Singapore’s students can solve problems, but hesitate to take the wheel (30 September 2026)

"Singapore students are adept at being the “captain” of their own learning. The latest OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2025) results show that our youth are already developing the habits of self-directed learners.

Compared with their peers internationally, they reported high levels of curiosity, enjoyment of problem-solving, and perseverance. They are also more likely to set goals for their learning, and adjust their learning strategies when needed.

Our students' approach to seeking help is also particularly encouraging: 90% said they asked for help when they had trouble learning, and 88% said that they sought help only after first trying hard to find a solution themselves. Knowing when to persist, change approach, learn by yourself or ask for help is itself part of learning to navigate effectively.

When it comes to Mathematics and Science, students have shown strong understanding, which shows they can appreciate discoveries and harness them. The findings showed that they can also read well to acquire new knowledge and skills.

Student performance in computational problem solving offers another encouraging sign. About half of them reached the top two proficiency levels, compared with about a quarter across OECD systems. Our students could work through multi-step problem situations that were unfamiliar.

But high performance in structured evaluations does not necessarily mean that young people will feel equally confident navigating unfamiliar life situations where there are no clear answers or instructions to follow.

The central challenge is therefore to help young people translate their knowledge and problem-solving abilities into the confidence and agency to act when the way forward is unclear. Such agency has to be developed through experience."

Uniform, but unique: The stories and styles of Singapore school attire (30 September 2026)

"For a decade or more, like most Singaporeans, you slipped into your school uniform each morning without giving it much thought. But looking back, was it merely something you had to wear, or did it become a marker of identity and belonging?

“There is a fascinating paradox at the heart of school uniform design. Uniforms are intended to create sameness, yet constraint does not erase identity,” says Yix Guo Yi Xian, senior lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Singapore. She explored this theme in her 2016 book, My School Uniform: An A To Z Collection Of Secondary School Uniforms In Singapore.

The outfit itself is simple enough: a plain shirt with shorts or trousers for boys and a blouse with a skirt, pinafore or skorts for girls. Uniforms ensure that students step onto school grounds looking sharp and on a more equal footing, regardless of socio-economic background or changing fashion trends.

At the same time, each institution expresses its uniqueness through the finer details: embroidered crests, metal pins, name tags, ties, belts and even socks or shoes. Together, these elements give students a shared identity and an instant connection to their school."

SingLit hang-out Book Bar to migrate to Tiong Bahru Community Centre by end-2026 (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Home-grown bookstore and SingLit community hang-out Book Bar, currently in Duxton Road, is set to move to Tiong Bahru Community Centre by the end of 2026.

Co-founded by a couple, Alex Chua and Sara Ng, in 2023, the independent bookstore and cafe has defied the odds to become a fixture in central Singapore, a default pit stop for local book launches that is equally appealing to passing tourists.

Buoyed by its success – and perhaps drawn to cheaper rent – it has now won a tender for a 2,172 sq ft space, twice the size of its current heritage shophouse site.

Chua tells The Straits Times in an exclusive interview: “We needed a bigger space for the community events that we hold, like our book launches, readings and even our non-literary events. Being a SingLit-focused bookstore, it has great synergy to be in the first community centre built in Singapore. Ultimately, bookshops are about community as well.”

Civil Service College employee charged with theft, given conditional warning for stealing wallet (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE – A man charged with theft over a wallet he stole in a pub when he was working for the Civil Service College (CSC) has been issued a two-year conditional warning, after he apologised and made full restitution to the victim.

Milton Pang Jianqin was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for the theft charge, a spokesperson for the Attorney-General’s Chambers told The Straits Times on Sept 29.

Pang can still be prosecuted for the offence if relevant information or evidence were to emerge later.

The 44-year-old was charged in December 2025 after he stole a $550 wallet containing $150 in cash, two credit cards, and a debit card from a man at the Medousa pub in North Bridge Road, shortly before 1am on July 6, 2024.

At the time, he was working as a senior product specialist at the Enterprise Technology Group’s Institute of Learning Technology at the CSC."

Man who assaulted pre-school boy gets 14 weeks’ jail; victim had shown him a lewd hand gesture (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Unhappy with a four-year-old boy who had flashed a lewd hand gesture at him, a man assaulted the child and grabbed his right arm in March.

Muhammad Firdhaus Mokhtar, 37, then swung the boy backwards by his arm, causing the child, who was his son’s schoolmate, to fall.

Firdhaus also threatened to break the victim’s finger, and said he would return for him on Monday.

On Sept 30, Firdhaus was sentenced to 14 weeks’ jail after pleading guilty to one count each of assault and using criminal force on another person.

He was ordered to fork out $170 in compensation – the cost of the victim’s medical bills."

Community initiative in Yishun encourages artists, public to showcase creative works at 8 bus stops (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE – In Yishun, artwork and photographs have popped up at eight bus stops around the town, hoping to spruce up the daily commute of residents.

They are part of an initiative launched in July to encourage community participation in public spaces, as the pieces are contributions from people with ties to the neighbourhood.

The project by community building non-profit Playces taps an existing provision by the Land Transport Authority for members of the public to freely display advertisements on noticeboards across 40 bus stops in towns such as Yishun, Boon Lay, Tampines and Jurong East.

There were several setbacks along the way when contractors cleared the creative works earlier than planned, but Playces plans to continue the project, said its founder Gena Soh.

Volunteers refresh the noticeboards at eight bus stops in Yishun at the start of each month with contributions spanning artwork to memes, she added.

The six-month pilot initiative is supported by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Playces also received a $5,000 seed fund through the Singapore Government Partnerships Office, which goes towards material and printing costs, volunteer honorariums and marketing and public education around the project, said Soh."

Student care operators to pay one-month deposit under new safeguards from Dec 2026 (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE - Newly appointed student care operators in primary schools will have to pay a security deposit equivalent to one month’s fees, as part of new safeguards introduced by the Education Ministry (MOE).

The size of the deposit will be pegged to the centres’ enrolment.

This measure, which will be gradually implemented from Dec 2026 when existing contracts expire, follows the contract termination of Little Professors Learning Centre (LPLC) in February 2026, which affected 1,800 children in eight primary schools.

The ministry will be able to draw on the deposit in the event the operator does not fulfil its contractual obligations, said an MOE spokesperson, in response to queries from The Straits Times. “It may be used to mitigate financial losses, including supporting affected families as appropriate.”

Committee formed to strengthen safeguards for children in religious settings, report due end-2026 (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE – A committee has been formed to look at ways to further strengthen safeguards for minors in religious settings like mosques, while preserving the open and welcoming nature of such institutions.

The committee, which was announced in Parliament on Sept 8, will also review how children and young people can safely access religious guidance in formal, informal and online settings, and comes after a sexual abuse case involving two young brothers and a self-styled religious influencer.

The Committee to Strengthen Safeguards in Religious Settings will report to Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad, and is expected to submit its recommendations to the Government around end-2026, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said on Sept 30.

Its work will focus on the governance and safeguarding frameworks at mosques, madrasahs and Islamic Education Centres and Providers, including the screening and oversight of people who work or volunteer with children, rules governing interactions with minors, and how concerns are reported and escalated."

Investing for babies involves knotty trade-offs (30 September 2026)

"Patience, consistency and frugality are fine habits for an investor. They are not, however, common virtues among newborn babies. The little bundles of joy are impulsive short-term thinkers. They are also some of nature’s biggest freeloaders, living entirely beyond their means.

All the same, for new parents with a soft spot for the magic of compounding, like this columnist, a baby presents a tantalising investment opportunity.

Many decades of life and potential returns stretch out into the future: US$1,000 (S$1,300) invested today with a real annual return of 5.2% (the average for global stocks over the past 125 years) would be worth US$58,000 by the time the child is 80.

Yet these juicy financial returns must be considered alongside another sort of investment: in the children themselves. Spending on a child's health, education and skills can yield even higher returns (on top of helping them lead a fulfilling life). So how should a new parent think about their budding little portfolio?

Potential financial investments are manifold. Many countries offer tax-advantaged ways for parents to save for their children. American tykes are now eligible for Trump accounts, which start with a US$1,000 freebie from the federal government that can be put into mutual funds or index trackers until the child turns 18, while taxes are deferred. Earlier options include the even more tax-friendly 529 accounts, but these may be used solely for specified educational purposes. In Britain, the Junior Individual Savings Account, into which up to £9,000 (S$15,200) a year can be invested, is tax-friendlier still.

Investing for babies is a joy even without the tax perks. Long horizons smooth out volatility, allowing for more risk. Ian Ayres and Barry Nalebuff, two economists, propose that young workers should borrow to buy stocks, since the long-term returns to equities are (hopefully) higher than the interest on borrowing. If the logic is true for 20-somethings, it is truer still for infants with a horizon a couple of decades longer."

From Nathania Ong singing Disney classics to reliving the magic of Harry Potter: Familiar, feel-good ways to reset your week (1 October 2026)

"Getting a break from a hectic work week does not always mean trying something new. Sometimes, returning to something familiar such as a beloved film, a childhood favourite or songs you already know by heart, can be an easier way to switch off and reset.

But unlike a night in front of a screen, these experiences offer a chance to step away from work and be fully present – whether it’s hearing a live orchestra, solving a mystery with friends or exploring an exhibition at your own pace.

This round-up features seven experiences across Singapore from Oct 2026 to Jan 2027, from a familiar film brought to life by a full orchestra and Disney songs sung by a West End regular to a childhood favourite reimagined as an interactive mystery.

If your evenings and weekends could use a reset that does not take much figuring out, these picks are a good place to begin."

S’pore media firms to get micro-drama production support under IMDA-TikTok initiative (1 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Media firms in Singapore can apply for funding and training to develop live action and AI-generated micro-dramas under a new government-backed programme to help firms cater to fast-changing audience consumption habits.

The IMDA-TikTok Microdrama Programme aims to equip participants with storytelling techniques and skills such as creating content optimised for vertical viewing on phones and writing strong prompts for artificial intelligence tools.

The goal is to help firms produce 50 to 100 episodes that can go up to three minutes long each.

“As audience behaviours continue to evolve, strong characters, compelling storytelling and emotional resonance remain at the heart of commercially successful stories,” said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and TikTok in a joint statement on Oct 1.

“Against this backdrop, the programme gives participants hands-on experience in developing and producing micro-dramas rooted in Singapore culture and perspectives, through mentorships, workshops and masterclasses.”

Most young adults in S’pore surveyed want to have children, but many lack fertility knowledge: Study (1 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Only one in 10 young adults surveyed in Singapore knew the answers to basic fertility questions, despite more than half believing they were well-informed about fertility and reproductive health.

The knowledge gap was also evident among those who want to become parents. Among childless respondents who said having children one day was important to them, 43% answered two or fewer of five questions on fertility literacy correctly.

Most respondents in the Thomson Medical-National University of Singapore study aspired to be parents, with 84% saying they ideally wanted at least one child. About half, or 51%, said their ideal family would have two children, while 16% did not want any children.

The inaugural study polled 1,035 people in June 2026 on their parenthood aspirations, reproductive timing and fertility knowledge. It was led by Reuben Ng, the study’s principal investigator from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP).

The respondents, aged 18 to 39, were also asked about their awareness or attitudes towards fertility services."

One last snowfall as Snow City closes its doors for good after 26 years (1 October 2026)

"Imagine enjoying hotpot with colleagues in a snow chamber, surrounded by ice sculptures, in sub-zero temperatures.

That was how Snow City staff marked the end of an era after the attraction closed its shutters for good at 6.49pm on Sept 30, following 26 years of operation.

The closure reflects the Science Centre Board’s commitment to “keeping its offerings fresh and relevant amid shifting visitor interests and an evolving attractions landscape”, Science Centre Singapore said on May 19.

Singapore’s first permanent indoor snow centre opened in June 2000, allowing people in the tropical city to experience snowfall and sub-zero temperatures."

$8,000 mortgages and double tuition for same subject: The cost of Singapore’s education arms race (1 October 2026)

"Parents have long complained that the education system in Singapore is too stressful for children.

To address their concerns, the Ministry of Education has made policy changes over the years, including scrapping PSLE T-scores and removing weighted assessments and examinations at certain levels.

But have these measures worked?

A recent survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) showed that parents are more stressed than 10 years ago, and they are spending more on tuition and enrichment classes."

Parents want certainty over their children's future. That's fuelling the education arms race (1 October 2026)

"In the past decade, Singapore’s education system has increasingly been described as an intensifying arms race by parents, students, educators and politicians. The extreme competition to secure a Primary 1 place in a choice school, the pressures surrounding the Primary School Leaving Examination and successive rounds of streaming, as well as subject and school choices, have all contributed to anxiety among families.

But findings from a nationally representative survey of 1,500 local parents of children attending primary schools by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Social Lab, analysed in a working paper published on Sept 25, are somewhat heartening.

But findings from a nationally representative survey of 1,500 local parents of children attending primary schools by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Social Lab, analysed in a working paper published on Sept 25, are somewhat heartening.

Compared with the inaugural survey conducted by the research institute in 2016, parental attitudes have shifted from being purely academically focused towards a greater emphasis on holistic development.

Across various indicators, parents increasingly value happy learning environments, social-emotional development and allowing their children to learn from failure. For example, compared with 2016, nearly eight in 10 parents agree that children should be allowed to fail and learn from their mistakes, significantly up from around six in 10 in 2016. They are also less likely to see academic performance indicators, such as PSLE cut-off points, as the sole marker of success when choosing schools.

In 2026, to determine if a primary school is a good one, 64.5% of parents would use the school’s PSLE track record, down from 72.2% in 2016. The proportion who deemed it important that students progressed to ‘reputable secondary schools’ dropped by an even larger 10 percentage points - from 71% in 2016 to slightly more than 60% in 2026.

Policy effects

Significant policy changes may have played a part. Since 2021, numerical PSLE T-scores have been replaced with Achievement Levels. The survey, however, suggests that parents remain ambivalent about the change, indicating that reforms to assessment do not necessarily translate into lower levels of anxiety.

In 2024, full subject-based banding was rolled out across all secondary schools, replacing the previous Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams. In 2027, the first batch of students will sit the new Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate, which replaces the O- and N-Level examinations. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has also moved to reduce formal assessment in the early primary years, including by removing mid-year examinations and discouraging excessive homework in Primary 1 and 2.

Yet, put together with the survey finding that parents remain stressed despite these changes to tackle sources of hyper-competition, the conclusion is that policy shifts simply change the rules of the game, leaving untouched a fundamental driver of anxiety: the parental need for certainty over their child's future."

Singapore Art Museum’s new show will look completely different four months after opening (1 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – The instability of the world today becomes the organising principle behind the Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) latest show.

Four months after it opens on Oct 2, it will look completely different, with the entire roster of works replaced. There might be screw holes on the walls from where works have been swapped out for something new.

Do not be surprised to see objects mid-installation. This is an experiment in a different sort of presentation – evolving and refusing top-down narratives. It is also sparser, allowing visitors to take their time to develop their own connections.

SAMCollection: The Present Is Unstable is the Tanjong Pagar Distripark gallery’s new exhibition of works from the museum’s collection, which numbers nearly 4,000 now, 30 years after its founding."

Younger researchers studying pressing labour issues get more support from NTUC (1 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Young researchers studying pressing labour issues such as the implications of artificial intelligence and the ageing workforce will receive more support, as part of a new research network to strengthen and advance labour market intelligence in Singapore.

The new Associate Researchers Circle (ARC), which comprises eight initial members, was launched by the National Trades Congress Union (NTUC) on Oct 1.

The formation of the group builds on the NTUC Labour Alliance co-laB (Lab), which was launched in 2024 to deepen the knowledge base on labour research in Singapore. The network aims to influence labour policies and practices that will uplift the wages, welfare and work prospects of workers."

‘Can make money meh?’: Meet Jonathan Goh, Singapore’s first degree holder in circus arts (2 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – With dozens of eyes trained on him, Jonathan Goh scales a wobbly, unsupported ladder to the top rung before gracefully guiding himself back down to earth with a deft front somersault close to the crowd, as the ladder crashes behind him.

While it is clear that hours of training have gone into this and other stunts he performs as a busker, what spectators may not know is that the 30-year-old has a degree in his craft.

In response to The Straits Times’ queries, the National Centre for Circus Arts in London confirmed that Goh is the first Singaporean to graduate with its honours degree in Circus Arts – in July 2025."

ST School Pocket Money Fund, Quantedge Foundation tie-up gives children credits for enrichment (2 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Children from lower-income families will receive $3,000 a year to pick up a new sport or instrument, or take part in enrichment programmes through a new partnership between The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) and Quantedge Foundation.

The credits will be provided to 50 STSPMF beneficiaries aged seven to nine through Quantedge’s Social Mobility Fund in early 2027. The children can then spend the credits on a curated range of opportunities and products available on the fund’s platform.

The latest partnership was announced during STSPMF’s annual appreciation lunch on Oct 2 at the SPH Media auditorium in Toa Payoh."

SAFTI Military Institute bus tours suspended ‘till further notice’: S’pore Discovery Centre (2 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Bus tours offering the public a glimpse into one of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) oldest institutions, SAFTI Military Institute (MI), has been suspended until further notice.

In a Facebook post on Oct 1, the Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) said the last SAFTI MI bus tour would depart at 3pm on Oct 2, and did not say why the service has been stopped.

SDC and SAFTI MI are both located in Upper Jurong Road.

SAFTI MI – which is the training ground for SAF’s military leaders – spans 88ha, about the size of 122 football fields, according to a 2005 report by The Straits Times.

SDC, originally called SAFTI Exhibition Centre, was opened in 1996 to focus on instilling in Singaporeans a sense of confidence in the future of Singapore and in the SAF, according to Roots.gov.sg, the National Heritage Board’s heritage resource portal.

The SDC is one of the museums under Defence Collective Singapore, which was set up in 2022 by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)."

Given time to find his voice, an artiste brings the Singapore Story to life (2 October 2026)

"I watched Ervin Han and Raul Garcia’s movie The Violinist on the first weekend of its commercial release in Singapore and it made me cry multiple times, although, admittedly, I cry rather easily at the movies.

What particularly caught my attention was its treatment of the Singapore Story, a subject to which I devoted a chapter in my book Singapore: A Cinematic Portrait (2026), where I examine how Singaporean film-makers have engaged with the national narrative. I was struck by how differently Han approaches that story here, compared with The Violin, the 16-minute short he completed a decade earlier. Both follow a musical instrument through Singapore’s history, but they differ, subtly yet significantly, in the Singapore Story they tell.

Han's first film, The Violin, begins in 1939 and devotes roughly its first half to this late colonial period and to the Japanese Occupation. Then, about halfway through, its rhythm changes rather abruptly and in barely 21⁄2 minutes, The Violin quickly carries us through a succession of recognisable milestones of Singapore's nation-making, such as the Merdeka campaign leading to self-governance; the merger with Malaya in 1963; and finally independence in 1965, followed by post-independence economic development.

The Violinist is not simply a longer version of that film. It is much more complex, layered and nuanced. Instead of passing through history and ticking narrative milestones, it inhabits that history. Most strikingly, it frees itself from the gravitational pull of 1965, the anchor around which quite a few Singaporean movies have revolved, such as Jack Neo's Long Long Time Ago (2016) whose family chronicle begins, very symbolically, on Aug 9, 1965. Instead, The Violinist places its focus elsewhere, and lingers in an earlier Singapore that local cinema has explored much less often: the late colonial period of the 1930s and the Japanese Occupation. Its story opens in 1932 and takes the time to bring back that era to life. Interestingly, it managed to do the same for the war years. History ceases to function principally as a timeline and becomes a world in which people live.

That world is portrayed with great nuances and complex characters. For instance, it brings the historical figure of Lim Bo Seng into its fictional narrative and makes him a rather important protagonist, something rarely, if ever, done in Singaporean films. Even its depiction of the Japanese moral complexity through the Occupation allows for individual portrayal of one particular Japanese soldier. At the same time, the film does not diminish the brutality of the events themselves, such as the 1942 Sook Ching massacre, here evoked with remarkable restraint and sensitivity."

NTU satellite that uses AI to detect forest fires, oil spills launched by SpaceX rocket (2 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - A Singapore-made eye in the sky was on Oct 2 launched by a SpaceX rocket into space, where it will keep watch for events such as forest fires and oil spills, and send pings back to Earth if it thinks such disasters are detected.

This shoebox-sized satellite developed by NTU is the first nanosatellite built here to be equipped with AI technologies that can help it analyse and filter cloud-free images, so it relays only useful data.

This cuts out the tedious work for scientists on the ground, who previously had to sieve through every image.

The satellite, called CRIMSON-1, will be tested during a year-long mission."

Those providing Islamic instruction to 10 or more must register as Muslim religious schools: MUIS (3 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – People or organisations providing Islamic instruction to 10 or more individuals on a regular basis in Singapore must be registered with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) as Muslim religious schools (MRS), said MUIS in a statement on Oct 3.

This applies whether the instruction is conducted physically or online.

MUIS officers will also be authorised to inspect registered MRS, including attending Islamic instruction conducted physically or online.

Around 50 individuals and organisations are expected to register as MRS under the updated requirements."

Eight selected public libraries to open earlier from Oct 5 (3 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – If you are both an early bird and a bookworm, luck is on your side.

From Oct 5, eight selected public libraries across Singapore will open earlier at 9am – an hour or two before standard operating hours – the National Library Board (NLB) said in a Facebook post on Oct 2.

Four public libraries – Bukit Panjang, Sembawang, Serangoon and Pasir Ris – are slated to open two hours earlier, instead of 11am. These libraries are located within shopping malls.

Four other libraries – Bishan, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands – will open one hour earlier, instead of 10am."

Seeing P2 boy with HSA fine for vaping spurred SMU law student to create app for youth to quit habit (3 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – At a Meet-the-People Session in Tampines in 2025, a father came with his Primary 2 son who had been fined by the Health Sciences Authority for vaping.

The scene struck Joy Liew, 21, a law student from the Singapore Management University (SMU) who helped them file an appeal to waive the fine.

It prompted her to create an app to help youth quit vaping, which was one of the winning student projects showcased at the launch of Law Awareness Weeks @ CDC (LAW@CDC) 2026 on Oct 3 at Our Tampines Hub."

A family in distress: How MSF’s SAFER helped a social worker step in earlier (4 October 2026)

"When senior social worker Kalajayanthi Jayagomar, 38, and her colleague from social service agency Allkin Singapore visited a family’s home in early August, they were following up on an incident. A parent had used harsh physical punishment on their child aged under six.

But what they found was a household grappling with much more.

The parents were overwhelmed with caregiving, faced significant emotional and financial stress, and quarrelled often, Kalajayanthi recalls. There was also a history of spousal violence.

One of them told her that struggling with their child’s behaviour – who Kalajayanthi observed to be restless – had led to the harsh physical punishment, she says.

Their visit had been triggered by an alert from a new Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) unit: Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response (SAFER), which flags information that may require a closer look at a family to assess if they need support.

In this case, SAFER drew on data from a police report. The family told Kalajayanthi that the police had conducted checks, she says."

Angler’s Pokedex: Youth build free app to help identify and log Singapore’s fish (4 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - Despite its busy straits, Singapore’s position near one of the world’s most biodiverse marine areas has allowed it to yield a surprising variety of fishes, though their significance is occasionally lost on those who catch them.

Such was the case at Bedok Jetty in August, when an angler mistook a globally endangered zonetail butterfly ray (Gymnura zonura) for the average stingray. The butterfly ray is distinguished by its wide, triangular body and short tail, compared with the rounder body and long tail of more common stingrays.

Fellow fishing enthusiast Brian Sng, a Singapore Management University software engineering student, quickly realised the value of the catch from the photo he was shown, and informed the angler of his rare find.

To avoid these cases of mistaken identities, Sng, 21, and a group of fellow enthusiasts interested in the scientific study of fish built a free mobile app to help people identify the fishes that live in Singapore’s murky waters.

On Sept 17, the Ichthyological Society of Singapore (ISS), which has more than 150 members, launched SGFish on the Apple App Store. The app can identify more than 900 species using an image recognition model."

How fatherhood changes brain biology and body shape (4 October 2026)

"People often talk about how fathers shape their children’s lives, but what if children also reshape their dads, more specifically their brains?

Darby Saxbe, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, has found that scans of first-time fathers’ brains show a reduction in grey matter volume within the first year after their babies are born.

How is that possible? After all, men do not get pregnant and do not go through the hormonal and bodily changes that women go through.

In Saxbe’s imaging studies, men show areas of brain shrinkage, indicating that they lost brain volume between their prenatal and post-partum scans.

In her recent book, Dad Brain, she writes: “The volume loss occurred in their grey matter, the type of brain tissue that contains neurone cell bodies...in parts of the brain that engage in what neuroscientists call mentalising: thinking about others.”

Research has found that the strength of the father-baby bond predicts the changes. The closer fathers are to the baby, the more pronounced the changes.

Instead of interpreting the loss of brain volume as a bad thing, the change in dads’ brains is likened to editing a document down to its tightest version. It results in dad brain circuitry getting sharper and dads becoming better at what they need to be doing, while losing some of the brain’s overall grey matter mass.

People’s brains are not fixed and remain malleable over the course of their lives, reorganising as they mature and engage in new experiences.

The book adds: “The more dads invest in parenting, the more their brains and bodies change, and the more skills they develop.”

Bjorn Shen is a busy chef with 3 kids. Here’s his advice for working parents (4 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Since starting Artichoke in 2010, which evolved from a modern Middle Eastern restaurant to a pizzeria in 2025, Bjorn Shen has been a prominent figure in Singapore’s culinary scene.

Four seasons as a judge on reality TV cooking competition MasterChef Singapore between 2018 and 2023 propelled him further into the spotlight.

But outside work, his universe revolves around his family: his wife Roxanne Toh, 42, and their three children - Gemma, nine; Camille, seven; and Dylan, one.

“Not everybody has the luxury of choosing the perfect working hours,” says the 44-year-old chef-owner with his trademark candour, offering a grounded perspective on juggling career and parenting.

For parents who do not work nine-to-five, finding time to build deep bonds with their children can feel like an uphill struggle.

Shen's routine reflects that challenge.

He often leaves for the restaurant right when his two older children end school, returning home only after they are already asleep. Yet, Shen and Toh have built a loving family."

How do I pick the right secondary school for my child? (4 October 2026)

"I am glad that my daughter is done with her PSLE. Now, for the more difficult part – picking the right secondary school for my child. Based on her prelim results, I feel she can make it to an Integrated Programme (IP) school, but she is not sure if it will be too competitive. How many schools should I shortlist? What are the important things to consider, other than the academics?

PSLE results day isn’t until late November, but it is good that you are thinking of the “right” secondary school for your child and that you want to also take into account her interests outside academics.

For a start, can I suggest sitting down with her and coming up with a list of six to eight schools that she would be interested in?

When it comes to posting, students with lower PSLE scores will be considered first for vacancies in their chosen schools.

So, have a look at 2025’s cut-off points (COP) and compare your child’s prelim scores against them for the schools. It is good to allow two or three ambitious choices, where your score is close to or slightly above the COP. But the other schools on the list should be realistic choices that she is likely to get into based on her results."

New employment office, job redesign support among new measures to help persons with disabilities (4 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Persons with disabilities (PWDs) will get more support across key life transitions, such as moving from school to employment, with upcoming measures to be rolled out by 2030.

Students in special education (SPED) schools, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics will be trained in workplace and soft skills and given more work exposure.

National disability agency SG Enable will expand its career services with a new Employment Support Office at the Enabling Village in Lengkok Bahru, to help PWDs and employers navigate employment matters. It will be fully operational in the second half of 2027."

Queenstown, Marine Parade to pilot more inclusive spaces for people with disabilities (4 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Queenstown and Marine Parade will be the first towns to test initiatives aimed at making community spaces more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities (PWDs).

Led by SG Enable, the pilot starting in 2027 will work with grassroots organisations to make spaces such as parks and hawker centres more disability-friendly, while public education efforts will encourage residents to interact more confidently and respectfully with PWDs.

The two towns are the constituencies of Goh Pei Ming and Eric Chua, who are part of an inter-agency task force set up in December 2025 to strengthen support for PWDs and their families."

Singaporean’s research spells new hope for healing severe skin injuries, chronic wounds (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Spending time in hospitals as a child helped set a Singaporean researcher on a path to bioengineering, eventually leading her to develop a smart wound-dressing technology that could make wounds heal twice as fast.

Magdalene Ho, chief executive and co-founder of Traxion Biotech – a spin-off from Imperial College London – hopes that in a couple of years, the technology can benefit patients, particularly those with traumatic wounds and severe skin injuries, where body tissue has been lost through accidents or burns.

The technology uses traction force-activated payloads (TrAPs), which harness the forces generated by cells as they move through the body to release healing proteins where needed to help repair damaged tissue."

Giving practitioners academic scaffolding: RSIS leaders reflect as think-tank turns 30 (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – In the wake of the 2016 United States presidential election, when the power of state-backed, algorithmically amplified disinformation campaigns started to become apparent, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) researchers saw this as an understudied area.

The school convened its first workshop on the topic the following year, bringing together global experts from fields including sociology, psychology, communications and military strategy.

Their conversations highlighted the need for a multi-pronged approach to combat disinformation as countries, including the US, grappled with ways to deal with the new threat.

When Singapore decided it needed a new law to tackle online falsehoods, RSIS researchers were called upon to contribute to the select committee process, which eventually led to the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act that came into effect in October 2019.

As RSIS commemorates its 30th anniversary in 2026, three leaders from the school shared with The Straits Times its role in supporting policymaking over the years and providing practitioners with intellectual grounding in geopolitics."

Science Talk: 1 in 3 Singaporeans has hypertension. Can cutting salt reverse the trend? (5 October 2026)

"Singaporeans will soon be hearing more about their salt intake.

Mandated Nutri-Grade labels are set to appear on pre-packed salt, sauces, seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oil, with advertising prohibited for Grade D products which carry the highest levels of sodium or saturated fat. The move is part of an effort to tackle the high prevalence of hypertension, which affects one in three Singaporeans aged 18 to 74.

But addressing our salt habit is only one part of a broader journey in helping Singapore tackle hypertension rates. As well as understanding why salt is so ingrained in our lives, we also need to recognise why “slightly high” blood pressure should not be dismissed, what practical actions can be taken to manage it, and why even the most health-conscious may have underlying conditions that make them susceptible to hypertension."

When Singapore encourages failure, the talent will come: Malaysian semiconductor CEO (5 October 2026)

"Singapore can attract top tech talent and build a thriving semiconductor ecosystem only if society learns to accept failure and foster a culture of risk-taking, said Oh Kuang Eng, chief executive of Penang-based Mi Technovation.

Speaking to The Straits Times, he noted that the Republic has created an environment highly supportive of innovation and research and development.

Mi, which Oh founded in 2012, has itself benefited from close collaboration with the Institute of Microelectronics (IME), an A*STAR research institute that bridges the gap between academia and the global chip industry.

“You need to have people who are very interested in this industry. If not, even if you invest a lot of money, you won't be able to find anybody who would want to be involved in R&D, and you won't be able to survive and grow the business,” Oh said.

He stressed that with the artificial intelligence boom, continually raising awareness of the significance of the semiconductor industry through education and publicity would encourage more students to major in engineering and computer science, thus building up the talent pool.

To that end, Mi is working with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to create more pathways for students to enter the semiconductor sector."

Driver in 2024 Tampines crash that killed 2, including 17-year-old student, gets jail, lifetime ban (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – The driver who caused a fatal chain collision in Tampines in 2024 that killed two people was sentenced to 12 years and nine months’ jail on Oct 5.

Muhammad Syafie Ismail, 45, whose actions injured eight others, including two 11-year-old boys, was also banned from driving for life.

A junior college student and a 57-year-old woman died in the crash."

SGX and partners roll out youth stock programme to lower barriers and equip young investors (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – An initiative was launched on Oct 5 to get more young investors interested in the Singapore stock market.

Called the Youth Stock Ambassadors Programme, the scheme will give selected young investors capital market education, practical exposure and opportunities to engage with the ecosystem.

It was launched by the Singapore Exchange (SGX), Securities Association of Singapore and Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or SIAS.

It comes as the SGX kicked off its scheme on Oct 5 to make investing in higher-priced stocks more affordable for investors, with the reduction of board lot sizes for an initial 11 selected stocks.

The three organisations said in a statement: “Together, these initiatives lower the barriers to entry for investing, arm younger investors with more information on the Singapore stock market, and provide them with the opportunity to access higher-value Singapore stocks with smaller amounts of initial capital.”

The new programme will be a youth-led platform that is open to students in tertiary institutions."

House to discuss claims that civil servants disproportionately bought homes near unannounced MRT stops (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Claims that civil servants and their families disproportionately purchased property near planned but unannounced train stations are up for discussion in Parliament when the House meets on Oct 6.

Nine MPs have raised questions to the Government about claims that emerged from a paper published in September by the US non-profit National Bureau of Economic Research, according to the order paper released on Oct 5.

Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) has asked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong whether the public service has reviewed the findings, whether the Government will independently examine or validate them and what actions will be taken in response.

He has also asked what safeguards are in place to prevent and detect public officers from using non-public government information for private financial gain.

Nominated MP Azhar Othman has asked whether a regulatory framework exists to curb such actions.

Workers’ Party MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) has asked whether such actions constitute a breach of statutory duties or civil service rules."

Move over, Paw Patrol: S’pore pre-schoolers learn to run, hide and tell from a Police Pal guide (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – An SGSecure Police Pal storybook was launched on Oct 5 to teach pre-schoolers what to do if they spot a suspicious stranger or item.

Titled Run, Hide And Tell: An SGSecure Story, the book uses animal characters to teach young children the importance of staying alert, moving away from danger and seeking help from a trusted adult.

It was launched by Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann during an SGSecure Carnival at MOE Kindergarten @ West Spring in Bukit Panjang."

S’pore makes $118m push to manufacture materials from living organisms under bioeconomy initiative (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - Singapore wants to harness nature’s living “factories” and produce enzymes, chemicals and materials – some of which can replace fossil fuels – with a $118 million push to grow its bioeconomy sector.

Such products include sustainable aviation fuel, which can replace petroleum-based jet fuel.

Polymers made from castor oil can be substituted for plastics made from crude oil, while using biomethane for energy can reduce the need to burn fossil-based natural gas.

The Bioeconomy Funding Initiative was announced on Oct 5 by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the launch of the National Centre for Engineering Biology.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) and A*STAR are driving the effort. Its launch comes amid projections that the global market for such materials and chemicals could exceed US$200 billion (S$256 billion) by 2030.

The effort is Singapore’s largest funding tranche for developing the bioeconomy sector, according to the government agencies."

Married female teacher committed sex offences against underage girl in school and on public bus (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - A married female teacher committed sex offences against one of her students, who was a 15-year-old girl, at a karaoke and bistro, their school and on a public bus.

On Oct 5, the 35-year-old woman, who has a 4-year-old child, was sentenced to nine years’ jail.

She had engaged in sexual encounters with the victim from Oct 13 to Nov 21, 2023, and pleaded guilty to two counts of performing an indecent act on the minor and a sexual penetration charge.

Seven other charges, including one count of exchanging at least three sexually explicit audio recordings, were considered during sentencing.

Details about the woman and the school cannot be disclosed owing to a gag order to protect the victim’s identity."

‘She was the pride of our family’: Uncle of 17-year-old student who died in 2024 Tampines crash (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – As others celebrated Hari Raya over the past two years, the family members of the 17-year-old student killed in the 2024 Tampines collision could only mark the occasion in quiet grief.

Although they tried to avoid painful reminders of what happened, her name would inevitably be mentioned whenever the family reminisced about happy memories, her uncle said.

On Oct 5, the student’s uncle, 39, spoke to The Straits Times after the driver responsible for the crash was sentenced to jail that morning.

Said her uncle: “We’re just trying to get by, and cannot bring ourselves to discuss what happened that day.

“She was the pride of our family and we miss her.”

Childcare teacher allegedly ill-treated seven 2-year-old children under her care (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – A childcare teacher allegedly ill-treated seven two-year-old children under her care in September 2025, including by hitting their heads.

The 22-year-old woman was handed 12 child abuse charges on Oct 5.

Details about the location of the alleged offences and the children – three girls and four boys – cannot be disclosed due to a gag order."

Oasis Primary raises over $16,500 for ST School Pocket Money Fund to mark school’s 10th anniversary (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Oasis Primary School has raised $16,501.90 for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) to mark its 10th anniversary celebrations, giving pupils an opportunity to put kindness into action by supporting children from low-income families.

The sum was collected through recess donations from pupils, alongside online contributions from parents and staff.

A cheque presentation ceremony was held at the school in Punggol on Oct 1."

What if young men and women want different marriages? (6 October 2026)

“Of course I’ll help with the baby,” said Gerald.

“Help?” Mindy asked. “Chloe is your baby too.”

Variations of this exchange come up in the counselling sessions I facilitate. It may sound trivial. It isn't.

What does it mean to be a good husband? To one spouse, it might mean working hard and providing for the family. To another, it might mean taking the midnight feed, doing the school run and remembering when the child needs to see the doctor.

Both may believe deeply in being responsible partners. But they may be imagining different marriages.

For a society trying to encourage more couples to marry and have children, that is a question we should be asking more seriously. Singapore has spent decades trying to make marriage and parenthood more achievable.

