Education — Topics

4 Nov 2020

Number of Students who Still Do Not Have Access to Digital Devices for Home-based Learning

Sharael Taha asked about the number of primary and secondary students lacking digital devices for home-based learning and the schemes to assist less fortunate families.
Lawrence Wong stated that during the Circuit Breaker, nearly 90% of students had device access, with over 20,000 devices loaned and IMDA deploying nearly 10,000 devices via the NEU PC Plus programme.
After the Circuit Breaker, loaned devices were retained until year-end, and new loan requests declined significantly.
Under the National Digital Literacy Programme, all secondary students will have devices by end-2021, with low-income households receiving full financial support.
For primary students from low-income families, MOE and IMDA will continue providing devices via NEU PC Plus and full support through the iNSPIRE Fund.

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4 Nov 2020

Percentage of Primary 1 Students Who Had Not Completed Preschool Education

Dr Wan Rizal asked about the percentage of Primary 1 students without completing at least three years of preschool, and the Minister of State replied that for the 2019 cohort, about nine in 10 had preschool enrollment from age four, with at least 99% having some preschool experience.
The Minister of State stated that the government does not currently track the long-term academic or health outcomes of children who did not attend preschool, but is exploring this while highlighting interventions like outreach programs, KidSTART, and in-school support for at-risk students.
Miss Cheng Li Hui suggested making preschool compulsory and adjusting subsidy requirements for disadvantaged children, but the Minister of State responded that the government preserves parental choice and focuses on accessible, affordable preschool rather than compulsory education, and will review the subsidy suggestion.

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3 Nov 2020

Number and Percentage of Differently-abled Children with No Access to Development Support and Learning Support Programmes in Last Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the number and percentage of differently-abled children who did not have access to the Development Support and Learning Support programmes over the last five years.
The Development Support and Learning Support programme is available in 550 preschools, covering about 40% of preschoolers aged five to six, with efforts to expand to more preschools through funding and training initiatives.
For children in preschools without the programme, there are channels for parents, healthcare professionals, and preschools to refer children for developmental screening and support through hospitals and early intervention services.

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3 Nov 2020

Performance Management System and Measures Taken to Train School Leaders and Head of Departments on Principles of Fair and Objective Ranking

Louis Ng asked about measures to train school leaders and heads of departments on fair and objective ranking in the performance management system.
Lawrence Wong explained that performance appraisal is a common tool to assess staff, provide feedback, and motivate teachers, with school leaders trained through leadership programmes.
He stated that key leadership programmes include performance management as a core component, teaching the framework and follow-up actions to improve performance.
He added that Cluster Superintendents guide school leaders during ranking sessions, and the Ministry regularly updates them on HR policies and performance management practices.
The Ministry will continue developing and strengthening performance management skills for school leaders and key personnel.

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3 Nov 2020

Training Service Providers' Selection of Eligible Singaporeans and Permanent Residents for SGUnited Skills Programme

The Minister for Education explained that SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) provides broad guidance to training providers on selecting applicants for the SGUnited Skills Programme, focusing on fit with the course and ability to cope with requirements.
If a programme is oversubscribed, providers are directed to refer applicants to similar courses with available capacity at other SGUS training providers, with SSG facilitating cross-referrals.
SSG actively monitors enrolment profiles across age, qualifications, and industry backgrounds, and reviews the list of courses and training places to match the needs of potential jobseekers.

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3 Nov 2020

Non-English Language Provisions for SGUnited Skills Programmes

Ms He Ting Ru questioned the availability of non-English provisions in the SGUnited Skills programme for applicants not conversant in English.
Lawrence Wong stated that the courses require a functional understanding of English but include bridging modules on Workplace Literacy to support less proficient learners.
SkillsFuture Singapore is open to offering courses in other languages if there is sufficient demand and industry relevance, and currently supports some courses in Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.

