Education — Topics

1 Nov 2021

Data on Students with Mental Illness or Psychiatric Issues Made Known to Schools or Institutes of Higher Learning in Past 10 Years

Patrick Tay asked for annual data over the past decade on the number of students across primary schools, secondary schools, Institutes of Technical Education, Junior Colleges, polytechnics, and universities whose mental illness or psychiatric issues were made known to schools or Institutes of Higher Learning.
Chan Chun Sing responded that students seeking mental health support often do so confidentially through teaching staff and counsellors, and the Ministry does not collect or publish detailed statistics to protect privacy.
The minister noted increased counselling uptake, which may reflect greater willingness to seek help and better resources, but emphasized sensitivity and confidentiality prevent public disclosure of such data.

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1 Nov 2021

Resources to Guide Teachers in Changing Teaching Methods and Provide Support to Teach-from-home

Christopher de Souza inquired about Ministry of Education (MOE) schemes to support teachers in adapting to rapid changes in teaching methods and regulations during COVID-19, including for those struggling with teach-from-home and online student engagement.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted MOE's use of the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS) platform to provide resources and guide teachers in applying pedagogies for technology-enabled lessons in class and online.
MOE offers professional development programmes, including bite-sized modules and workshops, to enhance teachers' capacity to use tools effectively and link classroom teaching with home-based learning.
Teachers build capabilities through collaborative teams in schools and cross-school learning communities like the Singapore Learning Designers Circle, where they share ideas and best practices for online lessons.
MOE guides teachers to balance online teaching with non-technological methods such as textbooks and hands-on activities, and will continue supporting teachers to ensure effective student learning amid ongoing changes.

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1 Nov 2021

Efforts to Provide Peer Support and Emotional Comfort to Teachers Struggling with Mental Health and Workload

MOE supports schools in fostering a culture of care where teachers collaborate through Professional Learning Teams and receive guidance from Teacher Leaders or Instructional Mentors.
Peer support is strengthened via the Wellness Ambassador initiative, where nominated officers help direct colleagues to appropriate help resources.
Teachers have access to counselling through iCARE and a 24/7 Whole-of-Government Counselling Hotline for external professional support.
School Leaders actively engage staff through surveys and have Well-being Committees to address welfare, with MOE HQ providing resources and platforms for sharing best practices.
Teachers can also join Networked Learning Communities to collaborate with peers across schools, supported by Master Teachers in enhancing lesson plans.

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1 Nov 2021

Class 4 Licence Driving Courses under SkillsFuture Framework to Facilitate Mid-career Transfers into Public Transport Driver Roles

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry proposed incorporating Class 4 licence driving courses into SkillsFuture to help mid-career Singaporeans transition into transport driver roles amid labour shortages.
Minister Chan Chun Sing acknowledged the regulatory importance of Class 4 licences for certain heavy vehicle driving jobs.
SkillsFuture Singapore indicated readiness to support such courses given their direct employment-related outcomes.
The proposal aims to address labour gaps in public transport by enabling career shifts for mid-career individuals.
The response confirms alignment between SkillsFuture and the need for driver training to meet industry demands.

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1 Nov 2021

Assessment of Collaboration for Duke-NUS Medical School

Since its establishment in 2005, Duke-NUS Medical School has graduated 558 students with Doctor of Medicine or MD-PhD degrees, with about 10% enrolled in the combined MD-PhD pathway.
A significant portion of graduates are engaged in research, with 30 holding or having held Adjunct Research Fellow appointments and over 540 research papers published by graduates to date.
The collaboration has met its objectives of developing a world-class medical institution, injecting capabilities and diversity into Singapore’s healthcare system, and integrating clinical service, research, and education.
The Ministry of Health fully supports NUS’s continued collaboration with Duke University, indicating that the partnership remains strategically important.

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1 Nov 2021

Impact of New Scoring System on Setting of PSLE Papers and Students Who Could Not Take PSLE Papers due to COVID-19 Issues

The PSLE papers for 2021 were set with comparable standards to previous years, following established test development protocols, and the new scoring system did not affect syllabuses or examination standards.
To ensure fairness, the Ministry removed Common Last Topics and implemented special consideration processes for students who missed PSLE papers due to COVID-19, using multiple data sources for projected grades.
Parents are assured that scripts are marked to credit all relevant knowledge and skills, and SEAB accounts for pandemic-related disruptions to prevent disadvantages for the 2021 cohort.
Out of 39,281 registered students, about 430 (1.1%) missed at least one PSLE paper due to COVID-19, with all special consideration applications assessed individually for accuracy and fairness.