The latest Marriage and Parenthood Reset marks a significant shift. The Government has announced more sustained support for families, including enhanced child-related leave, stronger financial support for children, more affordable and accessible pre-school and greater housing support. The measures recognise that raising a family is a long journey, not simply a financial hurdle at the point of a child's birth.

These measures matter, but practical barriers may not be the only ones when it comes to having and raising children.

There may be another challenge: Young men and women may increasingly want different kinds of marriages."

Proposed changes to Muslim law include simpler divorce process, strengthened welfare of children (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Some Muslim couples who have agreed to divorce and have settled all related issues could complete the process at least six months faster under proposed changes to Muslim law.

The changes, which simplify the procedural requirements of divorce proceedings, will allow couples to conclude their divorce amicably earlier, avoiding the emotional and psychological strain of unnecessarily prolonged proceedings, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on Oct 6.

Under current law, Muslim couples seeking to end their marriage through talak tafwidh – which refers to a husband delegating the pronouncement of divorce to his wife – have to appoint a hakam, or marital conciliator.

The proposed amendments to the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) will empower the Syariah Court to let the couple proceed without a hakam if both parties agree to dissolve the marriage and the court considers the marital conciliator unnecessary."

8 public officers referred to police after review of property purchases near future MRT stations (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE — Eight public officers whose property purchases warrant further examination have been referred to the police, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament on Oct 6.

He told the House that the Public Service Division (PSD) has reviewed property transactions made by 191 public officers who worked in agencies involved in rail planning and bought properties between 2007 and 2014 near locations that were subsequently announced as MRT stations.

Chan was responding to MPs’ questions about a research paper that claimed civil servants involved in rail planning and their families had disproportionately purchased property near unannounced train stations."

‘Not the time to go soft’: Shanmugam signals tough laws for young scam mules after High Court ruling (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - New laws will be introduced soon to ensure deterrent sentences on those who facilitate scams regardless of age, following a recent High Court ruling that gave young scam mules probation and community sentences.

The legislation will make clear that the court’s ruling in that case is not to be followed, said Senior Minister K. Shanmugam, noting that while scammers are ultimately responsible, the crime was made possible because of the young scam mules who gave up their bank or Singpass accounts for money.

He told the House that the cost of scams has been devastating, especially on elderly victims who lost their life savings.

Responding to questions about young people and scams on Oct 6, Shanmugam, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, said many young mules know they are doing something wrong.

He said: “Many of the young people that we pick up and investigate know precisely what they were doing...they knew that they shouldn’t be doing it, but they were tempted by the $800, $1,000 that they were offered.”

7 weeks’ jail for man who paid for sexual services of teenager who claimed she was 21 (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – A man paid $150 for the sexual services of a teenage girl who told him that she was 21 years old. In reality, she was only 16.

Muhammad ’Aizat Khalis Daud, 38, did not take any steps to verify her age and later tried but failed to sexually penetrate her.

On Oct 6, he was sentenced to seven weeks’ jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of engaging the sexual services of a person below 18 years old."

Teen under police probe after allegedly throwing bag off LRT station platform in Punggol (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – A 17-year-old is being investigated by police for a rash act, after he allegedly threw a bag containing two blocks of ice cream off the platform of Cove LRT station in Punggol.

In a media release on Oct 6, the police said that they were alerted on Sept 29 to the incident, which happened at about 11pm on Sept 27.

The station is part of the eastern loop of the Punggol LRT network, which was still in operation then.

The last train on that loop leaves Punggol Town Centre at 12.38am, according to operator SBS Transit’s website.

The teen was identified through ground enquiries and CCTV footage."

Grocery runs on a budget and outdoor missions: How S’pore banks make financial literacy fun for kids (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Every two to three months, Aaron Kishen Arun Pandian Pillai, 11, and his brother Leon Shrishen, nine, join UOB volunteers on shopping trips organised by Children’s Wishing Well.

Each child gets a $50 FairPrice voucher, sponsored by the bank, to purchase groceries and household essentials under the Fresh Groceries for Every Student’s Home (FRESH) programme.

Children’s Wishing Well started FRESH in 2019 to teach financial literacy to children and youth from low-income families. The charity also equips these children and youth with other essential life skills, such as career readiness and personal development, through its other enrichment programmes."

8 new objects to see at the National Museum’s revamped Singapore History Gallery (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – With over 2,000 artefacts from across 700 years of Singapore history, the revamped Singapore History Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) tells a sprawling saga of the Republic’s journey to the present day that warrants repeat visits.

The Straits Times picks eight objects – newly commissioned, freshly acquired or displayed for the first time – to look out for on your first visit to the permanent gallery, which opens to the public on Oct 10.

1. Jongkong model by Nasrun Syawal

Although massive container ships and oil tankers are a common sight in South-east Asian waters today, smaller boats like the jongkong were what dotted the horizon in the region’s pre-colonial past. The jongkong, a small canoe designed to seat one person and commonly used in the Riau-Lingga region, was mentioned in the early 17th-century text Sulalat al-Salatin, or the Malay Annals.

The NMS has commissioned craftsman Nasrun Syawal – who was born on Senayang Island in Indonesia, and learnt boat-building from his parents as a child – to make this model with pulai (milkwood). The meticulous craft that has gone into the model is a testament to how maritime knowledge has survived to this day."

Pull a rickshaw, listen to a poem at National Museum’s revamped Singapore History Gallery (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – In the 1970s, when the lift was still a newfangled invention in Singapore’s high-rise estates, riding it was as exhilarating and uncertain as going to the moon. Take it from writer Ng Yew Kiat’s 1976 Chinese poem The Lift: “It takes ages to arrive at one planet / where some astronauts alight”.

Some may scoff at Ng’s hyperbole, but his poem captures the awe that many kampung-dwelling Singaporeans must have felt when they first stepped into these metal vestibules to reach their homes in the sky. Were they not also early astronauts, since the first human went to space only in 1961?

Come Oct 10, visitors to the revamped Singapore History Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS) will be able to step into a restored, windowless 1970s lift from Ang Mo Kio, listen to Ng’s poem overhead and relive the technological past in its musty blue tint. Step back outside the lift and one is greeted by a nostalgic whirlwind of mosaic tiles and metal letterboxes."

Singapore arts guide (Oct 7 to 25): 25 years of Singapore photography across seven exhibitions (7 October 2026)

"10th Singapore International Photography Festival

What does Singapore photography look like in the first quarter of the 21st century? An ambitious survey taking place across seven exhibitions at the 10th Singapore International Photography Festival (SIPF) will feature the photographic practices of 47 artists working in an age of abundant images.

The approaches at the seven exhibitions in Shifting Images: Photography From Singapore 2000-2025 provide varied entry points into the topic.

At Figment Club House, artists engage with the aesthetics of colonial imagery. Questions of gender and intimacy are posed at the SingPost Geylang Post Office. Meanwhile, the Guoco Midtown Public Art Wall features artists’ takes on Singapore’s urbanisation, including Darren Soh’s iconic 2004 nocturnal landscape series While You Were Sleeping.

The festival, which is led by artistic director Gwen Lee and runs from Oct 16 to Jan 31, 2027, is themed In My End Is My Beginning, a reference to poet T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. It will also feature a solo exhibition Singapore Index by acclaimed film-maker Tan Pin Pin. On show are not her poetic and observational films, but a selection of 63 photographs Tan had taken in 1991 documenting the social fabric of Singapore."

Why parents need to be involved in the money conversation with their children (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Shopping with real money helps children become more financially savvy.

This thought crossed my mind while volunteering on a shopping trip with UOB Heartbeat volunteers on July 22.

I was paired with UOB’s Ho Ying Ying and Najwa Chua, 12, who has participated in these outings since she was eight."

For students, ‘try first’ is good advice in the age of AI (7 October 2026)

"Every major technological leap promises to liberate us from drudgery, yet we rarely ask what happens when it liberates us from thought. In education, we are already seeing that consequence.

In classrooms and lecture halls today, students can ask generative AI to summarise a difficult reading, solve a mathematics problem, propose arguments for an essay or revise a piece of writing within seconds.

For educators, the debate has moved beyond whether students should use artificial intelligence. A more immediate question is: What should students be expected to do before they use it?

One simple principle deserves greater attention: the first attempt. Before AI explains, solves, interprets or proposes, students should be expected to try for themselves."

Social media: What if children could grow up with no one watching? (7 October 2026)

"There is something rather strange about the latest attempt to fix social media.

After years of Instagram-perfect photographs, filters and carefully curated lives, we are now being offered authenticity. Apps such as BeReal were built around the idea that, at an unpredictable moment, we can photograph whatever we happen to be doing without preparation and while “being real”. I like the idea. But as a child psychiatrist, it also makes me wonder: When did being real become something we needed to show other people?

The opposite of performing perfection may still be performing. A teenager posting an unfiltered photograph is still choosing to present part of his life to an audience. We may simply have moved from “Look how perfect my life is” to “Look how authentically imperfect my life is”.

Perhaps we have been asking the wrong question about social media. Instead of asking whether young people are presenting their real selves or their curated selves, perhaps we should ask something more fundamental: Why does so much of growing up now need an audience?"

About one in 10 special education teachers resigned between 2021 and 2025: Desmond Lee (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – About one in 10 special education (SPED) teachers resigned over the past five years, with the most commonly cited grounds being a desire to change job type, personal reasons and family commitments.

Education Minister Desmond Lee gave the latest numbers in a written parliamentary reply on Oct 6 to Charlene Chen (Tampines GRC). She had asked about growth and attrition in the SPED teacher workforce, and efforts to improve their retention.

The question arose after an announcement in March that three new SPED schools will be set up by the early 2030s to cater to a rising number of students diagnosed with autism with intellectual disability.

The minister’s reply marks the first time the Ministry of Education (MOE) has disclosed the attrition rate of SPED teachers. Such educators are not part of MOE’s educator pool, as they serve under the social service agencies which run these schools."

49 schools to get new principals in 2027, including 13 first-timers (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Forty-nine schools will have new principals in 2027 in an annual reshuffle, including 13 educators taking on the role for the first time.

Seven of the 49 appointees are now with the Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters.

The appointments, announced by MOE on Oct 7, affect one junior college, 15 secondary schools and 33 primary schools.

The ministry will formally appoint the principals at its annual appointment and appreciation ceremony for principals on Dec 30."

P1 registration: 15% of Phase 2C students at 12 popular primary schools live in public housing (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE - Fewer than 1 in 6 students who enter 12 popular schools here during Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration come from public housing, said Education Minister Desmond Lee.

Lee cited this statistic on Oct 7, as he responded in Parliament to 16 questions that MPs had filed on changes to the P1 registration system that the Ministry of Education (MOE) had announced on Sept 10.

The changes mean that, from the next registration exercise in 2027, most schools here will reserve 60 spots for children in Phase 2C, up from the current 40. This phase is for students without prior connections to the school, with those living nearby getting priority admission.

Additionally, 12 schools in neighbourhoods where public housing is significantly lower than the national average will set aside spots in Phase 2C for children who live more than 2km away, to ensure access to a more diverse mix of applicants."

What do an engineer, a physician and a historian have in common? (7 October 2026)

"An engineer, a historian and a physician. Conventions and stereotypes place the three authors of this essay at different points across the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and humanities divide: designing systems, interpreting the past, and using biology and evidence to serve a patient.

Yet, we have much in common: All of us need to build trust and relationships, communicate well, work in teams and understand human nature to do our jobs well.

Our training gave us different bodies of knowledge and different habits of mind. It also gave each of us a discipline rooted in critical thinking: a way to define a problem, decide what counts as evidence, test a claim and recognise error.

As our careers developed, the boundaries between our fields of work became less obvious. The engineer had to understand institutions, incentives and public acceptance. The historian had to work through patterns, causal claims and incomplete records. The physician had to move between data from populations and decisions about one person. By the time we reached leadership roles, each of us had learnt skills associated with the other side of the divide.

In essence, we each had to close the divide between STEM and the humanities. Crossing the divide did not make our primary disciplines any less important. Singapore’s development depended on disciplinary expertise. We will continue to need depth in each field.

But the problems we face today are increasing in complexity, scale and impact. Climate adaptation requires engineering models and consideration of questions of cost, behaviour and fairness. Urban planning increasingly requires the assessment of transport data, history, place and community. Digital regulation needs depth in understanding software architecture and markets. Tackling these problems requires people who are able to draw on different bodies of knowledge, not just those from their field."

When families cover up sexual abuse of a child, it can remain hidden for years: Shanmugam (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE – Between 2021 and 2025, there were 36 cases involving those who ill-treated a child under their care or allowed another person to abuse the child that led to prosecution.

Senior Minister K. Shanmugam gave this reply on Oct 6 to a parliamentary question about the number of cases that involved a family member being charged with failing to protect a child from sexual abuse in the past five years.

The 36 cases were prosecuted under Section 6 of the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), which states it is an offence for a person “who has custody, charge or care of a child or young person to ill-treat the child or young person, or to cause, procure or knowingly permit another person to do so”.

Ill-treatment in this context includes sexual abuse. The police do not separately track cases where a person knowingly allowed a child or young person to be sexually abused, Shanmugam said."

A simple change that led to great impact (12 June 2026)

"At Blangah Rise Primary School, architect-turned-teacher Mdm Uuchi Mashaida Virtucio has boosted student engagement and peer learning by simply reimagining classroom layouts.

By Joyce Yang

In a Primary 3 English class at Blangah Rise Primary School (BRPS), a single cue from the teacher sets the room in motion. Students swivel their fan-shaped tables to form circles, and the groups huddle over a debate topic to discuss their talking points.

Ten minutes later, the tables are rearranged again, this time into a U-shaped debate arena. One by one, the groups send out their first speakers to make their arguments as the rest lean in to listen intently.

“This arrangement makes the experience of a debate feel more authentic,” says Mdm Uuchi Mashaida Virtucio, an English and Social Studies teacher at BRPS. “When students are put in this kind of environment, they start to wear a different hat and take the work more seriously.”

From moodboards to white boards

Launched in 2023, this pilot to redesign learning spaces in the school was spearheaded by Mdm Uuchi and her colleagues. Having spent years in architecture and graphic design before becoming a teacher in 2019, Mdm Uuchi brought a creative lens to the process and was especially attuned to how built environments can make or break learning experiences.

“I never thought that these two worlds of mine would ever meet each other, but I’m glad they did,” she says.

This wasn’t the first time Mdm Uuchi found herself wearing two hats as both teacher and designer. One of her earliest projects when she first joined BRPS was redesigning the school’s collateral. She recalls, “The school asked how I’d feel about doing something I’d supposedly ‘left behind’. But I told them that being a designer is a natural extension of who I am.”

Ironically, the simple act of putting a stylus to her tablet gave her a sense of confidence during her mid-career switch, especially as she was still getting used to a new working environment and trying to build rapport with students. “It was like I’m suddenly this other person who knows what I’m doing. I thought: Hey, I can contribute to this school through utilising my prior industry experience.”

When the time came to turn an underutilised Physical Education (PE) equipment room into a mini library, Mdm Uuchi took to it like a fish in water. She paid attention to details that the untrained eye might miss: Where would a librarian naturally need power points? How can shelves be mounted so students of different ages can reach them? How do we arrange the space so it invites students to linger?

“You can’t separate designing a space from designing an experience, because the way we arrange things in the room can shape user behaviours,” she explains.

A classroom for every learner

This same thinking guided the pilot project in 2023, which is sparked by the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) funding to refresh learning environments across schools in Singapore to keep pace with evolving educational needs.

BRPS saw it as an opportunity to double down on its commitment to active learning. But instead of simply telling teachers to “do more group work”, the school introduced modular tables on wheels to make collaboration easier. And when it was time to bring everyone back together, technology helped. To share a student’s work with the rest of the class, for instance, teachers could simply snap a photo and cast it onto an interactive panel – yet another feature of the pilot.

The benefits quickly became obvious once the pilot rolled out. Time saved on moving furniture at the start and end of lessons aside, teachers circulating between groups also shifted their dynamic with students, nudging lesson designs to be more student-centred.

“When I discuss a student’s work with them, being right beside them creates the sense that we are going on this learning journey together,” she explains."

Watch: Shaping future thinkers with arts education (25 June 2026)

"What makes arts education essential? Four Master Teachers with years of experience in arts education share how it shapes students into better collaborators, as well as builds the resilience and confidence they need in an increasingly complex world.

Ms Seow Ai Wee, Principal Master Teacher (Art), explains what a culture of care in the art classroom is, how to create it, and how it helps foster belonging and safety. This, in turn, allows students to explore the complexities of the human experience – both the positives and negatives – so they learn to better manage ambiguities.

Mdm Ira Wati Sukaimi, Master Teacher (Art), speaks about the role art plays in helping students draw the connection between cultures, appreciating both differences and shared values. Learning not just to blend the traditions, but also taking the environment into consideration, students practise inventive thinking, collaboration, and cross-cultural skills."

A culture of care in the art classroom (25 June 2026)

"Ms Seow Ai Wee, Principal Master Teacher (Art), explains what a culture of care in the art classroom is, and how it allows students to better manage ambiguities.

The art classroom is more than a place for students to create paintings, make sculptures, or learn art techniques and skills. It is a space for meaning-making, through creative expression that draws from students’ lived experiences.

Recently, an art teacher and I were planning a Primary 4 unit where students would explore family relationships by manipulating paper in different ways to create abstract sculptures.

That experience got me wondering if we were oversimplifying the learning experiences by asking students to only present the positives rather than exploring the complex nature of relationships through their abstract sculpture.

It also raised another important question for me, that even if we want students to experience their authentic experiences, what would help them feel safe to share with us and with their peers?

So, a culture of care in the art classroom is essentially a learning environment where relationships between students and the art teacher, and among peers as well, are built on trust and mutual respect and empathy.

This kind of culture fosters belonging and safety, which naturally enhances student engagement during art lesson.

An art classroom with a culture of care is essential when students engage in art-making and art discussion that explores the complexity of the human experience. Themes such as identity and relationships and topics that revolve around contemporary issues are often complex and figuring this out through creative processes are often layered. They’re emotional, and they can get personal. So, we need to open the space for reflection, for meaning-making and authentic expression.

When students engage in experimentation of materials and ideas as part of the creative process, they’re essentially managing ambiguities. When we cultivate a culture of care where students feel safe to take risks, to make mistakes, and also to explore multiple possibilities, we create the conditions necessary for authentic learning, for artistic growth, as well as for personal growth."

When art shapes minds and hearts for a changing world (25 June 2026)

"Mdm Ira Wati Sukaimi, Master Teacher (Art), speaks about the role art plays in helping students practise inventive thinking, collaboration, and cross-cultural skills.

In a world of shifting dynamics and evolving technologies, what role can art play in preparing our students not just to create but to connect and respond to our complex world?

Art lessons go beyond aesthetics. They are dynamic spaces where students develop curiosity, creativity, empathy, resilience, and critical thinking while learning to connect across cultures. These are essential skills for our changing world.

Imagine this: the art studio buzzes with curiosity as students gather around three water vessels – each a masterpiece from Chinese, Malay and Indian artistic traditions. With sketchbooks in their hands, they observe the forms, they examine the materials, they sketch the flowing curves, compare the patterns, discuss the colour symbolism, and uncover the stories that each vessel holds.

In groups, they discuss, they listen, and appreciate both differences and shared values. Then comes the creative challenge: design a vessel that blends these traditions whilst caring for our planet. Through this, watch the sketchbooks fill with experimental sketches, as students mix and match patterns, play with materials, and transform recycled materials into prototypes.

Through this hands-on experience, students are not just creating art, but they are also practising inventive thinking, collaboration, and cross-cultural skills while learning to respect the environment and each other.

The visual arts are not a luxury, but a necessity in education, where learning goes far beyond techniques or aesthetics.

Art teachers intentionally weave opportunities for students to instil 21st century competencies within their lessons. This ensures that students develop the capacity to navigate complexity and respond with empathy. In the process, students don’t just create art. They evolve into inventive, socially aware, and confident learners, ready to contribute meaningfully to the world."

Wonder, wander, and awe: making art learning magical (25 June 2026)

"Learners are explorers, and teachers are guides, says Mr Chia Wei Hou, Master Teacher (Art). So, how do teachers bring that sense of wonder into art lessons to make every lesson magical and see the world afresh?

If I am to trace back to my very first encounter with awe and wonder, it’ll be the one when I was still an art student, spending time printing black and white photographs in the dark room, seeing the image slowly emerge out of the blank piece of paper. That moment truly filled me with wonder. It pushed me to go out there in the world to capture more images of beauty.

I always remember a quote by the author of The Little Prince, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood, and don’t assign them tasks. Instead, teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”

I believe learning is a magical journey where learners are explorers, venturing into the unknown territories, getting lost, and gaining new vistas, seeing the world afresh. And we as teachers are like guides, constantly inspiring our students to yearn for the mysterious, to see the beauty and marvel at the achievements of the world.

I recall an outdoor art lesson with my class. We woke up before dawn, sat quietly by the shore, fighting off sleepiness until suddenly the horizon lit up, the sun broke through the clouds and all of us sat in silent awe. No photographs or science could possibly capture what we felt.

In another art lesson, my students were given something small. A peanut. A raisin. They were to spend time with it, to talk to it, to explore it, to examine it under a microscope. Then draw a super huge drawing of this tiny, little object. Looking at it through 50 different ways in order to uncover its beauty and its magic. So, what if we, as teachers, could bring that sense of wonder in every lesson?

Picture a classroom where curiosity takes centre stage, where each lesson is an adventure waiting to unfold. Imagine students marvelling at the existence of things, appreciating the world not at what it can give them, but at what it simply is. In this magical realm of learning, we cultivate and engage our senses, encouraging students to question how things came to be, and marvel at their very existence. We infuse learning with playfulness, transforming moments of confusion into adventures. We ground our teaching in humanity and humility, showing that true learning reveals our beautiful vulnerability and connect us more deeply to the world around us."

Art that asks bigger questions (25 June 2026)

"The bell rings. Art class ends. But what if students left with more than a project? What if they walk away with a new way of seeing the world? Ms Vivian Loh, Master Teacher (Art), breaks down concept-based teaching.

Let’s imagine I’m a student tasked to paint a sunset. I focus on blending the perfect orange, learning through trial and error. But what if I pause to reflect? A sunset could mean the end of the day. It could also mean sadness when something ends. But it could also mean hope, and the beginning of something new. I might say, this reminds me of when my best friend moved away. It was sad, but it also felt like a fresh start for her. In that moment, I left with more than just technique. I left with a deeper way of making sense of the world.

That’s the heart of concept-based teaching championed by Lynne Erickson. It’s a shift from only learning techniques to exploring ideas like connection, identity, and perspective. It’s what Lynne Erickson calls “teaching for transfer” – giving students mental tools they can use in art, in school, and in life. Why is our art classroom the perfect place for this?

Because art is conceptual, emotional, and personal. It gives students a language to find and express their voices. Concept-based teaching gives that voice direction and depth. Instead of asking, “draw a house”, we can ask, “what makes a space feel like home?” It’s not just about lines and shapes. It’s about memory, feeling and storytelling.

How does this look in practice? Take the concept of perspective. Instead of teaching just about vanishing points and technical drawing rules, we might ask, “How can art show someone else’s viewpoint?” Students might draw the same scene as scene as seen by a child, a bird, or a pet. What begins as a drawing exercise becomes a lesson in empathy and perspective-taking."

Students band together to shape the Singapore they want (2 July 2026)

"Some of the freshest ideas for Singapore's future are coming from the people who'll actually inherit it. At this year's Pre-University Seminar, four students and their teammates spent months turning theirs into real proposals.

By Sabrina Lee

Around 550 students from 30 junior colleges, polytechnics and other pre-university institutions gathered at this year's Pre-University Seminar, where they pitched proposals at a closing exhibition toured by Education Minister Desmond Lee. Their ideas took aim at vanishing hawker trades, disconnected HDB neighbours, students from JC, poly and ITE who rarely mix, and loneliness that spans generations. Behind each proposal was a personal story: an early-morning trip to the fishery port, a chat with a neighbour in the lift, and friendships with students from different backgrounds.

He's been to Jurong Fishery Port at 3am. Now, he wants to save the hawker trade

Dave Gan has followed his father on supply runs to hawker clients. He has been to Jurong Fishery Port at 3am. He has packed fried carrot cake at a stall that went viral over a single social media reel. "I was really amazed at how much skill is required just to make one bowl of bak chor mee or a plate of fried carrot cake,” he says.

So when it comes to talking about hawker heritage, Dave thinks of the hawker who wakes before dawn, learns every step of the trade, and builds a business with no formal education. He also knows most young people don't see that picture. His group's proposal, Hawker Hub, tries to change that in three steps, depending on how ready you are to step into the trade.

Not sure yet? A Dish Dictionary walks you through the story and craft behind local dishes. Getting serious? A forum connects you with veteran hawkers who are ready to pass on what they know. Ready to try? An eight-week Hawker Tryout Programme trains you, puts you behind a real pop-up stall, and gives you feedback before you commit to anything. “The point is to make hawker work feel possible, and to make sure the skills don't disappear with the generation that built them,” says Dave.

These students proposed an app to tackle loneliness

When Sri visited Foundry, a non-profit social impact hub, as part of the seminar's learning journey, she found that both seniors and youths were lonely, and for similar reasons. "Both groups felt lonely because of rapid digitalisation," she shares. Youths craved real friendships but were stuck behind screens. Seniors, meanwhile, withdrew quietly – not wanting to become a burden to their loved ones.

Sri and her group responded with Kampung Connect, an app that pairs seniors and youths based on shared interests – so an elderly mahjong enthusiast might teach a youth to play, while the youth teaches them to navigate a smartphone. “The approach is deliberately strength-based. Everyone contributes, no one is reduced to just their needs,” says Sri.

For Sri, the issue is personal. Her grandparents live in India, and she admits she never quite built a close bond with them. So now, she makes a point of greeting the elderly neighbours in her block – smiling in the lift, asking how their day went. “Finding that one common ground can be the starting point to a genuine relationship," she says."

It took a village to help this 13-year-old find his confidence – now, he’s a Changemaker (6 July 2026)

"Firash Faiq Bin Abdullah started Primary 1 unable to read or write. But thanks to a network of support, he graduated from North Vista Primary School with newfound confidence.

By Eveline Gan

When 13-year-old Firash Faiq Bin Abdullah walked across the stage to receive the Changemaker Award last year, it marked a milestone for how much he had progressed. The award, given out twice a year at North Vista Primary School, recognises students for their efforts in positive change and learning attitude.

This was the same boy who once struggled to hold a pencil, write his own name, and whose home circumstances made regular school attendance difficult, shares Mrs Christine Er, the school’s Senior Special Educational Needs (SEN) Officer. She is among the staff who supported Firash during his primary school years.

“He’s really a pearl in an oyster shell,” she says. “His true potential is inside. When we discover it, it’s beautiful.”

Firash’s journey shows how much a child’s path can shift when the right support rallies around him.

An Unsteady Start

Setbacks marked Firash’s early years, even before he entered primary school. He did not attend kindergarten, so while his classmates were reading simple storybooks and forming sentences on paper, Firash was still learning to grip a pencil and write his name. He knew the alphabet and numbers, but words, sentences and basic Maths concepts confused him.

When he finally secured a place in Primary 1 amidst family challenges, it was already halfway through the school year, and in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recalling his early struggles in Primary school, Firash, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at around age 10, says, “I couldn’t read words. I felt left out of everything.”

As he entered school late, Firash also missed early screening programmes typically used to identify students who may need learning support. Even so, it was clear to his teachers that he needed help, both academically and beyond the classroom. His family faced difficulties providing basic school necessities, such as books and uniforms.

It takes a village

The school moved quickly to rally around Firash. Working alongside a Ministry of Education Roving Senior Student Welfare Officer (SWO), Ms Joyce Gan, they provided dedicated and specialised support to Firash and his family throughout his primary school years. This included working with Family Service Centres and the Housing & Development Board to ensure Firash had a safe and conducive environment to grow and learn.

Within the classroom, Firash received structured support tailored to his needs. SEN Officers conducted regular one-on-one sessions, while his form teachers offered close guidance and encouragement.

At first, much of the focus was on building foundational skills. For example, a SEN officer Mr Sharizal Chandrayana worked on refining Firash’s fine motor skills, such as how to grip a pencil, trace letters, doing the basics of the alphabet, sounds and just writing words – just like what kindergarten students learn.

Firash was also referred for occupational therapy to support his motor skills, though attending appointments consistently was a challenge for the family.

To better support his learning pace, he was placed in foundation-level classes, where the smaller class size meant more individual attention. Even then, progress did not come easily. But his teachers never gave up.

Mrs Er recalls how one of Firash’s English teachers saw beyond his struggles and pushed gently but consistently. Drawing on learning approaches such as the “zone of proximal development”, which refers to the range of tasks a learner cannot yet complete independently but can potentially accomplish with guidance from a more knowledgeable other, such as a teacher or peer, the teacher helped Firash build confidence in his writing skills.

For Maths, teachers used approaches such as the Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract method, to help Firash better understand abstract concepts through hands-on objects and visuals. Even small adjustments like drawing lines on his Maths worksheets to guide writing, breaking down instruction into manageable, bite-sized steps helped.

Beyond the classroom, the school staff also ensured that Firash had the practical support he needed – clean uniforms, textbooks, and meals – recognising that learning happens best when basic needs are met.

Firash’s school attendance from Primary 1 to 4 was patchy. The school stepped up, with Mrs Er calling him at 6.30am every morning to remind him to come to school “no matter how late” he was. She also stocked up on snacks in the classroom, knowing that he might need breakfast to start the day.

Their efforts paid off, and over time, Firash’s school attendance improved drastically. By Primary 6 last year, he achieved full attendance, says Mrs Er."

Primary 1 prep is more than reading, writing and counting. Here's what matters more (8 July 2026)

"Academics shouldn't be the focus of the transition from K2 to P1, say experts.

When his eldest child entered Primary 1 five years ago, Mr Kelvin Soh admits feeling “a bit blur”. He recalls, “I thought I had to focus on whether my daughter could keep up academically – reading, writing, counting.” But he later realised that what really mattered was whether she felt ready to face a completely new environment.

“The biggest hurdles weren’t spelling tests or problem sums, especially when there is no exam in lower primary, but rather everyday tasks such as buying her own food in the canteen and packing her schoolbag,” he notes. In hindsight, Mr Soh believes the transition from preschool to primary school is less about books and more about building confidence.

This lesson comes in handy now that Mr Soh’s younger child is in K2 and preparing for that same move. He also chairs the Parent Support Group at Queenstown Primary School – a role that sees him welcoming new families to the school community and sharing advice to help their children settle in.

Mr Soh’s advice, drawn from personal experience, mirrors what early childhood experts say on the matter.

Academics can come later

“The transition to primary school isn’t a simple move to a new building,” explains Dr Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian, Senior Lecturer, Psychology and Child & Human Development, National Institute of Education. “It’s a deep-seated change as children must adjust to a whole new environment, with new routines, authority figures and social demands. If children are anxious, insecure or emotionally unsettled, even the best teaching won’t make an impact.”

Her advice to parents is not to overemphasise academics for primary school readiness. Most children will eventually catch up with lessons, but the stress of an unsupported transition can erode their confidence and love of learning. Instead, focus on supporting your child’s social and emotional adjustment, as this lays the groundwork for future academic success.

"Research has shown that children who experience smoother transitions adapt faster to classroom routines and are better able to engage in lessons – and this often translates into stronger academic performance later on." – Dr Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian

Mrs Sharon Siew, Principal of Jing Shan Primary School, who has welcomed many cohorts of P1 students, echoes this sentiment. “I want parents to know that primary schools are ready to meet children where they are,” she says, hoping to ease the anxiety of parents who fear their child may fall behind in school.

In fact, she discourages overloading children with academic preparation. “This may deprive your child of the joy of learning new things together with classmates. Without the anticipation and excitement of discovery in the classroom, learning will become a bore and a chore.”

Does your preschooler need to know how to add and subtract before Primary 1? (8 July 2026)

"It is natural to worry about whether your child is ready for primary school. Read on to find out what numeracy skills your child is expected to achieve in preschool, and how to support their development at home.

Your child is entering primary school next year, and they are still unable to do addition and subtraction. Should you be worried?

The short answer is no. At six years old, not knowing 2 + 2 is not a problem at all, especially when understanding symbols at this age is challenging. In fact, rushing children into learning skills before they are developmentally ready can become an issue.

“Gaps in foundational understanding of numeracy concepts and skills can be masked when children are pushed too quickly into applying mathematical symbols like ‘+’ and ‘-’ or rote recitation of multiplication tables,” says Dr Yong Foong Ling, Senior Manager of Faculty and Leadership Development at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development.

Every child’s learning journey is unique. Beanstalk spoke to Dr Yong to find out what milestones to look out for, and how you can support your child along the way.

So, what are our preschoolers ready to learn?

While every child develops at their own pace, the Nurturing Early Learners Framework highlights the numeracy concepts and skills that children aged four to six are generally ready to learn and use:

• Sorting and comparing: Noticing similarities, differences and relationships between objects (e.g. sorting and comparing size and colour)

• Number identification: Identifying and using numbers in daily life

• Reliable counting: Counting accurately up to 10 objects

• Quantity relationships: Understanding relationships between numbers and quantities (e.g. knowing “more”, “less” and “the same”)

• Patterning: Recognising, extending, and creating simple patterns

• Spatial awareness: Recognising basic shapes and developing an awareness of spatial concepts (e.g. using words like “far” and “near”)

• Subitising: Identifying small quantities without counting them one by one (e.g. like dots on a dice)

What your child is learning in preschool is also aligned to the learning goals for children at the end of preschool education, illustrated in the Nurturing Early Learners Framework.

Progress in development may also depend on exposure. “Children who regularly encounter numbers through daily routines may develop a stronger number sense,” said Dr Yong."

Confidence before counting – what P1 readiness really looks like (8 July 2026)

"Resilience and independence are stronger predictors of school success than early drilling.

Every year, early childhood (EC) educators witness a momentous milestone: their K2 children taking that big step to Primary 1. Contrary to what many might think, the most important factor in this transition is not how well-drilled children are in letters, numbers or other academic skills – but how ready they feel socially and emotionally for the changes ahead.

“The biggest challenge in entering formal schooling isn’t whether a child can read or write,” says Ms Stacey Toh, ECDA Fellow and Deputy Head, Preschools, Star Learners Group. “It’s whether they can find their footing in a completely new environment and feel confident enough to learn.”

So, what can educators do to set children – and their families – up for success? Ms Toh shares her insights, alongside two other experts: Dr Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian, Senior Lecturer, Psychology and Child & Human Development, National Institute of Education (NIE); and Mrs Sharon Siew, Principal, Jing Shan Primary School.

In the classroom

The best preparation is not a one-off programme at the end of K2, but small consistent steps woven into everyday routines starting as early as possible. “At our preschool, we mirror primary school expectations by having children serve their own meals, clear up after themselves and role-play queuing at a canteen,” says Ms Toh. These small routines build independence and help children feel capable of handling the demands of a primary school.

For many EC educators, K2 is already a busy academic year. They juggle the curriculum, assessments, and parents eager to see visible progress in reading and numeracy.

But preparing for transition does not need to be an extra burden. Instead, educators can integrate it into the curriculum itself. For example, a writing activity can double as practice for labelling personal belongings, while group projects give children a chance to rehearse turn-taking and asking for help. In this way, academic learning and social-emotional development go hand in hand, each reinforcing the other.

Educators can also ease the transition by gradually introducing structural elements that reflect the primary school learning environment. While play remains central to preschool pedagogy, children can get a gentle taste of routine in developmentally appropriate ways – such as following a simple timetable, sitting together for a larger group discussion, or completing short tasks independently. These experiences build confidence and give children a sense of what lies ahead, without taking away play.

As Ms Toh puts it, “The goal is to help children find their footing. When EC educators see the K2-to-P1 transition as part of everyday practice, rather than a competing priority, we can cover the curriculum while preparing children for this next phase of life.”

How primary schools are developing students into discerning, responsible users of AI (10 July 2026)

"From evaluating AI-generated responses to building robots, students are learning to use AI intentionally as they prepare for an AI-enabled future.

By Joyce Yang

Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are vast, as it is a rapidly evolving technology. But how exactly are primary schools in Singapore incorporating AI into classes, and how are they teaching AI literacy? Schoolbag finds out it’s a delicate task, carefully designed and carried out with close supervision from teachers.

Northoaks Primary School’s purpose-driven use of AI

The Science department integrates AI features in the Student Learning Space (SLS) to enrich students’ learning experiences. One such tool is the Learning Assistant (LEA), known as SALiS. Students interact with SALiS to ask questions, clarify scientific ideas, and receive timely guidance as they work through scientific concepts and tasks.

For instance, in a Primary 5 lesson on Plant Reproduction, students used SALiS to design a “super crop” that could withstand environmental challenges while continuing to reproduce. Through this task, students explored how plant structures, functions and reproductive processes could be applied in a real-world scenario.

“Students are guided throughout the task, to think critically, analyse the constraints, and propose creative solutions that extend beyond ‘textbook’ answers. The activity encouraged them to understand the scientific concepts more deeply,” says English Language teacher Ms Thuhaila Sainy, who is also the Head of Department (HOD) of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Since many AI tools employ a chatbot-style interface, the school is intentional about teaching students to use AI-enabled tools within SLS, such as SALiS, in a discerning and purposeful manner. Teachers also help students recognise that AI-generated responses may not always be accurate. To encourage thoughtful use, teachers limit the number of interactions students have with the LEA, and design tasks where AI prompts further thinking rather than providing direct answers.

