Education — Topics

1 Feb 2021

Possibility for Teacher Given C-Grade to be Graded Differently in Another School

Lawrence Wong explained that MOE uses a relative ranking system to assess teachers’ performance, aiming for fairness and consistency across schools through a structured process.
The assessment involves a supervisor’s evaluation based on competencies, followed by a school ranking panel and moderation by Cluster Superintendents to standardize grading.
Teachers receiving a C-grade are provided with guidance and support for professional development, with the expectation of improvement in future performance grades.

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1 Feb 2021

Number and Types of CCAs Offered at Primary and Secondary Schools

For 2019 and 2020, primary schools had a median of five physical sports CCAs and 12 (2019) or 11 (2020) non-sports CCAs, while secondary schools had six physical sports CCAs and 15 (2019) or 14 (2020) non-sports CCAs.
Non-sports CCAs are typically more numerous than physical sports CCAs due to their broader range across visual and performing arts, uniformed groups, and clubs.
The government avoids naming schools with the fewest CCAs to prevent unfair comparisons and instead supports them through external partnerships and programs to expand CCA access based on student needs.

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1 Feb 2021

Resources and Opportunities for Pursuit of Education for Households with Both Singapore Citizen and Non-resident Children

MOE reported that around 500 families in 2020 had both Singapore citizen and non-resident children in primary, secondary, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute, representing less than 1% of families with two or more siblings in these institutions.
The government heavily subsidises education for Singaporean students and provides additional support for lower-income households, reducing overall family expenses and allowing financial resources to be allocated to other needs, including potentially higher fees for non-resident children.
Families with non-Singaporean children but Singaporean parents can seek assistance from schools or institutions, which assess situations case-by-case and give special consideration to low-income households to ensure resources reach those with greater needs.

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1 Feb 2021

Telecommuting Options for School Teachers and School Staff

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked if teachers and staff in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, or those with immune deficiencies could be allowed to telecommute due to rising COVID-19 cases.
Lawrence Wong stated that MOE follows workforce advisories from the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, Ministry of Manpower, and Public Service Division, and that physical presence in schools is needed to support operations and prevent disruption to student learning.
MOE allows flexibility where operationally feasible, such as staggered hours or working from home on days with no physical classes, and gives extra care to vulnerable staff by avoiding high-exposure roles.
Schools have implemented stringent safe management measures to ensure a safe environment for staff and students.
MOE continues to prioritize staff well-being and minimize exposure risks while maintaining school operations.

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1 Feb 2021

Madrasah Students Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions

MUIS partners with mental health organisations like Club HEAL to provide counselling for madrasah students, with 175 cases referred between 2018 and 2020 for issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Madrasahs conduct mental health awareness programmes and implement peer support systems, while teachers receive training grants and programmes to address student mental health needs.
There are about 270 teachers across six full-time madrasahs, with 60% benefiting from training support grants and some receiving specialised counselling certificates to assist students.

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1 Feb 2021

Tie-breakers in Computerised Allocation of Secondary School Places

The Minister for Education explained that the new PSLE system uses wider scoring bands and introduces school choice order as a new tie-breaker to reduce fine differentiation and encourage school choice based on student interests.
Under the new system, tie-breakers are applied in the order of citizenship, school choice order, and finally computerised balloting, with balloting reserved for students with identical scores, citizenship, and choice order when competing for the last place in a school.
Based on simulations, about one in ten students are expected to undergo balloting, but the majority will be allocated one of their six school choices, and there are no current plans to add further tie-breakers.

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1 Feb 2021

Allocation of Additional Places Across Different Universities

Darryl David asked how additional university places would be distributed across institutions and courses and whether qualifying grades might ease.
Lawrence Wong explained that in 2020, about 1,000 extra places were added across six autonomous universities, focusing on courses with strong employment outcomes and student interest, without lowering admission standards.
MOE is monitoring global COVID-19 conditions and may again increase university places in 2021 on an exceptional basis to support local students while maintaining standards.

