Education — Topics

1 Oct 2018

Non-subsidised Foreign Students Admitted into Universities and Private Tertiary Institutions in Past Three Years

In the past three years, non-subsidised foreign students have been admitted into Singapore’s publicly-funded universities and private tertiary institutions, with international students comprising about 10% of undergraduate intake and one-third of postgraduate intake in universities, while private institutions do not receive government subsidies.
The Minister for Education highlighted that publicly-funded universities admit international students to enrich the education experience, with a mix of full-fee paying students and those on the Tuition Grant scheme requiring a three-year service obligation in Singapore.
The Ministry continues to view education as an engine of economic growth, aiming to attract non-subsidised foreign students to study in Singapore as part of broader economic and educational strategies.

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1 Oct 2018

Sectors That Have Successfully Used Professional Conversion Programme to Recruit Mid-career Jobseekers

In 2017, the top three sectors using the Professional Conversion Programme to recruit mid-career jobseekers were Early Childhood Care and Education, General Manufacturing, and Marine.
Success factors include employers with a "plug-train-play" mindset who hire and train workers with potential despite skill gaps.
A new focus area is redeployment PCPs, where companies partner with Workforce Singapore to retrain existing staff for new roles amid technological disruption.
About 500 placements in 2017 came from redeployment PCPs, highlighting the need for companies to plan workforce needs ahead.
Workforce Singapore offers over 100 PCPs across about 30 sectors, with 3,800 individuals placed through the programme in 2017.

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1 Oct 2018

Proposal to Review Alumni Priority Admission Scheme for Primary 1 Registration

Rahayu Mahzam asked whether the alumni priority admission scheme for Primary 1 will be reviewed, if more places can be reserved for non-alumni students, and if active alumni parents are prioritized over dormant alumni.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the current P1 registration framework balances factors like siblings, parental ties, proximity, and contributions, and is periodically reviewed, with the last major change in 2014 reserving 40 places in each school for phases without prior connections.
He mentioned that MOE monitors the impact of past changes before considering further refinements and ensures all schools receive resources for quality education regardless of alumni status.

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10 Sep 2018

Regional Studies Programme and Scholarship Introduced

The Regional Studies Programme (RSP) and its scholarship were introduced in 2008 to nurture non-Malays proficient in the Malay Language and regional engagement.
Approximately 100 students per secondary school cohort receive the RSP scholarship out of about 400 participating students.
The breakdown of scholarship recipients by ethnicity is around 90% Chinese and 10% Indian and Other Races.

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10 Sep 2018

Average and Median Starting Salaries of ITE, Polytechnic and University Graduates

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education in 2015, 2016 and 2017 for the average and median starting salaries of ITE, polytechnic and university graduates in the private and public sectors.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the median reported gross monthly starting salaries are based on the annual Graduate Employment Surveys conducted by Institutes of Higher Learning.
The data covers full-time permanent employment in both the private and public sectors for ITE, polytechnic and autonomous university respondents.

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10 Sep 2018

Adequacy of Exposure to Mother Tongues in Kindergarten Curriculum

Chong Kee Hiong asked the Ministry of Education to review the kindergarten curriculum for adequate mother tongue exposure and propose measures to strengthen young children's foundation in these languages.
Ong Ye Kung stated that MOE has developed the Nurturing Early Learners Framework with educators and experts to support mother tongue education, with MOE kindergartens dedicating one hour daily to mother tongues and plans for more preschools to expand offerings.
Additional support comes from mother tongue promotion committees and the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, encouraging use at home and in communities to create a conducive learning environment.

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10 Sep 2018

Central Authority to Support Early Intervention Sector to Improve Coordination, Collaboration and Resource Allocation

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh proposed establishing a central authority to coordinate the early intervention sector and asked if mainstream preschool teachers would be trained to work with children with special needs.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development already coordinates early intervention services through its Disability Office, working with healthcare, preschool, and community partners to ensure timely detection and service delivery.
Early childhood educators are trained in child development milestones and introduced to special needs during pre-service training, with additional professional development options available to support children with developmental needs.
The government is expanding Learning Support and Development Support programmes in preschools, aiming to train 200 Learning Support Educators over four years to provide targeted intervention for children with mild developmental needs.

