental concerns and suggesting that non-mRNA options like Novavax are still under assessment and not yet available.
Additional measures include plans to maintain testing capacity and ART kit supply amid the Omicron wave, while relying on self-responsibility and honesty-based protocols for self-testing and reporting.
The government explained that decisions on safe management measures are made based on prevailing conditions and healthcare capacity, without publishing rigid thresholds, to allow flexibility and avoid public panic.

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3 Nov 2021

Efforts to Encourage Companies to Send Their Professionals for Training on Mental Health Competencies

Dr Wan Rizal inquired about government efforts to encourage companies to train their professionals in mental health competencies to serve as workplace resource persons.
The Ministry of Manpower highlighted the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-Being at Workplaces, which lists training providers and recommends tailored approaches rather than mandatory training, noting that creating resource persons may be less practical for SMEs.
The Workplace Safety and Health Council and Health Promotion Board offer free or heavily subsidised programmes, such as the Total WSH Programme and Workplace Outreach Wellness package, which include mental well-being support and interventions.

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3 Nov 2021

Proposal for MOH and MOE to Co-curate Mental Health-related Modules in Institutes of Higher Learning

Wan Rizal proposed that MOH and MOE collaborate to create mental health modules in higher learning institutes to boost the supply of mental health professionals for the national competency framework.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed that multiple ministries and the Institute of Mental Health are developing a National Mental Health Competency Training Framework to standardize training across sectors.
The framework will guide capability building, and training providers like Institutes of Higher Learning may develop aligned mental health modules.
More details on the framework will be shared once finalized, with no immediate commitment to co-curate specific modules.

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3 Nov 2021

Support for Primary and Secondary School Students who Suffer Bereavement from Death of Parent

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Ministry of Education for the annual number of primary and secondary school students who lost a parent over three years and the support provided for such bereavement.
The Ministry does not track the specific number of students who have lost a parent, but schools monitor affected students closely and teachers check in to provide support when informed of the bereavement.
Counselling is available for students struggling with grief, with referrals to community agencies for wraparound support, and financial assistance through schemes like the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme to cover fees, materials, transport, and meals.

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