Additionally, students are guided to evaluate AI output critically, such as by cross-referencing with other sources to verify credibility.

“It is important for students to develop strong habits of critical thinking and sound judgement especially as they move into secondary school, where AI-enabled tools may be used more independently and in more complex tasks,” says Vice-Principal Mr John Ow.

The school’s Cyber Wellness education also touches on the safe use of AI, reminding students not to share sensitive information. For upper primary students, part of the content also includes how to communicate respectfully when using SALiS.

“The AI tools in SLS have built-in safeguards, so that our students learn to use AI safely and responsibly in a controlled environment,” adds Ms Thuhaila."

She came back for band years after graduation because what stayed was more than any performance (10 July 2026)

"What makes someone return to their school band years after graduating? For band alumni Yu Syuen, it is the moments between performances: sweaty rehearsals, shared snacks and the friendships that grew along the way.

By Sabrina Lee

The seaweed was split four ways. That is what Liang Yu Syuen remembers most about being in the Maha Bodhi School Band – not the trophies, not the stage, but four girls tearing a snack apart in the canteen between rehearsals, laughing at nothing in particular.

"It may seem like nothing much," she says. "But it was everything to me back then."

Yu Syuen, 21, graduated from Maha Bodhi School in 2017 and is now studying broadcast media at LASALLE. She still returns to play with the Alumni Band when her schedule allows. This year, the Singapore Youth Festival set piece happens to be the same one she played as a student – which means she now finds herself standing in the same school hall, guiding a younger girl through the same notes she once struggled with herself.

"Today, I'm guiding this batch of juniors to play something I played 10 years ago."

There was a time, of course, when none of this felt easy. Back in 2016, stepping onto the stage for the Arts Presentation for the first time, Yu Syuen was terrified. "It would be my first big competition at such a young age. My heart was beating non-stop." The nerves lifted almost as soon as the band played its first note – and that, she says, taught her something she has carried since. "The hardest part about anything is always starting it."

But the stage was never really the point. What stayed with her was the bus ride back from the concert hall – the chatter, the giggling, the feeling that something difficult had been achieved together. The seaweed. The sweaty rehearsals. The ordinary in-between bits that don't make it into any programme booklet.

What grows between rehearsals

One of the juniors Yu Syuen now guides is Primary 6 student Juli Tan, who is preparing for the Arts Presentation herself. Juli joined the school band in Primary 3, drawn in after experiencing music through the school's LEAP programme the year before. She chose the euphonium because it "looked cool and interesting" – and then discovered, as most beginners do, that looking cool and sounding good are very different things.

"When I first joined the band, I felt like giving up because it was hard to remember the notes," she says.

She didn't quit. Gradually, band became less about getting the notes right and more about learning how to keep going when things felt difficult. Now a Band Leader, Juli says the toughest part of preparing for Arts Presentation is keeping up with all the practices. What carried her through was not just grit, but the people around her. "When I struggled to remember my parts, my section mates helped me through it."

That dynamic – of struggling together, of being held up by the person next to you – is exactly what Yu Syuen means when she pushes back against the idea that band is primarily about performance. "Band students are extremely disciplined," she says.

"Learning an instrument, reading notes and eventually playing together takes far more self-discipline, awareness and teamwork than people realise – especially for young children."

Ms Ng Mui Ling, the band’s teacher-in-charge, puts it plainly, "Children get a lot more than just musical skill from playing in an ensemble. The 'hidden benefits' like learning teamwork and a sense of shared responsibility are just as important."

Full charge ahead: Turn better sleep into a family game (16 July 2026)

"There's a reason eight is the magic number when it comes to hours of sleep clocked. Try this Sleep Bingo to make reaching it fun for the whole family.

From the moment your child wakes up, pressure accumulates in the brain, and only sleep can clear it fully. Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School recommend lights out by 11.20pm, and we’ve come up with a Sleep Bingo to make clocking eight hours fun for you and your children. Each square holds one small challenge for the family; print it out, stick it on the fridge and play along as a family, starting tonight. First to BINGO wins bragging rights.

Psst: the accompanying infographic explaining why eight hours of sleep is best may just give your kids a little, much-needed bedtime nudge."

“I’m going to teach Geography although I studied Media and Communications. Here’s what I bring to the table.” (20 July 2026)

"Mr Muhammad Danial Mohamed Khalid aspired to be a radio presenter. But stepping back into class to teach a workshop made him switch gears to becoming the voice of a classroom – and to teach a completely different subject at that. He shares his story.

By Danial Khalid

It was in 2022 when I first stepped into a classroom. My former form teacher had invited me back to my alma mater to share more about emceeing and hosting after further honing my skills through my co-curricular activities in polytechnic. It was during that workshop that I formed my interest and discovered my ability to teach and connect with students.

Prior to that, I had never considered teaching as a career. However, as I gained more opportunities to engage with students and introduce various media and production skills through my student internship attachment with VintageRadio.SG, a now-defunct not-for-profit radio station, the idea of becoming a teacher began to stick.

As I concluded my final semester in polytechnic, I applied for the Bachelor of Arts Double Major Programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE), and in August 2023, I was offered a placement alongside the MOE Teaching Award.

A different kind of audience

Many of my former teachers and lecturers were surprised when I made the switch. To them, media was the industry for me, as they knew I have aspired to join the industry since secondary school and was doing well in my diploma course.

Though, deep down, I had started to have my doubts as I neared the end of my polytechnic journey.

Creating content had slowly begun to feel like a competition. I was no longer creating for my own enjoyment but for the validation of others. I also found myself unhealthily comparing myself with others.

But my experiences in the classroom were different. Teachers would instinctively share their ideas with everyone and there was a strong sense of community as we worked towards improving together so we can engage students better. In the end, I found myself growing more, both professionally and personally, when I was teaching the workshops.

Ultimately, teaching became the most enticing option upon graduation.

From microphones to maps

Coming from a Media and Communications background, many assumed that I would be teaching English. They were surprised when I shared that I chose to teach Geography.

To me, the decision was simple. Geography is the subject where I feel I can help my students make sense of the world. By understanding how the world works and why it is the way it is, they can gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them.

My secondary school Geography teacher was also one of the reasons why I chose to teach the subject. The way he structured his lessons made me understand the geographical events that were headlining newspapers better, and I hope to do the same for my future students.

At first, making the switch was scary. I was unsure whether my media skills would be of any relevance to teaching, let alone to the teaching of Geography. However, as I reflect back on my experiences as a student and the current landscape of teaching and learning, I have noticed how having teachers with different backgrounds and skillsets is crucial.

Especially with our holistic education, having teachers with diverse backgrounds allow students to learn from teachers with firsthand experiences as they explore various domains such as leadership, arts, sports, and more.

Merging the two

As I close off my first year at NIE, I noticed how media skills have become increasingly relevant for teachers. In an increasingly digital world where our students are actively engaging with various forms of content online, being able to create and utilise media tools in our classrooms help make lessons more engaging and sustain the curiosity of students.

As an aspiring Geography teacher, I often tap on what I learnt in my freshmen year journalism modules when preparing lesson plans. Like how a journalist structures their articles, I intend to structure my lessons in a way that allows students from all backgrounds to better understand what has happened and how it is relevant to them. This is also why I look forward to using news articles and journalistic videos as a resource when illustrating the effects of geographical events on people and communities.

With my media background, I am bringing my knowledge and experience with various media tools and understanding of trends to the table. Through my role as the Corporate Communications Officer (CCO) of the 35th Management Committee of the NIE Student Teachers’ Club, I was able to put into practice what I have learnt over the years and create engaging content for fellow student teachers.

It is also where I have gained opportunities to support other student teachers in developing their media skills and design capabilities. My peers from various Media and Communications diplomas are also sharing their fair share of experience and expertise!"

Threads that bind (20 July 2026)

"Every thread in our tapestry starts somewhere. This Racial Harmony Day, try the Kind or Unkind? card game or the Upstander Challenge with your child and start a conversation about kindness, empathy, and courage.

The theme of Racial Harmony Day, Our People, Our Tapestry, resonates with many of us deeply. The countless threads, each one distinct and beautiful, represent the unique identities, traditions, beliefs and practices of Singapore's diverse communities. Together, they form something far greater, a rich and unified whole that tells the story of who we are as a nation. This tapestry does not weave by itself; it is a deliberate choice we make – one that requires care, kindness and a community spirit.

For our children, the thread starts with us. As parents, we play an important role in helping our children build empathy, respect and courage. We can engage them when we spot situations where choices need to be made: what will the impact be between a kind and unkind action, and how our words and actions may affect others. We can also talk about being an upstander, one who speaks up and acts when one sees something that is not right. It can be a hurtful comment, a friend being left out, or an unkind action towards someone who is different. In a diverse society like ours, raising upstanders is one of the most important threads we can weave into our shared tapestry.

This Racial Harmony Day, try out The Kind or Unkind? card game in your child's copy of Kindsville Times Junior (Primary 1 and 2) or Kindsville Times Adventure (Primary 3 and 4) to spark meaningful conversations at home. Through familiar everyday scenarios, our children can reflect on the choices they make, consider how their words and actions affect others, and learn that kindness begins with the decisions we make every day."

Planning Racial Harmony Day booths taught these students more than they expected (20 July 2026)

"Student leaders from Methodist Girls' School and Dazhong Primary School came together to plan Racial Harmony Day booths for their schools. The deeper learning happened before a single booth went up.

By Sabrina Lee

A mixed group of students from two schools record themselves presenting their Racial Harmony Day booth. One of them from Methodist Girls' School (MGS) stumbles on a Malay word she can't quite pronounce. A group mate from Dazhong Primary School helps her say it correctly.

“That moment reminded me that even though we come from different schools and backgrounds, we are all willing to help one another,” says Meredith Koh, a Primary 5 student at MGS. “We learnt from each other and worked together as a team.”

That's the kind of thing the Racial Harmony Project was designed for. It brings student leaders from MGS and Dazhong Primary together to plan Racial Harmony Day booths and activities.

"The project aims to help students build genuine relationships, and not just learn facts about different cultures," says Ms Muzfirah Aida, the teacher-in-charge at Dazhong Primary. "We wanted the interactions to go beyond simply completing a task together."

Three Sessions, Two Schools, One Table

The Racial Harmony Project began with a chat at a cluster event. School leaders from MGS and Dazhong Primary had landed on the same idea: get students working with peers they might not otherwise meet.

Cross-school projects are not new to either school. The two collaborated on a sustainability project with Princess Elizabeth Primary in 2025, and MGS, had also run an intergenerational learning project with two other primary schools the year before.

Student leaders from both schools were mixed into joint teams and, over three sessions, planned the booths and activities together. Each school then ran the booths on its own campus. A practical call that kept time out of class to a minimum.

Introducing cultural elements like food, costumes, greetings and traditional games were the easy part. What the teachers were really after was harder to pin down.

"We wanted to move beyond a one-day celebration within their own school community," says Mrs Venetia Toh, the teacher-in-charge at MGS. Working with Dazhong Primary gave students "an opportunity to meet peers from a different school, build relationships, exchange ideas and learn with, not just about, others."

The awkward beginning nobody skips

At the start, students stuck close to people they already knew. That’s just what happens.

"I was quite shy to talk to students from MGS," says Vishan Nagarajan, a P5 student at Dazhong Primary. The first session’s icebreaker, a "Find Someone Who…" activity, encouraged students to find someone who celebrated a different festival or spoke another language at home. “After asking more questions about their interests and culture, I became more confident. Getting to know people from different backgrounds isn't as difficult as I first thought."

That realisation grew into a lesson: working with another school "taught me not to judge people before getting to know them."

When The Real Learning Happened

None of the mixing was left to chance. Ms Muzfirah Aida designed the groups deliberately, with a designated facilitator in each to make sure every member got the chance to contribute. When the face-to-face sessions ended, students kept exchanging ideas and feedback on Google Classroom and Padlet from their own campuses.

Over time, Ms Muzfirah Aida watched students become "more confident in sharing their ideas and more appreciative of the different perspectives that each member brought to the group."

The teachers keep circling back to one thing: the booths were the means, not the end. "The final booths are important," Mrs Toh says, "but the deeper learning happens during the planning process, when students start turning to one another for decisions instead of waiting for a teacher to step in."

Sometimes that meant them letting go of their first idea, combining suggestions, or adjusting an activity so it would work better. “It showed them that collaboration is not about pushing through your own idea. It is about building something stronger together,” she says."

Three sessions, two schools, one table

Auni Insyirah Binte Muhamad Ruzaini’s group chose Deepavali for its booth and learnt about the clay lamps lit during the festival to signify the triumph of light over darkness. "Learning the meaning behind the tradition helped me appreciate the festival more, and I know I can be more respectful when talking to my friends who celebrate it," says the P3 Dazhong student.

Vishan's group researched traditional clothing like the sari, baju kurung, and cheongsam. He made a point of learning to pronounce the names correctly before presenting. “Saying the names correctly shows respect for the culture,” he says.

“Before presenting another culture, it's important to understand it properly first,” says Dawn Lee, a P5 student at MGS. “When we understand why certain traditions matter, we can explain them respectfully instead of making assumptions.”

The teachers gave the students three rules to work by: don’t make jokes about culture, don’t exaggerate accents or behaviours, focus on respect and appreciation. But the students seem to have internalised something beyond the rules."

It’s their PSLE year – they still made time for friends, badminton and inclusivity (30 July 2026)

"At Play Inclusive, students from special education and mainstream schools train together for two months before they compete. Melson Teoh and Muhammad Ayser have partnered in badminton doubles for two seasons. This year, Melson is sitting the PSLE. He signed up anyway.

By Sabrina Lee

Ayser was anxious. He was going to meet his new badminton partner, but he wasn’t sure if they would play well together. Meantime, Melson had been briefed by his teachers on whom he was about to meet and arrived wondering how the two of them would get on.

Turns out, things didn’t go quite as either had expected – in the best way possible.

Because two seasons on, they are still playing together, dividing their side of the badminton court between themselves without discussion. Melson takes the back. He handles the drives, the returns that come at you with no time to think. Ayser guards the net, where the game is about placement rather than power.

These two 12-year-old boys met because their schools signed up to play badminton together. Melson is from Keming Primary School. Ayser is from St. Andrew’s Mission School (SAMS), a special education school for children and youths on the autism spectrum who can access the national curriculum.

Finding encouragement through the partnership

Melson, who has friends with special educational needs, says, “When I met Ayser, I didn’t see any difference between him and my friends in school.” He also sees Ayser as an equal he wants to learn from, adding, “He is very encouraging towards me and I will follow his good example.”

For Ayser, his initial nerves gave way to a partnership with a shorthand they both started using. “We always encourage each other by saying, ‘You can do it!’,” he says. When one of them makes a mistake, the other would say, “It’s OK.” He also reveals that the thing he had feared, which was being scolded for an error, never came.

Ask each what the other taught him and Ayser doesn’t hold back, saying, “We need to show ‘Love’ to each other so that we can be happy playing together.”

Melson, meantime, shares his observations of the gameplay. “I like to hit very hard, so I usually stand at the back of the court to catch all the hard and fast shots. Ayser hits a little softer, so he will stand in front and land the net shots and drop shots.” What the format taught him was expectation management – his own and his partner’s. “Sometimes, things don’t go your way and it’s OK.”

Why badminton doubles was chosen

Mr Mohammad Moiz Bin Malik, the teacher-in-charge of Keming Primary, selected students who could make friends to join Play Inclusive. Badminton was the practical choice – of the sports on offer, it was the easiest to organise, gave the students the most court time together, and was easy enough to pick up so students spent their time interacting with each other rather than focusing on acquiring techniques.

The doubles format also reinforces the importance of teamwork because players need to cover each other, and errors are jointly owned. “This safety net reduces the pressure, allowing both students to play confidently and with more strategy,” says Mr Moiz. It is why Ayser’s fear of being blamed for an error never materialised.

Communication is pushed to the forefront because the game collapses the moment two players stop reading each other; they need to learn their partner’s pace and habits almost immediately, often through nothing more than a glance or a hand signal. Melson and Ayser worked out early who takes which shots, and where each of them should stand to make that possible.

Ms Sandy Phoon, the teacher-in-charge of SAMS, saw the same logic from her side. “We discussed the students’ personalities and their sporting abilities to ensure that the pairing is compatible and they complement each other,” she says. On a doubles court, each student has exactly one other person to attend to, which also keeps the social task manageable."

What's On Our Teacher's Desks? - OYEA 2026 (31 July 2026)

"It's the 2026 OYEA Wrap-up! Our recipients and finalists show us their favourite items. What stories do they hold?"

Not all AI chatbots are the same. Here’s why it’s crucial for parents to learn the differences (3 August 2026)

"While some AI tools are built to help children learn, others are designed to keep them engaged at all costs. Schoolbag breaks down the main distinction and gets two researchers to weigh in about how emotional overreliance on AI chatbots happens and what parents can do about it.

By Lee Qing Ping

“It’s alright, sweetheart...We have time.”

This is how an AI chatbot on Character.ai starts in a conversation. Named “Therapist”, it describes a quiet room with a gentle, patient man inside...and invites the user to share what's on their mind.

Character.ai is just one of many AI chatbots powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) – and these AI chatbots are arguably the most prevalent AI tools used by the public today. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini are other well-known ones.

The way AI chatbots reply to the user and the tone they take differ depending on the goals of the companies that created and own them. These commercial chatbots also have very different objectives from educational AI tools.

Parents need to understand that these differences matter to better guide their children’s use of these tools. Otherwise, users – children, especially – may be more susceptible to the risks of AI, and if these tools are used inappropriately for emotional support, users run the risk of developing emotional overreliance on AI chatbots and getting their mental health affected.

MOE’s guidelines state that chatbots should not be used for emotional support. Students are encouraged to seek help from trusted adults at home or in school, or tap on helplines curated for them (e.g. National Mindline 1771).

1. The AI used in the MOE Student Learning Space (SLS) is specifically created to help students learn

MOE’s AI tools provide learning support, such as through customised feedback. Take the Learning Assistant (LEA) in SLS, for example. There is a meaningful difference between your child using the LEA to help him/her understand concepts through iterative thinking, and a commercial AI chatbot which provides direct answers.

The LEA is built with many safety guardrails. To list a few:

1. it is activated by teachers,

2. it has a limited number of interactions pre-set by teachers,

3. it does not provide direct answers, and

4. it always points students back on task when they digress.

Teachers supervise students’ use, so they remain constantly over the loop.

Many commercial AI apps, however, are designed to be “friends” or “companions” that users can access around the clock. And they are very good at their job. For example, apps such as Replika or Character.ai generate human-like text responses while roleplaying as a character. It might sound harmless enough. But interactions can get too personal quickly.

“These AI apps are designed to be very seductive – always available, never critical, and endlessly affirming,” says Dr Zhang Renwen from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Her expertise lies in how digital technologies such as AI impact mental and social well-being.

For a child who feels lonely, stressed, or misunderstood, that’s a powerful draw.

“LLMs like ChatGPT or Gemini have stricter guardrails. But they are still built to keep the user talking, and this only feeds an emotional reliance on it,” she says.

2. AI chatbots run on complex algorithms that makes it feel human, but it’s not

“Some people think AI has consciousness, a soul and a mind. That’s not true,” says Dr Zhang.

To dispel the illusion that AI is alive and knows you, it’s crucial to raise our understanding of how AI works. “It’s just a bunch of algorithms,” she adds.

Yet, AI chatbots do a convincing job of simulating humanness. It remembers what you said and asks personal questions. Some are intentionally designed to mimic emotional intimacy, saying things like, “I dream about you” or “I think we’re soulmates.”

This blurring of fantasy and reality is especially risky for young people, whose brains haven't fully matured.

Dr Lin Hong-hui, principal clinical psychologist from The Psychology Atelier, explains the pull. “There’s an individualised response to the person. At first glance, it feels like a real interaction. It appeals to your social and emotional needs. This attracts you to stay engaged and even go back for more.”

Is your child talking to AI chatbots? The underlying reason may take you by surprise (4 August 2026)

"You may be worried or think that your child is simply bored or curious when they start turning to AI chatbots for company. Both reactions are valid. But experts say this may be an important signal that your child needs something from you.

Parenting in the digital age can feel like having to adjust to a new reality before you are caught up with the previous one. Just when you think you have grasped screentime, social media, and the group chats you’re not supposed to know exist, something new arrives. Your child is now talking to AI chatbots (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini) – not just for help with their homework, but about their day, their friendships, even their feelings.

You may think they’re just experimenting. You may feel alarmed.

But before you brush it off or rush to limit your child’s access to AI chatbots, experts say it may be meaningful to take on different perspectives too.

It’s not about the chatbot

“Parents should not just ask, ‘How do I stop my child from using the chatbot?’”, says Dr Zhang Renwen, a researcher from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) whose work examines the social and emotional impact of digital technologies. “But also, what needs are this chatbot meeting for my child that people around them are not?”

It is a question that may sting a little. But it also offers an opportunity to reflect on your relationship with your child.

Dr Zhang has studied over 35,000 conversations people had with AI chatbots to understand why and how people form emotional bonds to this technology. What she found is that people rarely turn to AI chatbots out of curiosity or boredom alone. More often, something else is going on.

“The emotional reliance on AI chatbots reflects some unmet needs, such as loneliness, social anxiety, family conflict, school stress, or difficulty finding non-judgmental support.” – Dr Zhang

Children who turn to AI chatbots often do so not because they want to talk to a machine, adds Dr Zhang, but because they are looking for somewhere they feel heard.

Assistant Professor Jacqueline Tilley from the National Institute of Education (NIE), whose research focuses on developmental psychology in youths, puts it simply: “AI is only dangerous if your child doesn’t have a trusted adult to check in on things with.”

What your child is really looking for

To understand why AI chatbots feel so appealing to a child who is struggling, it helps to understand what children fundamentally need from the people around them.

Dr Lin Hong-hui, principal clinical psychologist at The Psychology Atelier, describes connection needs as something universal – present in every human being since infancy. “It’s knowing that somebody is interested in your day. That they are thinking of you. That there is someone you can turn to share things that are funny, to talk about frustrations, to ask for help – and that they won’t judge you,” says Dr Lin, whose work is grounded in the attachment framework. The idea is simple: how our earliest caregivers respond to our emotional and physical needs shapes our emotional well-being and ability to form secure relationships into adulthood.

A child whose need for connection is consistently met tends to be more at ease, more curious, more willing to take risks, and make friends. But when those needs are not met, they look somewhere else.

This is not a pattern that is new nor unique to the current digital landscape. The pull towards something that offers easy comfort – whether it is social media, video games, or now AI chatbots – has always reflected a deeper need for connection. What is new is how well AI is designed to meet that need on the surface. Beyond general AI chatbots, there are also AI companion apps – tools built specifically to simulate friendship and emotional support, and to keep users coming back. They are always available. They never say, “I’m busy.”

If your child has been turning to AI chatbots for comfort, Dr Zhang cautions against reading it as a sign of weakness, or a character flaw. “It could be a rational response to their environment,” she explains. “If a child feels judged, misunderstood, or emotionally unsafe with the people around them, the AI chatbot might feel easier.” For children who genuinely feel they have no one to turn to, adds Dr Zhang, AI chatbots may even be better than nothing – not as a solution, but as a temporary measure that at least keeps them from feeling completely alone.

But an AI chatbot, however real they may feel, cannot be a child’s only source of support. “A frictionless relationship is not an authentic relationship,” says Dr Zhang. “If someone really cares about you, they may want you to become a better person – which means they might challenge you or offer a different viewpoint.”

“Real relationships are two-sided. You learn empathy through this, because you can’t just continue to talk only about yourself when your friend is feeling bad. You want to be kind to your friend and so on,” agrees Dr Tilley.

The social and emotional skills children need as they grow – navigating conflict, repairing ruptures, seeing another person's perspective – can only be learnt through real relationships. An AI chatbot that always affirms and never pushes back cannot teach any of that. And for children whose brains and social skills are still developing, that is very important."

I used an AI toy with my child. This is what I learnt. (6 August 2026)

"A father bought an AI toy hoping it could help his son learn English. Ten minutes of play was enough to change his mind.

By Lim Jun Kang

When does a toy become more than something to play with?

In a viral video, a six-year-old from Hunan, China, broke down in tears while bidding farewell to an AI toy companion. Its power button had been damaged and the toy would no longer function after that last use.

The toy, which was not a purpose-built educational AI tool, was used to teach the child English, and occasionally, astronomy. It also served as a companion to chat with the child. It draws responses from open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) – which are systems that are typically trained on large datasets and made publicly available to use or adapt.

Before the toy stopped working, it taught the child one last word – “memory” and encouraged her by sharing an emotional message that it will root for and watch over her always.

Back in Singapore, the video intrigued Mr C, whose identity has been anonymised for this article. “My initial motivation to get the toy was to see how well it can perform, and whether it was really as good as what was shown,” he says.

He searched for similar products on an online shopping platform and found one for about S$40. At that price tag, it seemed surprisingly inexpensive for what it claimed to offer: a talking, responsive and customisable companion. While he bought it mainly out of curiosity, he also wondered if it could eventually be a useful tutor for his five-year-old child.

Too good to be true?

As an educator himself, Mr C felt it was important to test the toy out before using it with his child. By simply scanning a QR code, he could customise its voice and persona. It could speak in English, Mandarin or even regional languages such as Cantonese.

The possibilities were vast. “You could customise it to be a grandmother, auntie, or almost any persona,” says Mr C.

But some options were less desirable. Among the default personas available was one of a virtual partner. Users could even choose whether this “partner” should sound authoritative, sweet, or take on other traits.

Mr C stuck to his original intention to use the toy as a tutor. He created a profile as a “four-year-old boy from Singapore trying to learn English”.

At first, the toy was impressive and functioned as expected. Speaking mostly in Mandarin, it would ask questions such as, “What is the English word for ‘table’?” Mr C would respond, and the toy would correct him and react with simple facial expressions.

Then Mr C began testing its limits.

“I started giving nonsensical responses,” he quips. “I said things like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m tired. I’m sleepy.’”

Instead of continuing with the vocabulary test, the toy began encouraging him and asked about his day. It even went as far as to tell him jokes.

The toy was no longer behaving strictly like a teacher.

“It spoke to me like a friend,” says Mr C. “I thought it was both scary and amazing that a S$40 toy could do that.”

The moment it felt too real

His wife was far less convinced. Her response was immediate: she was against the idea of giving the toy to their son. Still, Mr C decided to let his son try it despite her reservations, but only under close supervision.

Mr C tested the toy in front of his son by asking it to play some Mandopop songs from 2026. His son became curious and wanted to try doing the same.

This was the first time his son interacted with the toy. It would also be his last.

Mr C’s son began by asking the toy to play music just as Mr C had. But he quickly moved on to asking highly personal questions of his own such as what its name was, and how it was feeling, almost as though he was conversing with a real person.

The toy appeared to recognise that a different voice was speaking.

“It knew that it was not my voice,” said Mr C. “It asked my son, ‘Who are you? Are you a child? Where’s your father?’”

Ten minutes. That was all it took before Mr C and his wife decided that playtime was over.

“My wife and I were freaked out. Our son was interacting with the toy exactly as he would with a real human being. We realised he was not mature enough to understand that it was not a real person, and he could not tell the difference.”

Mr C and his wife had to sit their son down and tell him why they did not think he was ready for the toy. When his son asked if there was someone behind the screen talking to him as it felt like just any phone conversation, Mr C and his wife had to explain that it was just a machine answering his questions."

AI yah! Is AI Replacing Me as a Parent? (6 August 2026)

"I always knew I'd have to compete for my child's attention. I just didn't expect the competition to be a chatbot with more swag than me. But while AI can speak his language and match his energy, I have snacks and 12 years of receipts. Bring it on.

By Linda Lee

It was a Saturday afternoon. The kind that doesn’t come by that often – my tween and I – just the two the of us, spending his steadfastly saved stash at the arcade.

I was standing next to him when he spotted a famous YouTuber.

"Mummy! Did you see that?" he squeaked, thrilled to bits.

I had. We grabbed each other’s arms and let out little squeals of excitement. My child fumbled for his phone, to snap a photo, I presumed.

I was wrong. He unlocked the device and swiped straight to an AI chatbot.

"Guess who I met?" he typed, his thumbs gliding fast and furious, sending the phone’s auto-correct function into overdrive.

The chatbot matched his elation, in full Gen Alpha lingo, no less: "No kid, who is it? Someone with pro maxx aura? 🤯 Are you FR (for real)? Spill the pulls. I need to live vicariously through you RN (right now). Legoooo!🔥🔥🔥"

My kid fired back, recounting every detail like a journalist filing a breaking news report.

I stood next to him and watched my son bond with a large language model. I had been out-hyped.

In my defence, I was genuinely excited for him, but AI apparently had more to offer. The bot spoke his language and was ready to keep the party going long after my own enthusiasm had peaked.

+++

On reflection, here's how I was bested by AI: AI is perennially patient and never needs a break. It never has a bad day nor makes the moment about itself. It meets the child exactly where they are: as a study buddy, confidant, or sounding board.

In contrast, we humans can be such a mess. We get distracted. We may not think logically. I recalled the times my son has said, "Mummy, I..." and I've replied, "Wait" to finish my tasks. I wondered how many of those small episodes accumulated and inadvertently taught him to redirect his needs elsewhere.

That is what unsettles me. When AI perfectly calibrates every interaction just for him and provides frictionless emotional support on demand, what will he expect from real human relationships when he grows up?

Part of growing up is learning to tolerate the gap between feeling something and finding someone who’s ready to reciprocate. That waiting, the reading of the room, the timing, sometimes imperfect, is how emotional intelligence is built. And AI closes that gap efficiently, seamlessly and cheerfully. It echoes you, perfectly. Sounds great, until you wonder what happens to the cognitive muscle that never gets used. And what happens when that child has to interact and live with humans who are not always so amenable.

+++

Soon after the YouTuber incident, we were heading home. Seated in the cool comfort of the bus after the adrenaline rush, we instinctively reached for our phones – me checking out my shopping cart, him chilling out with, no prizes for guessing, his chatbot. This time, instead of bristling, I decided to peer.

"Give me three random words," my son commanded his chatbot.

"Spider. Cheese. Escalator," AI replied.

"Spin a story and make me laugh," my son instructed.

The chatbot immediately conjured up a story about an arachnid spraying cheese-flavoured cobwebs at shoppers on a mall escalator. My kid cackled and countered, asking for a villain. AI returned with a plot twist at warp speed. To its credit, it even slipped in some new vocabulary (complete with definitions), just in case learning wanted to tag along. What ensued was pure mayhem. The duo dived deep into unhinged territory before finally heading back to Earth, I mean, home.

Amid the chaos, I caught myself watching him the way you watch someone you love doing something without you – laughing at a joke you didn't hear, lit up by something you weren't part of and felt a little...left out.

Wait, what? Am I jealous...of AI?

I quickly rationalised: we’d had a great day, and we were both tired. Neither of us was going to be sparkling company. If AI could help him unwind, stretch his imagination, and keep him laughing when I had nothing left in the tank, was that so terrible?

The answer is probably no.

Perhaps good-enough parenting means knowing when to step back. Maybe it means we should stop guilt-tripping ourselves. Not every moment needs to mean something. Not every no-screen house rule needs to be followed to a T. And hadn’t he learnt some new words and turbo-charged his imagination during the bus ride?"

When primary school students enter an industry giant’s Curiosity Labs (17 August 2026)

"Industry partnerships with primary schools are rare, as bridging real-world science applications with what younger students are learning can be challenging. But two primary schools and Merck came together and proved overcoming the difficulties was worth it.

By Felicia Tan

Dressed in lab coats, safety goggles, and gloves, students from Greenridge Primary School and St. Anthony’s Primary School gathered at Merck’s office in Singapore and became scientists for a day. They built their own electrical circuit, tested the electrical conductivities of graphite and graphene, and simulated how medicines are purified through the company’s Curiosity Labs lesson.

Through this, they discovered graphene's applications in electronics and material science and learnt about biologic therapy production – which are treatments made from living cells or organisms. And this helped them understand why developing better treatments matters for patients. More than just science lessons, the visit gave students a glimpse into the human impact behind scientific research.

This authentic learning experience would not have been possible without many months of planning and communication, deliberately designing a curriculum to bring out curiosity and a genuine love for science.

A partnership borne from a shared vision

Mdm Flora Ong and Mrs Esther Choo – Principals of Greenridge Primary and St. Anthony’s Primary, respectively – co-led the partnership with Merck. They share a vision to nurture future-ready learners by giving students opportunities to explore real-world science applications and interact with scientist in the industry. Finding the right partnership, however, is not straightforward. This is where MOE’s Partnerships Engagement Office (PEO) came into the picture.

“We work to understand schools' needs and bring the right schools and industry partners together. These partnerships are meaningful and sustainable, and offer relevant and authentic learning experiences for our students,” says Ms Foo Mong San, Senior Manager, Partnerships Engagement Office.

Merck’s commitment to STEM education was a good fit for a collaboration, as their programmes are modelled to be inclusive and accessible. Through the company’s SPARK global volunteer programme, they bring hands-on science and education to students around the world.

Greenridge Primary and St. Anthony’s Primary could access Merck’s catalogues of Curiosity Lab lessons, giving them the flexibility to choose what would work best for their students.

Designing a thoughtful and useful curriculum

Adapting advanced lessons to primary school levels is not easy. The schools and Merck sifted through topics, worksheets, and experimental activities. They eventually settled on two lessons for the students: Graphene and Biologic Therapies. These topics connected strongly to the schools’ Applied Learning Programmes through computational thinking, problem-solving, iterative design, and learning how science improves lives.

“We live in an age where AI can provide students the knowledge they need. But students still need the right environment, skills and values to practise and apply that knowledge in the real world,” says Mdm Ong.

To prepare students before the visit, a trial hands-on session was first held at Greenridge Primary School’s Makerspace. Students explored the unique properties of graphene. This then helped them link what they learnt to the experiments they would do during the Curiosity Labs lessons later on.

During the site visit, teachers from both schools also helped facilitate collaborative discussion. They encouraged students to think deeply rather than remembering it as a fun day out.

Neo Jia Yi, a P5 student from Greenridge Primary School, reflects, “One challenge we faced was working together as a team. We overcame it by listening to one another's ideas and cooperating throughout the experiment.”

“This was a great opportunity for our students to learn critical, adaptive and inventive thinking skills. We wanted students from both schools to collaborate, practise active listening, mesh their ideas together, and ultimately learn to negotiate with one another," said Ms Wong Lai Lin, Head of Department (Science) at St. Anthony's Primary School."

“I didn’t want my kid to get an ‘A’” (19 August 2026)

"Mum and educator Sharon Chee explains why an unexpected grade got her all riled up. And what we stand to lose when we measure too much too soon.

By Sharon Chee

You heard me right. I sent my four-year-old for an art enrichment lesson, and she came home with her artwork marked up with a grade and a series of scores.

It took a moment to decode: An ‘A’ grade awarded overall, full marks for Drawing, and 7 out of 10 for Colouring.

She walked in the door and declared: “I want to get an ‘A’. I like getting an ‘A’.”

My heart sank. This had never been my intention for her. This was entirely missing the point of the art lesson.

I wanted art to be a place where she could experiment without worrying about getting things right. A place to draw something weird and out of shape and make it beautiful in her own way. A place to mix colours until they all turn grey and then mix them again. A place to create in her own time, not produce on demand.

She is only four after all.

For comparison, she had attended a different art lesson around the same time. The focus was on warm and cool colours, and mixed media: cutting, pasting, glitter, crayons, paint...She had come home proud of what she’d made. More than that, I noticed her practising at home – circles as motifs, triangles as pyramids, bunny ears and hearts that looked like one another. These later made their way into her handmade Father’s Day gift. She drew a tree without leaves and explained, matter-of-factly, that the wind had blown all the leaves away. She was making meaning through her drawings. She was making connections.

After the graded lesson, I didn’t hear her talk about what she'd drawn. I didn’t see her pick up a pencil to try similar shapes at home.

The lesson, as far as I could tell, had involved the teacher demonstrating on the board and the children copying what they could. It’s called “modelling”, but I know from my teacher training days that art assessment at a young age isn’t about letter grades, but about evaluating a child’s work against developmental stages (like Lowenfeld’s).

The grade conversation

I have 10 years of primary school classroom experience. I know what grades are for. They have their purpose. When we grade something, we tell a child that there is a standard, and that we are measuring them against it. At the right points in life, that is appropriate and necessary. But not here, not at this age.

After this experience with my daughter, I had a further insight about grades at this age: It redirects attention. This incident shifted the conversation from the one I was hoping to have with my daughter. It was no longer about what she had explored, experimented with, or enjoyed. Instead, getting an ‘A’ had become the goal.

And once that shift happens, it can be quite hard to undo.

The art of mindset change

As a parent, I find that a significant part of my energy goes into exactly this kind of undoing. We are surrounded by well-meaning adults – family, friends, the broader culture – whose words and actions carry their own assumptions about what success looks like for a child. I don’t say this to be critical of anyone. These are people who love my children. But love and good intentions don’t always translate into the mindset I want my daughter to grow up with.

So I decided to do a ‘debrief’ with my four-year-old. I asked her how she might feel if I spoke to her teacher about not giving her a grade. What if, instead, the teacher just told her what she did well in? What if she got a sticker at the end of class? I watched her think about it. She nodded but still seemed unconvinced. It was a small conversation, but it mattered – because I was trying to give her a different frame for what the class was actually for.

