Education — Topics

2 Aug 2021

Progress of Direct School Admission Exercise under Present COVID-19 Restrictions

The Minister for Education reported a slight increase in Direct School Admission (DSA) applications for Secondary schools, with 31,400 applications from 12,100 unique applicants in 2021 compared to 30,500 applications from 11,900 applicants in 2020.
DSA selections from end-June to mid-September 2021 are conducted virtually via video-conferencing in students' primary schools to maintain safety and avoid cross-school mingling, similar to the 2020 exercise.
Schools use a holistic approach for e-selection, evaluating applicants’ achievements, passion, potential, and personal qualities through tailored tasks, with experienced panels ensuring objective assessments based on insights from 2020.
Offers are made after schools consider the relative merits of all applicants, focusing on their suitability and potential to benefit from the school’s development programmes.

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2 Aug 2021

Dental Registration (Amendment) Bill

The Dental Registration (Amendment) Bill requires foreign-trained dental graduates to pass a qualifying examination for conditional registration, aligning their competency with local graduates and addressing Singapore's ageing population and dental care needs.
There is a transitional period until January 2029 for implementation, with current overseas students and graduates from listed universities exempted, while the list of recognised foreign universities will be reviewed and reduced.
MPs raised concerns about the high stakes of the examination, suggesting more attempts or support for graduates, and questioned the adequacy of the dentist-to-population ratio and dental service affordability, with the Ministry committing to monitor and adjust policies as needed.

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2 Aug 2021

Risk Level for Children Aged 12 and Under Given Shift Back to Phase Two

The Ministry of Education has assessed that children under 12, though unvaccinated, generally experience mild COVID-19 outcomes, with no local cases requiring ICU care, and schools have implemented layered measures including masks, cohorting, and activity adjustments to mitigate risk.
Parents have expressed concerns about unvaccinated children, especially those with pre-existing conditions, and the Ministry emphasized the need for sustainable risk management strategies, including ring-fencing cases and relying on parental cooperation to keep sick children home.
The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination is reviewing trials for vaccines for children under 12, but no timeline for a decision or approval is available yet, and mass testing for young children remains limited due to the lack of less intrusive methods.

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2 Aug 2021

Forged Educational Qualifications by Employment Pass and S Pass Holders in Infocomm Technology Industry

From 2018 to 2020, 11 Employment Pass and S Pass holders in the ICT industry were found to have submitted false qualifications, leading to revoked work passes and permanent bar from working in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires employers to verify qualifications, especially for institutions not in its database, using third-party screening agencies, and rejects applications with fake or unaccredited credentials.
MOM uses a risk-based approach to classify educational institutions, requiring higher-risk ones to provide third-party verification, while maintaining checks on lower-risk institutions through predictive analytics and occasional independent verifications.

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2 Aug 2021

Resumption of Inter-school Games and Sports Competitions

Mr Darryl David asked when inter-school games and sports competitions would resume and if more sports could be added.
The Minister of State for Education responded that the National Schools Games were cancelled for 2021 due to COVID-19 but will resume in phases in 2022, starting with vaccinated secondary, junior college, and Millennia Institute students.
For primary school students, resumption depends on vaccination eligibility, with low-risk non-contact sports resuming first and possible format modifications for higher-risk sports.
The Ministry emphasized that resuming these games is important for student development and well-being, and will proceed only when safe.
All sports are planned to be included in the phased resumption, with adjustments as needed to mitigate risks.

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27 Jul 2021

Reports of Students Committing and Attempting Suicide since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic

Murali Pillai inquired about the number of students who have committed or attempted suicide or faced mental health issues since the pandemic began, whether there is an increase compared to pre-pandemic times, the contributing factors, and the Ministry of Education's steps to enhance students' mental resilience.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted a rise in the suicide incidence rate among youths aged 10 to 19 from 4.0 to 5.5 per 100,000 persons between 2019 and 2020, attributing it to pandemic-related stressors such as disrupted routines, uncertainty, and increased home conflicts, in line with global trends.
The Ministry of Education has been bolstering mental well-being through curriculum programs, trained staff for early identification, in-house counsellors, peer support leaders, and proactive measures like teacher check-ins and targeted support for vulnerable students during the pandemic.
MOE emphasized the importance of a culture of care and will continue to strengthen measures with stakeholders to ensure student safety and well-being.