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3 Nov 2020

Clearer Communications for Alleged Sexual Misconduct Incidents at Autonomous Universities

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Ministry of Education (MOE) to ensure Autonomous Universities (AUs) provide clear and timely communications to students during investigations into allegations of misconduct by teaching staff, to better protect students from potential predators.
The Minister of State for Education, Ms Sun Xueling, outlined current protocols where AUs can temporarily remove accused individuals from campus and issue No-Contact Orders, while MOE expects institutions to be open and timely in communications, balancing victim safety, privacy, and ongoing police investigations.
Ms Sun provided statistics showing a declining trend in sexual misconduct cases handled by AUs from 2015 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.12 cases per 1,000 staff and students, and emphasized that staff found guilty face swift disciplinary actions, including dismissal.
MOE has established Victim Care Units in AUs to provide trained support for victims, and sexuality education is delivered in schools from primary to secondary levels, using targeted scenarios to teach students about self-protection and consent.
MOE confirmed that investigations into misconduct involve both internal boards (including student perspectives) and independent police investigations for criminal cases, and the ministry is open to engaging experts and examining proactive measures at younger educational levels.

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2 Nov 2020

Curriculum and Pass Criteria for Council for Estate Agencies' Real Estate Salespersons Examination

Dennis Tan questioned whether the Council for Estate Agencies' Real Estate Salespersons Examination uses a fixed pass quota, if all enrolled students receive the full examination materials, and if additional knowledge beyond the provided materials is required to pass.
Desmond Lee clarified that there is no quota for passing the Real Estate Salesperson examination, as it aims to ensure agents have sufficient knowledge to protect consumer interests in major property transactions.
The examination syllabus is published online, and course providers are required to align their teaching materials with the tested topics, which include current laws, regulations, and practical application scenarios.

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2 Nov 2020

Profile, Training and Certification of Employees Working for Managing Agents of Management Corporation Strata Titles

Mohd Fahmi Aliman asked the Minister for National Development for a breakdown of employees working for managing agents of Management Corporations Strata Titles (MCSTs) by residential status and occupations, and whether there are mandatory training or certifications required for these employees.
The Minister, Desmond Lee, provided a summary table of employment data from firms providing managing agent services to MCSTs, noting these firms may also service non-MCST clients and offer non-managing agent services.
To enhance professionalism, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) collaborated with property and strata manager associations to develop voluntary accreditation schemes for firms and individuals, with training programs guided by a BCA competency framework implemented since July this year.

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2 Nov 2020

Update on Plan to Provide All Secondary School Students with Laptops by 2021

The Ministry of Education announced that every secondary student will have a Personal Learning Device (PLD) by the end of 2021, with tender awarded and implementation details being finalized with vendors.
Schools can select from a range of device types to meet their needs, but all students in a school will use the same PLD, with details on the rollout to be provided by January 2021.
The curriculum already uses digital tools, and while MOE will provide guidance, schools have autonomy to customize PLD integration, with additional support like cyber wellness education, digital literacy resources, and technical assistance.

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2 Nov 2020

Appeals from Education Officers against Performance Management System of Stack Ranking in Last Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education about the annual number of appeals from Education Officers against their performance grades under the stack ranking system over the last five years.
Lawrence Wong responded that less than 1% of teachers appeal their performance grades each year, with each appeal carefully reviewed by the Ministry.
The Ministry has implemented checks and balances, including input from indirect supervisors, to ensure objectivity, fairness, and rigour in the performance appraisal process.

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2 Nov 2020

Ratio of Foreign Recipients of Tuition Grants, Scholarships and Full-paying Students in Autonomous Universities and Their Income and Residency Status Post-Graduation

The Minister reported that international students receiving tuition grants only, a combination of tuition grants and scholarships, and those who are full-fee paying make up about 60%, 25%, and 15% of the intake respectively.
Recipients of tuition grants and scholarships have median starting salaries comparable to the overall undergraduate average, while salaries for full-fee paying students are not specifically tracked.
About 75% of scholarship holders and 60% of tuition grant recipients from the 2012–2014 cohorts secured permanent residency, with 10–15% becoming citizens within five years, whereas no data is tracked for full-fee paying students.

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2 Nov 2020

Take-up Rate for Seniors Go Digital Programme amongst Low-income Seniors and Measures to Educate Seniors on Online Scams and Digital Crimes

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the take-up rate for the Seniors Go Digital Programme among low-income seniors and the educational measures against online scams, particularly in e-payments.
Minister S Iswaran stated that 10% of over 36,000 seniors engaged by Digital Ambassadors were low-income, benefiting from subsidised devices and data plans, with cybersecurity education integrated into the programme.
The programme teaches seniors to identify scams and protect data, including guidance on e-payments, and offers hands-on learning, online resources, and webinars developed with relevant agencies.