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10 Sep 2018

Singaporean Long-term Care Workers' Salary and Career Prospects

The debate highlights that only about 40% of long-term care workers are Singaporeans, with a higher local presence in home and centre-based care compared to residential facilities.
The Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care are enhancing career prospects and salaries through training subsidies, scholarships, and grants for skills development.
Over $200 million was extended between 2012 and 2017 to raise salaries, leading to a 30% average increase for local workers in supported providers.
Efforts include supporting process improvements, technology adoption, and developing a Healthcare Skills Framework to guide career progression.
The government plans to continue collaborating with providers to improve opportunities and regularly review salaries for long-term care workers.

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10 Sep 2018

Latest Findings on Harmful Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked if the Ministry would consider lowering the recommended alcohol limit and how it would update public education on the harmful effects of alcohol.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that the current recommended limit is already two drinks a day for men and one for women, with low consumption rates in Singapore.
The Health Promotion Board is raising awareness through school curricula, programs for students and servicemen, and collaborations with other agencies.
The Ministry will continue monitoring trends and review limits and education based on relevant local evidence.

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10 Sep 2018

Setting aside More Places in Primary Schools for Residents Living Within One Kilometre

Lim Biow Chuan asked if more primary school places can be reserved for residents living within one kilometre, citing historical shortages in some areas.
Ong Ye Kung explained that MOE regularly reviews demand and supply to ensure sufficient school places, with about 98% of registrants getting a place in their chosen or a nearby school in recent years.
MOE noted that exact registration numbers are unpredictable and school choice is influenced by factors beyond proximity, so it encourages considering alternative nearby schools when places are limited.
The ministry emphasises that every school is well-resourced to provide quality education regardless of location.

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10 Sep 2018

Mechanisms to Ensure Affordability of School Bus Services to all School-going Children

Schools use a competitive bidding process to select bus operators, with fare competitiveness as a key factor, enhanced since 2015 to include more operators.
Government measures like COE exemptions and road tax rebates help lower operators’ costs, enabling more competitive fares.
MOE provides a transport subsidy covering 50% of monthly bus fares for primary students on the Financial Assistance Scheme since April 2015.
Approximately 3,600 primary students currently benefit from MOE’s transport subsidy.

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10 Sep 2018

Review of Relevant Literature Text for Lower Secondary Classes with Global Pivot to Asia

The Ministry of Education regularly reviews literature texts based on educational objectives like literary merit, accessibility, and relevance to today’s context.
Texts for lower secondary literature include a wide range from Singapore, the region, and the world, with schools able to choose from a recommended list or select their own.
There has been a growing emphasis on texts from Singapore and the region in recent years.
Mother Tongue language textbooks already include adapted excerpts from Asian classics, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms for Chinese and Sejarah Melayu for Malay.
The Ministry will continue to review texts to ensure exposure to different cultures, beliefs, and practices.

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10 Sep 2018

Participation in SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative and ASEAN Leadership Programme

The SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) has supported about 450 Singaporeans through company-led leadership opportunities and 80 more through sector-specific programmes, with participants from diverse industries like Electronics and Biomedical Sciences.
The ASEAN Leadership Programme is a new initiative launching in September with a projected class of 20, aimed at equipping leaders with expertise in Southeast Asian markets.
Companies identify participants based on merit and performance, and the government does not track detailed demographics such as age, gender, or profession.
The initiatives are in early stages with positive feedback on their value for leadership development and networking, and the government plans ongoing engagement to assess and improve effectiveness.
There is no specific data yet on how many participants have progressed into higher-value or leadership roles due to the programmes' nascent status.

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10 Sep 2018

Update on Progress of Industry Transformation Maps for Precision Engineering and Electronics Industries

The Precision Engineering and Electronics Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), launched in 2016 and 2017 respectively, are being implemented in collaboration with industry, unions, and educational institutions to transform the sectors through growth, diversification, and capability deepening.
Key initiatives include establishing Model Factories to help SMEs adopt advanced technologies and fostering collaborations between multinational companies and SMEs, which has supported over 15 electronics startups and featured seven at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018.
The ITMs have also focused on workforce development, rolling out Skills Frameworks and leadership programs like the Semiconductor Leadership Accelerator, which has trained about 40 Singaporean professionals.
The Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index has been deployed to assist companies in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, with over 170 funded assessments awarded, 40% to SMEs and more than a third to Precision Engineering and Electronics companies.
The ITMs are reviewed continually based on industry feedback and economic conditions, with ongoing collaboration with tripartite partners to support the transformation journey.