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27 Jul 2021

River Valley High School Incident

The Minister outlined the facts of the River Valley High School incident, detailing the school's and authorities' immediate response, and expressed condolences while noting the matter is before the courts.
The Ministry of Education announced measures to strengthen mental health support in schools, including enhancing the curriculum, deploying more teacher and school counsellors, and reducing examination load for students.
The Minister emphasized a whole-of-society approach, calling on parents, the community, and all Singaporeans to foster a caring environment, reduce stigma around mental health, and collectively look out for one another.

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27 Jul 2021

Update on Singapore Islamic College and Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies Programme

The Ministry provided an update on the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies (PCICS) programme, noting that three cohorts have enrolled since 2020, with 70% of the first cohort reporting positive learning outcomes and improvements planned for language support and practical learning.
MUIS is using the PCICS as a precursor to establish a future tertiary Islamic studies institution, alongside launching the Research Programme on Communities of Success to address socio-religious issues for Muslim communities in secular states.
The Minister acknowledged suggestions to include internships and adjust programme duration, such as allowing overseas students to complete parts online, but emphasised the need to balance curriculum rigour with practical considerations and will review after more cohorts graduate.

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26 Jul 2021

Requirement for MOE-registered Preschools and Kindergartens to Conduct Meet-the-Parent Sessions in English Unless Otherwise Specified by Parents

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked if MOE-registered preschools and kindergartens must conduct parent meetings in English unless parents request otherwise.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that while regular parent communication is required, there is no fixed language policy for these meetings.
Preschools have flexibility to use the language most comfortable for both parents and teachers, often based on the teacher's medium of instruction.
If a parent cannot communicate in a certain language, teachers may switch to a mutually understandable language if able.
English teachers may also assist Mother Tongue teachers in communicating with parents when needed.

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26 Jul 2021

Sufficiency of Places in Social Work Undergraduate Degree and Continuing Education and Training Programmes

Louis Ng asked if the Ministry of Education plans to increase undergraduate and continuing education places in social work to boost the supply of social workers.
Chan Chun Sing responded that MOE and institutes of higher learning already align social work degree and training places with industry demand, and social work graduates have increased by 50% over five years.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development believes the current supply of social workers is sufficient for future demand, and there are no immediate plans to further increase places.
MOE will continue to monitor the situation and collaborate with MSF to ensure workforce needs are met.

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26 Jul 2021

Efforts by Schools in Educating Students to Report Attempts of Improper Sexual Conduct by Staff Members

Dr Wan Rizal inquired about schools' efforts to educate students on reporting improper sexual conduct by staff members.
The Ministry of Education uses Character and Citizenship Education to teach students from Primary One about personal safety, protection from abuse, and reporting inappropriate conduct to trusted adults, parents, school leaders, or police.
Students are also instructed to look out for friends showing distress and seek help for them, while teachers and staff are trained to identify and support such students.

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26 Jul 2021

Number of Singaporean Students Admitted for Computer Science Degrees at Local Universities and Sufficiency of Such Numbers

Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that the number of local Information & Digital Technologies (IDT) undergraduate places at Autonomous Universities increased four-fold from 800 in 2010 to 3,100 in 2020, with about half of all applications offered a place.
The government balances tech talent supply with other sector needs amid limited graduate cohorts and supplements this with Continuing Education and Training pathways, such as the TechSkills Accelerator programme which placed over 8,000 Singaporeans into tech jobs since 2016.
MOE collaborates with economic agencies and universities to plan degree places based on industry demand and student interests, while also encouraging students from various disciplines to take IDT minors or second majors to meet tech job needs.

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26 Jul 2021

Shortage or Surplus of Social Workers

Louis Ng asked if there is a current shortage or surplus of social workers and, if a shortage exists, what plans are in place to address it.
The Minister responded that the number of social workers has grown over the past five years due to new academic programmes and training initiatives, with 2,100 registered social workers as of end-2020.
The government expects supply to meet future demand and will continue working with education and social service agencies to plan the pipeline and enhance job attractiveness.