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2 Nov 2020

Development of E-sports and Gaming Industries in Singapore

There are approximately 190 game development and publishing companies operating in Singapore, including local players like SEA Group and multinationals such as Ubisoft.
The industry is expected to require about 2,700 info-communications and media professionals over the next two years to support growth in roles such as Software Programmer, Games Producer, and Project Manager.
Initiatives like DigiPen (Singapore) and IMDA's partnerships with companies are being used to train local talent for e-sports and gaming jobs, including plans to develop 500 Data/Business Analysts, Engineers, and other professionals with SEA Group.

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2 Nov 2020

Proportion of Nursing Positions in Total Traineeships and Jobs Created

The healthcare sector will create up to 7,500 jobs and 1,600 traineeships by the end of 2021, with about 1,800 of the job positions designated for nurses.
Nursing roles can be filled by fresh graduates, individuals in Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), or former nurses returning to practice, with PCPs for mid-career entrants taking approximately two years to complete.
The remaining job opportunities are primarily in support care, administrative, and ancillary roles, with onboarding training varying from one to six months depending on the position.

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2 Nov 2020

Allocation of Teaching Time for Maths and Science Subjects from Primary 3 to Primary 6

Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the allocation of teaching time for Mathematics and Science from Primary 3 to 6, including hours for new content, revision time, and leisure reading opportunities.
Lawrence Wong stated that schools are recommended to allocate five to six hours per week for Mathematics and two to two-and-a-half hours per week for Science, varying by grade level and subject standard.
The curriculum incorporates time for revising previous concepts, with teachers adjusting revision based on student learning pace and mastery.
The school curriculum encourages leisure reading, with some schools dedicating a period per week for reading and organizing activities to promote reading in English and Mother Tongue.
The Ministry of Education regularly reviews the curriculum to balance learning time with exploration and leisure for holistic student development.

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2 Nov 2020

Number and Quality of School-based Student Care Centres

MOE has established school-based student care centres in all 185 primary schools this year, up from 170 in 2019, meeting its target.
The provision of school-based student care places has largely kept pace with demand, with enrolment rising from 3,000 in 2012 to around 27,000 this year, and schools working to expand capacity without compromising quality.
MOE collaborates with service providers to ensure programmes promote holistic student development, reinforce school values, and foster positive social interaction, with additional support from community partners for students with greater needs.

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2 Nov 2020

Regular Reports and Training for Educators on Sexual Misconduct on Campuses

Ms He Ting Ru questioned the Ministry of Education on its supervision of Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) regarding sexual misconduct, the possibility of regular reports, and current educator training.
Minister Lawrence Wong outlined that IHLs have enhanced efforts in education, campus infrastructure, victim support, and disciplinary frameworks to address sexual misconduct holistically.
The Ministry confirmed that IHLs have codes of conduct for staff, periodic reminders, and measures like no-contact orders, while monitoring trends and requiring internal investigations for misconduct cases.

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2 Nov 2020

Nurturing Soft Skills in Students

The Minister for Education outlined that soft skills, framed as 21st Century Competencies, are nurtured through curricular and co-curricular activities, with institutions of higher learning incorporating applied learning opportunities and multidisciplinary exposure.
Assessment of soft skills is conducted through regular programme reviews and student feedback, and the impact of e-learning is mitigated by blending online and offline experiences to reinforce skills like collaboration and interpersonal communication.
Despite COVID-19 measures, schools and higher education institutions are progressively resuming in-person activities to ensure students receive holistic development, with ongoing efforts to identify and support students needing additional coaching in soft skills.
The Ministry allocates more resources and programmes to uplift students from less advantaged backgrounds, aiming to provide them with opportunities to build social capital and develop soft skills, though this requires collaboration with the community and industry.

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15 Oct 2020

Development Support and Learning Support Programmes in Anchor Operator Pre-schools

Louis Ng asked about the percentage of anchor operator preschools with Development Support and Learning Support (DS-LS) programmes and ECDA’s plans to expand these programmes.
Masagos Zulkifli stated that 60% more preschools now offer DS-LS, with about 400 of the 550 providers being anchor operators.
All anchor operator preschools are DS-LS providers with in-house Learning Support Educators, enabling broader programme delivery.
ECDA supports preschools through funding for training, therapy services, and a Place-and-Train programme to develop more educators.
ECDA is collaborating with anchor operators and other preschools to extend DS-LS programmes to more centres.

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