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10 Sep 2018

Transition of Early Childhood Educators from Other Kindergartens and Childcare Centres to MOE Kindergartens

The government is expanding preschool services, including MOE Kindergartens, to meet rising demand, with over 40,000 new places by 2023 and a focus on affordability and quality.
Existing early childhood educators transitioning to MOE Kindergartens benefit from standardized qualifications and onboarding programmes, ensuring a seamless shift without requiring extensive reskilling.
The sector’s growth is supported by increased training places and initiatives like the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, maintaining a sufficient pipeline of qualified educators for all preschools.
Educators have diverse career options and are encouraged to pursue continuous professional development to enhance their skills and teaching opportunities.
While MOE Kindergartens are expanding, other operators remain important in serving different parental and child needs, ensuring a balanced preschool landscape.

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10 Sep 2018

Special Committee to Address Training Needs, Programmes and Accreditation for Jobs under Healthcare Industry Transformation Maps

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has established dedicated committees and a Skills Framework to address training and accreditation for healthcare jobs under the Industry Transformation Maps, with union representation in these bodies.
MOH supports tripartite engagement with unions and healthcare clusters to identify training needs and develop programmes, but does not see the need for a formal training council.
The Skills Framework for Healthcare, to be completed this year, will initially cover roles such as nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff, mapping their skills and training programmes.

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10 Sep 2018

Training and Support Systems for Talented Singapore Athletes Considering Professional Sporting Careers

Ganesh Rajaram asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth if Sport Singapore and national sports associations have programmes to advise talented athletes on professional sporting careers and whether a comprehensive support system exists for preparations, expectations, and contract negotiations, and if athletes are aware of these systems.
The Minister stated that Sport Singapore partners with stakeholders to provide financial grants, coaching, sports science, medicine, overseas training, and the Athlete Life Management programme to support athletes' personal development and transition to post-sport careers.
The Singapore Sports Institute offers the spexBusiness Network for career opportunities and the spexEducation Scheme with 12 Institutes of Higher Learning for flexible academic arrangements, benefiting over 600 athletes collectively, while also providing athlete life coaching for education and scholarships.
The decision to turn professional is personal and left to the athlete in consultation with family, managers, and national sports associations, with Sport Singapore sharing key considerations and resources, including a 2016 reference guide developed with Deloitte on securing corporate sponsorships.
The Minister confirmed that Team Singapore athletes are aware of and can access all these programmes to support their overall well-being and pursuit of sporting excellence.

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10 Sep 2018

Installation of Elderly-friendly Facilities in Schools to Cater to Ageing Teaching Workforce and Those with Mobility Issues

K Thanaletchimi asked how many schools have elderly-friendly facilities like lifts and if there are plans to install them in schools that lack them.
The Ministry of Education responded that about 70% of government schools have lifts, with the remainder scheduled to get lifts within five years through major upgrades or a special programme.
The Ministry confirmed that teachers and other stakeholders are consulted on lift locations, considering demographics, student profiles, and teaching needs.
Thanaletchimi raised a concern about lifts being placed near gyms instead of mainstream classrooms, suggesting inadequate consultation on placement.
The Ministry acknowledged the specific case, promised to seek further details, and reiterated its commitment to addressing accessibility issues based on school priorities.

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6 Aug 2018

Education Institutions in Singapore for Special Needs Youths Aged 18 and Above

Dr Lee inquired about education institutions for special needs youths aged 18 and above and options for those unable to find employment.
The government responded that special needs students can enroll in Post-Secondary Education Institutions, with support from SEN Support Offices and vocational schools like Metta School and Delta Senior School up to age 21.
Programmes such as the School-to-Work Transition, Sheltered Workshops, and Day Activity Centres are available to support employment and daily living for those with varying needs.

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6 Aug 2018

Verbal Test Option for Singaporeans with Low Educational Qualifications Attending Mandatory Workplace Safety Courses

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Manpower about the percentage of Singaporeans who took verbal tests in mandatory workplace safety courses and whether workers with low educational qualifications could apply for verbal tests themselves.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that written tests are available in eight languages, and in 2017, 48 locals (0.4% of trainees) took verbal tests instead of written ones.
She added that workers facing difficulty with written tests can apply to the Workplace Safety and Health Council for the verbal test option without needing to attempt a written test first.

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