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1 Nov 2021

Support for Children whose Parents or Caregivers are Embroiled in Drug-related Offences

A whole-of-society approach provides social, financial, and educational support for children affected by parental drug-related offences, with agencies like MSF, Family Service Centres, and community partners coordinating care.
At arrest, law enforcement checks for children’s immediate needs, ensures caregiver arrangements, and refers cases with protection concerns to Child Protective Services or Family Service Centres for follow-up.
Schools offer a supportive environment with counselling, after-school care, and engagement programmes to help students facing family stressors, while prisons collaborate with community groups on mentoring, tuition, and family bonding initiatives.
Support programmes track children’s mental health, physical needs, and academic outcomes through referrals, counselling, and coordinated interventions across agencies.

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1 Nov 2021

PSLE Grades of Students Affected by Special Circumstances due to COVID-19 Situation

Chan Chun Sing reported that 39,281 students registered for the 2021 PSLE, with a 99.5% attendance rate, while 430 students (1.1%) missed at least one paper due to COVID-19 and 840 students on Quarantine Orders took exams under special arrangements.
The Ministry uses an established special consideration process to award projected grades for students who miss exams, using multiple data sources such as national and school-based exam results to ensure fairness.
Applications for special consideration are assessed individually, with the aim of providing accurate and fair grades through an evidence-based approach similar to international examination boards.

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5 Oct 2021

Update on Utilisation of Rail Manpower Development Package and Number of Workers Who Have Benefited Since November 2019 Launch

The Rail Manpower Development Package, a $100 million initiative launched in November 2019, comprises three key initiatives: the Rail Manpower Development Incentive, scholarships and sponsorships for rail engineering talent, and co-investments in training hardware.
More than 2,300 workers have completed training under the Rail Manpower Development Incentive, with over 3,000 expected to benefit by the end of the five-year period.
The package has awarded 15 scholarships and 30 in-service sponsorships, and more than 150 students have participated in industrial attachments with rail operators.
Applications for training hardware investments are ongoing and will close in October 2021, aiming to enhance hands-on training efficiency.
The government will continue working with rail operators and NTWU to equip workers with skills for the expanding and digitalising rail network.

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5 Oct 2021

Programmes to Increase Awareness of CPF, Retirement Security, Financial Management and Savings for Older Former Prison Inmates

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) run programmes to help older ex-inmates aged 55 and above understand CPF, retirement security, financial management, and savings both before and after release.
During incarceration, SPS disseminates information on relevant schemes like Silver Support and CareShield Life, and most inmates attend a Release Preparation Programme with financial literacy components covering CPF, budgeting, and financial planning.
About six months before release, SPS Personal Supervisors discuss post-release plans, including financial and retirement security, with referrals to Family Resource Centres for support if needed.
After release, SPS partners with Barclays for a Financial Literacy Programme, and YRSG collaborates with IMDA to provide digital training for older ex-inmates to access government and financial services online.

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5 Oct 2021

Academic Assessment of Home-schooled Children

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked if the Singapore Examinations Assessment Board can provide more detailed insights beyond just results for home-schooled children's Primary 4 exams to help parents and educators guide improvement.
Chan Chun Sing explained that all home-schooled Singaporean children must take a Mid-Term Assessment in Primary 4 to gauge progress for the PSLE, with MOE providing information booklets in Primary 3 to aid preparation.
MOE produces examiner reports summarising cohort strengths and weaknesses for each subject, which parents can request to help address learning gaps.
For children who underperform, MOE follows up with parents to discuss future educational plans.
The measures aim to give parents a broad understanding of their child's progress and support home-schooling guidance effectively.

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5 Oct 2021

Impact of Loss of In-person Schooling Experience on Future Career Prospects of Students

Mr Murali Pillai asked the Ministry of Education to study the impact of lost in-person schooling due to COVID-19 on students' future career prospects and suggest solutions to prevent a "lost generation."
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing responded that MOE is monitoring disruptions, keeping schools open, and ensuring effective learning through home-based learning and recovery measures like post-examination teaching of removed topics.
The Minister cited surveys and national examination results showing no major learning loss, with students becoming more self-directed and resilient, which prepares them for future challenges.
While acknowledging some impact from the loss of in-person interactions and CCAs, MOE assesses the overall effect as not major so far and commits to ongoing steps using technology and teacher-parent support to address issues.

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5 Oct 2021

Allowing Motorists with Class 3A Licences to be Trained and Licensed to Drive Buses with Automatic Transmission

Melvin Yong asked if Class 3A licence holders could train for a Class 4A licence to drive buses given the fleet's shift to automatic transmission.
K Shanmugam confirmed Traffic Police will amend rules to allow both Class 3 and 3A holders to train for Class 4A licences.
The update noted Class 4A eligibility previously required a Class 3 licence due to mixed manual/automatic buses.
Until changes take effect, Class 3A holders can appeal for training, with most appeals recently approved.