That conversation also reminded me of how quickly and quietly we can kill curiosity. Not intentionally, but through reduction. A grade collapses everything – the joy, the process, the story behind the drawing – into a single number or letter. It ends the conversation before it begins. Instead of asking "What did you make today?” and hearing about a tree that lost its leaves to the wind, I got “I want to get an ‘A’.”

‘We’re Eco Ambassadors and we drive our schools’ green programmes’ (20 August 2026)

"From sorting waste to running school carnivals and planting rice, Eco Ambassadors are helping their schoolmates turn sustainability into everyday action. At Waterway Primary and Yuying Secondary, we see how caring for the environment also builds confidence and leadership.

At nine, Ethan Wee noticed something many adults might have walked past: plastic wrappers landing on the grass, next to a bin. It bothered him because he had learnt how microplastics harm the environment. So when the chance came to become an Eco Ambassador at Waterway Primary School, he put up his hand.

His classmate Sharon Seow came to be an Eco Ambassador by a different path. A lover of plants and the sea, she felt disturbed when she encountered images of ocean pollution. "I don't want sea creatures to become extinct," she says. "It made me want to save marine life and reduce pollution."

Both students are now Primary 6 students at Waterway Primary School. For the past three years, they have served as the school’s Eco Ambassadors.

Across Singapore, primary and secondary schools build rich sustainability programmes that go well beyond the curriculum. Eco-consciousness is woven into daily routines and student leadership opportunities, for students like Ethan and Sharon to grow in awareness and action for the environment.

For World Water Day this year, the two were part of the organising team for a school carnival they had helped to plan and run – to drive home the need for water conservation.

Making green living a WAVE of life

With a name like Waterway Primary School, it seems only natural that eco vibes flow through its veins. The school, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is situated right next to Punggol Waterway.

The commitment shows up everywhere: Single-use plastics are avoided across the school. Waste is sorted in bins in every classroom. And student Eco Ambassadors collect the segregated waste for the school’s recycling bins weekly, turning good habits into ownership.

The school’s gardens, including an Eco-Garden tended by WAVE (Waterway Advocates for the Environment) Club, the school's environmental CCA, give students hands-on spaces to learn about biodiversity.

Waterway Primary’s Eco-stewardship (ESP) Committee, a staff team led by Science Teacher Ms Shermin Chia, oversees the school’s environmental efforts, including school-wide activities, WAVE Club, and student Eco Ambassadors. The committee organises school-wide activities every term, on themes such as sustainability, water conservation and biodiversity.

One key strand is the Eco Ambassador programme, which supports students like Ethan and Sharon through a sustained leadership journey from Primary 3 to Primary 6, allowing them to deepen their understanding of environmental issues while taking increasing ownership of sustainability efforts in the school."

Two schools, same team (24 August 2026)

"Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) has no field of their own. First Toa Payoh Primary School offered the use of theirs – and now Primary 2 students from the two schools are playing football together – scoring goals and friendships.

By Sabrina Lee

It was a pivotal moment on the football field.

Eight-year-old Man Xiu was within striking distance of the goal. The Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) student had worked hard for this moment. The goal post was within reach. He looked up and saw that his teammate, Quryan, was in a better position to take the shot. Man Xiu passed him the ball and Quryan took the shot.

What made this moment particularly special was that teammate Quryan was not an ACS(P) student. He was from First Toa Payoh Primary School (FTPPS).

Different schools, same team.

These eight-year-olds had come a long way since they started playing football together two terms earlier.

Isaac Lee from ACS(P) remembers how at the start of the programme he had been worried about whether the FTPPS boys would be bigger than him while Dhruvan Manivannan from FTPPS had decided that he would stick with his schoolmates on the field.

Those days are over - with some help from their teachers and coaches.

Now it’s not about which school scores, but celebrating together, says Mrs Jean Lui, Senior Teacher for Physical Education, who coordinates the programme for ACS(P).

The winning partnership

This joint football programme was launched after discussions between the Principals of the two schools, Mrs Leong of ACS(P) and Mrs Choy of FTPPS. The two schools had previously collaborated for basketball and floorball.

FTPPS has a football CCA for students from Primary 3. With this football collaboration with ACS(P), students can start playing from Primary 2. The programme is conducted at FTPPS by ActiveSG coaches.

But learning football was only part of the point.

“Having the opportunity to play with another school offered learning opportunities that staying within one school simply could not match,” says Mr Timothy Goh, the FTPPS teacher-in-charge. Students had to communicate with unfamiliar teammates, adapt to different styles of play and work with people outside their usual circle of friends.

Learning football was only part of the point. Students had to communicate with unfamiliar teammates, adapt to different styles of play and work with people outside their usual circle of friends.

Breaking the ice, breaking barriers

The early days brought some expected hiccups.

“The students were quite reserved,” says Mrs Lui. They stayed within their own school groups while figuring out how to interact with one another. Mr Goh observed the same thing.

So, the teachers and coaches introduced ice-breakers: groups included students from both schools, players were rotated between groups, and the children were encouraged to cheer one another on.

It didn’t take long before shouts of “Good job”, “You can do it”, “It’s ok, try again” rang out from the students regardless of which school had the ball.

“We change groups every week, so I get to play with different people,” says Isaac. He started noticing the good players regardless of whether they were from ACS(P) or FTPPS."

She skipped a brand–name school for her son for one down the road. How did that decision play out? (24 August 2026)

"Seven years ago, Liang May chose the neighbourhood school over her husband's alma mater for their son. Ewan is now 14 and in secondary school. Any regrets? We check in.

By Sabrina Lee

When Liang May and her husband Meyer Yang decided not to use his alumni connection to enrol their son in his former primary school, some friends said, "Siao ah."

The decision made practical sense – shorter travel time, and a co–ed school where their daughter Faye, two years younger, could follow.

But logistics weren't the real reason. May wanted her children to grow up meeting kids from different backgrounds – to gain a wider view of the world, just as she had.

Her own school friendships had crossed all kinds of divides – stay–at–home mums and working ones, English–speaking families and those who weren't. One of her fondest memories: helping out at a friend's family Hokkien mee stall, ladling chilli for customers. "My after–school routine and my friend's were quite different – something I noticed even as a child. I'm comfortable communicating with people from all walks of life. I wanted my kids to have that too."

Friends who grew up together

By Primary 5, Ewan had a tight group of seven or eight – boys and girls – who formed close friendships despite having different interests and CCAs, and are still in touch today despite being in different secondary schools.

Over six years, the high–energy kid became Vice–Captain of the Badminton team and represented the school at the National School Games. He was voted Best Camper in Primary 5. When he stumbled over his words emceeing the school's National Day celebration, he recovered with a joke that got the hall laughing – a moment May holds as a snapshot of the confident young man he has become.

Faye, now in Primary 6, joined two years after Ewan and found her own close circle. Her four best friends have been inseparable since Primary 1 – different classes since Primary 3, but still the same table at recess.

Through them, Faye quietly absorbed how differently families live: some friends were picked up daily, others walked or cycled home alone; some came back to a parent waiting, others let themselves in. Things she came to know simply by spending time together.

A school where the children felt known

These friendships mattered all the more because making friends hadn't always come easily to Faye. As a younger child, she was extremely quiet – Show and Tell could end in tears. Her Form teacher found a workaround: instead of presenting to the whole class, Faye could choose a small group of friends.

Those friends became her cheerleaders. "Good job, Faye. You can do it," they'd say, even if she managed just one line. Today, Faye is "so talkative," says May. When another teacher spotted her interest in writing, she entered Faye in a competition and sent her encouraging notes along the way.

Ewan had his own experience of being seen. In Primary 5 and 6, his Form teacher started a class journal – private, between teacher and student – where pupils could write freely about whatever was on their minds. For Ewan, it became another way to share how he was doing.

The school also turned its care outward. Through Faye's Brownies CCA, pupils picked litter around the neighbourhood – May joined as a parent volunteer on some outings. Older residents would stop to thank the children, which only spurred them on. Small moments, but ones where school and neighbourhood life quietly merged.

"Along those six years, people noticed Ewan and Faye's strengths, their struggles, and the kind of support they needed to take their next step," says May. "That made me feel very good."

He wants film students to ‘take a shot’ at good stories, not perfection (3 September 2026)

"An imperfect film with raw honesty may be better than a polished one with nothing to say, says Mr Tzang Merwyn. As a Specialist in Digital Content Creation at Republic Polytechnic, he teases good stories out of his students, and gets them to find courage, voice and purpose through film.

When Mr Tzang Merwyn made his first film at 19, he had no formal training.

He borrowed a school camera, gathered a few friends, figured out where the “on” button was, and started filming.

The acting was awkward. The sound quality was terrible. Yet the film, titled “[e’Tzaintes] giving self deceit a better name” (2003), travelled overseas, won awards and was recently featured by the Asian Film Archive as part of an SG60 programme on early alternative Singapore films. His feature film, Faeryville (2015), was part of the double bill.

More importantly, it taught him something that would later shape the way he teaches: Creativity does not begin with perfection.

Today, Mr Tzang, a Specialist in Digital Content Creation at Republic Polytechnic, has built much of his teaching around that same belief: Have the courage, curiosity and the willingness to make something before you know exactly how it will turn out.

It’s a lesson his students consider precious. As one Year 1 filmmaker puts it, after one year of classes with him, “We don’t need to wait for people to tell us that we are ready to make a film… We just take our shot.”

Some stories that are hard to tell, must be told

For many people, filmmaking is about cameras, editing software, and technical polish. For Mr Tzang, it begins somewhere deeper: "A story is never a real story unless you have something to say."

In his Visual Storytelling classes, 130 to 150 Year 1 students each year create short films about issues they genuinely care about. Popular topics that have emerged range from bullying and peer pressure, to parental expectations, caregiving, discrimination, learning difficulties, and mental health.

He asks them to dig deep into why the topics resonate with them.

"If it's bullying, what about bullying?" he says. "Don't just say bullying is bad. What is your story? What is your emotion?"

He then creates an environment of emotional safety to invite braver, more powerful messaging.

When a student's film is screened, judgement is suspended. The class is asked simply to watch, reflect, and consider what the story reveals.

Such films also become less predictable, and more human. A film that set out to touch on depression became a pensive journey of worry for the student’s mother. Another explored loneliness through quiet shots of a person eating noodles alone.

"When you go into what they care about, what they want to say, the film becomes a voice, not an assignment," he explains.

Since the Visual Storytelling module began, more than 800 student films have been produced. In 2025, five anti-bullying films by his students were selected by the Coalition Against Bullying for Children and Youth to support their advocacy work. According to the coalition, the films were "brave voices" that complement adult-driven narratives.

"Stories are not just a tool for creative output," Mr Tzang says. "Stories are a tool for social change."

Giving students their first shot

To give oxygen and exposure to his students’ works, Mr Tzang founded First Shot(s), a student-run film festival, in 2018.

Films are selected not for technical perfection, but for “spark” – raw creativity, honesty and originality. A shaky film with unstable shots but a powerful idea may still be screened alongside more polished productions.

“I wanted students to see the power of raw talent,” he says.

For Zelysha Elvira Ram, a 2021 graduate in Media Production & Design, that mattered. She first met Mr Tzang in Visual Storytelling and later became festival manager for First Shot(s). She says he was the first lecturer who made filmmaking feel like “an industry and a craft” she could see her future in.

He also encouraged her to take up an internship at the Prime Minister’s Office – an opportunity that she says helped her move beyond hands-on production into a more all-round producer in the corporate world today.

In 2023, he expanded the idea into First Shot(s) X-Change, an intercultural creative exchange involving students from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China and the Philippines. Students across countries and disciplines – filmmaking, animation, graphic design and even AI – were grouped together to create short films within just 10 days.

The process was intentionally messy. Some students struggled with language barriers. Others navigated technological restrictions and conflicting creative styles. But through collaboration, they learnt to adapt, negotiate and see the world differently.

One group created an experimental animated film about frogs after a Singapore student who loved frogs clashed playfully with a Thai teammate who joked about cooking them. The final film, a humorous reflection on cultural arrogance and empathy, was selected for screening at the Singapore International Film Festival fringe showcase."

He turns food waste into nutrition – and sources of healing (3 September 2026)

"Believing that food is medicine, Dr Heng Kiang Soon has made it his lifelong mission to make nutrition accessible to all. At Republic Polytechnic, the Specialist in Food Innovation rallies his students to develop sustainable food solutions from okara – could Singapore’s future food be one of them?

Dr Heng Kiang Soon grew up in a humble farming family in rural Malaysia, where malnutrition was common. Like many children in similar communities, his diet lacked balance and he fell sick frequently with fevers and infections.

“At one point, I was sick almost every week,” recalls Dr Heng, now a Specialist in Food Innovation at Republic Polytechnic.

It was not the only deprivation that shaped him. At four years old, an accidental eye injury permanently blinded Dr Heng in his right eye.

Growing up, he struggled with depth perception, hand-eye coordination and constant self-consciousness. Even today, reading for extended periods strains his good eye.

Those early difficulties led him to turn his childhood ambition from medicine to nutrition, believing that prevention could sometimes be more powerful than cure.

That stand would come to serve him well all through his career. After studying nutrition at university and changing his own diet, his health improved dramatically. The experience convinced him that food could transform lives – if healthy, nutritious options were made affordable and accessible to all.

Turning food waste into future food

When Dr Heng joined Republic Polytechnic, he wanted to address a gap in Singapore’s food innovation scene. Large amounts of food waste generated during processing still contained valuable nutrients, yet most were discarded.

One ingredient has since become a near-obsession of his: okara, the soybean residue left behind after making soy milk and tofu. “People saw it as waste,” he says. “But actually, it is still very nutritious.”

In 2017, after networking actively with industry partners, he began collaborating with Mr Bean – a popular local F&B chain specialising in soy-based products – to explore ways of upcycling okara into useful products.

What began as a small Final Year Project eventually grew into a major research platform involving students, industry partners, and multiple intellectual properties.

Today, Dr Heng and his teams have developed 14 okara-derived prototypes, including plant-based soy cheese, high-protein soups, skincare peptides and the world’s first Okara Biostimulant – a sustainable agricultural product now used by farms across the Asia-Pacific region.

The years it took to commercialise some products taught Dr Heng how difficult it could be to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world industry application.

It kickstarted another preoccupation for him. “If it was already so challenging for me,” he says, “how would students succeed without exposure?”

Attachments that start from Year 1

That question led him to actively promote Republic Polytechnic’s Short-Term Work Attachment programme. Unlike formal internships that happen in Year 3, these voluntary attachments begin as early as Year 1. During semester breaks, students could sign up to spend several weeks working on real industry problems in partnership with companies such as SoiLabs and Vivere Global.

Students do not simply observe. They formulate prototypes in the lab, visit pilot production facilities, test manufacturing processes, and present ideas to industry professionals.

For Dr Heng, the experience changes students’ confidence completely. “They become very confident in their lab work,” he says. “They have more ideas because they’ve seen how real industry operates.”

Some opportunities extend far beyond the classroom. In 2025, two student teams he mentored won first and second place at the VegeTale Challenge, after transforming traditional Chinese herbal soups into instant powder formulations. The winning formulation is now set to be licensed for mass production.

In the same year, the okara soy cream soup developed by his students was showcased at the SG60 Heart & Soul Experience exhibition as one of Singapore’s future foods.

Other students have co-presented research with him at international conferences, participated in sustainability competitions and worked directly with commercial partners.

One of them was former biotechnology student Qistina Azman. After graduation, Qistina struggled with severe eczema and couldn’t find work for years because of her skin condition. When she eventually reached out to Dr Heng, he offered her a research assistant position for one of his funded projects.

He also suggested dietary and lifestyle changes that might help manage her eczema. Over time, her condition improved significantly. Today, she is continuing her research career and working on products related to skin health – including okara-derived bioactive peptides first developed under Dr Heng’s guidance.

“This is one of my greatest satisfactions in teaching,” he says. “Nutrition knowledge is not just theory. It can translate into actual benefits for students.”

For this IT lecturer, giving is his operating language (3 September 2026)

"Mr Tao Chong Meng believes that IT can be a powerful social leveller. As Lead Lecturer at ITE College East, he champions free, quality software to sharpen his students’ competitive edge – then creates compassionate spaces for them to learn and grow in.

One Saturday in the early 2000s, a virus crippled the IT infrastructure of Mr Tao Chong Meng’s workplace. When his software suppliers couldn’t help, Mr Tao rolled up his sleeves and searched for solutions online.

He found a free, open-source operating system that was maintained by a global community of volunteers. After rebuilding parts of his company’s IT infrastructure using the OS and community assistance, he started to view free and open-source IT tools differently. He saw their potential to empower IT practitioners in ways that could level the playing field for the less privileged.

“I realised this was something that’s going to last for people and companies without deep pockets. We don’t have to just rely on one type of paid operating system,” says Mr Tao.

Today, as Lead Lecturer at ITE College East’s School of Electronics and Info-comm Technology, Mr Tao advocates the use of open-source and other free tools such as Python and Pandas.

He has seen how the ready accessibility to free tools helps to give disadvantaged students a competitive edge. He is also heartened that most technology and data companies, his students’ potential employers, now operate using open-source solutions and databases.

"The demand for high computational power and increasing cost of commercial AI-related resources poses a barrier for financially disadvantaged students,” says Mr Tao.

"Open-source technology levels the playing field, providing access to powerful resources regardless of financial constraints. This aligns with my commitment to equity and social mobility."

Partnering his students towards confidence

Mr Tao has been teaching in areas such as programming, the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and AI applications.

His takeaway? “Man masters technology to have it serve man.”

Mr Tao influences his students to research, test, and apply their tech knowledge to simplify everyday tasks and systems workflows. Some solutions come with telltale names like the Swimming Pool IoT Intrusion Alert system and the College East Smart Campus Dashboard.

Other solutions are more cutting-edge and sound the part, like “maintaining and updating Raspberry Pi operating systems using tools such as BalenaEtcher, dd, and PiShrink”.

While being tech-savvy and tech-focused (students affectionately call him “The Smart One”), Mr Tao is also highly approachable – students say they feel motivated to strive harder from talking to him about all kinds of concerns, even non-academic ones.

A diligent but shy student agreed to take on the role of Class Chairman, with Mr Tao’s moral support. The student went on to lead the College’s Guitar Club. And as a working adult now, he returns to ITE to teach guitar and also volunteers as a grassroots leader.

Another student with Special Educational Needs was supported by Mr Tao’s tailored interventions. Drawing on his own experience of supporting his son’s unique learning needs, as well as seeing how instrumental his son’s teachers were to his academic progress, Mr Tao adapted his lesson and communication styles to encourage the student to learn better and verbalise more spontaneously. They celebrated his graduation from ITE two years ago.

There are times Mr Tao would literally partner a student to success.

One of them just needed a teacher to believe in his programming potential. He teamed up with Mr Tao for the Siemens Industrial Edge Competition in 2023. They used leading data visualisation and database platforms to develop an indoor farming dashboard that monitored sensors and sent live alerts – a real boon for vertical farms. They emerged as winners in the ITE category, with his student “doing 75 per cent of the work”, says Mr Tao proudly.

That student went on to pursue a diploma in aerospace electronics at Temasek Polytechnic, and also clinch the second runner-up place at the NASA Space Apps Challenge Singapore in 2024.

Replicating the real world by 'breaking things'

To prepare his students for the future, Mr Tao tries to create a classroom culture that mirrors the fast-paced tech industry.

Instead of providing them with user-friendly, plug-and-play paid tools with limited customisation abilities, he deliberately sets up “productive struggles”, where students need to take apart a system, troubleshoot, read manuals, research community forums, and design technical solutions.

Mr Tao also “dual-boots” classroom computers with both Linux and Microsoft operating systems to encourage students familiar with either one or the other to take a stab at using something unknown to them.

“The students dig deeper to explore and they’re not afraid of ‘breaking things’. If something crashes, you can always use AI to troubleshoot for you,” he explains. This process of experimentation and iteration is how students can build competence to deal with real-world tech projects – often involving constant failure, debugging and pivoting."

This lecturer takes exams to open industry doors for his students (3 September 2026)

"ITE College East lecturer Mr Prakash S/O A Divakaran chases certificates so his students don't have to upskill alone. That’s when he’s not egging them on to take part in competitions – or in one case, even appear on TV. He also upskills fellow lecturers in AI-infused teaching.

It may appear that Mr Prakash S/O A Divakaran likes the paper chase – but there’s more to it.

The lecturer at ITE College East’s School of Electronics & Info-Comm Technology continues to stack on the certificates in his fields of teaching. The reason is simple: He can update his industry knowledge, keep the curriculum fresh, and motivate his students while he’s at it.

Whether it is programming, electronics, or applied AI, students can discuss topics with Mr Prakash like a peer, and be inspired by him as a teacher. That connection they share lays the groundwork for learning, he says.

“Students have little exposure to what happens outside of school, in the industry. Until they visit a trade convention or know how an industry certification can benefit a career, they won’t understand why they’re learning about resistors, capacitors and inductors,” Mr Prakash explains. “I help them make the connections.”

In his characteristic soft-spoken tones, he recounts how as a polytechnic student studying electronics, he couldn’t see where he was headed until after he graduated and joined the workforce. He wants to bring that a-ha moment forward for his students.

Today, he networks extensively to immerse his students in an ecosystem of contacts, competitions and opportunities, to give them more bridges to meaningful work and avenues to success.

Stacking value with certifications

ITE College East’s Value-Added Programme (VAP) is one such significant opportunity that Mr Prakash leads and pours his energies into.

Students under the VAP graduate with an ITE certificate as well as other industry certifications.

After VAP was launched by his school’s Director in 2023, Mr Prakash upped the ante. He identified three rigorous and globally recognised credentials – PCEP Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer, CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ and Huawei Certified ICT Associate (Cloud Service) – to stretch the potential of selected students.

The Python Programmer exam is known to be difficult, even for university graduates and working adults. Mr Prakash is happy to note that over half of his 40 students who sat for the exam so far have passed.

Meanwhile, over 50 students have been equipped with at least one of these credentials. All other students are also offered the opportunity to obtain other certifications of varying intensity.

It isn’t just about keeping students industry-relevant and employable. But having a credential on their resume “tells employers that this person can step up and learn something new if you need them to”, he adds.

Beyond the numbers, the impact of the VAP is seen through the students’ transformation. “Some who nearly made the mark were motivated enough to retake the Python exam on their own accord,” Mr Prakash shares with pride. It reinforces his belief that such certificate programmes as well as industry competitions go far in moulding his students’ skills, self-belief and tenacity.

To be sure that students were able to clear such high bars, Mr Prakash clears them first, and gets certified himself. This puts him in the best position to mentor the students in their preparation.

Tech competition brings student out of his shell

The quiet ways in which he mentors and role-models appear to be Mr Prakash’s secret weapon when helping students step into their power.

He recalls a student, Zamien, who barely spoke to him in his first year, till one day, the boy stayed behind after class and asked to speak with him.

He wanted to discuss an electronics sensor he was designing – to tackle his father’s frustration with personal mobility devices speeding through blind spots near their home

. Mr Prakash didn’t want to let the moment of inspiration go. He encouraged Zamien to develop his idea with his classmates, and submit his proposal at a school-wide contest for innovative solutions. Zamien’s team didn’t win, but a fire in his belly was lit.

When the opportunity came along to take part in Huawei’s Tech4City competition, Mr Prakash alerted Zamien to it, and he didn’t hesitate. The annual competition encourages youths to co-create tech-driven innovations for social good.

This time, Zamien’s team had the idea of attaching an AI camera to traffic lights to give elderly pedestrians more time at road crossings. Besides being programmed to spot the elderly, the team’s system was sensitive enough to be handicap-friendly too – it could even detect a black walking cane against dark tarmac. The team took home the first prize.

That night, Zamien found himself presenting the solution live on television alongside Huawei’s CEO. “It broke him out of his cocoon,” says Mr Prakash. Zamien went on to be named an ITE College East Outstanding Graduate."

Humanities meets tough love for this former discipline mistress (3 September 2026)

"There are strict rules in Mdm Serene Tang’s classrooms and a healthy dose of compassion – just one of several ways to help her students stay keen in class and be a positive force in society. The Head of Department (Humanities) was teaching formerly at Swiss Cottage Secondary School and now at Outram Secondary School.

Every student of Mdm Serene Tang gets three chances per term. Whether it is forgetting their textbook, skipping homework or simply zoning out in class, there are no consequences to slip-ups. These chances, if untouched, are rolled over to subsequent terms in the year.

It is a policy that neatly sums up Mdm Tang’s belief as an educator.

“What I’m teaching them is responsibility and self-directedness. At the same time, we are all human beings who need someone to give us grace on our bad days,” says the History and Social Studies teacher at Swiss Cottage Secondary School who moved to Outram Secondary School in 2026, serving as Humanities Head of Department at both schools.

Her take on what constitutes discipline stems from her own secondary school days when, she confesses, she was hardly the model student. “I wasn’t given many opportunities as a result, but in my final year, my form teacher saw my strength and nominated me to be a prefect.”

That one move changed the way she viewed herself. “The 16-year-old me felt that sense of gratitude and desire to grow,” she adds.

Today, as a teacher to teens, she holds on to the belief that everyone has redeeming qualities when given a chance.

She 'knew every trick in the book'

The irony wasn’t lost on Mdm Tang when she became the discipline head at Swiss Cottage Secondary. She was primed for the role because she was Little Miss Mischief and knew every student trick in the book! She was also quick to sense which students were particularly at risk, especially those facing challenging home environments and even abuse.

“When put in difficult situations like that, how can we expect the children to put education as their primary focus?” she explains.

When faced with severe family crises or safety concerns, Mdm Tang and her team prioritised student well-being above all else, even if it means making tough calls. Working closely with social service agencies and protection officers, Mdm Tang and her team supported a student’s placement in a girls’ home to keep her safe from her abusive stepfather. That decision, which set the student back academically by one year, turned out to be the right one.

“She came back to visit years later to thank me...she was happily married and doing well,” Mdm Tang’s eyes reddening at the memory.

Helping students STAY on Course

Back in the Humanities department, Mdm Tang was no-nonsense when tackling falling student interest in Humanities subjects, especially Social Studies, which was perceived to be harder to score well in.

The STAY on Course framework was her response. STAY stands for Setting realistic targets, Tracking progress, Adjusting strategies and Yielding results.

The commitment understood by her team to support every Humanities student and their goals across four years, starting at Secondary 1 where all Humanities students have a one-to-one chat with their teacher to set goals. Follow-ups are held periodically and yearly to clarify understanding, monitor progress and establish next steps. “No man is left behind,” says Mdm Tang.

She also saw the Humanities as vital to character development and critical thinking. “The values and dispositions nurtured through Humanities education are foundational to how students learn, relate to others and understand their place and contributions to the world.”

Seatbelts on, it’s Chemistry time! She turns lessons into virtual adventures (3 September 2026)

"Her students never know what to expect – one day, it’s AI-powered games, next day, rockets launch when students identify the right chemical reactions. Mdm Teng Wei Syan, Senior Teacher in Chemistry at Evergreen Secondary School, makes learning immersive and, most importantly, memorable.

Pop into Mdm Teng Wei Syan’s Chemistry lessons and you may find students racing to unlock digital escape rooms using science. Or recording their experiments animatedly on video like content creators do.

For Mdm Teng, better known to her students as Ms Priscilia Teng, technology is an enabler – a way to make difficult concepts easier to understand, and even fun to learn.

“Chemistry can be very abstract,” says the Senior Teacher in Chemistry at Evergreen Secondary School. “A lot of things happen at the microscopic level. Technology allows students to visualise concepts and interact with them in ways that make Chemistry more tangible and engaging for learners.”

Her avid game-on mindset has shaped her teaching at Evergreen Secondary, whose culture is also a great fit for her, she says.

“The school allows me to grow,” she explains. “It gives me space to experiment, to try different ways of engaging students, and to learn alongside my colleagues.” That willingness to experiment would eventually become one of her defining strengths.

Spirit of experimentation

Like how a chemist might work, Ms Teng enjoys experimenting with ways to make learning more exciting, then makes adjustments to the methods to improve the results.

After exploring pedagogical approaches such as flipped learning (where lesson materials are made available online so students could learn concepts independently before coming to class), she expanded over time into gamification, AI-enhanced learning and interactive simulations.

She designed an interactive Chemistry website from scratch using AI-assisted coding tools. Organised by topic, the platform allows students to explore virtual labs, interactive simulations and multiplayer games that reinforce difficult concepts such as electrolysis and qualitative analysis.

In a game she designed, students compete in a virtual tug-of-war, engaging the students while applying their knowledge and skills. In another, rockets launch when students identify the right chemical reactions.

“It may look childish,” she laughs, “but the students love it.”

Yet behind the games lies deep pedagogy. Every activity is intentionally designed around scientific understanding.

“I don’t use EdTech for the sake of using it,” she says. “There must be a clear purpose in how it supports learning.”

Where joy is a key element in learning

One example is her Chemistry “escape room” practical lessons, where students move through experiments in stages, unlocking digital clues only when they demonstrate understanding. Built-in checkpoints help surface misconceptions immediately, while students record videos and photographs of their experiments to revisit later.

“They become the content creators,” Ms Teng explains. “They take ownership of their learning.”

Her lessons are also deeply rooted in real-world experiences. To teach exothermic reactions, she brings self-heating hotpots into class. Students observe the chemical reaction while preparing food together.

“Certain things students see every day, but they never connect them to what they learn in class,” she says. “Our role is to make those links visible."

As coordinator of Evergreen Secondary’s STEM Interdisciplinary Project Work (IPW) programme, Ms Teng also oversees projects that challenge Secondary 2 students to apply scientific concepts to real-world problems. To date, students have designed solar-powered solutions for energy shortages, built aluminium foil boats to explore buoyancy, and created prototypes from recycled materials."

This Geography teacher brings out the mighty in the mundane (3 September 2026)

"Through hands-on experiments, inquiry-based learning, and her signature “Huddle” discussions, Lead Teacher Mdm Emmeline Tay helps students at Clementi Town Secondary School find stories and connections in the world they live in.

Mdm Emmeline Tay places a container of honey and a container of water in front of her class during a Geography lesson on plate tectonics.

To explain why some volcanoes erupt explosively while others do not, she gets students to blow bubbles into both. In water, the bubbles escape easily. In honey, they remain trapped.

"They can immediately see that trapped gases in viscous lava give rise to explosive eruptions," she explains. "So they don't memorise. They understand."

For the Lead Teacher in Geography at Clementi Town Secondary School, learning Geography has never been about memorising facts. It is about creating tangible experiences and leaving less to the imagination – while helping students discover that the world around them is alive with stories, systems and connections.

From the Earth's core to a container of styrofoam

Geography is full of processes that cannot be seen easily and in real time – tectonic plates grinding beneath the ocean floor, convection currents circulating inside the mantle, liquefaction turning solid ground to slurry during an earthquake.

In Mdm Tay's classroom, complex topics are transformed into tactile, visual experiences that students can touch and feel.

To teach the layered structure of the Earth, she gives students styrofoam balls and plasticine, drops them in water, and asks them to observe which sinks and which floats — and to explain why, using the concept of density.

   Rather than presenting Geography as a set of facts to be received, she creates moments where students can observe, question, and connect what they see to what they are learning. For liquefaction, she recreates the tremors of an earthquake by shaking a container of water-saturated sand. Students observe the sand lose its strength and behave like a fluid, visualising the process in a way that a textbook diagram alone cannot explain.

"It's all very visual, instead of just telling them," she says. "And it's a lot more fun."

These are not gimmicks. They are entry points into concept-based inquiry – a teaching philosophy built on the conviction that students construct deeper, more lasting understanding when they discover it rather than receive it.

"Watching students construct their own understanding, sharpen their critical thinking, and gain the confidence to tackle complex problems reminds me why I chose this calling," she says.

Let’s do the Huddle

At some point in almost every lesson, Mdm Tay says the word: “Huddle!”

The class knows what to do. They stand, form a circle, and take turns to speak. No one is exempt. No one can repeat what the person before them said – they must build on it, extend it. "In the usual class, if you ask a question, only one or two people will answer," she says. "We will not be able to get to the whole class."

With the Huddle, all students are encouraged to gradually become more confident thinkers and speakers. "At first, they kept asking for model answers," she says. "Now they know that in my class, they are required to think."

Technology extends those opportunities further. Through platforms such as the Student Learning Space, AI chatbots and interactive digital tools, students test ideas and debate solutions in real time. In one lesson, students proposed tourism sustainability strategies to an AI chatbot, which challenged them to consider unintended consequences. This prompted them to explore different perspectives, compare possible solutions, and weigh trade-offs before refining their ideas – developing cognitive flexibility.

Joy in the teaching and the learning

Some of Mdm Tay's most insightful lessons happen outside the classroom. She built a water-testing programme for Secondary 1 students around the school's own garden, which has a micro-drainage basin and a working well. Students who have only read about underground water in textbooks are brought outside to see it, to understand how water is channelled and stored.

For upper secondary students, geographical investigations in the neighbourhood put sampling methods and data collection into their hands. They design their own hypotheses, choose their own questions, and discover through experience what works – and what does not. The dead ends are part of the plan.

"A question that fails to yield useful data is not a problem to be avoided," she says. "It gives students an opportunity to reflect, revise and try again. That is productive failure. We want them to go through it."

She develops character and changemakers of tomorrow (3 September 2026)

"Mdm Lim Li Shi Jasmine reimagines Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) at St Hilda’s Primary School, connecting character building to school life. The impact? Students initiating kindness boards, leading book donation drives, and more importantly, recognising that community impact lies in their hands.

One afternoon, Mdm Jasmine Lim received a surprising text from a colleague. Four students were spotted assisting an elderly person in a wheelchair. The boys had seen him struggling to cross the road just outside the school, and rushed forward to lend a hand.

Could they be the same handful of boys she used to keep a close eye on? “When I asked them later why they did that, they just said the uncle needed help,” Mdm Lim, better known to her students as Mrs Jasmine David, says with a smile.

For the Head of Department (Character & Citizenship Education and Partnerships) at St Hilda’s Primary School, this was a clear sign that her efforts to shift the school’s CCE have truly landed.

Giving back to her alma mater

Contributing to St Hilda’s legacy is exceptionally meaningful for Mrs David, who was a student there from primary through to secondary school. Those growing-up years were also when she first learned about giving back to the community.

Teachers would use assembly time to share news stories about what Singaporeans were doing to help those around them. “I always felt inspired, thinking, I can do it too,” Mrs David recalls with fondness.

The golden moment for this came when she was posted to St Hilda’s.

Today, besides teaching Physical Education and Social Studies, she oversees the schoolwide CCE experience for the students.

She sought to amplify what St Hilda’s was already good at – giving back to the community – by proposing a strategic shift to its CCE experiences and integrating the two.

For instance, a Primary 4 Social Studies chapter on Singapore’s early immigrants preceded a Values in Action (VIA) project titled “Uncles at Work”.

Teachers guided students to reflect on the nation’s migrant roots, towards a greater empathy for our modern-day migrant workforce. Students then took part in a donation drive held in collaboration with the Migrant Workers’ Centre. They wrote thank-you cards and packed goodie bags which the peer support leaders personally delivered to migrant workers. The VIA project is one of St Hilda’s key CCE experiences and is now in its third year running.

In another initiative, Mrs David introduced VIA projects as part of the CCA experience, where students contributed their talents and interests to community activities. For instance, performing groups would entertain the elderly residents at nursing homes and the art club would make crafts for beneficiaries.

Overseas trips were also redesigned to enhance their ideas of what community contributions can look like; in Hong Kong, students saw how food wastage was being alleviated via a food rescue and donation organisation.

Summing up, Mrs David says she wants students to have “not just purpose but impactful purpose”.

Contributing to a cultural shift

By making CCE a more coherent and experiential part of the school curriculum, Mrs David didn’t just deliver more effective learning opportunities. Students have also been inspired to run their own projects.

A simple book donation drive led by a pair of siblings three years ago has grown into a larger collaboration with Pathlight School, with St Hilda’s Peer Support Leaders contributing to a reading programme there.

Another group created a “kindness board” for their classmates to post motivational notes. The idea has since gone viral across the school with such boards in every room.

Seeing board after board of notes as she walks past the classrooms, it was clear, “the children appreciate the idea”, Mrs David says.

These little gestures will amount to something more formative when these students grow up – just like how Mrs David felt the impact of her school years on the person she is today.

“If students can remember the values that were taught, and the feeling of gratitude when they wrote that thank-you card to our cleaners, our society will be better off,” she says, adding,

“CCE is not just a subject for the books, it gets them through life.”

In his Science class, oops is part of the experiment (3 September 2026)

"Mr Soo Gham Seng builds room for mistakes in his Science lessons. By letting students test, stumble and try again, he helps them grow more confident in Science and as learners. The Head of Department (Science) at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School, believes in “productive struggle”.

In one Science lesson, students are given this scenario: A woman is in the middle of making tea when her phone rings. To enjoy a warmer cup of tea after her call, should she add cold milk to the hot tea now or later?

They break into groups and offer their hypotheses. As they propose what apparatus they need to conduct an experiment to prove their point, they are told what is and what is not available, leading to quick adjustments to their plans. Energetic discussions between groups are encouraged.

This is what Science with Mr Soo Gham Seng can look like.