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1 Feb 2021

Raising Awareness of Potential Risks on Emerging Social Media Platforms

The Government is committed to promoting digital literacy and cyber wellness across ministries, partnering with the people and private sectors to address risks on emerging platforms like TikTok and OnlyFans.
Agencies have launched initiatives such as the Digital Media and Information Literacy Framework and updated the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to equip youths, parents, and educators with skills to recognize and manage online risks.
The Media Council collaborates with government and tech companies on campaigns and workshops to educate youths on online safety and promote responsible digital parenting.
Efforts are coordinated across ministries to support youth mental wellbeing and foster a safer internet culture through collective action.
The government will continue working with partners to strengthen community resilience against evolving threats on new social media platforms.

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1 Feb 2021

Bullying in Schools

The Ministry of Education highlighted its comprehensive approach to combating bullying, including character and cyber wellness education, student peer support, and clear disciplinary frameworks.
All teachers receive training on classroom management and bullying response, with additional specialised training for senior teachers to handle complex cases, though specific proportion data is not provided.
Schools actively monitor environments, provide counselling and disciplinary measures for bullying incidents, and collaborate with parents to support affected students.

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1 Feb 2021

Guidelines on Students with Gender Dysphoria

The Ministry of Education focuses on providing a supportive and conducive learning environment for students with gender dysphoria, with medical treatment decisions handled by professionals and families, requiring parental consent for minors.
Schools can exercise flexibility on rules for students with valid medical grounds, working individually with stakeholders including medical professionals, students, and parents to make practical arrangements.
The Ministry declines to present regular public reports to Parliament, citing respect for family privacy and the need to avoid public airing of sensitive situations.

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5 Jan 2021

Help for Mature Workers Transitioning to Another Industry and Tackling Unemployment after Removal of Jobs Support Scheme

The government has introduced enhanced support for mature workers through the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package, offering higher wage subsidies and training credits to help them transition to new industries.
The Jobs Growth Incentive provides 50% wage support for hiring mature local workers, double that for younger hires, to encourage employers to consider their valuable experience and skills.
For aviation and tourism sectors affected by the removal of the Jobs Support Scheme, targeted measures like the Enhanced Aviation Support Package and tourism initiatives aim to preserve jobs and facilitate reskilling for new roles.
Workforce Singapore has expanded career matching and coaching services, including online platforms and physical centres, to assist mature jobseekers in finding new opportunities.
The government is reviewing further extensions of support and promoting job redesign and digital reskilling programs to help workers adapt to evolving industry needs.

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5 Jan 2021

Private Operators of Afterschool Care

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry of Social and Family Development about its expectations for private operators of after-school care and efforts to better integrate these services with the daily educational experience.
The Ministry requires all registered Student Care Centres, including those run by private entities, to meet standards covering physical safety, hygiene, supervision, and structured programmes, with regular audits to ensure compliance.
Operational guidelines are provided to all centres, and school-based centres are encouraged to work closely with schools to align programmes with students' educational needs and values, especially for those with greater needs.

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5 Jan 2021

Use of SkillsFuture Credits for Certification Examinations Administered by Internationally Recognised External Training Providers

Leon Perera asked whether SkillsFuture credits could be used for certification exams from internationally recognized external providers.
Lawrence Wong explained that the credits are intended to support lifelong learning and can be used for over 200 examination-only certifications.
These certifications must be industry-recognized and backed by relevant public agencies to ensure prudent use of funds.
Examples given include Project Management Professional (PMP) and The Open Group Architecture Framework 9 (TOGAF 9) certifications.

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5 Jan 2021

Training on Sexual Offences for Judicial Officials

Judicial officers receive training on sexual offences, including modules by the Singapore Judicial College that cover rape myths, stereotypes, victim psychology, and trauma, with sessions held in 2018, 2020, and upcoming in 2021.
The courts have incorporated expert evidence from institutions like the Institute of Mental Health to address victim behavior, inconsistent testimonies, and trauma dynamics, and judges are empowered to intervene to protect victims from distressing questioning.
Legal amendments in 2018 to the Evidence Act restrict irrelevant questioning of sexual offence victims, and judges are trained to apply these rules to prevent further trauma during court proceedings.