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5 Oct 2021

Training More Healthcare Personnel to Look After Dementia Patients with Ageing Population

MOH is implementing a multi-pronged approach to enhance dementia care by increasing care capacity and capability in hospitals and the community, while also raising awareness and supporting caregivers.
Dementia shared care teams have been established in public hospitals to train and support primary and community care providers, including through a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health for General Practitioners.
Specialist care capacity has been expanded with more outpatient Memory Clinic services and new inpatient services for behavioural symptoms in hospitals.
Community outreach and intervention teams, along with Dementia-Friendly Communities and more daycare places, are being rolled out to support patients and caregivers.
New government-built nursing homes incorporate dementia-friendly designs to improve care quality for residents requiring residential care.

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5 Oct 2021

Training and Courses for Counsellors Deployed to Schools

Dr Shahira Abdullah questioned why MOE deploys counsellors not fully certified by SAC and how the NIE Diploma in School Counselling aligns with national competency standards, while asking about plans to upskill all school counsellors to SAC-recognised programmes.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that MOE recruits both trained and untrained applicants, with the latter undergoing NIE’s Diploma in School Counselling tailored for school settings before deployment.
He noted that NIE’s counselling programmes are recognised by SAC, but registration with SAC is voluntary and not required by MOE or Singapore law.

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5 Oct 2021

Measures to Ensure Mix of Students from Different Financial Backgrounds in Schools Given Stronger Emphasis on Distance for Primary 1 Registration

Shahira Abdullah raised concerns that the emphasis on distance in Primary 1 registration may allow wealthier families to move near popular schools, potentially leading to schools with homogeneous high-income student populations.
Chan Chun Sing explained that the registration framework balances various factors like proximity, sibling and alumni ties, and community contributions, and that 40 places in Phase 2C are reserved for children without prior connections to maintain diversity.
The Ministry emphasizes that all schools are well-resourced and committed to providing quality education to students from all backgrounds, with additional support for those with greater learning needs or from disadvantaged families.
Measures such as principal rotations, inter-school activities, and national programmes like the Junior Sports Academy and Outdoor Adventure Learning camps are in place to foster interactions and friendships among students from different schools and backgrounds.

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5 Oct 2021

Arrangements for Students Served a Quarantine Order or Stay-Home Notice to Take National Examinations

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired whether students under quarantine or stay-home notices could take national exams in dedicated facilities rather than be barred from them.
The Ministry of Education and SEAB announced special arrangements in September 2021 allowing such students to sit for exams with strict testing and safety measures.
Students on Quarantine Orders must provide negative PCR and ART tests before exams and follow stringent venue protocols.
Those on Stay-Home Notices can also take exams under similar conditions, with exceptions for compassionate travel cases.
The arrangements cover PSLE and GCE N, O, and A level examinations, starting from the 2021 year-end session.

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5 Oct 2021

Measures to Assist Employees Affected by COVID-19 and Digital Disruptions

The Minister outlined extensive measures under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and Jobs Support Scheme to assist workers affected by COVID-19, focusing on job placement, reskilling, and wage support for distressed sectors like F&B and retail.
Specific support for seniors and digitally disadvantaged workers includes the Senior Worker Support Package, career conversion programs, and digital training initiatives to help them pivot to new roles amid economic transformation.
The government is addressing job matching challenges by expanding career coaching, redesigning jobs through grants, and leveraging industry partnerships to improve alignment between job vacancies and local talent.
Ongoing efforts, such as the Jobs Taskforce and Company Training Committees, aim to continuously update skills training and ensure the workforce adapts to structural changes and digital disruptions.

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4 Oct 2021

Age-appropriate Basic First Aid Skills and Awareness Presently Taught in Primary Schools

Students in upper primary levels learn basic first aid skills such as treating minor cuts and burns as part of the PE curriculum.
They are taught to recognize signs of cardiac arrest and how to call for help during such emergencies.
First aid importance is reinforced through stories in SGSecure resources shared with schools.

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4 Oct 2021

Annual Percentage of Singaporeans Attending International Schools and Average Number of Appeal Cases for Singaporeans to Attend International Schools between 2016 and 2020

Between 2016 and 2020, less than 0.5% of Singaporean students were enrolled in international schools annually.
The government received an average of 50 to 60 appeal cases each year from Singaporean parents seeking to enroll their children in international schools instead of local schools.
Common reasons for these appeals included parental preference for international curricula, children having spent extended periods abroad, or children with special educational needs or medical conditions.
The government emphasized that international schools primarily serve the expatriate community and that attending local schools helps Singaporean children develop common values and national identity.

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