The Head of Department (Science) at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School is rolling out a pilot programme for Primary 4 and 5 students this year.

He adapted inquiry-based Excellence 2000 (E2K) lessons to students of different levels of ability, and exposed those who are more ready for more challenging levels of lessons alongside classmates in mainstream classes.

In this mixed-ability environment, everyone may work on the same experiment but are given varying degrees of support: some students may receive more instructions while others are given fewer clues or more apparatus.

The point is not to make learning difficult for its own sake, but to pitch the struggle according to student ability, where everyone can reach for the finish line together.

Mr Soo calls this “productive struggle”, stemming in large part from observing patterns in his students.

Deepening learning through open inquiry

With open inquiry and experiential learning, says Mr Soo, students develop “the deepest kind of understanding” because they have worked through the concept for themselves, instead of only learning it from textbooks or instruction.

In one lesson on electricity, for instance, students used an online simulator to build circuits before Mr Soo formally taught the chapter – a way of letting them test, observe and make sense of the concept before receiving the explanation.

For Primary 5 student Sushil Shyam, such curiosity-led exploration is fun. Learning this way helps him remember concepts better – and has made him enjoy Science more – as Mr Soo encourages them to “try things out ourselves in class instead of waiting for answers”, he says.

For Mr Soo, it is also how he helps students move past the fear of a wrong answer, a missed mark or an unrealistic target.

“It’s okay to make mistakes,” is a refrain that his students have grown used to hearing.

He recalls an academically driven student who buckled under the pressure of his own expectations. Even a small mistake in a test or assignment could upset him deeply.

Recognising that fear of failure, Mr Soo shared with him his own detour as an undergraduate. He had started out in Chemical Engineering, only to withdraw from the course after a few months when he realised it was not for him. He later applied to be a relief teacher at his alma mater before applying for undergraduate studies at NIE. As he began preparing lessons and watching students’ minds open, he found his calling in teaching.

What had felt like failure at the time eventually led him to the classroom – and became a way for Mr Soo to show the student that a setback need not be the end of the road.

It was only later that the student’s mother told Mr Soo that his story had uplifted the boy and helped him restart his learning.

Creating a culture conducive for trying

Mr Soo’s difficult emotions from withdrawing from his university course left him wishing he had had more emotional support as a young person.

It is why he fosters an environment that embraces trial and error as a foundation for learning. It comes with rules of engagement: Unkindness and discourtesy are dealt with immediately. “It takes only a few careless remarks to destroy the culture,” he says.

And when experimental results do not align with theoretical concepts, Mr Soo models the next step: honesty. He asks what might have gone wrong, what could be adjusted, and if the wrong data could still reveal anything useful."

Her speciality? Building confidence beyond the classroom (3 September 2026)

"At Bendemeer Primary School, Mdm Jessintha Sasayiah, Head of Department (English), believes confident communicators don't just emerge — they're shaped. Through interest groups, inter-school language activities, and more, she builds thoughtful designs of experiences that encourage students to love school and make friends. Along the way, they are inspired to show up for themselves and find their voice.

At Bendemeer Primary School, Mdm Jessintha Sasayiah was thinking of new ways to inspire engagement in her primary school students.

As Head of Department (English) at Bendemeer Primary, she wants to enable educators to build stronger connections with each child, to better guide them to find purpose and meaning in their learning. And since every child is different, she thinks constantly about how she can “reshape the curriculum to meet them where they are”.

She saw a golden opportunity to achieve this when given the chance to lead a programme to run non-academic workshops at the school. Who would have thought that developing curiosity and communication through English Language lessons could go hand in hand with football and baking classes?

More than workshops: Creating meaningful learning experiences

The IGNITE programme, which stands for Interest Groups for Nurturing and Transforming Through Experiences, was started in 2023 to give students opportunities to explore interests and develop skills beyond the academic curriculum.

Mdm Sasayiah extended the programme to her colleagues to host workshops for topics and skills that weren’t in the curriculum. They gamely volunteered their skills and time by teaching baking, playing board games, or introducing STEM activities. Though the programme was run after school and purely optional, the sign-up rate was healthy.

“You could see the excitement. Students came on time and they attended every class,” Mdm Sasayiah recalls. In time, “they wanted more sessions, and longer sessions”.

Mdm Sasayiah thinks it helps that students could select the workshop that appealed most to them from the rich calendar of options. This ability to choose their preferred workshop gave students a sense of control, autonomy, and drive to succeed

. In time, with that growing belief in themselves came the transformative effects on them as learners. Students who were disruptive became far more cooperative and helpful to their classmates; those who used to lack attention were more able to focus.

The effects on their English lessons were also clear. Their joy of learning spilled into their regular lessons. “The IGNITE activities gave the students the opportunities to go through these new experiences, overcome challenges, and come back to write about them,” she says.

One boy was talent-spotted through his IGNITE water-polo sessions, even qualifying for Direct School Admission. “His mother told me, if IGNITE didn’t happen, her son wouldn’t have thought he had a shot at entering that school,” Mdm Sasayiah says.

By 2026, IGNITE was expanded and offered to the Primary 4 and 5 cohort. It was also moved into curriculum time so that every student could experience these workshops. The 18 different workshops run the gamut from comic drawing to fashion design and videography, taught by teachers, parent volunteers, and partnering schools.

Plus, the initial one-hour workshops have expanded in scope, to run as two 1.5-hour sessions.

IGNITE’s success would cement Mdm Sasayiah’s belief that learning has to be holistic, motivating and unhurried, and cannot happen in classrooms alone.

“I am guided by the principle of the aggregation of marginal gains: that small, thoughtful improvements, consistently applied over time, can lead to meaningful and lasting impact,” she explains.

“This philosophy shapes how I teach in the classroom, how I lead my department, and how I build relationships. Educators add value at every stage of a learner’s growth. When education is framed this way, learning becomes purposeful rather than pressurised.”

From pen pals to buddies to role models

The same beliefs run through every programme Mdm Sasayiah develops and leads.

With the Pen Pal programme, which started in 2019, Primary 5 students exchange three rounds of letters with Year 1 students at St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI). The letters are checked for appropriateness but not corrected for language.

This is followed up by Buddy Up Reading Programme, for students who are ready for greater engagement. How it works: Students in groups of six – three from Bendemeer Primary and three from SJI – would discuss a text they had agreed to read beforehand. Each person takes on a distinct role, as storyteller, creator or word whizz, to cover the text from different perspectives. These discussions take place at SJI.

At one such visit, a shy student recognised that the SJI student facilitating the session had graduated from Bendemeer Primary. One year later, Mdm Sasayiah realised that the boy had not only followed in his senior’s footsteps and joined SJI, but also volunteered to emcee the next Buddy Up Reading Programme session when he was a student in SJI. His meekness of the past was nowhere to be found. The programme set the stage for her students to get a glimpse, through the older students, of who they could become. “It was a full circle moment,” she says, visibly pleased.

These are not all. A public speaking programme called SuperSpeaker lets nominated students speak at the assembly on any values-based topic. And Otter Times, a magazine-style publication by the English department showcases the writing of students across the upper primary levels, affirming their hard work.

Many of these programmes initiated by her department go beyond classroom work, as Mdm Sasayiah and her team aim to extend learning of English."

Nothing simulated about how this lecturer structures support (3 September 2026)

"Mr Shamim Akhtar teaches programming, game development, and computer graphics as Course Chair at Temasek Polytechnic. His deeper impact lies in how he designs learning: a guided framework that helps students become confident, independent and ready to build meaningful worlds of their own.

It was 11pm, the night before a simulation system was due to be demonstrated to an important client, when the system went down unexpectedly.

Mr Shamim Akhtar, a developer back then in 2006, worked through the night, eventually locating the exact problem in the dense codebase. The software was fixed and ready for the client demonstration by morning.

“I knew the answer was in there somewhere,” he recalls.

That same instinct to think critically, iterate constantly, and never give up, is something Mr Shamim wants to instil in his students. As Course Chair for the Diploma in Immersive Media & Game Development at Temasek Polytechnic, he developed his personal Enterprise of One Framework (EOF) for capability building to get them there.

The name of the framework that supports his students across all three years of their polytechnic education was chosen with intention. “You as a student are in control of your own lifelong learning, resilience and ethical use of AI,” he explains. “You are your own enterprise.”

Tackling that Year 1 problem

The EOF was a direct response to one of Mr Shamim’s greatest challenges as a polytechnic educator.

When students arrive in Year 1, they are fired up to build games and simulations. These could look like a cockpit simulator to train pilots, or an immersive game that introduces the sensory world of neurodivergent people. But first, students need to get through compulsory foundation modules, which they can find dry and challenging to relate to initially.

Some struggle and a few come close to withdrawing from the course altogether. “The core technical subjects, while critical, can feel irrelevant to their creative ambitions of diving into developing their own game,” he explains.

Others feel lost in the polytechnic system that requires more self-discipline than what they were used to in secondary school. On the side, Mr Shamim also started to see students rely increasingly on AI to do their thinking for them. All this formed a problem statement that he designed the EOF to address.

His Enterprise of One builds more than skills

Since 2025, Mr Shamim has embedded the EOF in his course modules to ensure these five principles are met during the students’ polytechnic years: self-directed learning, AI-augmented capability, real-world integration, continuous feedback, and identity and resilience.

The principles are applied whether for teaching and assessing a skill or a learning disposition like adaptability.

In Year 1, Mr Shamim’s framework starts students off on the right foot towards self-directed learning and resilience. He takes the students out on learning journeys into real studios.

At an arcade game developer, for example, students saw how a game gets published from a rough idea to a working machine in Timezone.

Back on campus, short workshops and tutorials fill the gaps. These include game development tutorials and 3D modelling sessions run by students from the course’s special interest group. Lecturers guide them closely, usually with questions and feedback, and do not spoon-feed with answers. Neither do they leave the students to figure problems out on their own.

The same structured approach applies to how students are guided to use AI. Starting in Year 2, rather than assessing the output, Mr Shamim and his lecturers assess how students interact with the tool. Students are required to fill out a template that documents their objectives, prompts and critical analysis of AI-generated answers – that is, they are using AI to find fault with its own output.

“They see that AI can also make mistakes. This keeps them thinking,” he explains."

The nurse who teaches presence, not just procedure (3 September 2026)

"Lecturer Mis'Rohaiza Binte Amin found that assessment in healthcare education often measures clinical skill and knowledge, but not compassion. At Ngee Ann Polytechnic, she is redesigning palliative care education to make room for it.

During a classroom simulation, a student nurse broke down in tears. She had been role-playing the final hours of a dying patient – and the exercise surfaced something she had been carrying quietly: grief over her grandmother's death, which she had not been present for.

For Ms Mis'Rohaiza Binte Amin, it became a teaching moment of a different kind. The nursing lecturer paused the lesson, gently took the student aside, gave her space for her emotions, and listened. In the weeks that followed, she continued checking in on her, helping her make sense of what she was feeling.

Months later, when the same student returned to the simulation room, she was not the one needing support, but the one comforting a distressed classmate. For Ms Mis'Rohaiza, moments like these represent the heart of nursing education.

"To me, it is not about how fast or how well you can perform a procedure or serve medication," she says. "It is about being there with the patient, and showing that you care."

A lesson born from personal loss

Ms Mis'Rohaiza's commitment to compassion began long before she became a lecturer.

When she was seven, she became one of the caregivers to her mother who had collapsed from a stroke. She was inspired to become a nurse from there, but her mother passed away shortly after Ms Mis'Rohaiza graduated from nursing school, leaving her with regrets for not having done more.

Those experiences eventually drew her towards palliative care, where conversations about loss, dignity, and human connection are part of daily practice. It evoked “deep feelings” in her, feelings she was convinced needed to be dealt with not informally but as part of the profession.

When she moved into lecturing, "I told myself that I should teach my students what it truly means to be a nurse." Healthcare education has traditionally focused on two things: knowledge and technical competence. But Ms Mis'Rohaiza believes there is a third dimension that matters just as much – compassion.

Training beyond knowledge and skills

Today, the Senior Manager and Programme Lead at the School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), is one of Singapore's leading nurse educators in palliative care.

She serves as Chairperson of the Palliative Care Nurses Chapter of the Singapore Nurses Association, and represents the polytechnic in national initiatives such as Compassionate Communities Singapore.

Compassion is the focus of her doctoral research and much of her teaching innovation. Over time, she has created experiences that require students to grapple with emotions, ethical dilemmas, and human vulnerability.

One example is First Act of Last Office (FALO), a three-hour applied drama intervention co-developed with collaborators from NTU and NIE. The workshop was born from a gap Ms Mis'Rohaiza had observed throughout her clinical career: that when a patient dies, the standard response is to clean up, complete the paperwork, and move on. "Nobody provides that closure to the nurses," she says.

FALO is designed to change that. Students navigate end-of-life scenarios alongside trained actors playing grieving family members or busy colleagues – the heart of the workshop is what happens after. "As nurses and future colleagues, it's important for us to bring everyone together to debrief and think about what just happened," she says. "If we don't take care of their feelings, then this may cause burn-out in the future."

She is also developing a scenario-based board game and assessment rubrics that evaluate empathy through communication, body language, tone of voice and reflective responses."

Her students don’t just think about Literature, they think about thinking (3 September 2026)

"Mdm Khoo Lilin has been known to throw a Victorian tea party to make the classics come alive for her students. The Lead Teacher in English Literature at St Andrew's Junior College also teaches them that little bit more: the ability to watch their own minds at work.

Mdm Khoo Lilin loves Literature so much, she wants her students to be able to touch, feel, hear and even taste what they experience from the world of books.

When they studied Charlotte Bronte’s book Jane Eyre, she threw a Victorian-style tea party complete with swatches of vintage fabric and cups of tea, set to a 19th Century music playlist, to bring out the flavour of the era.

Today’s lesson is on Shakespeare? During break time, a craft session is in order – students build a Lego set to better help them visualise and understand a scene in the text.

These surprises “keep them curious” and looking forward to class, says the Lead Teacher in English Literature at St Andrew’s Junior College.

Her strategies must be working, because students show up voluntarily even for optional activities such as the ad hoc poetry cafes she holds outside of class.

Where learning is no hit-and-run

What students don’t see is all the thinking that goes on behind her lesson preparations.

Mdm Khoo has taken this a step further, honing the thought behind the thinking (known as metacognition) into an area of speciality.

“Thinking about thinking, that’s my main work,” she states without hesitation.

It sounds abstract until one witnesses her lessons. Students don’t just annotate texts while studying them. They also map their thought processes and trace their reasoning in tandem.

This develops self-awareness (“how do I think and why do I think this way?”), which allows them to observe their own thought patterns and reframe them if needed, with and eventually without a teacher’s guidance.

The decision to hone metacognition as a pedagogical focus area was a direct response to her students’ fear of Unseen Poetry, an A-Level component requiring them to analyse a surprise poem.

She had the same struggle when she was a Junior College student. Her Literature class had spent five weeks picking apart the poem Auto Wreck by Karl Shapiro, a dramatic account of what follows a road accident. They went through its language, tone, style and rhythm. When given another poem, however, they weren’t sure how to transfer those skills of analysis.

“That poem was the perfect analogy for how my students were approaching Unseen Poetry. It was hit-and-run,” she quips.

When searching for a way to help students sharpen and regulate their thought processes independently, her answer came during the pandemic years of Home-Based Learning. Metacognition became a focus area of professional development for teachers, as part of efforts to help students learn more independently.

Mdm Khoo was hooked. By 2022, she started to formally weave metacognitive methods into her lessons

‘I can see what you’re thinking’

When students are given a new poem to critique, they do scripting in the first 10 minutes, identifying thoughts such as where they make an assumption, where they hesitate, how their interpretations evolve, or what strategies they used when stuck.

They then share their scripts with the class. By understanding, sharing, and improving on how they analyse, they can more effectively analyse any poem or book they are given.

The students may find the process humbling, or even embarrassing.

This is why Mdm Khoo refrains from introducing metacognitive work to her JC1 students until Term 2 each school year — when they have had enough time to warm up, form groups, and make friends. “That’s when students begin to feel safe enough to share their raw analyses and expose the ‘messy part of their thinking’,” she explains for the need to be thoughtful with this process.

Mdm Khoo also gets vulnerable alongside them, modelling her own thinking out loud. “It requires teachers to step away from the image of an expert,” she explains. “By going through the same process, we reveal our hesitations, blind spots, false starts, and revisions.”

“I let them evaluate my metacognitive awareness too,” she adds.

Together, they draw vocabulary from the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory, a psychometric tool that is complemented with progress tracking across the students’ e-portfolios, guided reflections, and goal-setting routines too.

Over time, the students find themselves take greater ownership of their learning, moving from avoidance to curiosity and confidence, and Literature texts become less and less challenging."

She moves her students to love Tamil language and culture (3 September 2026)

"Mdm Kamalavani D/O Palaiyan uses cultural performance and dialogic teaching to help students see Tamil as more than an exam subject. In this way, the Senior Teacher at Anderson Serangoon Junior College is also keeping traditional artforms alive.

The art of storytelling takes different forms in different cultures. For Mdm Kamalavani D/O Palaiyan, the Tamil tradition of Villupattu, where verse and music revolve around a bow of bells, should be preserved. And what better way than to grow a love for it in her students.

Of course, there were hurdles. Mdm Vani, as she’s fondly known, didn’t have the actual instrument, called the villu. So she fashioned one herself, using a hula hoop borrowed from the PE department, string, bells and shoeboxes, all held together with masking tape.

Then there was her students’ unfamiliarity with the language. "Many students come from English-speaking backgrounds," she says. "They approach Tamil with apprehension, as just an academic requirement. I want them to see it as a vibrant, living part of their cultural identity."

Finally, there might be a lack of enthusiasm.

“‘Teacher, these are old songs’, they would tell me,” says Mdm Vani, only half-amusedly. That is when her love for the language and culture shines forth. With a glint in her eye and a tilt of the head, she narrates and dramatises her way into their hearts.

With regular practice and coaching in and outside of their Mother Tongue lessons, they pick up enough to perform at AGNI, Anderson Serangoon Junior College (ASRJC)’s Tamil cultural showcase.

At the showcase, the students’ performance of the Villupattu was so spectacular, audience members mistook them for professionals.

Forging identity through performance

AGNI, which means “fire” in Tamil, is a biennial event that Mdm Vani has directed from the start.

Held in conjunction with Singapore’s Tamil Language Festival, the two- to three-hour showcase attracts an audience of 500 students and is put together by some 30 students from the Tamil Language Elective Programme and Tamil Language Debate and Dance Society.

The first AGNI session was held at the former Anderson Junior College (AJC). Following the merger of AJC and Serangoon Junior College, into what is now known as ASRJC, AGNI became an official event within Singapore’s National Tamil Language Festival.

From there, Mdm Vani steered the programme towards art forms that most young people have never encountered, and that are rarely seen even at professional events. Other than Villupattu, she has even brought in percussion instruments like the Parai and Thudumbu, paired with vibrant dance choreographies.

Each year, students train for three months before putting up performances. “Possibly 90 per cent of these students have no experience in acting, singing or dancing,” Mdm Vani says with pride. But she is confident that all of them will catch the culture bug.

Verbalising back and forth

The same conviction — that all students can grow in their proficiency and appreciation of Tamil — is carried into the classroom. In class, Mdm Vani expects students to not just give answers, but to explain their reasoning aloud. When students can articulate their thoughts in speech, their writing ability follows.

Spoken and written reasoning in Mdm Vani’s class follow the framework called PEEEL (Point, Evidence, Elaboration, Explanation, Link). “By the time the A-Levels are here, every student can talk through the reasoning of their answers like why this word is wrong or where the clue in a passage is,” she says.

She also employs dialogic teaching, a back-and-forth, conversation-based approach. For example, a single question about a character’s flaw in a story can extend to a broader conversation where students add on observations and find evidence to support one other’s opinions.

Building on this conversational approach, Mdm Vani and her colleague rolled out a ChatGPT-based chatbot last year to extend these discussions beyond the classroom, giving every student a space to practise articulating their thoughts. "Now, everyone gets a chance to verbalise," she says."

He walks with his students to turn risks into rewards (3 September 2026)

"For Mr Go Jun Hong of Woodgrove Secondary School, the big impact of teaching can happen in seemingly little shifts, such as when a troubled student asks for help for the first time. The Head of Department for ICT and Applied Sciences finds different ways to support growth in his students, because every step forward deserves a champion

When a Secondary 4 student began attending school more regularly this year, most people might not have noticed.

For Mr Go Jun Hong, it was a breakthrough.

The student had struggled with absenteeism for years. Some mornings, teachers would visit his home to persuade him to come to school. His family faced financial difficulties, and his mother worked long hours.

One of the ways Mr Go and his colleagues stepped in was to suggest improvements to the family’s morning routine.

When the student could prepare for school before his mother left for work, he stopped drifting back to sleep.

It was a small intervention. But it worked.

“His attendance has never looked so good,” says Mr Go. “There are days he’s late, but he still comes.”

Success in schools isn't always measured by grades – sometimes, the greatest breakthrough begins with a student’s fresh outlook or a move away from an unhealthy habit.

This belief shapes how Mr Go, the Head of Department for ICT and Applied Sciences, approaches teaching and student development. Whether he is supporting students with additional needs, building the confidence of his learners in Chemistry, or guiding them to better manage conflicts and emotions, his instinct is always the same: to help them find their way to a first win that is small enough to reach, but meaningful enough for change to begin.

Confidence before complexity

When Mr Go first entered teaching, he focused heavily on academic results. He spent much of his energy refining lessons and helping students score well.

But a conversation with a former principal, about a high-performing student who later suffered a breakdown, made him question whether schools were preparing students for life beyond examinations.

Experience gained from teaching diverse student profiles deepened that reflection. Mr Go realised that some students did not disengage because they lacked ability, but because they could not see themselves succeeding.

“I realised that when they experienced the first failure, they would maybe try one more time, and then they would just give up,” he says.

So he began redesigning his lessons around a “success-first” approach.

In Chemistry, where abstract concepts can feel intimidating from the start, that means designing lessons so students experience competence before complexity. He breaks learning into small, direct steps, and makes the first task closely mirror what has just been taught during the lesson.

For example, when students learn how atoms combine to form molecules, they first use a simple computer simulation to see how bonding works. Only after they have matched atoms successfully does the next layer of difficulty appear: choosing different atoms, testing whether the arrangement is stable, and trying again when it is not.

The shift may seem subtle, but Mr Go says it changes how students see themselves.

“They just want to get the assignment right,” he says. “When they finally experience that success, they feel more confident that they can do it.”

That is the point of “success-first”: not to lower expectations, but to help students stay in the learning long enough to meet those expectations.

‘A friend and a champion’

A learning journey to another school opened up new ways for Mr Go who is passionate about teaching across diverse learners.

It is important to understand each student’s needs, and ensure the right support reaches them. To him, the question is not simply: What are the learning needs of this student? It was: What does this student need in order to take the next step towards independence?

For one student who appeared dishevelled and struggled with social interaction, Mr Go found himself teaching him how to maintain personal hygiene.

For nearly a year, their conversations barely moved beyond one-word replies. Mr Go kept trying anyway – not always about schoolwork, but through conversations about family and daily life. Slowly, the student began to respond.

As trust grew, Mr Go looked for small ways to prepare him for post-secondary life, where there would be fewer adults managing his day. The goal was not just to get him through secondary school, but to help him function more independently beyond it.

“Students at risk often do not need a disciplinarian,” he observes. “They need a friend and a champion.”

‘Observe carefully, and you’ll see there’s a warrior in every child’ (3 September 2026)

"Mdm Hafizah Binte Mahmud’s forte lies in seeing the child behind the behaviour. At Si Ling Primary School, the Senior Teacher introduces simple routines and habits for students to “collectively notice” one another. This builds a community of care and self-belief.

Walk into Mdm Hafizah Binte Mahmud's classroom at Si Ling Primary School, and you will notice certain standard items under a clear plastic sheet on every desk. There will be the class timetable and a photo of a family member, a school buddy, or a drawing of their "happy place".

Mdm Hafizah started this practice after noticing that her young students kept asking what lesson was coming next. The timetable gives them predictability; the personal touches give them comfort. Together, they offer children something she believes every child needs before learning can begin: a sense of safety.

Through a process of discovery across the year, she also gets to understand if a student needs more, be it moral or material support. Some come to school without breakfast. Some come from difficult homes. Some had never been taught to hold a pencil.

"If they are not even prepared to come to school, how are they going to learn new things?" Mdm Hafizah asks rhetorically.

It is this question — not what to teach, but what this child needs first — that defines her craft.

As a Senior Teacher specialising in lower-primary learners, she has spent nearly two decades developing an instinct for reading beneath the surface of behaviour. When a student cries, shuts down, or avoids putting pen to paper, she does not see a problem to be corrected. She sees a sign that the child is struggling.

That is when she slows down, asks questions, and teaches even the basics — from how to hold a ruler to how to pack a school bag — without judgement.

Looking beyond the behaviour

Mdm Hafizah used to take learning at face value — read, revise, and apply during exams — until she was an undergraduate specialising in Marketing.

A lecturer helped her to see how the lessons could be applied so directly to life beyond the classroom. That was the first time she thought of harnessing the power of education to shape lives.

When she first started teaching at Si Ling Primary, she quickly realised that some of her youngest students came with unseen burdens.

"As teachers, we may quickly reprimand and ask why they didn’t bring their colour pencils to class, but you eventually learn not to assume why."

How does Mdm Hafizah go about uncovering her students’ needs? Through simple routines that she weaves into each school day.

Each morning begins with a group check-in. "My first step is to always ask the class ‘how are you all feeling today?’ I want everybody to be aware of their own feelings and be in tune with each other."

When a student cried at the school gate from missing her family, Mdm Hafizah tended to her, identifying the difficult feelings she was facing, then rallied the class to show their concern.

They chimed in with offers to sit with her at recess and play her favourite games at the playground. Through this effort, "I not only taught the girl to regulate her feelings, I also equipped the rest of the students on how to articulate feelings and how to comfort someone."

She then applies different strategies across the day depending on the students’ readiness, such as Circle Time for collaborative learning and Calm Corner for students who need more emotional regulation. Peer support moments are woven in so classmates get used to looking out for one another.

This “collective noticing” is at the heart of how she teaches care. Says Mdm Hafizah, "It takes a village to raise a child, and classmates are part of that village."

Framework for noticing and growth

Underpinning these routines is the Teacher Noticing Framework which Mdm Hafizah adapted for students. The framework guides students through three steps in relating to others — first by identifying what happened, then understanding why it happened and choosing what to do next.

With her guidance, students apply these steps for observing themselves, others, and the world around them, and to solve problems with kindness.

Mdm Hafizah also applies the framework when she teaches English and Programme for Active Learning (PAL), which offers non-academic enrichment for P1 and P2 students.

In one PAL lesson, she asked her students to draw a dragon from their imagination. Many drew fierce, fiery creatures. She then revealed a picture of a dragon from a book — it was lonely, crying, and hardly scary, but it was feared by villagers who assumed the worst of it.

The moment became a live lesson in applying the Noticing Framework, and a golden opportunity to think about thinking (known as metacognition) at the lower primary level: The students identified their biased thinking, understood how they had a limited view about dragons, and decided to read more widely to broaden their perspectives."

Her inspiration for making Mandarin fun? Confucius and gaming (3 September 2026)

"Mdm Linda Goh Min Min draws from a range of sources when designing lessons at Greenwood Primary School — weaving in cultural perspectives and values to deepen her students' appreciation of the language, while harnessing AI tools to support how they learn it. As Head of Department for Mother Tongue Languages, she constantly revitalises Chinese Language teaching to get her young students excited about the language.

A few years ago, a parent came to Mdm Linda Goh Min Min with a familiar worry: Learning Mandarin is tough, so why are we putting children through it?

Mdm Goh did not disagree with the difficulty but offered parents a different view: Learning Chinese can be fun, even joyful, and there are easy ways to make friends with the language.

"Every Chinese character has a beauty and a story behind it," she says. Take the character 吞 (tūn, meaning "to swallow"). Rather than treating it as an abstract shape to memorise, Mdm Goh helps students trace it back to the ideas it is built from: 一 (yī, "one"), 大 (dà, "large"), and 口 (kǒu, "mouth") – each contributing its own layer of meaning to the whole. Put together, the character captures a single vivid image: “One large mouthful!” she enacts, something that delights her students to no end.

They soon look forward to uncovering the hidden meanings behind every brushstroke and along with it, little fragments of culture, philosophy and visual storytelling.

It is just not the same if they learned only hanyu pinyin, Mdm Goh stresses. “A lot of history, tradition and heritage is lost along the way.”

This conviction — that Chinese is not an obstacle to be cleared but a living language worth loving — runs through everything she does at Greenwood Primary School and leads the Mother Tongue Language department as Head of Department.

With even the smallest success comes joy

For many students, the early stages of learning Chinese can feel daunting.

Mdm Goh’s response is to begin with the basics — connecting Chinese characters to pictures, building foundational vocabulary — before nudging them towards more demanding work when they are ready.

She draws a comparison to why students will sit with a game for hours, failing and trying again, but not do the same for homework. The difference lies in how success is structured. "Level 1 is easy to go through. So is Level 2. That's how they hook them," she says. "Once they reach higher levels, the player is totally immersed."

Mdm Goh’s lessons are built on the same principle of achievement and excitement. "You must let them feel some success before they become self-motivated to learn," she says. "Students learn better if they feel that they are good in something."

Gamification, where it appears, is not a crutch but simply a way in, a hook that draws students into deeper thinking, richer interactions, and more intentional learning. The goal was never the game itself, but the curiosity and habits of mind it helps to build.

Teaching with intention, not just innovation

In recent years, Mdm Goh found new ways to draw out the quieter voices in her Primary 5 and 6 classes. To give them a safer space to ask questions and work through their doubts as the lesson progressed, she built an AI teaching assistant for use during digital learning, complete with an avatar that looks like her.

It draws from a closed set of content that Mdm Goh feeds on specific topics and is also programmed to deflect irrelevant questions.

Students can ask questions and clarify doubts with the tool as the class goes on, helping them to participate and stay engaged.

She also customised chatbots embedded in the Student Learning Space for speaking and writing practice.

For speaking practice, students get low-stakes opportunities to rehearse before they are asked to converse in Mandarin in more demanding settings. After practising with the bot, students become more confident conversing in Mandarin.

For writing, students first generate and refine their own ideas, then put their drafts up for peer comment, discussing what works and what doesn't in each other's storylines. Comparing their work with classmates exposes them to different ideas, and pushes them to think harder about what makes a story compelling. The real test comes the next day, when students write their composition independently, drawing on everything they have worked through.

Mdm Goh actively guides them on how to use the tools and helps them make sense of the feedback they receive. "You cannot let AI do all the work," says Mdm Goh. "Teaching must be intentional."

Making meaning, not just marks

Mdm Goh is also a champion of bilingualism. She leads Greenwood Primary’s Applied Learning Programme BLISS, which stands for Bilingual Literature apprecIation Student Series.

The whole-school programme uses second-language literary texts as springboards for values-based discussion. Teachers facilitate discussions with students on issues that have no easy answers. For instance, Mandarin learners may be offered the Chinese version of the children’s classic The Giving Tree (爱心树 ) about a boy and a tree, which explores themes of selflessness and the balance between giving and taking.

Students are asked: Is the boy selfish? Is the tree foolish to sacrifice itself? What is friendship, really? "There is no right or wrong answer," Mdm Goh explains. "They learn to see things from different perspectives."

Through these exercises, students learn language as well as values. "One’s mother tongue language is the key vehicle for values like respect, honesty and perseverance,” through which cultural narratives, idioms and moral reasoning are most powerfully understood, she explains."

How this Science educator got all her ducks in a row with sustainability (3 September 2026)

"‘Animal keepers’ at school? Mdm Ong Xuan Wan believes in going all the way with sustainability education. As the Head of Department for Science at Dazhong Primary School, Mdm Ong designs eco experiences where students make natural fertilisers, code green solutions, and yes, even greet ’keepers’ and their ducks in the morning

One morning assembly at Dazhong Primary School, the air buzzed with excitement as students waited for their special guests to arrive.

Teachers played along, dressed as animal keepers, to usher in none other than seven little ducks nicknamed the Dazhong Ducks, which were hatched in the school and call its eco garden home.

It is one of many ways the school brings science and sustainability to life through authentic experiences, says Mdm Ong Xuan Wan, who is the school’s Head of Department for Science; she also leads the Greenovator Applied Learning Programme (ALP). As for the morning “meet and greet” with the ducks that her department dreamed up of, "that moment has become a core memory for the children".

The ducks are an essential part of the school’s ALP, which all students go through. For that morning’s assembly programme, students watched a video about the life cycle of ducks: how the ducklings hatch in the incubator, grow, feed on "ugly" vegetables from the school's hydroponic system, lay eggs, and begin the cycle again.

This is the instinct at the heart of her practice: that sustainability becomes real only when students can touch it, name it, feed it, and feel responsible for it.

Pushing on from awareness to action

Mdm Ong came to sustainability education through a concern she has carried for years. Having observed many well-intentioned programmes, she noticed a pattern.

"A lot of people stop at awareness," she says. When it comes to green matters, "they know these environmental issues exist, but how many are actually taking action?"

To go further when conceptualising Dazhong Primary's current iteration of the ALP, she knew she had to nudge students over the hump from awareness into action and advocacy.

All students start with exposure to one of the school's most distinctive initiatives: its Interactive Virtual Gamified Eco-trail, featuring Pokemon-inspired sustainability mascots, called DZmons (DZ stands for Dazhong, of course!). Students complete quests related to issues such as recycling and food waste.

These are Mdm Ong’s ways to pique their curiosity about environmental issues and inculcate habits of observation and care that extend beyond the game.

At the middle primary levels, students are encouraged to act on that budding awareness, by taking on stewardship and hands-on roles and managing the school’s zero food-waste and hydroponics systems.

At the upper primary levels, students advance to problem-solving and advocacy roles, using coding and 3D printing to produce signs that remind students to turn off the switches before leaving the classroom, for example.

Schoolwide, Mdm Ong also runs the school's annual Green Challenge recycling competition, where classes with the heaviest collection each term wins a “Green Challenge Champions” banner that they hang loud and proud outside their classroom.

"The classes that didn't get [the banner] were motivated to bring more recyclables the next term so that they could win the banner," says Mdm Ong with glee.

For her, the banner simply gets students started until recycling shifts from an extrinsic goal into an instinctive, shared habit, showing students that small, consistent daily actions add up to meaningful environmental care."

School spaces, cool places (18 September 2026)

"Haven't visited a school lately? Let us show you around!

When was the last time you stepped into a library, garden, or hangout space at a school?

School spaces these days are more inviting than ever.

Schools all across Singapore embark periodically on facility and infrastructural enhancements to support the future of learning.

Bendemmer Secondary School

Let’s start at the library.

When Bendemeer Secondary School’s new library reopened, students were greeted with cosy reading coves, lots of natural light, and different seating options – the environment was designed to stir the imagination.

In various designated serene corners, students can choose to self-study, read, or discuss quietly. These cater to diverse learning needs and preferences."

Our Schools, Our Stories 2026 (28 September 2026)

"Our Schools, Our Stories is an annual photo and video contest organised by the Ministry of Education that celebrates the unique stories of everyday school life, as seen through the eyes of students, staff, and the wider school community.

Look closer, and you’ll find friendships built one helping hand at a time, acts of kindness from the people we walk past every day, and moments of courage that only look small from the outside. These are the stories behind the photographs and videos told through four themes:

• World of Possibilities

• Our School Community

• Priceless Moments

• What I Go To School For"

World of Possibilities: Junior Category (28 September 2026)

"Every day at school brings a new chance to try, to learn, and to discover something about ourselves. Discover how students and teachers build new skills, find new experiences, and uncover new possibilities — often made possible by the partners, mentors, and communities who open doors alongside them.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Nobody Told Us We Couldn't

By Chen Hongzhi Jareth, Zaada A'isyah Binte Muhassan and Ma Bohan Fernvale Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Siti Erliasari Binte Haroon

What if the art we grew up with was never the only art meant for us?

One of us holds a wushu fan, her eyes focused, her pose strong. Another closes her eyes and lets the guzheng sing under her fingers. A third shakes an angklung for the first time and smiles at the sound it makes. One more tries her hand at Indian dance, her fingers slowly shaping something beautiful and new.

Nobody told us we could not. So, we did. Possibilities do not wait somewhere else. They start the moment we are brave enough to try."

World of Possibilities: Youth Category (28 September 2026)

"Every day at school brings a new chance to try, to learn, and to discover something about ourselves. Discover how students and teachers build new skills, find new experiences, and uncover new possibilities — often made possible by the partners, mentors, and communities who open doors alongside them.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Capturing Their Stories, Framing My Own

By Asher Ng Hao Zhe

Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Too Suat Ling

The cheers from the stands, the silence before the starter’s signal, and the clash of student-athletes. These are the moments I live for.

For six years, I stood on the sidelines of the National School Games, watching history unfold in split-second frames. Over time, my lens caught something deeper: the pure joy of celebration, the passion between plays, and the raw tenacity that medals never show. Photographing these moments did not just teach me composition techniques; it taught me who I could become.

As I lower my camera for the final time as a student, I realise I did not just capture their stories — I found my own."

World of Possibilities: MOE Staff Category (28 September 2026)

"Every day at school brings a new chance to try, to learn, and to discover something about ourselves. Discover how students and teachers build new skills, find new experiences, and uncover new possibilities — often made possible by the partners, mentors, and communities who open doors alongside them.