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5 Jan 2021

Number of Sexual Misconduct Cases in Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions in Last Five Years

Seah Kian Peng asked whether there has been an increase in sexual misconduct cases in post-secondary and tertiary institutions over the last five years.
Lawrence Wong stated there was no discernible trend in incidence rates from 2015 to 2019, with 205 total disciplinary cases across pre-university and higher learning institutions.
The average rate was 0.13 cases per 1,000 staff and students annually.
The Ministry of Education and institutions commit to a safe environment through education, support for victims, stricter disciplinary measures, and infrastructure improvements.
All educational institutions maintain a strong stance against sexual misconduct and address it holistically.

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5 Jan 2021

Recent Take-up Rate for SkillsFuture Credit and Courses

As of August 2020, 23.5% of eligible Singaporeans had used their SkillsFuture Credit, with about 9% fully or almost fully using the $500 and about 14.5% partially using it.
The overall utilisation rate increased from 22.2% in May 2020 to 24.9% in November 2020.
The rise was attributed to better awareness of upskilling opportunities and heightened personal interest in improving employability amid job market volatility.
The figures indicate that a majority of eligible Singaporeans had not yet used their SkillsFuture Credit as of the reported period.

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4 Jan 2021

Breakdown of Active Licensed Crane Operators by Singapore Citizens and PRs, Number of Locals Trained Every Year and Challenges Preventing Singaporeans from Taking Up Vocation

There are 4,703 active licensed crane operators in Singapore, with 90% being locals (Singapore citizens and permanent residents).
The number of locals trained annually has risen, from 103 in 2018 to 204 in 2020.
Key challenges include ensuring wages reflect skill demands and providing clear career progression pathways to make the vocation attractive.
Employers are encouraged to highlight advancement opportunities, such as upgrading to higher-capacity cranes, supported by industry transformation plans.
Training is available through BCA Academy and other approved centres, with subsidies and SkillsFuture credits to encourage local participation.

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4 Jan 2021

New Public Education Efforts for Pedestrians, Cyclists and PMD Riders on Safe Riding/Use of Footpaths, Cycling Paths or Park Connectors and Their Effectiveness

The Ministry of Transport outlined new public education campaigns for pedestrians, cyclists, and PMD riders on safe use of footpaths, cycling paths, and park connectors over the past year.
These efforts complement existing programs like the Safe Riding Programme, which has engaged over 82,000 participants since 2018, and include community and school engagements.
The initiatives are supported by Active Mobility volunteers and have contributed to a near 50% reduction in public path accidents between pedestrians and active mobility users.
The government plans to continue these education efforts to further promote safety and responsible use of shared paths.

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4 Jan 2021

Median T-scores of PSLE Students Broken Down by Household Income Quintile and Impact of COVID-19 School Closures on Academic Performance of Children from Lower Income Households

Gerald Giam asked for PSLE median T-scores by household income quintile from 2011 to 2020 and whether COVID-19 school closures disproportionately affected lower-income children.
The Ministry of Education stated it does not collect household income data except for students applying for Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), whose median PSLE T-score remained stable at around 164 over the past decade, compared to a stable overall median of about 207.
During the Circuit Breaker, measures like loaning digital devices, internet dongles, and offering school facilities with teacher supervision ensured learning continuity for vulnerable students.
Teachers provided additional support through remediation and monitoring when in-person classes resumed, helping to mitigate any potential impact on lower-income students.
The Minister concluded that these efforts likely prevented a disproportionate negative impact on the academic performance of children from lower-income households during school closures.

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4 Jan 2021

Percentage of SkillsFuture Credits Utilised to Date and Redemption Rate per Age Group

As of end-August 2020, about 23.5% of eligible Singaporeans (around 600,000) had used their SkillsFuture Credit, with overall utilisation at 20% by end-2019.
Redemption rates by age group as of end-2019 were approximately 16% for those aged 60 and above, and around 22% for both the 25–39 and 40–59 age groups.
The Ministry encourages lower redemption groups, especially older Singaporeans, through community outreach, personalised advisory services, and a tailored range of eligible courses, including IT and language programmes.

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