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26 Jul 2021

Common Causes of Home Fires in Past Five Years

The Minister for Home Affairs identified unattended cooking, indiscriminate disposal of lighted materials like cigarette butts, and electrical issues such as overloading sockets and using uncertified devices as common causes of residential fires over the past five years.
The SCDF raises awareness through community events, targeted outreach with partners like Community Emergency and Engagement Committees (C2Es), door-to-door engagements after fire incidents, and Community Emergency Preparedness Programmes (CEPP) offering hands-on training and educational materials.
The SCDF regularly reviews its outreach and plans new initiatives, such as Community Resilience Days with roadshows to teach lifesaving and emergency skills, to enhance public knowledge of fire safety.

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26 Jul 2021

Tracking of Mental Health and Stress Levels of Students with Roll-out of Subject-Based Banding

The Ministry of Education tracks student well-being in the Subject-Based Banding pilot schools through surveys and discussions, observing early positive effects like more diverse friendships and growth mindsets.
The debate highlighted that mental stress often stems from adult expectations, prompting a call for efforts to involve parents in redefining success narratives.
The Minister confirmed ongoing work to promote multiple pathways to success as a society-wide effort to alleviate academic stress and support student mental health.

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26 Jul 2021

Enhanced Curriculum Structure for Higher Nitec Certification and Help for Students who may Struggle

The new three-year ITE curriculum aims to equip students with deeper skills and a Higher Nitec certification, with proactive identification and targeted support for those struggling, including flexible pathways and additional coaching.
Students who cannot complete the pathway can exit with a Nitec qualification, receive job placement support, and are encouraged to return later to finish their Higher Nitec, with industry attachments to enhance learning.
The Ministry plans to continue providing Polytechnic places and transition programmes for ITE graduates, alongside other upgrading pathways like Technical Diplomas and Work-Study Diplomas, to support their further education and career development.

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26 Jul 2021

Measures to Transit COVID-19-related Short-term Contract Workers into Permanent Jobs

Over 15,000 workers were placed in short-term COVID-19 public sector roles, with about 30% temporarily redeployed from their original jobs and the rest assisted by job-matching services like Workforce Singapore and e2i to find new opportunities.
The government has extended the Jobs Growth Incentive to support employers hiring job seekers, with career conversion programmes offering wage and training support, and capacity for 10,000 places this year.
MP Sharael Taha suggested additional training grants to help temporary workers translate pandemic experience into permanent roles, and the Minister encouraged employers to leverage existing schemes and consider broader hiring and upskilling to transition workers into growth sectors like wholesale trade, finance, and infocomm.

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26 Jul 2021

Increasing Offering of Non-Chinese Official Languages at Preschools in Sengkang

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about plans to increase non-Chinese mother tongue language offerings at preschools in Sengkang, noting disparities compared to nearby areas.
The Minister of State confirmed nationwide efforts to expand mother tongue offerings, including doubling Malay and Tamil options by 2022, but cited teacher shortages and noted existing coverage in Sengkang.
The Minister of State provided updated figures showing more mother tongue offerings in Sengkang than previously reported, offering to clarify details offline.
Raeesah Khan asked about improving capacities and increasing mother tongue teachers, to which the Minister reiterated plans to expand language offerings and distinguished between MOE kindergartens and childcare centres.

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26 Jul 2021

Refresher Road Safety Training for Drivers of Heavy Vehicles and Buses

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary outlined existing road safety training for heavy vehicle and bus drivers, including integrated learner courses, optional defensive driving classes, and mandatory vocational licence modules, with refresher courses and corrective training for high-risk drivers.
Bus operators are trialling new technologies to monitor driving behaviours and provide corrective training, while public bus captains receive regular safety briefings and ongoing operator-run refresher courses.
In response to concerns about mental well-being, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that drivers can access public mental health resources and are referred to psychological support and counselling if needed, especially after traumatic incidents.

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6 Jul 2021

Measures to Prevent Clusters of COVID-19 Infection of Pre-schoolers Arising from Households Served with Leave of Absence, Stay-home Notice or Quarantine Order and School Fee Relief for Parents

The Ministry has enhanced safe management measures in preschools, including restricting entry for those on Leave of Absence (LOA), Stay-Home Notice (SHN), or Quarantine Order (QO), and requiring children and staff with symptoms to leave immediately and seek medical attention.
For households under quarantine, children and staff are issued LOA and can only return after the household member completes quarantine and, in some cases, tests negative for COVID-19, with classmates also encouraged to stay home during exposure periods.
Parents who keep children home due to LOA, SHN, or QO can appeal for flexibility on preschool subsidy attendance requirements and Child Care Financial Assistance on a case-by-case basis.

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