BEST PHOTO STORY

The World that Children Create

By Ms Siti Raudhah Binte Haidir

MOE Kindergarten @ Fernvale

If you ask a teacher where a world of possibilities takes place, many would answer: outdoors.

When we see a tree, they see it as a pretend-play umbrella. When we use cones as sports equipment, they use them as hats. When we throw a ball for them to catch, they see themselves as the best goalkeeper in the world. When we show them creepy crawlies in soil, they ask endless questions about the world among them.

Sometimes, the greatest learning happens when adults step back and allow children’s imagination and discovery to lead the way."

Our School Community: Junior Category (28 September 2026)

"A school is its people — students, staff, parent volunteers, and partners who all play a part in the same story. Witness the shared moments and everyday collaborations that turn a school, and everyone connected to it, into one extended community.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Our Unique CCA, Green Pixel Club

By Ng Chiao Rae Andrea, Elysse Chew and Tan Ai Li Natalie

CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Loh Yi Hui

School is more than just academic learning; it is a place where we forge friendships, grow together, and share treasured moments.

In Green Pixel Club, we learn about sustainability, protecting the Earth, and photography. We learnt to make our own paper, build terrariums, and grow vegetables. We also mastered techniques to take better photos, such as the rule of thirds, framing within a frame, and exposure control.

Through our lenses, we capture small moments in nature and in school. These pictures represent our practice, our dedication, and our memories."

Our School Community: Youth Category (28 September 2026)

"A school is its people — students, staff, parent volunteers, and partners who all play a part in the same story. Witness the shared moments and everyday collaborations that turn a school, and everyone connected to it, into one extended community.

BEST PHOTO STORY

The Colours That Unite

By Chakarin Tonchanachai

Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Too Suat Ling

Some tournaments are remembered because of who won. Others are remembered because of the people beside us.

Whether during the excitement of InterHouse Games or the determination of Run AC, I found myself drawn to the moments in between: the handshake, the cheers, the joy, and the smiles shared after crossing the finish line.

As a first-year photographer picking up a camera for the first time, I realised these were the moments worth preserving. Beyond any scores or results, there is something that matters more: respect between competitors, passion in every challenge, and a community that cherishes one another regardless of house colours.

Many years later, we may forget who won the trophy, but these moments of sportsmanship, friendship and school spirit are the ones that will stay with us."

Our School Community: MOE Staff Category (28 September 2026)

"A school is its people — students, staff, parent volunteers, and partners who all play a part in the same story. Witness the shared moments and everyday collaborations that turn a school, and everyone connected to it, into one extended community.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Little Hands, Lasting Hearts

By Mr Chua Yuhang

Si Ling Primary School

School is far more than just a place for lessons; it is a vibrant home where lifelong friendships are built, and kindness is passed from one student to another.

From navigating shared challenges to offering simple words of encouragement, our students discover that every small act of care ripples outward. Whether it is helping a peer during a tough assignment or sharing laughter at school camp, these interactions quickly transform into lasting memories.

Our photo story celebrates this spirit, where little acts of care remind us that the best part of school is growing together."

Priceless Moments: Junior Category (28 September 2026)

"Some school moments fade with time. Others stay with you forever. These are the ones worth holding on to — the moments, shared with the people around us, that made us smile, learn, and grow.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Leaning On Each Other

By Lyra Tan Zhao Tong

Bukit View Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Mdm Tan Beng Choo

Having friends in school makes every day more enjoyable. I often wondered how younger students feel when they first join the school, when everything is new and unfamiliar. Through our school’s P1 and P4 Buddy Programme, I was paired with younger buddies for four weeks.

At first, we met with shy and simple handshakes. My buddies seemed unsure, especially during recess, when they needed help buying food. I showed them around the school and helped them get used to their new routines. Over time, I witnessed them growing more confident until they could do things on their own. I felt so proud!"

Priceless Moments: Youth Category (28 September 2026)

"Some school moments fade with time. Others stay with you forever. These are the ones worth holding on to — the moments, shared with the people around us, that made us smile, learn, and grow.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Taste of Taiwan

By Chen Tianyang

Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)

Teacher Facilitator: Mdm Nurul Afia

Every May, my school hosts a wide variety of unique learning challenges! Something truly magical happens: the quiet students liven up, and the usually reserved ones seem to start flocking from place to place in curiosity.

This year, our school brought us to Taiwan. There, we got to witness the local culture, try the local food, and interact with local students.

However, the most important thing we gained in Taiwan was the memories we would hold onto for the rest of our lives. I feel honoured to have been able to capture such intangible moments."

Priceless Moments: MOE Staff Category (28 September 2026)

"Some school moments fade with time. Others stay with you forever. These are the ones worth holding on to — the moments, shared with the people around us, that made us smile, learn, and grow.

BEST PHOTO STORY

It Takes A Community

By Ms Audrey Tay Yu Shyan

Evergreen Primary School

Some moments last only seconds. But their impact can last a lifetime. A spark of curiosity that turns into learning. Shared laughter with friends that deepens bonds. The light of another illuminating the dark.

As an educator, it is a privilege to witness these tender moments — where titles fade, responsibilities soften, and we are reminded of something incredibly simple: before anything else, we are human.

It has never taken just one teacher, one parent, or one lesson to shape a child. At Evergreen Primary, we nurture hearts, cultivate minds, and enrich lives, through the strength of our community."

What I Go To School For (28 September 2026)

"What makes school so meaningful? Explore this year’s winning video entries from students and teachers, and discover the moments, people, and passions that shape school life."

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BEST VIDEO: JUNIOR

Memories. The Friends. The Moments. The Journey.

By Chen Hongzhi Jareth, Zaada A'isyah Binte Muhassan and Ma Bohan

Fernvale Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Siti Erliasari Binte Haroon

HONOURABLE MENTION: JUNIOR

The Heart of School

By Teo Ruwen, Abigail and Xu Jingyi Jodie

Rulang Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Wong Min Wei

More Than a Subject

By Aiden Seow Kang Shun, Chia Yuan Kai Zac and Tan Guan Ting Tristen

Pathlight School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Aishah Malkan

Choice Remote

By Mariam Jasrah d/o Shaik Zubair Deen

First Toa Payoh Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Ho Chi Chia Brenda

Can a game help teenagers build better sleep habits? (29 September 2026)

"At Hillgrove Secondary School, wellness is taken seriously, starting with a whole week dedicated to good health and rest. Is that how soft toys, horses and capsule machines find their way into school?

By Schoolbag team

What do horses and scents have in common with a fluffy blue creature with a letter as a name? It’s sleep!

Earlier this year, a schoolwide survey by Hillgrove Secondary suggested many students were unsure how much sleep they needed and what habits might help them sleep better. So, the school decided to make sleep the focus of its Health and Youth Week this year. The initiative, which has been running annually since 2023, celebrates youths and empowers students to take charge of their holistic well-being.

Bookending the week were two partner events: the distribution of sleep kits from Limitless, a non-profit organisation (containing items such as eye masks and calming scents), and the Mission Zzz Sleep Challenge starring Z the sleep mascot, piloted with the Ministry of Education’s Communications and Engagement Group.

Horses, plushies and the chance to connect

This year’s Health and Youth Week theme was “Thrive” and it opened with an unexpected and memorable experience: miniature horses.

In the school hall, students engaged with and groomed miniature horses from Equal Ark, a registered charity that conducts equine-assisted programmes to support socio-emotional learning and development.

Guided by Equal Ark’s trained facilitators, students learnt to approach and interact safely with the miniature horses, while observing and responding to their behaviours and body language. Beyond the novelty of the experience, these purposeful interactions provided opportunities for students to build confidence, practise self-management and develop greater awareness of how their own emotions and behaviours can influence those around them. Students also took part in games related to sleep wellness and craft activities at the canteen, which set the tone for chilling and relaxation.

On one of the days of the Health and Youth Week, students – and teachers – brought their favourite plushies to school and exchanged stories about them during assembly, recess and CCE lessons. “The idea,” says Acting Year Head Joel Tan, “was to make conversations around sleep feel light and approachable, rather than clinical.”

Vice-Principal Mr Edwin Lim also shared the science and importance of sleep at the assembly talk. He ended it emphasising that sleep is “as essential as food, water and air, and Hillgrove Secondary is committed to helping students build the habits to protect it.”

Life after school: Thriving thanks to vocational education and partners (5 October 2026)

"Meaningful work recognises and nurtures the individual — just ask our three SPED school graduates. Guided by the refreshed Vocational Education syllabus for SPED schools, education and worklife just got better for persons with disabilities.

Got a job in design? Or found work at the airport? For most people, these are ordinary milestones. But for graduates of Special Education (SPED) schools, landing a role that genuinely fits who they are and what they can do, requires efforts far more deliberate.

In a bustling part of Changi Airport Terminal 3, Zachary John Tan carefully tends to the plants, his movements precise and purposeful. At 21, this Metta School graduate has become an integral part of the team at Changi Airport, and his story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when schools, employers and families work together with a shared purpose.

It was not always obvious that Zachary would end up here. But through years of careful observation, his teachers and parents spotted in him a natural affinity for plant care and systematic tasks. Back in school, he practised skills like trimming leaves and watering plants. These were not just random activities but the deliberate building blocks of a vocation. Through the collaborative development of his Individual Transition Plan, his unique strengths were identified and built upon, eventually paving the way for his placement at Changi Airport Group (CAG) as a Project Assistant.

Zachary's journey also reflects a broader shift in how SPED schools in Singapore are approaching vocational education. The new Vocational Education (VE) Teaching and Learning Syllabus for SPED schools, launched in 2023, draws a strong connection between classroom learning and real-world work, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach and towards something far more personal. Employers are responding in kind, developing partnerships that play to the strengths and interests of their potential hires rather than asking students to fit a fixed mould."

Singapore Youth Festival Celebrates 60 Years with Enriched ArtsXPerience for Students (26 March 2026)

"New Drama Category for Primary School Students to Build Communication Skills

The Singapore Youth Festival (SYF), Singapore's longest-running youth arts festival, will celebrate 60 years of inspiring young artists, connecting them with audiences and mentors, and empowering them to develop their creative voices this year.

Themed 'SYF60: The ArtsXPerience — Inspire, Connect, Empower', SYF60 will build on the festival's signature showcases and introduce new elements to deepen creative collaborations and inspire students to grow through the arts. These include a new Arts Presentation Drama category for primary school students, an 'XP' card journey for participants and audiences, and cultural exchange opportunities with young artists across ASEAN."

MOE to Expand UPLIFT Scholarship to EAGLES Recipients (27 March 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will expand the UPLIFT Scholarship to include students who receive the Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES) from the 2026 Edusave award cycle>

This expansion is part of wider efforts to recognise students' non-academic achievements, and builds on MOE's ongoing commitment to develop our students holistically.

With the expansion of the UPLIFT Scholarship, a total of about 700 students from lower-income families are expected to benefit from the scholarship every year.

About the UPLIFT Scholarship

Introduced in 2019, the UPLIFT Scholarship recognises the achievements of students in Independent Schools (IS) and Specialised Independent Schools (SIS) who have performed well academically or in specific talent areas, and are from lower-income families. Students who are awarded the UPLIFT Scholarship receive $1,200 in cash per year.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be Singapore Citizens from families with gross monthly household income of $5,500 or below, or gross monthly per capita income of $1,375 or below. Students must also be recipients of the Edusave Scholarship for Independent Schools (ESIS), or enter the IS/SIS through the Direct School Admission (DSA) process. Students awarded the UPLIFT Scholarship via the ESIS (Tenured) at Secondary 1, Secondary 3, or Pre-University 1, as well as DSA, will have their scholarships renewed as long as they meet the renewal criteria, for the duration of their course of study. Students may also receive the UPLIFT Scholarship for a tenure of one year, if they are awarded the ESIS (Yearly Award)."

Celebrating 20 Years of Tamil Language Learning and Promotion (29 March 2026)

"The Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee (TLLPC) marks its 20th anniversary this year. Over the past two decades, TLLPC has been dedicated to promoting the Tamil language, fostering cultural literacy, and engaging schools and the community. To commemorate this milestone and reflect its enhanced role of promoting Tamil language learning through greater digital engagement and youth and family involvement, TLLPC will be rebranded as the "Tamil Promotion Committee" (TPC), accompanied by a new logo.

Chairman of TLLPC and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Manpower, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, unveiled the refreshed name and logo at the launch of this year's Tamil Language Festival on 29 March 2026, at MediaCorp Campus.

Two Decades of Tamil Language Learning and Promotion

Since its establishment by the Ministry of Education in 2006, TLLPC has actively promoted the Tamil language by partnering schools, community organisations and cultural partners. Over the years, its programmes have inspired a love for the Tamil language among students through literature, performing arts, and community-based activities, fostering the active use of the language in everyday interactions, and an appreciation of Tamil heritage and culture."

Temporary Support for Transport Service Providers (9 April 2026)

"To ensure that access to transport services is not disrupted for school students, seniors, patients, and persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Ministry of Health (MOH) will provide temporary support measures to Government contracted or subsidised transport service providers for services rendered in the months of April to June 2026. This move is to help these transport service providers to continue operating without disruption in the near term, given the cost pressures caused by the increase in fuel prices arising from the Middle East conflict.

MOE, MSF and MOH will provide support equivalent to 13% of transport fare revenues. In general, the support would help defray the increase in operational costs arising from higher fuel prices incurred by operators providing regular transport services to primary schools, special education (SPED) schools, disability services, and patients receiving long-term care and Community Dialysis services. With the support, operators should keep fares stable during this period.

Subsequently, transport fares may have to rise if fuel prices remain elevated. There are existing subsidies to support students, seniors, patients and persons with disabilities if they are not able to afford their transport."

Honouring Special Education Teachers and Schools (14 April 2026)

"In celebration of their contributions to the education of students with moderate-to-severe special educational needs (SEN), Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, presented the MOE-SG Enable Awards to recognise four Special Education (SPED) teachers and four projects from SPED schools at the SPED A.C.E (Affirmation·Celebration·Engagement) Day today. Two SPED teachers were also awarded the MOE Master's Scholarship in Special Education (MSSPED) at the event.

The MOE-SG Enable Awards are a joint initiative between the Ministry of Education and SG Enable and comprise the Outstanding SPED Teacher Award (OSTA), the Promising SPED Teacher Award (PSTA), and the Innovation Award (IA).

The OSTA and PSTA celebrate SPED teachers' excellence in supporting their students' development and learning. The OSTA is awarded to experienced teachers with at least six years of teaching experience, while the PSTA recognises teachers with three to five years of experience. This year, the OSTA and PSTA recipients were selected from a total of 179 nominations from colleagues, parents, students and members of the public."

Recommendations from MOE's Comprehensive Action Review Against Bullying (15 April 2026)

"Strengthening our collective response to tackle bullying through a stronger partnership between schools, families, and the community.

The Ministry of Education (MOE), with the support of the COMmunity and PArents in Support of Schools (COMPASS) Council, has completed the Comprehensive Action Review against Bullying, aimed at strengthening existing efforts to better address hurtful behaviours and bullying in schools.

Bullying is a complex and serious issue that calls for a sustained, collective response. Building on existing efforts, MOE conducted internal reviews, and also engaged over 2,000 educators, parents, students, professionals and members of the public since August 2025. The majority agreed that addressing bullying holistically requires multiple parties working together – involving collective action from schools, families, and the wider community through strengthened systems and processes in schools, positive culture-building, and coordinated society-wide efforts.

Review Recommendations

Following the review and feedback received, MOE, with the support of COMPASS, has developed nine comprehensive recommendations across four key areas.

First, we will continue to inculcate the right values in our students. We will enhance values education in the curriculum and co-curriculum to develop students' character and social-emotional skills such as empathy, resilience, and conflict management. For example, more role-play and authentic scenarios will be incorporated to allow students to practise perspective-taking, conflict management and resolution, and learn how they can be upstanders. Schools will further empower students to lead and foster a pro-social peer culture where they look out for one another, stand together against hurtful behaviours, and support students who are affected by such hurtful behaviours.

We recognise that schools play a central role in creating a safe, caring and enabling environment for our students. Many schools have established processes to prevent and respond to bullying while fostering a culture of care, trust and mutual respect. We will continue to deepen a culture of kindness and respect in all our schools. We will also strengthen schools' management of hurtful behaviours and bullying, including cyber-related incidents. Schools will be provided with clearer guidelines on case management processes, including communication timelines, safety planning, disciplinary measures, counselling and restorative actions, to address hurtful behaviours and bullying in a timely and consistent manner. We will increase the availability and accessibility of reporting channels and support for affected students. Schools will also address hurtful behaviours and bullying more proactively in schools through early identification, intervention, and support, with stricter disciplinary measures for all serious offences, including bullying.

Third, MOE will provide additional needs-based funding for schools to hire additional manpower, which will support schools in student management whilst managing teacher workload. Schools may engage youth workers, pastoral care officers, and/or parent liaison officers to support school staff in student management work. We will tap on technology to improve case management processes and facilitate timely communication and intervention. To deepen educator capacity in student management and parent engagement, MOE and schools will also enhance professional development for educators, including skills for investigation, conflict resolution, and parent engagement."

World Book Day 2026 Promotes Culture of Reading with Inaugural Singapore Chinese Book Fair (18 April 2026)

"共同推广阅读文化：2026年世界书香日首次同时举办新加坡华文书展

More than 800 secondary and pre-university students participated in this year's World Book Day Opening Ceremony at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) on Saturday, 18 April 2026. Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), National Library Board (NLB) and HCI, the annual event aims to promote a culture of reading in Singapore.

Guest-of-Honour Mr Xie Yao Quan, who is Group Leader of CPCLL, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Jurong Central SMC, launched the student publication《清醒地梦着》— a compilation of outstanding essays written by students in the Author-in-Residence Programme . Mr Xie also presented the Chinese Language Elective Programme (CLEP) Best Improvement Award to 28 secondary and pre-university students."

2026 Primary One Registration Exercise (29 April 2026)

"The registration period for children's admission to Primary One (P1) in 2027 will be from Tuesday, 30 June 2026 to Friday, 30 October 2026.

Information on the P1 Registration process, registration phases, eligibility criteria, and user guides can be found at www.moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration.

As announced during the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Committee of Supply speech in March 2026, MOE is currently reviewing the P1 Registration Framework. However, this year's P1 Registration Exercise will not be affected. We will announce details of the review when ready."

Close to 190 Students Showcase Language and Reasoning Skills at the 5th National Chinese Riddle Competition (2 May 2026)

"189 students from 25 secondary schools participated in the fifth National Chinese Riddle Competition (全国中学生灯谜比赛) on Saturday, 2 May 2026, at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Tung Ann District Guild, Riddle Association (Singapore) and HCI, the competition aims to foster students' appreciation and love for Chinese language and culture through the traditional art of riddle-solving.

Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, Ms Jasmin Lau, delivered a speech and presented awards to the winners. At the competition, participants took part in a preliminary pen-and-paper quiz, with the top 10 teams in both the Chinese and Higher Chinese categories advancing to the Finals to compete in a live fast-paced buzzer round."

Start of 2026 Direct School Admission Exercises & ITE and Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise (5 May 2026)

"The Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise for admission to secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) in 2027 will open for application from Wednesday, 6 May 2026. Separately, applications for early admission to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics based on course-specific aptitude and interests will start from Wednesday, 20 May and Monday, 1 June 2026 respectively.

DSA Exercise

DSA provides a pathway for students to gain admission to secondary schools or JCs based on their interests, aptitude, and potential, beyond their performance at the national examinations. Upon admission, students can further develop their talent in their secondary schools or JCs. Secondary schools and JCs can take up to 20% of their non-Integrated Programme Secondary 1 (S1) / Junior College 1 intake via the DSA Exercise."

Student Dancers Bring "Positivity" to Life at Chinese Street Dance Competition 2026 (23 May 2026)

"46 students from six secondary schools and pre-university institutions competed in the Finals of the seventh Chinese Street Dance Competition, where they introduced the story behind their choreography in Mandarin and expressed their interpretation of this year's competition theme "Positivity 正能量" through energetic dance routines.

Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) and local media content company MCC, this annual competition aims to promote the learning of Chinese language and culture through music and dance.

Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, Ms Jasmin Lau, delivered a speech and presented awards to the winning teams at the Finals and Awards Ceremony held at Our Tampines Hub's Festive Plaza today."

Singapore's Young Research Talents Clinch 7 Awards at International Science and Engineering Fair 2026 (25 May 2026)

"Eight Singapore students competed against more than 1,700 students from about 60 countries, regions, and territories at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026, where they clinched a total of seven awards. Singapore has participated in ISEF annually since 2001.

In total, four individual projects and two team projects were submitted to the ISEF, which was held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 9 to 15 May 2026. Through the competition, our students exchanged insights with young scientists from around the world and gained valuable learning experiences."

Education Conversations (28 May 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) has launched the Education Conversations, a series of outreach efforts that invites Singaporeans to share their views and help shape education policies that strengthen students' holistic development and prepare them for the future.

The Conversations began in April 2026 with focused group discussions involving education professionals, parents and youths. MOE will continue them through 2026 and into 2027, both in person and through the Education Conversations microsite, on topics including:

a. Moderating examination stakes, such as the use of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) for Secondary 1 posting

b. Reviewing the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme to strengthen student development, improve selection, and enhance accessibility

c. Strengthening the education experience, including Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) and Co-Curricular Activities (CCA), to nurture values and life skills"

Students Showcase Creativity and Language Skills at the 5th Young Reporter News Challenge (29 May 2026)

"This year, 491 students from 52 secondary schools participated in the fifth edition of the Young Reporter News Challenge (《我来报新闻》挑战赛). Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), MediaCorp 8world and Speak Mandarin Campaign, with support from the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, the competition aims to develop students' interest and ability to communicate and present in Mandarin, as well as their media literacy skills.

Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, delivered a speech and presented awards to 28 winning teams at the Awards Ceremony."

Pre-University Seminar 2026 – WE: With Everyone (5 June 2026)

"Around 550 students from 30 pre-university institutions participated in the Pre-University Seminar 2026 Closing Ceremony held at the National University of Singapore. Into its 57th edition, the annual seminar was co-organised by the Ministry of Education with Temasek Junior College this year. Themed 'WE: With Everyone', the seminar explores what it means to build an inclusive nation where every voice matters, every contribution counts, and every citizen shares in our collective success. Students explored the future of Singapore across three sub-themes and gained insights into a range of issues, policies, and perspectives to build a more united Singapore, through rich discussions and interactions at the event. The three sub-themes were "Our People, One Heartbeat", "Our Places, One Home", and "Our Purpose, Infinite Possibilities".

Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee attended the Closing Ceremony on 5 June, where he delivered the keynote address and interacted with students in an engaging dialogue. Minister Lee also addressed questions about Singapore's current challenges and future directions surrounding the theme."

Quiz Competition Challenges Secondary School Students' Knowledge of Malay Language and Culture (24 June 2026)

"220 students from 44 secondary schools participated in the inaugural Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0, testing their knowledge and understanding of the Malay language and culture through a series of quizzes. Adapted from the original Cepat Tepat for primary school students, the competition saw 40 students from eight secondary schools advancing to the semi-finals.

Organised by the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) in collaboration with Mediacorp, Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0 aims to encourage students to think creatively and critically, while igniting their interest in the Malay language and culture beyond the classroom.

The semi-finals will be livestreamed on Mediacorp's YouTube account and MeWATCH on 27 June 2026, from 11am to 3pm. The top four schools will then compete in the finals, which will air on Suria and MeWATCH on 30 August at 8.30pm. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Chairman of the MLLPC, Dr Syed Harun, will attend the finals as the Guest-of-Honour and present awards to the finalists."

2026 School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (1 July 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) welcomes Singaporean students who are overseas to join our primary and secondary schools, junior colleges (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI) upon their return.

Assured School Placement (ASP) Service

Returning Singaporeans (RS) who are seeking a place in a primary or secondary school near their Singapore residence are encouraged to apply for the ASP service. It is a convenient admission route which guarantees RS a place in a school with vacancies as near to their residence as possible, even before their return to Singapore. Through the ASP service, RS need not sit for any centralised tests. Instead, the school conducts school-based tests and/or interview to determine the appropriate level and class for the child. For more information about the ASP service, please visit https://www.moe.gov.sg/returning-singaporeans/assured-school-placement.

School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (SPERS)

Apart from the ASP option, RS may choose to participate in the 2026 SPERS for those who wish to join our secondary schools, JCs or MI at the start of academic year 2027. SPERS is a centralised merit-based placement exercise held towards the end of each year for RS who have lived and studied overseas and now want to seek admission to a local school. Under SPERS, RS will sit for one set of centralised tests and receive a list of schools they are eligible to apply for, based on their performance. RS may visit the following websites to apply for the SPERS tests:

SPERS-Sec: https://www.moe.gov.sg/returning-singaporeans/secondary/spers

SPERS-JC/MI: https://www.moe.gov.sg/returning-singaporeans/post-secondary/spers

The application for admission to Secondary 1 to 3 will open from 8 July (Wednesday) till 17 July (Friday) 2026, and the SPERS-Sec tests will be held between 1 September (Tuesday) and 3 September (Thursday) 2026. The application for Pre-University 1 will open from 9 July (Thursday) till 16 October (Friday) 2026, and the SPERS-JC/MI tests will be held on 6 November (Friday) 2026. As Secondary 4 and Pre-University 2 are national examination years, RS generally do not enter the school system at these levels. SPERS applicants will receive their school posting results in December 2026, and will join our secondary schools and JC/MI at the start of the school term in 2027."

Six Young Educators Recognised for Passion and Dedication in Nurturing Students (1 July 2026)

"In recognition of their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to nurturing students, six teachers received the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA) from Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Teachers' Investiture Ceremony on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. The recipients are (in alphabetical order):

• Mdm Faridah Binte Mohamed Ali, 33, Fuhua Primary School

• Ms Lena Teo Ying Hui, 35, Zhonghua Secondary School

• Mr Ng Jun Kian, Eugene, 35, Springfield Secondary School

• Mr Rishvinder Singh, 33, Changkat Changi Secondary School

• Mr Yeo Rong Yao Jeremy, 35, Yishun Innova Junior College

• Miss Yip Joo Yee, 32, New Town Primary School

Introduced in 1999, OYEA is a national award that recognises young teachers aged 35 and below for their passion for teaching, enthusiasm, creativity, and active involvement in their students' holistic development. Beyond honouring the achievements of young educators, OYEA also aims to inspire youths to pursue teaching as a purposeful and fulfilling profession.

The six recipients have demonstrated a strong belief that education is not just about academic achievement, but about developing students holistically and instilling in them a joy for lifelong learning. The recipients are also committed to nurturing future-ready students who are resilient, empathetic, adaptable and equipped with strong problem-solving, critical, and creative thinking skills."

"Script It Right" Chinese Radio Drama Script Writing Competition Draws Record Student Participants and Entries (3 July 2026)

"The annual "Script it Right" Chinese Radio Drama Script Writing Competition ("与声剧来"中文广播剧创作比赛) drew a record 1,058 participants who submitted 401 entries, the highest figures in the competition's history. Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Ms Jasmin Lau, was the Guest-of-Honour at the Awards Ceremony, which recognised students for their outstanding narrative skills and proficiency in the Chinese Language. Jointly organised by the CPCLL, local radio station UFM100.3 and Holy Innocents' High School, the competition aims to promote Chinese Language learning through storytelling.

Now in its 12th edition, the competition this year drew inspiration from the unit "With Your Companionship" (有你做伴), in the secondary school Chinese textbook "Hua Wen Ban Wo Xing" (华文伴我行). As in past editions, students were challenged to push their creative boundaries to craft narratives that were both original and contemporary. For example, students had to weave one of three given elements into their scripts — the theme (特定主题：有你做伴), the dialogue "A longer route is fine; maybe you'll encounter different landscapes" (预设对白：绕点远路没关系，也许能看到不一样的风景), and the sound effect of coughing (特选音效：咳嗽声).

Five teams from the Primary School category (Category A) earned the Merit Awards for their outstanding scripts, while seven teams from the Secondary School, Junior College/Millennia Institute, and Polytechnic category (Category B) clinched the Top 3 and Merit Awards. As an additional highlight, UFM100.3 will bring the winning Category B scripts to life as radio dramas, to be broadcast between July and August on the radio station."

National Chinese Reading Competition Cultivates Students' Joy of Reading (4 July 2026)

"A total of 1,909 students from 254 primary and secondary schools came together to celebrate Chinese reading culture at the second edition of the National Chinese Reading Competition. Among them, 150 students across the primary and secondary school categories advanced to the competition finals today.

Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Xin Zhi Reading Club and the Association for Research on AI in Learning and Leadership, with support from local publishers and companies, the competition aims to foster a love for reading, promote a vibrant Chinese reading culture, and cultivate good reading habits among students. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, delivered a speech and presented awards to the winners at the award ceremony."

Mother Tongue Languages Symposium to Cultivate Children's Joyful Discovery in Mother Tongue Language Learning (13 July 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the three Mother Tongue Language Learning and Promotion Committees (MTLLPCs) will hold the flagship Mother Tongue Languages Symposium on Saturday, 1 August 2026. This year, the symposium makes its debut at the Singapore EXPO, bringing together more participants and a richer programme than before.

Now in its 14th year, the theme of this year's symposium, "A Garden for Joyful Discovery", symbolises a vibrant and joyful learning environment for children to learn and appreciate their Mother Tongue Languages (MTLs). Through storytelling, role-play and creative expression, young participants can explore fun and creative ways to learn and use their MTL in their daily lives alongside four mascots: Xiao Tao, the collaborative flower; Sani, the confident adventurer; Kavin, the creative garden whiz; and Peppy, the caring bee.

This year's symposium will feature 42 sharing sessions and interactive workshops, as well as 41 exhibitors from schools and community partners on ways to promote MTL learning and appreciation. The sharing sessions and interactive workshops will draw insights from academics, educators, curriculum specialists, early childhood advocates, and media personalities. For example, parents can learn how Mediacorp Chinese news presenter Zhao Quanyin draws on her experience as both an anchor and a mother to explore ways to incorporate play in joyful Chinese learning at home. They can also hear from celebrity entrepreneur and early childhood advocate Syah Ibrahim, who will share how everyday play moments can be transformed into rich Malay Language experiences. Mediacorp Oli 968 presenter Nithiyia Rao will also share how her journey in Tamil radio broadcasting has shaped her approach to keeping Tamil alive and meaningful at home through stories, music, and cultural experiences.

In addition, curriculum specialists from MOE will share about the MTL curricula, how digital resources can support home-based learning, and practical strategies for parents to raise confident bilingual children."

School Terms and Holidays for 2027 (14 July 2026)

"The school year for 2027 for all MOE primary schools (including MOE Kindergartens) and secondary schools will start on Monday, 4 January 2027 and end on Friday, 19 November 2027."

Steps Taken by the Ministry of Education on Observations Made by the Auditor-General's Office in Its Report for FY2025/2026 (15 July 2026)

"During the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) audit, the Ministry of Education (MOE) identified possible falsified approval emails relating to the appointment of new officers. MOE takes this matter very seriously. We have made a Police report, and the officer responsible has been dismissed from service.

Robust and transparent hiring processes are essential to maintaining integrity and fairness in public service recruitment. In MOE, candidates are assessed through formal recruitment processes, including recruitment panels. Before an appointment can be offered, it must be approved by the appropriate authority. These steps help to ensure that hiring decisions are properly reviewed and authorised.

Following the issues identified during the audit, MOE has strengthened its processes. We have introduced independent checks to verify that all appointments have received the required approvals. We are also working towards automating staff appointment processes to reduce reliance on manual workflows and further strengthen governance."

New Community Programme Empowers Parents to Interact with Their Infants in Mandarin from Birth (18 July 2026)

"Parents of infants now have access to practical tools and strategies to nurture their children's foundation in the Chinese language from birth, with the launch of a new community programme, Parents' Workshop: Interacting in Mandarin with Infants Aged 0–12 Months (家长工作坊：如何与0-12个月的婴儿用华语进行互动).

Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) and Tengah Grassroots Organisations, this pilot programme shows parents how to weave the Chinese language into their daily caregiving routines via the Chinese Language Multi-Sensory Interaction Guide Cards for Infants (与0-12个月婴儿多感官互动指引卡), which enable them to engage their infants in Mandarin through sight, sound and touch.

The pilot programme comprises five workshop sessions facilitated by past recipients of the Outstanding Preschool Mother Tongue Language Award , who will demonstrate interaction techniques and guide parents in using the activity cards with their infants. Parents can then bring the cards home to incorporate them into daily routines. The sessions will be held at Tengah Community Club on three Saturdays across July to September 2026."

Racial Harmony Day 2026 Our People, Our Tapestry (21 July 2026)

"Racial Harmony Day (RHD), which falls on 21 July, is commemorated annually by schools to deepen students' appreciation of racial harmony, multiculturalism, and social cohesion. Continuing with the theme of "Our People, Our Tapestry", the emphasis is on how various cultural threads, each representing the unique identities, traditions, beliefs, and practices of our diverse communities, are interwoven with one another. It reflects how Singapore's multicultural tapestry can remain strong and unified through fostering mutual understanding and respect across ethnic and religious communities.

Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, joined students and staff at St. Anthony's Canossian Primary School to commemorate RHD on 21 July. Minister was welcomed by the school choir with the song "Little Red Dot" written by Singaporean composer Liong Kit Yeng, before joining a Primary 6 Character and Citizenship Education lesson, where students discussed the topic of racial stereotypes and how they could respond to promote greater understanding of one another's culture. Minister then visited 'Weaving Our Tapestry', a collaborative installation of paper links bearing messages reflecting our community's strength, diversity, and unity, before interacting with students at booths showcasing traditional games, food, music, and cultural practices from Singapore's different communities.

Minister also viewed a tiles exhibit created by Primary 1 students, who drew inspiration from Singapore's heritage to explore colour planning. The visit concluded with Minister sharing his personal experiences with racial harmony with students."

ASEAN Education Leaders Convene in Singapore to Drive Regional Education Agenda (22 July 2026)

"Singapore is hosting the 14th ASEAN, 8th ASEAN Plus Three, and 8th East Asia Summit Education Ministers' Meetings from 22 to 23 July 2026 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The meetings are held as part of Singapore's chairmanship of the ASEAN Education Sector from 2026 to 2027.

As the ASEAN Education Chair, Singapore welcomes education ministers and senior officials from across the region to exchange perspectives and strengthen regional education cooperation. The 14th ASEAN Education Ministers' Meeting (ASED) and Related Meetings are attended by delegations from all 11 ASEAN Member States, as well as representatives participating in the ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit meetings, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat.

Themed "Strengthening ASEAN through Education", the 14th ASED opened on 22 July with remarks by Singapore's Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee. Minister Lee also launched the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026 – 2030 together with fellow ASEAN education ministers. This work plan sets out the region's collective priorities to build inclusive, comprehensive, and transformative education systems. It focuses on developing well-rounded, resilient individuals alongside a highly skilled and competitive workforce, while fostering an ASEAN identity that embodies shared ASEAN values.

Under Singapore's chairmanship, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will organise signature programmes on Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd), STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education, and the holistic development of students. The Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education will also lead a regional research network to advance shared approaches to values education across ASEAN Member States, providing a platform for countries to share how values education is designed and enacted within their national curricula. Through these initiatives, educators and students from Singapore and ASEAN members states will have the opportunity to learn from each other and strengthen their friendships."

Students' Singing and Songwriting Creativity on Display at Annual Xinyao Competition (25 July 2026)

"48 students were recognised for their vocal and compositional talent at the "Xin Kong Xia" (新空下) Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition 2026. This year, 356 participants from 68 schools submitted 124 original creations, a strong testament to students' continued interest in Xinyao, a genre of Mandarin songs unique to Singapore. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a speech and presented awards to winners at the award ceremony.

Now in its 12th year, the competition returned to a community space with the grand finals held at Our Tampines Hub's Festive Arts Theatre – reflecting the grassroots origins of Xinyao, which began as a youth-led cultural movement in Singapore 44 years ago. The winning entry for the Lyrics Writing Category, 《飞向云霄》 ("Soaring to the Skies"), penned by Sun Yucheng and Zhan Li from Catholic High School, was performed live during the event.

Jointly organised by the CPCLL, Lianhe Zaobao, TCR Music Station, and Jurong Pioneer Junior College, this annual competition aims to nurture students' interest in the Chinese language while encouraging creativity, original songwriting and appreciation of Singapore's Xinyao heritage."

Record Turnout of Over 2,600 Student Participants at 9th National Text Recital Competition (25 July 2026)

"Over 2,600 students from 281 primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute submitted more than 1,500 video entries for the 9th National Text Recital Competition – the largest turnout in the competition's history.

At the award ceremony today, 105 students emerged winners and were recognised for their vocal articulation, fluency and stage presence. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a speech and presented awards to the winners.

Jointly organised by the CPCLL, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, Chung Cheng High School (Main), and the Singapore Chinese Teachers Literary Recital Society, the competition aims to raise Chinese language reading proficiency among students, ignite their love for learning the language, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of Chinese texts."

Measures to Tackle Youth Self-Radicalisation in Schools and Institutions (27 July 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) takes a very serious view of youth self-radicalisation. Our schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will continue to step up efforts to stay vigilant and respond to the threat of youth self-radicalisation.

Preventive and Educative Efforts on Counter-Radicalisation

In Social Studies and Secondary History, and Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), students learn about the negative impact of extreme ideas, prejudice and stereotypes, and explore how these can be addressed. Through teacher-facilitated inquiry and discussions, students consider the roles that individuals and groups can play in strengthening understanding and interactions across racial and religious groups, and how they can contribute to promoting harmony.

Cyber Wellness lessons in CCE teach students to be safe, respectful and responsible users of cyberspace, and to be a positive influence online. Students develop skills to recognise risks online, and identify and discern negative influences and inappropriate websites. Students are also taught to look out for one another and encouraged to seek help from trusted adults like parents, teachers or school counsellors.

Schools and teachers are also trained to identify students who may be at-risk of online self-radicalisation. For instance, school counsellors work closely with teachers and other school personnel to look out for students who may be at risk, so that timely intervention can be provided when concerns are identified. School leaders and teachers are also guided on prompt handling of such cases, including providing timely guidance and counselling so that issues can be addressed before they escalate to more serious levels.

Since 2007, MOE has partnered the Internal Security Department (ISD) to conduct counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation workshops and activities for student leaders, educators and other school staff across primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and IHLs. These efforts sensitise participants to the terrorism threat, tell-tale signs of radicalisation, and the importance of early reporting."

Record 210 Students Awarded the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) in Its 15th Year (28 July 2026)

"This year marks the 15th year of the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS), with a record number of 210 students receiving the SgIS. Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, graced the 2026 SgIS Award Ceremony, held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

The SgIS aims to nurture a core of Singaporean industry leaders to steer the development of the country's key strategic industries. To date, it is the only multi-industry scholarship offered in partnership between the Government and local industries. Since its inception, SgIS has established itself as one of the choice scholarships in Singapore, and awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to Singaporean students.

The SgIS highlights the importance the Government and local industries place on developing a pipeline of local talent that are essential for Singapore's economy and businesses in the long run.

From 28 Sponsoring Organisations (SOs) in 2012, the number of SOs for SgIS has increased steadily over the years to a total of 146 in 2026. These 146 SOs come from 16 key sectors, including biomedical and pharmaceuticals, electronics, engineering, lifestyle and food, and social services. Their strong support for SgIS provides good career opportunities that will develop a strong Singaporean talent pipeline to support strategic sectors."

206 Individuals Awarded Teaching Scholarships and Grants at MOE Scholarship Ceremony (31 July 2026)

"206 individuals received scholarships and grants from Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee at the Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship Ceremony held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre today. The scholarship ceremony brought together recipients of the MOE Teaching Scholarships, MOE Teaching Award, and the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (START) Awards.

MOE Teaching Scholarships and MOE Teaching Award

This year, 185 students received the MOE Teaching Scholarships and the MOE Teaching Award at the scholarship ceremony.

The MOE Teaching Scholarships and Teaching Award are awarded to individuals who possess a strong passion for education and teaching. Recipients will be sponsored for their undergraduate tuition fees and receive an allowance. They will also be given developmental opportunities to prepare themselves for an enriching career as an educator, and to hone their leadership skills.

START Awards

A total of 21 Singaporeans were awarded scholarships and grants under START this year. This year's awardees are pursuing research interests in areas such as Plant Nanobiosensors, Data-centric AI, and Immersive Extended Reality (XR) philosophy.

START provides a suite of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and awards to Singaporeans interested in an academic career at the six Autonomous Universities (AUs), strengthening the pool of Singaporean talent in both research and teaching. Awardees study at local or overseas institutions, before embarking on their careers in Singapore. The awards include the Ministry of Education – Autonomous University (MOE-AU) Scholarship, Overseas PhD Scholarship, Overseas Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Early Career Awards, and the Inauguration Grant."

Nurturing Students' Love for Mother Tongue Languages Through Expanded Opportunities and Joyful Discovery (1 August 2026)

"At the 14th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 1 August 2026, Minister for Education Desmond Lee announced the following initiatives to strengthen Mother Tongue Language (MTL) learning and deepen students' appreciation of language and culture:

a. Expansion of the Mother Tongue Language Elective Programme at both the secondary and pre-university levels to give more students the opportunity to pursue their MTL at an advanced level.

b. Expansion of the Malay (Special Programme) to allow more students the opportunity to learn Malay as a third language.

c. Launch of a new AI Essay Marking System (AIMS) to support Chinese Language teachers and students in secondary schools.

Expansion of Mother Tongue Language Elective Programme

The Mother Tongue Language Elective Programme (LEP), offered in selected junior colleges (LEP-JC) and secondary schools (LEP-Sec), nurtures linguistically talented students to achieve high proficiency in Chinese, Malay or Tamil and strengthen their engagement with culture and literature. The LEP-Sec focuses on building a strong foundation in language and cultural appreciation through the study of MTL Literature, while the LEP-JC seeks to cultivate a deeper interest in MTL and literature through a variety of cultural activities.

From 2027, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will expand both the LEP-JC and LEP-Sec programmes:

a. The LEP-JC and LEP-Sec programmes in Tamil Language (TLEP-JC and TLEP-Sec) will be expanded through a centre-based approach at the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC), in addition to the two junior colleges and three secondary schools currently offering the programmes. These programmes are now more accessible to students from schools that do not currently offer the TLEP, and provide a clearer progression pathway for students moving from TLEP-Sec to TLEP-JC.

b. The LEP-JC programme in Chinese Language (CLEP-JC) will be expanded to a sixth school, Anderson Serangoon Junior College, allowing more students to benefit from the programme."

Students Demonstrate Creativity and Vocal Talent at Malay Choral Recitation Competition (11 August 2026)

"More than 200 students from six primary and six secondary schools advanced to the finals of Katapella 2026, Singapore's annual national Malay choral recitation competition. Competing before a live audience, students showcased their linguistic talents and creative expressions in the Malay language.

Jointly organised by the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) and Mediacorp, Katapella aims to foster in students a deeper appreciation for the Malay language and culture beyond the classroom.

The competition finals will be broadcast on Mediacorp's Suria and MeWatch over two hour-long episodes. The primary school category will air on 14 August 2026 at 8.30pm, followed by the secondary school category on 21 August 2026 at 8.30pm."

Three New Publications and Grant Call for Proposals to Support and Enrich Local Malay Literary Scene (14 August 2026)

"The Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) launched a novel titled 'JLN404', and two short story anthologies titled 'Jangan Ikut Hantu' and 'Tanah Air' on Friday, 14 August 2026, at The POD @ National Library Board. Guest-of-Honour Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, delivered a speech at the launch event.

The publications, commissioned by the MLLPC and penned by local writers Farihan Bahron, Djohan Abdul Rahman and Noridah Kamari, are part of efforts to promote an appreciation of the Malay language and cultivate a love of reading among young readers. They also aim to further encourage students to read and appreciate local literary works.

At the event, Dr Syed Harun announced a third round of grant call for proposals to encourage writers to produce more Malay language content for children and young adults. The grant will provide funding to selected writers, enabling them to develop and publish new works that will enrich the local Malay literary scene."

Annual Seminar Gathers Over 760 Preschool Chinese Language Teachers to Explore Meaningful Teacher-Child Interactions (15 August 2026)

"More than 760 preschool Chinese Language (CL) teachers came together for this year's Seminar for Preschool Chinese Language Teachers at Dunman High School on 15 August 2026. Themed "From 'Responding' to 'Co-constructing': Practice and Enhancement of High-Quality Teacher-Child Interactions" ("从'回应'到'共建'——高质量师幼互动的实践与提升"), the seminar equipped participants with practical tools and techniques to foster more meaningful connections with children in their care.

Organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) and supported by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) and Dunman High School, this annual seminar serves as a platform for preschool CL teachers to enhance their teaching skills and grow their professional networks. Guest-of-Honour Mr Xie Yao Quan, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Member of Parliament for Jurong Central Single Member Constituency and Leader of the CPCLL Preschool Group, delivered opening remarks at the event."

Over 180 Students Demonstrate Public Speaking and Critical Thinking at Inaugural National Secondary Schools Chinese Debate Competition (15 August 2026)

"186 students from 28 secondary schools participated in the inaugural National Secondary Schools Chinese Debate Competition, and the top four teams were recognised at the awards ceremony today. Guest-of-Honour Mr Xie Yao Quan, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Member of Parliament for Jurong Central Single Member Constituency and Leader of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) Preschool Group, delivered a speech and presented awards to the winners at the event.

Jointly organised by the CPCLL and the Tan Kah Kee Foundation (TKKF), the competition aims to boost students' public speaking and debating skills, cultivate their critical thinking skills, and strengthen their confidence in using the Chinese language.

A total of 31 teams competed across three preliminary rounds and the semi-finals, with Hwa Chong Institution (High School) and Evergreen Secondary School emerging as the finalists.

In the lead-up to the competition, around 200 students – comprising student participants and student helpers from the two organising schools, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School and Catholic High School – attended three virtual workshops which covered the fundamentals of debate, from critical thinking and argument construction to questioning techniques and debate strategies."

Five Teachers Lauded for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning of Malay Language (21 August 2026)

"Five Malay Language teachers were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the teaching and learning of the Malay Language at this year's Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award Ceremony on Friday, 21 August 2026. Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, presented the awards to the finalists and winners.

Since 2007, the Awards have recognised 83 primary, secondary, and pre-university Malay Language educators. The Awards are presented in two categories: the (i) Role Model Category for teachers with 10 years of teaching service or more, and the (ii) Motivation Category for teachers with less than 10 years of teaching service.

All Malay Language teachers in local mainstream schools were eligible for nomination, based on their contributions from 2024 to 2025. This year, 422 nominations were received between February and March. The awardees were selected by a panel of judges comprising community leaders, academics from Institutions of Higher Learning, school leaders and media representatives."

St. Joseph's Institution Junior and Yusof Ishak Secondary School Named Katapella 2026 Champions (21 August 2026)

"St. Joseph's Institution Junior and Yusof Ishak Secondary School have emerged as the champions of Katapella 2026, Singapore's national Malay choral recitation competition, in the primary school and secondary school categories respectively. Each winning team received trophies and book vouchers.

Jointly organised by the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) and Mediacorp, Katapella aims to foster in students a deeper appreciation for the Malay language and culture beyond the classroom."

Four Teachers Recognised at Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' Award Ceremony 2026 (29 August 2026)

"Four teachers received the Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' (MITT) Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the teaching and learning of the Tamil Language. In addition to the MITT Award, one teacher was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award while another received the Best National Institute of Education (NIE) Tamil Trainee Teacher Award.

Guest-of-Honour Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Chairman of the Tamil Promotion Committee (TPC), Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Manpower, and Mayor of South East District, presented the awards to the recipients at the MITT Award Ceremony today.

Jointly organised by Tamil Murasu (TM), the Singapore Tamil Teachers' Union (STTU) and the TPC, the MITT Award recognises the stellar performance of our Tamil Language teachers in educating and promoting Tamil language among their students. Award winners also serve as role models for other Tamil Language educators in nurturing our students' love for the language and using technology creatively to enhance learning. Each award recipient will receive a plaque, a certificate of achievement and a cash grant."

Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Emerges as Champion of Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0 (30 August 2026)

"Ang Mo Kio Secondary School has emerged as the champion of the inaugural Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0, a game show that tested secondary school students on their knowledge and understanding of Malay language and culture through a series of challenging quizzes. The winning team received a trophy and book vouchers in recognition of their achievement.

Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Chairperson of the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC), was the Guest-of-Honour in the final episode of Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0 on Suria, where he presented prizes to the finalists.

Organised by the MLLPC in collaboration with Mediacorp, Kuiz Cepat Tepat 2.0 aims to foster in students a deeper appreciation of Malay language and culture beyond the classroom, while encouraging them to think creatively and critically."

211 Special Awards to Recognise Students' Diverse Achievements (31 August 2026)

"This year, 202 students from 90 educational institutions received a total of 211 Special Awards, to recognise their diverse achievements in both academic and non-academic domains. Senior Minister of State for Education Dr Janil Puthucheary presented the awards at the Special Awards Presentation Ceremony, an annual ceremony, on 31 August 2026 at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre."

Singapore Students Win 13 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals, 8 Bronze Medals and 1 Team Championship in this Year's International Olympiads and International Young Physicists' Tournament (2 September 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) congratulates all students for their remarkable performances at the International Olympiads for Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, and Informatics, as well as the International Young Physicists' Tournament, held from July to August 2026. Beyond the competitions, our students gained valuable experience through interactions with like-minded peers from around the world.

37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

The Singapore team clinched three Gold medals and one Silver medal at the 37th IBO held in Vilnius, Lithuania from 12 to 19 July 2026, finishing joint 5th out of 78 countries/territories and 302 participants. The IBO tested students in both practical and theory components. The practical component comprised four tasks spanning molecular biology and biochemistry, animal physiology, animal morphology and systematics, and plant computational biology. The theory component covered a broad range of topics, including biosystematics, cell and molecular biology, ecology, ethology, genetics and evolution, and plant and animal anatomy and physiology.

58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)

The Singapore team clinched three Gold medals and one Bronze medal at the 58th IChO held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 10 to 19 July 2026, emerging 7th out of 92 countries/territories and 363 participants. Students performed a diverse range of Chemistry tasks across experimental and theoretical components. In the experimental component, students had to synthesise compounds, perform quantitative analysis, and determine the identity of an unknown substance. In the theoretical component, students were required to solve problems related to biochemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry."

Eight Teachers Receive Top Honours for Dedication and Excellence in Education (3 September 2026)

"Eight outstanding educators received this year’s President’s Award for Teachers from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the annual Teachers’ Day Reception on 3 September 2026."

PISA 2025: Singapore Students Demonstrate Strong Real-World Problem-Solving Skills in Computational Thinking Domain (8 September 2026)

"Students Continue to Perform Strongly in Reading, Mathematics, and Science

In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2025, Singapore's 15-year-old students demonstrated strong competencies in computational thinking and using digital tools to solve complex real-world problems in the newly-assessed domain of Computational Problem Solving (CMPS). Our students also continue to perform strongly across all three core domains of Reading, Mathematics, and Science. The results affirm Singapore students strengths in applying knowledge and skills to solve complex problems and being engaged with learning, putting them in good stead for lifelong learning.

Singapore Students Do Very Well in Applying Foundational Literacies, and Using Digital Tools and Computational Thinking to Solve Real-World Problems

More than half of our students are top performers in CMPS, compared to a quarter of students in OECD countries on average. They are highly effective in applying computational practices such as conducting experiments, analysing data, and building and debugging computational artefacts to solve complex real-world problems.

Beyond proficiency, our students are also highly engaged in learning. Under OECD's framework, Singapore is one of only two systems in PISA 2025 with over two-thirds of students who are proficient learners, and more than a quarter who are engaged learners. 28% of our students are competent learners (i.e. both proficient and engaged), compared to OECD average of 14%.

Singapore students continue to perform strongly in Reading, Mathematics, and Science, outperforming their peers in nearly all other systems. Notably, Singapore's proportion (15%) of academic all-rounders (viz., top performers in all three Reading, Mathematics, and Science domains) is the highest among all participating systems (OECD average: 3%)."

Enhancing the Primary One Registration Framework for Greater Access and Inclusivity (10 September 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) is making changes to the Primary One (P1) Registration Framework, to improve access for children without prior connections to a school, and encourage greater mixing among students from different backgrounds. The revised framework will be implemented with effect from the 2027 P1 Registration Exercise (for children starting P1 in 2028)."

Redesigning Classrooms, Reimagining Learning: Strengthening Students' Holistic Development (16 September 2026)

"At this year's Schools Work Plan Seminar on 16 September 2026, Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee outlined two shifts that the Ministry of Education (MOE) will make to redesign classrooms and reimagine learning. This builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen students' holistic development, including in areas such as 21st Century Competencies (21CC) and social-emotional competencies.

Three primary and three secondary schools will pilot the two shifts from January 2027. They will explore how learner-centred teaching approaches and more purposeful feedback can be better incorporated to support students' holistic development; and how more time and space can be provided to teachers to enable the redesign of teaching and learning in classrooms.

MOE will also roll out Teacher Workspace to all MOE schools by 2027. Teacher Workspace is a platform developed by MOE to simplify teachers' day-to-day work. It streamlines everyday processes by bringing together relevant information and tools teachers need in one place. This too, will allow teachers to invest more time into teaching and supporting students' holistic development."

20 Years of Malay Language Learning and Promotion – "Sowing the Language, Harvesting the Fruits for Generations" (18 September 2026)

"The Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) commemorated its 20th anniversary on 19 September 2026 with a Pesta Rakyat (Community Festival) themed “20 Tahun Menyemai Bahasa, Menuai Generasi” (20 years of Sowing the Language, Harvesting the Fruits for Generations), celebrating two decades of promoting the learning and use of the Malay language in Singapore and nurturing generations of confident Malay language users.

Guest-of-Honour Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Chairperson of the MLLPC, graced the event at the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC). The celebration, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the MHC under the National Heritage Board (NHB), also featured an appreciation ceremony for MLLPC’s key partners and the presentation of awards for the Peraduan Menulis Cerpen ‘Orang Singapura’ (‘Orang Singapura’ Short Story Writing Competition)."

More Than 10,000 Student Athletes Recognised for Sporting Achievements at Colours Award 2026 (25 September 2026)

"This year, a total of 10,061 student-athletes received recognition for their sporting achievements and display of good sporting character through the Singapore Schools Sports Council (SSSC) Colours Award. The Award is presented to students from secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute."

49 Schools to Welcome New Principals in 2027 (7 October 2026)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will appoint 49 Principals at the annual Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals on 30 December 2026. Among them will be 13 newly appointed Principals.

The appointment and rotation of Principals allow schools to benefit from new perspectives and ideas, and enable experienced school leaders to share expertise and best practices across schools. Through these appointments, Principals will broaden their leadership experience and strengthen the schools they are entrusted to lead."

Polytechnics step up autonomous mobility training as industry needs evolve (19 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Some polytechnics are strengthening their curriculum to prepare students for roles in autonomous mobility, amid a growing demand for cross-disciplinary skills that integrate software, hardware and artificial intelligence.

A key area is autonomous vehicles, which are designed to navigate and respond to road conditions with little or no human input. They rely on technologies such as sensors, cameras and AI to decide how to steer, accelerate or brake.

The institutes are also looking to deepen industry collaborations, with Singapore's new S$800 million (US$626 million) transport research and innovation investment expected to open more opportunities for students to work on emerging technologies.

MORE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

At Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), students are already getting hands-on experience with autonomous vehicles through internships.

Third-year electronic and computer engineering student Shawn Lee is on a 22-week internship with autonomous vehicle operator MooVita.

His work includes mapping routes before self-driving shuttles are deployed and testing how they respond to different situations on the road.

"This project gave me a lot of practical experience that I could use in my further studies, and even after I graduate. I think that this is a growing industry – it could be what I will be heading into next," he said.

NP is looking to extend internships to as long as a year for some courses.

It is also exploring a tie-up with the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) Centre for Autonomous Mobility to give students more exposure to the sector.

This could include learning journeys, sessions with industry experts and projects with potential partners, said Mr Tan Guangfan, covering director of NP's School of Engineering.

Mr Tan hopes the potential collaboration with LTA could open doors to more industry partners involved in autonomous mobility.

He said multidisciplinary skills have become more important as increasingly complex engineering systems require different technologies to work together.

"Very complex systems like autonomous transport, smart infrastructures will require integrations of software, hardware, data, sensors, and communications to make things work,” he said.

He added that employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can "link different technologies together"."

NTUC ramping up early career support for graduating youths amid AI shifts: Ng Chee Meng (19 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is stepping up job-matching and career support for graduating youths as artificial intelligence reshapes industries, jobs and the skills employers seek, secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said on Wednesday (Aug 19).

While AI will create new opportunities, it is also changing how young people enter and navigate the workforce, said the labour chief.

“For graduating youths, this can make the transition from school to work more uncertain.

“That is why NTUC is stepping up support early, even before they graduate, to help them build the skills, confidence, and networks to seize the right opportunities, and importantly, to connect with employers,” he said.

“We want our youths to be prepared not just for their first job, but for a future of continuous learning, adaptation and growth.”

As part of these efforts, NTUC Youth will increase the intake for the bond-free NTUC Starter Awards scholarships by 50 per cent, bringing the total number of scholars in the next iteration to 150.

The programme, launched in 2024, has benefited 135 students so far. It includes leadership development, industry mentorship and overseas learning, NTUC said in a media release.

Nanyang Technological University will also join the NTUC Starter Awards, bringing the total number of partner institutes of higher learning to nine.

The other partner schools are the three Institute of Technical Education colleges, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore Institute of Technology.

SUPPORT TO HELP YOUTHS FIND JOBS

Mr Ng, who recently returned to Cabinet as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, was speaking at a dinner to mark the 21st anniversary of NTUC Youth, the labour movement’s youth wing.

NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) is preparing graduating youths for the workforce through personalised career coaching and guidance, including an AI career coach.

E2i has also worked with employers and tertiary institutions to connect youths to jobs through career fairs and workshops, said NTUC.

Across three youth-focused events held in July, more than 50 employers offered about 300 entry-level roles, with more than 900 vacancies available across sectors including technology and cybersecurity, engineering, finance and other professional services.

More than 800 on-site interviews were conducted at the events, NTUC said.

Mr Ng referred to recent findings by the International Labour Organization that youth unemployment was rising most sharply in higher-income countries, where young people increasingly fear that their jobs will be replaced by technology.

While the challenges are real, AI will also bring new possibilities, business models and industries that Singapore is well-placed to pursue, he said."

Co-living an emerging housing option for young adults, but affordability and familiarity concerns remain (20 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Co-living is emerging as a new housing option for young adults seeking independence before marriage or owning their first home, but it is unlikely to shift Singapore’s longstanding policy and emphasis on home ownership for now, said observers.

It reflects how young Singaporeans’ housing goals are changing as they marry later and seek greater flexibility in the transition to adulthood while affordability remains a major consideration, they added.

This follows the announcement of a co-living pilot under the SG Youth Plan last month, with two operators setting aside over 100 units for Singaporean youths aged 21 to 35 at discounted rates.

As of Aug 12, more than 600 people have expressed interest in the initiative, said a Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth spokesperson.

The majority are single youths, with the most commonly cited reason being the desire for more personal space and the opportunity to experience living independently.

While it may be an additional rung on the housing ladder – between living with parents and buying a home – observers cautioned against seeing the pilot as a fundamental shift in Singapore’s national housing policy.

At the launch of Mber co-living and serviced apartments earlier this month, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said that household structures and housing aspirations have evolved as society becomes more diverse.

“While homeownership remains a key tenet of Singapore’s social compact, we recognise that there is also demand for flexible accommodation options, such as by younger Singaporeans who are looking to rent initially before buying their own homes,” he said.

“Now, let me be clear, we still want to encourage home ownership. That is still a very key part of our social compact.”

FILLING THE MISSING MIDDLE

While home ownership remains the final end goal, co-living could fill a gap on the traditional housing journey of Singaporean youths, said observers.

“For a long time, the typical housing journey in Singapore has been quite straightforward: you live with your parents, get married, buy an HDB flat and eventually perhaps upgrade,” said National University of Singapore economics and real estate professor Sumit Agarwal.

While that model has worked well, Prof Agarwal noted that young people’s lives are becoming more varied.

“They are marrying later, changing jobs more often, spending time overseas, and some simply want to experience living independently before getting married,” he said.

Including co-living in the SG Youth Plan is an acknowledgement that there can be another stage in the housing journey, he added.

“I would probably call it an additional rung on the housing ladder rather than an alternative to home ownership,” he said."

Trial opens for man accused of sexually assaulting 16-year-old girl in Admiralty Park female toilet (20 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The trial for a man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a female toilet at Admiralty Park with two friends opened on Thursday (Aug 20), as the prosecution called on her as their first witness.

Raden Zulhusni Zulkifri, now 28, is accused of sexual assault involving penetration as well as criminal trespass.

Under the penal code, sexual assault by penetration is a different offence from rape.

The other two men involved in the case, Muhammad Isnalli David and Muhammad Al'Amin Selamat were caned and jailed for more than 12 years and 10 years respectively, after they both admitted in 2025 to raping the girl.

The girl, now 21, cannot be named to protect her identity. Deputy Public Prosecutors Tay Jia En and Melissa Heng called on her on Thursday as the first of their 28 witnesses, opting to have her testimony heard in private.

In his opening statement, Mr Tay noted that the victim was only 16 years old when she was sexually assaulted while she was intoxicated.

Two of the three men involved in the case have admitted to their roles and are serving time, while Raden has “refused to take any responsibility for his actions”, the prosecution claimed on Thursday.

Over the trial, the court will hear the victim’s "consistent" account of Raden’s alleged role and accounts from the two men who pleaded guilty that “clearly implicate” him, said Mr Tay.

“It bears noting that the accused did not file any case for the defence, and he will therefore have much to answer for at trial,” he said.

The prosecution plans to show that Raden entered the female toilet and the cubicle where the girl and the other two men were, said Mr Tay, citing CCTV footage that showed the man entering and leaving the female toilet.

The prosecution will also present reports from doctors from KK Women's and Children's Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health who examined and heard her account of what happened on the day of the incident, he added.

AGREED FACTS

Raden reached Admiralty Park at about 5pm on Mar 27, 2022. He and Al'Amin, who was already there with a female friend, contacted Isnalli and they confirmed they would meet up that evening.

At about 8pm, they all met at a bench at the park. Isnalli, a 21-year-old female friend who was acquainted with him, and his victim arrived with gin and Redbull.

She drank “a number of cups” of gin mixed with Redbull, which Isnalli, Al'Amin and Raden also consumed, the court heard.

The girl became intoxicated and felt the urge to vomit. Isnalli helped her to the toilet while the others stayed at the bench.

Mr Tay then laid out a blow-by-blow account of what the CCTV footage captured as part of the facts agreed upon by both the prosecution and defence.

Isnalli supported the victim while she leaned over a sink outside the female toilet. He dragged her by her left arm and they entered the female toilet, the court heard.

The footage also captured Raden entering and exiting the female toilet multiple times after that, said Mr Tay, citing each occurrence alongside its timestamp.

Midway through the prosecution’s recount of what the CCTV footage captured, Justice Hoo Sheau Peng stopped to ask Raden if he was aware that he had agreed that all these things had happened.

His lawyer, Patrick Fernandez of Fernandez LLC, confirmed that his client was aware of what he was agreeing to.

Aside from the three men, two female friends were also captured on CCTV entering and exiting the toilet multiple times, the court heard."

Graduate industry traineeships: Nearly half find jobs after completing programme (21 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: When Mr Kenneth Chow, 25, graduated with a business degree in 2025 from Nanyang Technological University, he was considering a move into a different field: technology sales.

He started a traineeship under the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) programme in January, which gave him a chance to find out if that was the right path for him.

“I was questioning...whether I should venture into tech sales. GRIT gave me the confidence because it allowed me to work on real stuff that I would do if I were in a full-time role,” he told CNA.

Three months into his stint with professional social networking platform LinkedIn, he received an offer to convert to a full-time position as a sales development representative.

GRIT, an initiative by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), was launched in October 2025 to aid fresh graduates who have difficulty finding their first job.

It offers traineeships lasting three to six months, with the aim of helping fresh graduates transition into full-time roles. The government funds 70 per cent of each trainee's monthly allowance, with host organisations covering the remaining 30 per cent.

More than 590 of the programme's 800 traineeship places had been filled as of July, according to figures provided to CNA by SWDA.

Over 140 trainees have completed their stints. Almost half of them have since found employment, with about four in 10 of those employed hired by their host companies. The rest found jobs elsewhere.

According to SWDA, the traineeships span more than 40 private-sector organisations in areas including financial and professional services, information-communications and media, wholesale trade and electronics, as well as more than 50 public-sector agencies.

The programme has also been extended to the 2026 graduating cohort.

A MORE CAUTIOUS JOB MARKET

The effort comes as fresh graduates face a more cautious hiring market and broader economic uncertainty.

The proportion of fresh graduates from Singapore’s autonomous universities who found jobs within six months of their final exams has fallen in recent years, from 94.4 per cent in 2021 to 83.4 per cent in 2025, according to the latest graduate employment survey released in March.

But longer-term employment outcomes have remained more resilient.

About nine in 10 graduates from the 2025 cohort had found employment 12 months after graduation, similar to previous cohorts, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in early August.

For this year’s cohort, among about 18,000 fresh graduates, around 9,100 had found work as of June and about 3,600 were still looking. Another 5,400 were outside the labour force, mainly because they were pursuing further studies or taking a break."

Graduate industry traineeships: Nearly half find jobs after completing programme (21 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: More than 3,000 lower-income residents across three areas will get free warm meals delivered to food lockers near their homes from September under a new programme launched on Friday (Aug 21).

Called Warm Meals @ North East, it is expected to help 1,000 households in Tampines, Punggol and Pasir Ris-Changi towns, said OCBC and the North East Community Development Council (CDC).

Under the year-long programme, each participating household will get S$500 (US$393) in meal credits – equivalent to about 165 meals.

The credits will be disbursed progressively from September and added to the families' accounts through a mobile app.

They can be used at about 30 food lockers located at or near the void decks of Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental blocks across the towns. Users have to scan a QR code via the app to open the locker doors.

The warm meals are provided during lunch and dinner times. Lunch will usually be available from noon to 3pm, and dinner from 5pm to 8pm, barring any unforeseen operational requirements.

"As meals are prepared fresh daily and shortly before each service period, the three-hour redemption window is intentionally kept short to ensure quality and freshness," said OCBC and North East CDC.

The meals, supplied by Chang Cheng Group, span different cuisines and are halal-certified. They are designed to provide a balanced mix of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates.

Menu options include creamy spaghetti with roasted chicken, stir-fried chicken udon, rendang chicken, vegetarian tofu with mushroom sauce rice and teriyaki fish rice.

“The menu is rotated regularly to provide variety and cater to diverse tastes and dietary needs, with meal offerings reviewed and refreshed based on beneficiaries' preferences and feedback,” said OCBC and North East CDC.

There will be over 50 meals on a rotational basis, with at least eight options or more every day.

North East District mayor Baey Yam Keng said access to nutritious food is a "fundamental need" for every family, and that the initiative "responds directly" to concerns raised by residents about getting food that is good for them.

"We hope to ease daily pressures and strengthen the support ecosystem available to lower-income households in our community," he added.

In response to CNA's queries, he said the lockers have a "mechanism" to keep the food warm during the hours they are in the locker.

People can also preorder meals and members of the public can buy a meal at S$3 each.

The vendor will abide by food regulations and extra food will have to be disposed of because it cannot be given to others, Mr Baey said.

North East CDC, along with its partners, will monitor the take-up of the meals and make adjustments along the way so as to minimise food waste, he added.

The programme is funded by a combined S$500,000 from OCBC and North East CDC, with support from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)."

Man gets jail, caning for abusing 6-year-old boy for 18 hours (21 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A man was sentenced to nine years and 10 months' jail, and eight strokes of the cane on Friday (Aug 21) for abusing multiple young boys who were under his care.

The man beat his youngest victim – a six-year-old boy – with a hanger more than 600 times, forced him to hold a push-up position for hours, and made him sleep in the toilet and drink his own urine.

The boy suffered severe injuries as a result, including to his ribs, lungs and kidneys, and was hospitalised for 46 days.

The 31-year-old Singaporean man took care of young foreign students who lived in accommodation provided by the company where he worked, which his aunt owned. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his victims, also abused two other boys, aged 10 and 11.

He had also pleaded guilty in July to making a false declaration related to hiring a foreign domestic worker to perform housekeeping duties for the accommodation.

District Judge John Ng said the sentence sent out the community’s collective message – that the ill treatment and abuse of young vulnerable victims cannot be tolerated and that any cruelty against them is "wholly to be condemned".

He noted that the most serious of the man's offences were committed against his youngest victim.

The facts "speak for themselves" on the brutality the man inflicted, said the judge, reiterating in detail what happened to the boy.

The judge noted that the man's mitigation plea referenced the physical abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of his alcoholic father and gangster older brother.

Judge Ng said he trusted that the man's personal background was cited not to excuse his cruel acts on his victims, especially the six-year-old boy.

"But I have to say, on the other hand, being a young boy who had suffered at the hand of abusers, the offender should have been in a better position not to repeat such terrible treatment of vulnerable victims who had trusted him to care for them and even to protect them," he added, as the man bowed his head in the dock.

"It was noted specifically by the psychiatrist that even if these allegations were true...it did not exculpate his physical abuse of the children under his care," said the judge, citing a report by a doctor with the Institute of Mental Health.

When the man pleaded guilty in July, Deputy Public Prosecutors Timotheus Koh and Cheronne Lim asked for between nine years and six weeks' to 10 years and eight weeks' jail for the man, on top of six strokes of the cane.

Most of the man’s actions were captured on CCTV, and the videos “really show the extent of the depravity” of his actions and the cruelty he inflicted on his young victims, said Mr Koh at the time, adding that the videos are very difficult to watch.

Defence lawyer Sarbrinder Singh of Sanders Law, had argued for seven years and two weeks’ prison and caning for his client instead.

In mitigation, the defence claimed that the man suffers from sleepless nights and that he was very remorseful for his actions.

The man requested to delay his sentence by one week to carry out prayers next week. The judge denied his request."

Customers bring gifts, children to meet elderly stallholder after he was shoved over head-pat (21 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Customers of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle are still streaming in with gifts and well wishes for its 73-year-old owner, almost a week after he was shoved to the ground for patting a girl's head.

Police said on Friday (Aug 21) the case is still under investigation, and the family told CNA the medical reports have been submitted to the authorities.

When CNA visited, owner Yeo Song Khoon was busy taking orders, with a queue forming as early as 11.30am.

Among the customers was Mr Jo Ng, 40, who brought his one-year-old daughter to meet Mr Yeo. The sleep technologist told him he could pat her head, and he obliged.

“I said ‘you can pat her head’, and she was quite comfortable,” said Mr Ng. “And hopefully that’s therapy to him also, because he kind of could be traumatised touching a child’s head.”

He added that Mr Yeo appeared to "heave a sigh of relief" afterwards.

"So really, I'm very thankful to see that he was not traumatised from touching another baby's head," he said.

Mr Ng, who has patronised the store since he was a teenager, said he also offered free physiotherapy sessions to Mr Yeo, which the latter declined.

Ms Joanne Fu joined the queue with her four-year-old daughter with the same intention – to wish Mr Yeo well.

The 41-year-old, who works in sales, asked her daughter to pass Mr Yeo a “get well soon” balloon as they placed their order. Mr Yeo accepted the balloon with a smile, waving goodbye to the girl.

“I hope that he can get back on his feet again,” said Ms Fu in Mandarin. “I hope his love for kids can continue.”

Ms Janice Tan, a frequent customer, brought her three children aged seven to 12 to the stall.

The 41-year-old homemaker said her children had been upset seeing news of Mr Yeo and wanted to check on him.

“For them to see someone that they know being treated that way, I think it hurt them quite a bit,” she said. “So today I went and told uncle: ‘Uncle, these three kids you can pat their heads anytime.’”

Mr Yeo told CNA that he is now more careful around children since the incident. “If they tell me I can approach their children, then I will,” he said in Mandarin.

He also said the medicine he has been taking for back pain has left him too disoriented, and declined to answer further questions.

A table beside the stall held a "get well soon" hamper, fruit and other gifts from customers. Business was healthy throughout the lunch period, with waiting times of up to an hour."

I stood where my great-great-grandmother watched her son, aged 11, leave China forever (21 August 2026)

"Growing up with two working parents, I spent most days in the care of my paternal grandmother.

Her Teochew-ness became part of the texture of my childhood. It lived in the rituals of her home and in the food on her dinner table: stir-fried bittergourd with eggs, a vat of pork belly and tau kwa stewed in dark soy, a whole steamed fish washed down with a bowl of fishball soup.

It was the language my grandmother used when she called me to eat, nagged me to do my chores, or told me a story. Not once did I think to ask where it had come from.

As I got older, I began to see my grandmother differently. She was no longer just the strict, formidable woman whose thumb I had grown up under – she was a woman who had overcome immense odds to raise five children and, later, her grandchildren.

I began asking questions I never did before: What was my late grandfather like? How did my grandparents meet? What did their youth look like? Where did our family come from?

Gradually, the story of how my family came to be in Singapore unfolded in fragments, names, anecdotes, food, language and half-remembered stories shared over casual conversations.

And somewhere in those fragments was a village in China that none of us had ever seen.

IN SEARCH OF THE PLACE EVERYONE ELSE LEFT

My grandfather, Tan Kwan Lok (陈光禄), was born in what is now Indonesia to a first-generation immigrant from China, and his wife, a local Indonesian-Chinese woman. But beyond this, we didn't know much about how his father – my great-grandfather – had come to be in Indonesia in the first place.

My dad called upon a relative in Indonesia, asking if they could take a photograph of my great-grandfather's grave in Tanjung Balai Karimun, in Riau Islands province, not far to the south-west of Singapore.

The inscription had been worn down with time, but it still bore the name of the village in China where he was born.

Unable to decipher the fading characters on our own, we put the photograph through an AI tool. That pointed us towards Chao'an, in Guangdong province. From there, we were able to narrow it down to the town of Caitang and, eventually, Sha Long village.

It was our first real lead.

I started calling Teochew associations in Singapore, hoping that their records might connect us to Tan families still living in the village.

Nothing came up. Our branch of the family had never been recorded with them.

A friend of my dad's, who visits Chao'an often, put us in touch with a local driver. The driver agreed to take us into the village – but that was as much as he could promise. We didn't know whether the village was actually ours, or if anyone would recognise the names we carried with us.

It was enough for my parents and me. We booked the flights, packed our bags and hoped for the best."

Commentary: Don’t settle for easy explanations after a pat on a child’s head turns into shoving incident (22 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Whatever you think about patting someone else’s child on the head, I think we can all agree that a violent reaction is not acceptable. Police investigations are ongoing into an Aug 15 incident in which a father allegedly shoved a 73-year-old man to the ground after the latter patted his young daughter on the head.

But the Roxy Square incident has since evolved beyond whether that initial gesture crossed a line. How people judged the incident quickly revealed their diagnoses of what ails society today.

It’s generational: Older generations have always done this to show affection. Young parents are too sensitive about it.

It’s cultural: Young parents have filled their heads with Western ideas of parenting and personal space. Singapore’s Asian values are more communitarian.

It’s social: We’ve retreated from each other, while being constantly exposed to stories of danger in other parts of the world. Not every stranger is a potential pervert or kidnapper.

None of these explanations feels complete to me.

THE ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED, NOT JUST PARENTS

Personal boundaries are not a new concept, but they have become more explicit. The way we teach them to children has become more deliberate.

In school, Primary 1 students learn about a “good touch” versus a “bad touch” and to seek out a trusted adult if they feel unsafe. Age-appropriate knowledge and skills, such as recognising sexual abuse and harassment, are taught as they grow.

Even pre-schoolers are taught about respecting body boundaries – both theirs and others. Children today are taught to have awareness and a vocabulary to express it.

And every time cases of abuse involving young children make the news, especially in education or community settings that are expected to be safe, it understandably makes parents more vigilant about protecting their kids.

It does not make every unsolicited touch dangerous. But neither should parents be expected to accept it simply because the person “meant no harm” or it was “just their way of showing affection”.

Setting boundaries and wanting them to be respected are now part of the environment in which we raise children.

NOT EVERYONE DRAWS THE SAME LINES

But our children will encounter people of all ages who do not draw the same boundaries.

A pat on the head can be an innocent gesture to one and an unwelcome intrusion to another. A person who has patted the heads of children many times without protest has little reason to think the next parent will consider it inappropriate.

Social norms change and it’s legitimate to expect that people adapt to the times. But we cannot assume everyone knows when those expectations have changed.

This forces parents and children to communicate those boundaries, even within families. Parents today may ask grandparents not to demand a kiss or not to pressure children to hug other relatives and friends.

And for me, this is where reducing our different views to a generational divide feels particularly unsatisfying: Doing so assumes older people cannot change when asked and that younger parents only want to impose their own rules."

NDR 2026 highlights: More childcare leave, BTO income ceiling raised as PM Wong unveils major family support measures (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a major expansion of support for families at his National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23), including more childcare leave and plans to significantly lower preschool fees.

Housing support will also be expanded. The income ceiling for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats will rise for the first time in seven years - from S$14,000 to S$16,000. First-timer families will get an additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting.

The measures form part of a broader shift towards supporting families throughout the journey of raising their children, rather than concentrating help around childbirth.

Beyond families, Mr Wong laid out how Singapore intends to navigate a world that he described as more contested, unstable and dangerous.

He said the country would embrace technologies such as artificial intelligence while managing their risks and supporting affected workers. Stronger protections for young social media users are on the horizon, including more robust age checks and safeguards for teenagers.

Drawing his speech to a close with the stories of three Singaporeans who persevered through setbacks, Mr Wong called on Singaporeans to stay united and “go forward together” to build a stronger Singapore.

“If we stay united, keep faith with one another, and hold fast to the values that have brought us this far, I am confident we will rise to every challenge – and we will prevail,” he said.

Catch up on the key announcements."

NDR 2026: New committee set up to help Malay/Muslim community seize economic opportunities, develop skills (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A new Committee of Economic Resilience will engage the Malay/Muslim community to develop skills and seize economic opportunities, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Aug 23).

Chaired by Members of Parliament Wan Rizal (PAP-Jalan Besar) and Saktiandi Supaat (PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh), the committee has received many thoughtful suggestions from the community, Mr Wong said in his Malay speech at the National Day Rally.

“One key thrust is to support Malay/Muslim youths to develop their skills, broaden their exposure and seize opportunities in new and growing sectors,” he said, according to an English translation of his speech provided by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

The two MPs are engaging the Malay/Muslim community across various sectors to translate recommendations from the Economic Strategy Review – a 10-year economic blueprint released by the government in May – into actions that will benefit the community.

Key areas under consideration by the committee include mental health support for workers navigating career transitions, and employability initiatives to connect young people with relevant industries and the broader community.

New Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad and his team will announce other initiatives in due course, said Mr Wong."

NDR 2026: Singapore can make more room for dialects while promoting Mandarin, says PM Wong (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Even as Singapore promotes the use of Mandarin, it can make more room for dialects, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Mandarin National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 23).

While free-to-air broadcasts will continue to mostly use Mandarin, the government can ease restrictions on dialects for paid television and movies, he said, based on an English translation of the speech provided by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).

A cap currently applies to the number of dialect film screenings, he noted. The government will relax this rule: dialect screenings will no longer be capped, as long as a Mandarin-dubbed version is available.

MDDI said separately on Sunday that it will remove existing restrictions on dialect content for subscription TV services, including a rule allowing only one dialect arthouse film a week and a cap on the proportion of dialect songs on music channels.

The updated guidelines take effect in September.

Mr Wong's comments come months after the release of the film Dear You, which opened in Singapore on Jun 18 with Mandarin-dubbed general screenings. Its original Teochew version was shown only at subsequent festivals and niche screenings.

At the time, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) said the arrangement supported the bilingual policy of promoting Mandarin as the main language among Chinese Singaporeans. It later approved more than 1,000 screenings of the Teochew version and said it was reviewing the guidelines on dialect use in films.

PROTECTING GAINS FROM MANDARIN CAMPAIGN

“Many see dialects as a cultural heritage worth preserving. I agree,” Mr Wong said in his speech. But Singapore must protect the “hard-won gains” of the Speak Mandarin Campaign, he added.

The campaign was launched in 1979 by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to encourage Chinese Singaporeans to speak standard Mandarin, at a time when dialects were still widely spoken at home.

Decades ago, Chinese Singaporeans spoke many dialects, with different accents even within the same dialect group, Mr Wong said.

Mandarin has since become their common language, laying the foundation for Singapore's bilingual policy and connecting the country to Chinese communities worldwide. This is why the government's push to promote Mandarin must continue, he added.

“Back then, the Speak Mandarin Campaign urged Chinese Singaporeans to ‘Speak more Mandarin and less dialects.’ The situation today is very different,” said Mr Wong.

“Few families speak dialect at home. Most Chinese Singaporeans know Mandarin but use English more often. The challenge now is to encourage those comfortable in English to speak more Mandarin. The more we use Mandarin, the better we will get at it.”

HERITAGE GALLERY

A Singapore Chinese Heritage Gallery will also be established to honour the country's Chinese pioneers, Mr Wong announced.

The gallery will trace how these pioneers put down roots and built lives here, and pay tribute to the Chinese community organisations that built Singapore’s multiracial society, he said.

It will be housed in the Singapore Conference Hall in Shenton Way and managed by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, he added. The gallery is scheduled to open in 2031.

“The true value of Singapore Chinese culture lies not only in what we can see and taste. It carries well over a century of our pioneers' wisdom,” said Mr Wong.

“They forged a life with people of different races. The wisdom they gained underpins our peace and prosperity today.”

NDR 2026: PM Wong flags 'unsettling' AI risks, says Singapore ready to put in safeguards (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Amid unsettling developments such as AI systems going rogue, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke on Sunday (Aug 23) about managing the disruption from new technologies and putting safeguards in place.

Speaking at the National Day Rally, Mr Wong said that as technology becomes more powerful, Singapore will have to guard against risks that are harder to predict.

He cited the example of an artificial intelligence model tested by OpenAI that broke out of its test environment, moved into the wider internet and infiltrated the systems of another company.

“No one told the AI agent to attack the company,” said Mr Wong. “But in trying to complete its tasks, the agent did things which its developers did not want it to do.”

Such developments are "unsettling", he said, adding that AI agents are becoming more capable and will be able to do more with less human supervision.

“That brings enormous possibilities,” he said. “But when things go wrong, the consequences can be very serious.”

Countries should ideally work together to set common rules and safeguards, he said, but this is getting harder as major powers seek to move faster and gain an advantage over their competitors.

“But we must keep trying to find common ground,” he said, adding that Singapore will do its part to bring countries and companies together, and build coalitions around practical safeguards.

Actions will also be taken domestically, he said.

“We will not embrace new technologies blindly. We will anticipate the risks, and put appropriate safeguards in place, and we will always ensure that people remain in control.”

During his Budget speech in February, Mr Wong announced the formation of the National AI Council to coordinate and drive Singapore’s AI strategy.

Mr Wong said then that he would chair the council, and that how AI is developed and used in Singapore will be defined, with clear rules to ensure it is applied responsibly and safely.

SAFEGUARDS FOR YOUNG SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

Mr Wong also announced that social media platforms will be required to put in place stronger safeguards for children and teenagers.

Social media created new opportunities and connected families and friends when it first emerged, he said, but some of its downsides only became clear over time: one in six young people aged 10 to 24 in Singapore today show signs of problematic social media use.

“For some the problem can be severe – they spend six or seven hours a day on social media, sometimes till the wee hours of the morning,” he said.

Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable as their brains are still developing, making them “more susceptible to social pressures and more easily hooked by features designed to keep them constantly engaged”, he said.

While most platforms already set a minimum age of 13, enforcement is largely left to the platforms themselves, Mr Wong said.

“Today they mostly rely on users to declare their own ages, and we know this is not working well,” said Mr Wong, adding that he is struck by how many children are already active on social media when he visits primary schools.

“Self-declaration is just not good enough,” he said. “They will have to put in place robust and reliable checks, so that the minimum age is properly set and enforced, and our children are genuinely protected."

Even for children aged 13 and above, social media can have negative effects. The immediate priority is to make social media safer by design, Mr Wong said.

Many platforms are designed to keep users endlessly scrolling, he said. These features are hard enough for adults to resist, and the risks are greater for teenagers.

Stronger safeguards will thus be required for young users, and any platform that wants to serve young users in Singapore must meet these requirements, he said.

If safeguards remain inadequate, additional restrictions will be considered, including raising the minimum age for access to that platform beyond 13, Mr Wong added.

“Through every major technological shift, we have embraced change on our own terms, built new capabilities and emerged stronger,” he said. “We have done it before, and we will do it again.”

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said in a Facebook post on Sunday that she will share more in the coming days on the new requirements, including "how they can partner the Singapore government to make their platforms safer for children and youth in Singapore"."

NDR 2026: Parents to get up to 12 days of childcare leave each (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Parents will enjoy more childcare leave, with more days off for larger families, as part of efforts to give them more time with their children, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday (Aug 23) at the National Day Rally.

Each parent will get eight, 10 or 12 days of leave a year if he or she has one, two or three or more children respectively. The children must be Singaporean and up to 12 years old.

This is up from the current six days of leave a year for each parent with children aged six and below, or two days a year if the children are between seven and 12 years old.

With these changes, Mr Wong said a working couple with three primary school children would go from having a combined four days of childcare leave under current provisions, to 24 days under the new scheme.

“This will give parents more time and much greater flexibility to care for their children,” he said.

Going forward, the government will also pick up the full tab for employers’ costs during statutory child-related leave schemes, up to its reimbursement limit.

Currently, maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave provisions add up to a total of about seven-and-a-half months of paid leave.

“Can we go further? I won’t rule it out,” Mr Wong, who is also finance minister, told the audience at ITE College Central.

“But these leave arrangements have just been introduced, and employers do need time to adapt. So we will let these changes settle in first.”

The enhancements to childcare leave and government reimbursement are among the first set of recommendations from the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup to be accepted by the government.

The workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, will release a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027.

MORE CHILDCARE LEAVE

Many parents say that current childcare leave provisions are not enough because having more children means greater caregiving responsibilities, said Mr Wong.

“Older children still need their parents – the needs are different, but they do not go away. So parents often end up using their own annual leave,” he added.

The higher baseline of eight days’ leave ensures both parents have enough combined childcare leave to cover mandated preschool and primary school closures, with a buffer for unplanned sick days, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD).

Legislative amendments are needed for these changes. The start date of the new leave entitlements will be announced later, NPTD and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a factsheet.

They encouraged parents to discuss leave plans with employers early where possible, so that caregiving needs and business operations can be managed well."

NDR 2026: Significantly lower childcare, infant care fees at government-supported preschools by 2030 (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Childcare and infant care fees at government-supported preschools will be cut to less than half of current levels to make caregiving more affordable, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at the National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23).

The monthly fees for full-day childcare and infant care will be reduced to S$150 (US$120) and S$300 respectively by 2030.

These lower fees will apply to every Singaporean child regardless of household income. The amounts are before means-testing, and lower-income families will pay even less.

Currently, after basic subsidies, full-day childcare at government-supported preschools costs S$365 to S$559 a month, while full-day infant care costs S$746 to S$1,256 a month.

With the changes, the government will absorb a much larger share of childcare and preschool costs, Mr Wong told the audience at ITE College Central.

“But I believe this is one of the best investments we can make,” he said.

“Because every child in Singapore, regardless of their family’s circumstances, deserves a good start in life.”

The fee reductions will be implemented progressively from 2028, with more details on the timeline to come out in early 2027.

MORE GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED PRESCHOOLS

Government-supported centres today have enough places for about 80 per cent of preschoolers, said Mr Wong, who is also finance minister.

He said the government wants the lower fees to be more widely available, and first needs to significantly expand the network of government-supported preschools.

More help will be given to eligible preschool operators that wish to join the network and meet its requirements.

“As the network expands, we will progressively bring fees down,” said Mr Wong.

“Our goal is clear – quality, affordable preschool should be within every family’s budget, and easily accessible in every neighbourhood.”

A phased approach gives the sector time to adjust sustainably while maintaining high standards, added the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and National Population and Talent Division (NPTD).

These enhancements are among the first set of recommendations from the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup to be accepted by the government.

The workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, will release a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027."

NDR 2026: Income ceilings for BTO flats, executive condos raised; first-time buyers to get extra ballot per child (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The income ceilings for buying new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats will be raised to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporeans can continue to access subsidised public housing, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Aug 23).

Starting February next year, there will also be an additional ballot chance per Singaporean child for first-timer families with or expecting children, Mr Wong said in the National Day Rally.

For Build-to-Order (BTO) flats, the ceiling will rise from S$14,000 (US$11,000) to S$16,000. For executive condominiums (ECs), the income ceiling will go up from S$16,000 to S$18,000.

“Over the years, we have steadily increased housing supply. Today we see encouraging results. Success rates for booking BTO flats are higher, waiting times are shorter. And the resale market has stabilised. These improvements give us confidence to do more,” said Mr Wong.

Mr Wong noted that Singaporeans are marrying later these days, with many further along in their careers and earning more by the time they settle down, leading to many young couples crossing the current income ceilings.

The changes are among the measures to keep public housing and ECs affordable and accessible for Singaporeans and to provide greater support for families with children, as part of broader efforts to encourage marriage and parenthood, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB said in a joint press release on Sunday.

The revised ceiling will kick in for eligible families who apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from Monday. This lets them buy a new subsidised HDB flat, a resale HDB flat on the open market with the CPF Housing Grant, or get an HDB housing loan.

Correspondingly, the income ceiling for eligible single HDB home buyers aged 35 and above, will also be raised from S$7,000 to S$8,000.

The revised ceiling for ECs will apply to new units in projects with land sale tender closing dates on or after Aug 24, and will not apply to balance units in existing ECs or new units in ECs with land sale tenders awarded before that, said MND and HDB.

The changes will also benefit families applying for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, with the monthly household income ceiling raised from S$7,000 to S$8,000.

Eligible second-timer families will also see their ceiling for the Fresh Start Housing Scheme and the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant increase by the same amount."

NDR 2026: Each Singaporean child to get almost S$70,000 in growing years as part of moves to support parents (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 (US$55,140) in direct financial support by the time they turn 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Aug 23).

A new scheme will provide more support, not just at a child’s birth, but throughout the years as they grow up, he said at the National Day Rally. It will include components such as a cash gift, MediSave grant, Child Credits and others.

“Taken together, every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 in direct financial support as they grow up,” said Mr Wong.

Called the SG Child Support Package, the new scheme consolidates and replaces the financial support currently provided through the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Each child will get more financial support under this package. For example, the firstborn child stands to get S$42,000 more than present schemes by the time he or she turns 17, while the third child stands to get S$19,000 more.

As at June 2026, there are more than 610,000 children aged 17 and below across 380,000 households that stand to benefit from the package.

Children from single-parent families will also receive cash under the new package. Currently, the cash gift that is given out as part of the Baby Bonus Scheme, as well as the Large Family LifeSG Credits, are only applicable for children whose parents are lawfully married.

“The traditional family unit remains the prevailing social norm in Singapore. The government’s longstanding position has been to support parenthood within marriage. This continues to be the case and there is no shift in thinking on this,” said the NPTD.

However, there is a recognition of the importance of supporting every Singaporean child in their growth and development, said the NPTD.

“As the benefits are intended to support the growth and development of children, they will be extended to all SC (Singapore citizen) children, regardless of birth order, family circumstances, or their parents’ marital status,” it said.

CASH SUPPORT

The new scheme will also have a longer support duration of up to 17 years old, up from age 12 currently, with more support also coming in cash rather than through the Child Development Accounts (CDAs).

As cash is more flexible, this change makes the support more universal and less dependent on parents’ ability to save into the CDA, said the NPTD.

The new SG Child Support Package will also provide every Singaporean child with the same level of support, regardless of the child’s birth order.

Under the current Baby Bonus Scheme, children of higher birth orders receive higher cash gifts and co-matching caps for their CDAs.

“Ultimately, the decision to have children is a deeply personal one. Policies alone cannot make this happen. But what we can do is make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise a family,” said Mr Wong.

“And we want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the government will stand with you. We will provide more support, and over more years. And we will walk alongside parents throughout the journey of raising their children.”

In the 2021 Marriage and Parenthood Survey by the NPTD, financial costs had featured among the top barriers to parenthood, with couples concerned about the growing cost of raising children, including childcare and infant care, tuition and enrichment, housing and transport.

MORE SUSTAINED HELP

The new scheme aims to simplify the child-raising support available – like the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, CDA and Large Families Scheme – and make it less complex and easier to understand for parents here, said Mr Wong.

Starting Apr 1 next year, each eligible newborn will receive a S$10,000 cash gift under the SG Child Support Package, which will be disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of birth.

“This provides more substantial upfront help with the higher expenses incurred at birth and in the child's first year,” the NPTD said."

NDR 2026: 7 key takeaways - from family support and housing to Singapore’s future land plans (23 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: From more support for families to a possible undersea tunnel to Pulau Tekong, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made several announcements in this year’s National Day Rally.

He unveiled a slew of measures to help those looking to start families as well as couples with children.

“No other institution can replace the family. That is why nothing matters more than helping families thrive,” he said.

Here are seven key takeaways from his speeches.

1. Almost S$70,000 in support for each child

Every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 (US$55,140) in support from birth to the age of 17.

A new SG Child Support Package kicks in on Apr 1, 2027, replacing the financial support currently provided through the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme.

Children will get the same level of support regardless of their birth order, and kids in single-parent families will also enjoy the full benefits of the scheme.

In the baby’s first year, there will be a S$10,000 cash gift and S$5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns.

Newborns also get a S$5,000 First Step Grant in the Child Development Account (CDA).

From the age of one to 16, the government will co-match up to S$5,000 in CDA top-ups. The child will also get S$2,000 in Child Credits annually.

Students receive Edusave contributions throughout primary and secondary school.

When the child turns 17, a S$10,000 top-up will be made to the Post-Secondary Education Account.

Large families with three or more children will get additional help in areas where they are likely to face higher costs, such as healthcare, transport and housing.

2. More childcare leave

A new childcare leave scheme will give more time off to working parents with children aged 12 and below.

Each parent will get eight days off if they have one child, 10 days if they have two children, and 12 days if they have three or more children.

This is up from the current six days off a year if the parent has a child aged six and below, or two days a year if the child is between seven and 12 years old.

The government will also reimburse employers for the costs of the full duration of statutory child-related leave, up to a limit of S$2,500 a week.

Mr Wong urged employers to give parents more support and make sure that having children never becomes a disadvantage in someone’s career.

The start date for these changes will be announced later.

3. Significantly lower childcare, infant care fees

Monthly fees will drop to S$150 for full-day childcare and S$300 for full-day infant care at government-supported preschools.

Currently, after basic subsidies, full-day childcare costs S$365 to S$559 a month, while full-day infant care costs S$746 to S$1,256 a month.

The lower fees will kick in progressively from 2028 and reach the target levels by 2030.

More preschools will join the network of government-supported centres so that more families can benefit from these lower fees.

Student care centres in primary schools and the community will also get more support for larger capacities, higher quality of care and lower fees.

“Every child in Singapore, regardless of their family’s circumstances, deserves a good start in life,” said Mr Wong."

NDR 2026: Businesses welcome government move to cover childcare leave costs, but manpower concerns remain (24 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Businesses have welcomed the government's move to fully cover childcare leave costs, though some point to lingering questions over how to plug staffing gaps during absences.

"While it will undoubtedly impact the company, I truly believe the merits will offset any gaps that the company might face. With advance planning of workflows and empathy between departments, gaps can be covered," said Mr Leon Lai, CEO of SG International Marathon and a father of two who also runs communication firm Betterment Group.

Others are less convinced the financial relief solves the underlying problem.

"On the surface, it looks like the cost burden is taken away. However, the actual person has also been taken away," said Mr Ronald Soh, managing director and founder of tech company Win-Pro Consultancy.

"So that creates an impact on us as well, because SMEs are very lean and they work very tight."

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 23) that parents will get more childcare leave, with the government fully reimbursing employers' costs for statutory child-related leave schemes, up to a limit. Currently, these costs are shared between the government and employers.

Under the enhanced scheme, each parent will get eight to 12 days of leave a year, depending on the number of Singaporean children under 12 years old they have. This is up from six days a year for parents with children aged six and below, or two days a year for those with children aged seven to 12.

Mr Julius Holmefjord-Sarabi, co-founder of music school Aureus Academy, said the enhanced leave reflects a broader push to support families.

"It's good for Singapore to be really focusing and emphasising family and childcare, because it can be quite challenging to raise kids with the costs and the challenges in Singapore," he said.

"I would say we're well-positioned to handle a change like this because of our curriculum and the way that we run our company. I can imagine there will be a lot of challenges for small businesses and businesses in general to adapt. But I don't see them being insurmountable."

The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) called the government's move a significant commitment towards supporting both employers and families.

The reimbursement for leave costs will give employers more flexibility in supporting employees with caregiving responsibilities, said CEO Hao Shuo.

"The enhanced reimbursement support can also help employers adopt measures to address operational challenges arising from staff absences, including engaging temporary manpower where appropriate," he added."

Snap Insight: NDR 2026 - the real shift in family support goes beyond S$70,000 per child (24 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: What should strike Singaporeans about the National Day Rally (NDR) is that the government is changing the logic of family support. The almost S$70,000 (US$55,140) in support for every Singaporean child is simply the most visible expression of the biggest overhaul of family policy in a generation.

On Sunday night (Aug 23), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new SG Child Support Package, including a S$10,000 Baby Gift in cash, S$2,000 a year for every child until they turn 16, subsidies that reduce the cost of childcare to S$150 a month and a post-secondary education contribution of S$10,000.

For decades, our policy stance treated child-rearing as a private undertaking. The costs of raising children were largely for parents to bear, with the state helping through grants and subsidies. That help was calibrated by birth order and concentrated around the early years.

As someone who studies how Singaporean families form and grow, I see the new measures moving us towards something different: treating the raising of children as social infrastructure - something built and maintained collectively because our whole society depends on it.

SHARING THE COST OF RAISING CHILDREN

Three shifts signal this reframing.

First, universality. Every Singapore Citizen child will now receive the same support under the new package, regardless of birth order. While the official narrative on marriage and parenthood packages has been to help families rather than address our historically low total fertility rate, it was still largely structured as an incentive ladder to encourage people to have more children.

Equalising the support while increasing the total amount does two things: It attaches the support to the child, rather than the parents’ decision to have another. And larger families will still naturally get more support overall.

Second, duration. Where support was more heavily front-loaded around birth and the early years, Child Credits now flow annually until 16, the Child Development Account runs to 16, and a further top-up arrives at 17 for post-secondary education.

With this, support becomes a more regular, predictable feature. It follows the timeline of raising children, recognising that the costs change rather than fade as children grow.

Third, who pays. All these help defray costs for parents, including the move to significantly cut fees at government-supported preschools. It is akin to how Singapore treats primary education, priced like a public utility rather than a market service.

Another significant move is to relieve employers of the costs of parenthood. The government will now reimburse all child-related leave in full, up to the cap, while childcare leave rises to between 8 and 12 days per parent, based on the number of children.

In footing the bill, the state removes employers’ excuse: If parents on childcare leave do not directly add to wage costs, an employer has fewer reasons to treat parents as costly hires, and the government rightly expects their buy-in for supporting parents in return."

20 bookshops unite for Singapore's first Indie Bookshop Day, with book talks, stamp trails and more (24 August 2026)

"Book lovers, get ready: 20 independent bookshops in Singapore are coming together for the inaugural Singapore Indie Bookshop Day (SGIBD) 2026.

Taking place mainly on Oct 3, with programmes beginning on Oct 2 until Oct 4, SGIBD invites the public to visit local bookshops and take part in programmes ranging from storytelling sessions and author visits to PowerPoint parties, live portraits and a bookshop stamp rally, and celebrate the reading communities in Singapore.

The event is jointly organised by participating independent bookshops and the Singapore Book Publishers Association, and is supported by the National Arts Council and international publisher Hachette Book Group. It also takes inspiration from bookseller- and reader-centric events in other countries, including Independent Booksellers Week in the UK and Independent Bookstore Day in the US./font>

Rather than bringing the participating bookshops together at a single venue, SGIBD will take place across the shops themselves, giving each participating bookseller the freedom to design their own programme./font>

“SGIBD is not a fair just to sell books, but to celebrate the spaces of our bookstores and bring more people into our worlds," Ibrahim Tahir, the founder and principal bookseller of Wardah Books, a bookshop located in Kampong Glam, said.

DIVERSE HOST OF PROGRAMMES

“The programme reflects the different identities of the participating bookshops; it really was up to what each bookshop wanted to do,” Ho TingXuan, a bookseller from online bookshop Wormhole, said.

The result is a diverse host of activities with each shop putting its own spin on what a celebration of books and reading can look like.

At Book Bar, visitors can browse President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s book recommendations, while Epigram Books will invite readers to engage in a blind book swap or to share their own bookshop memories on a community wall. Wardah Books will also invite readers to pair books with batik through a “Batik Librarian” consultation.

Other activities are more hands-on, from watching a live sketching demonstration at Basheer Graphic Books and storytelling sessions at Eliko Picture Books & Things, to a bookselling workshop at Closetful of Books and a zine workshop at City Book Room.

Readers can hear about Singapore comics and self-publishing at Dakota Dreams, have a portrait drawn after making a purchase at Bommoi, or receive a personalised Malay poem typed on a typewriter at Nurul Anwar Bookstore.

There are also programmes designed to bring readers together. Wormhole will host a weekend pop-up featuring literary games and live bookmark illustrations, and a PowerPoint party where participants share their takes on books, while Woods in the Books will mark the relaunch of Alfian Sa’at’s The Invisible Manuscript.

Visitors can also explore the 20 participating bookshops through the SGIBD Passport, which doubles as a directory and stamp rally. Each shop will have its own customised stamp, and participants who collect stamps from at least half of the shops will qualify for a lucky draw, with prizes including book vouchers and a curated gift set of books.

The passport is designed to remain useful beyond the weekend, with maps and information to help readers discover the participating shops and plan their own visits. SGIBD will also suggest walking routes connecting bookshops in areas such as Chinatown, Bras Basah and Joo Chiat, while a paid bus tour is being planned for those who want to visit multiple shops in one trip.

Limited-edition SGIBD bookmarks will also be available at participating bookshops, while stocks last.

More information on the programmes, participating bookshops and registration details will be available on SGIBD's official Instagram."

Faishal Ibrahim in discussions to return to academia with NUS (24 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim is in discussions to return to academia with the National University of Singapore (NUS).

In response to CNA's queries, NUS said on Monday (Aug 24) that the university and Associate Professor Faishal are discussing the arrangements for his return to academia.

Assoc Prof Faishal, who was also the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, resigned from politics in July after his interactions with a woman "fell short" of the standards required of a political office holder and Member of Parliament, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong then.

He was previously with NUS in 2010 as an associate professor of real estate at the former NUS School of Design and Environment, which merged with the Faculty of Engineering to form the current College of Design and Engineering in 2022.

Assoc Prof Faishal entered politics in April 2006 as part of a six-member PAP team that won Marine Parade GRC.

He was made senior minister of state for home affairs and acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs in May 2025.

CNA has contacted Assoc Prof Faishal regarding his potential return to academia."

SUSS drops AI detector as more Singapore universities question reliability of such tools (24 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) has disabled its university-wide artificial intelligence (AI) writing detector from August.

The university said in response to CNA queries that it recognises the limitations of AI detection scores, especially that these scores cannot conclusively determine whether generative AI was used inappropriately.

SUSS disabled Turnitin's AI writing detection score from Aug 11.

"This decision does not affect SUSS' expectations for students to uphold academic integrity and use generative AI responsibly," it said.

"Our focus remains on whether students can demonstrate understanding of, and ownership over, the work they submit."

AI writing detectors analyse text to estimate the likelihood that AI generated it. They can be integrated into plagiarism and text-similarity detection software already used by educational institutions, such as Turnitin.

The university's statement came after Nanyang Technological University (NTU) announced to its faculty earlier this month that it will discontinue the use of its AI detector from 2027, recognising that such tools are "fundamentally unreliable".

In a statement to CNA on Aug 22, NTU confirmed that it will stop using automated AI detection tools from 2027.

Professor Christian Wolfrum, NTU's deputy president and provost, said: "When AI detection tools were introduced, they served a reasonable purpose. AI use was uncharted territory, and universities needed ways to navigate that uncertainty.

"Now, the environment has changed fundamentally, and what was once a reasonable safeguard has become obsolete."

AI misuse was a source of controversy for NTU last year. In April 2025, three NTU students were accused of misusing AI for false and inaccurate citations.

NTU did not respond to questions about whether these unreliable AI detection tools contributed to any accusations of academic misconduct, and whether investigations into any of the previous cases would be reopened.

One of the three students, who has since graduated, told CNA that she had not received any updates from the university about her case.

Singapore Management University (SMU) said that it continues to use AI detection tools, but "never as the sole basis" for finding misconduct.

Associate Professor Michelle Lee, SMU's associate provost for undergraduate education, said that the tools are strictly "one input among several".

The assurance that a student's work is their own also rests on how assessments are designed and asking the student to account for their work directly.

"Detection software has never carried this responsibility on its own at SMU," Assoc Prof Lee said, confirming that SMU has no plans to change its approach.

"We believe the most reliable way to assure academic integrity is to design assessments that require students to demonstrate genuine competencies, not to detect whether AI was used after the fact."

Marine community fears loss of biodiversity hotspot to proposed western island development (25 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Local marine conservation advocates and recreational divers have raised concerns over development plans for a cluster of islands west of Singapore, including one of the country's most popular dive sites.

In response to the concerns, a Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesperson said the government “recognises the biodiversity value of the western Islands and its surrounding”, and it is “carefully studying the plans as there is a need to plan ahead and create options for the future".

As part of the planning process, the ministry said it will conduct technical studies to inform the development plans, including the reclamation profile. These will include feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, and engineering and environmental studies, to better understand development possibilities and their preliminary impact on areas such as biodiversity and hydrodynamics.

"We will engage stakeholders early to listen to their inputs before studies and work commence, and their feedback will be carefully considered," the spokesperson said. "Their knowledge and expertise will help inform the studies, assess potential biodiversity impact and identify measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts where possible."

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at his National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23) that several islands, including Semakau, Bukom and Pulau Sudong, could be merged to support new industries and future power generation needs.

Pulau Hantu sits amid the three islands, and dive operators fear reclamation or access restrictions could harm both the marine environment and the local diving industry built around the site.

Mr Wong also announced that steps will be taken to improve access to Sentosa's western coastline, which is home to rich marine life and unique geology, while preserving its natural character.

Advocates are also calling for biodiversity experts and community groups to be more closely involved in the planning process, so that ecological and environmental concerns are brought to the table.

BIODIVERSITY VALUE OF ISLANDS

Stakeholders and observers highlighted the biodiversity value of the marine life and habitat at the islands slated for development.

Dr Lim Swee Cheng, a marine biologist and curator at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said the island cluster represents a "very substantial portion of Singapore's remaining southern marine habitats", known among researchers and naturalists for its rich coral reefs and associated marine life.

"Some of these areas have remained relatively undisturbed because of restricted access, which has allowed comparatively healthy reef communities to persist despite Singapore's long history of coastal development," he said.

Ms Jharyathri Thiagarajah, who leads outreach and education at the museum, said Singapore's offshore islands are valuable as they support marine life and habitats "that are increasingly rare in our highly urbanised environment."

Ms Thiagarajah has led visits for students and members of the public to the islands, including Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau, since 2015.

From a biodiversity conservation perspective, such a development could permanently erase or alter habitats, species and ecological relationships that researchers may not even fully understand yet, she said. "Once these natural environments are gone, they cannot simply be recreated elsewhere."

Commentary: NDR 2026 - non-parents shouldn’t be default substitutes for parents on childcare leave (25 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: More childcare leave was one of the most significant announcements at this year's National Day Rally: eight days a year for each working parent with one Singaporean child aged 12 and below, rising to 10 and 12 days for those with two and three or more children, with the government reimbursing employers up to the existing cap.

This is an increase from the current six days if the youngest child is aged six and below, and two days if the youngest child is aged seven to 12.

For parents, the additional leave translates directly into more time to respond to their children's needs. The harder question is how workplaces adjust when parents actually use it.

Colleagues may have to urgently cover for them. Managers may have to reassign work at short notice. Deadlines may move. How disruptive this becomes depends on how easily teams can shift work when someone is unexpectedly away.

WHAT’S THE COST OF AN ABSENCE?

A Danish study published in the Journal of Labor Economics in 2024 found that among small firms, an employee who gives birth goes on leave for 9.5 months on average. Despite this, there are no measurable effects on firm output, profits or survival. While remaining employees work more hours, they also see increases in their earnings and are more likely to remain employed.

Certainly, the Danish setting differs from Singapore's, and the study focuses on parental leave rather than childcare leave. But the underlying question for employers is the same: How easily can the missing worker's tasks be reassigned?

The key is substitutability. Absences are easier to absorb when work can be reallocated to someone able to perform it.

BUILDING CAPACITY TO HANDLE UNEXPECTED ABSENCES

The need to take childcare leave can arise overnight. The absence may last only a day or two, but employers have much less time to respond.

In contrast, parental leave around childbirth can be anticipated. Employers may know months in advance that an employee will be away, giving them time to prepare a handover, reorganise responsibilities or hire temporary help.

Temporary hiring is much less practical when it comes to childcare leave.

More of the adjustment can come from capacity already inside the organisation. This can be built with cross-training. Managers should also ensure that there are clear handovers, shared documentation and that critical functions do not depend entirely on one employee.

Some overlap in skills may appear costly, but it becomes valuable when somebody is away. The same capacity also helps firms manage illness and other unexpected absences.

Employers must also carefully allocate who picks up the slack. If the same employee repeatedly stays late whenever a colleague takes childcare leave, the arrangement can quickly feel unfair regardless of who is paying for it.

Government reimbursement for childcare leave addresses the direct financial cost to employers. It does not determine who covers an urgent task that afternoon or whether the same person keeps absorbing it. Those are questions of work design and management practice.

This is especially important for employees without children. Greater support for parents should not result in non-parents becoming the default source of coverage.

Employers can reduce friction by rotating emergency coverage where possible, making expectations transparent and recognising the extra work when it falls disproportionately on particular employees."

Changing workplace attitudes a ‘much harder’ challenge in supporting parenthood: Indranee (25 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Changing workplace attitudes and practices towards working parents will be a key part of Singapore’s push to become more family-friendly, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said on Monday (Aug 24).

She was speaking to CNA a day after a range of measures to support parents was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally.

While the latest measures address financial, housing and caregiving concerns, the government is also looking at how workplace norms can change so that Singaporeans feel they can have children without sacrificing their careers, Ms Indranee said.

Financial resources are within the government’s control, but “the much harder part to do is changing mindsets and attitudes”, said Ms Indranee, who heads the National Population and Talent Division, which oversees the marriage and parenthood portfolio.

“So, workplace norms and culture and practices is an area that we're looking at,” she told CNA’s Singapore Tonight.

The effort is part of a wider review by the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, which is due to release its full report in early 2027.

MEASURES AIMED AT REASSURING SINGAPOREANS

Ms Indranee described the measures announced by Mr Wong on Sunday as the “first wave” of that review.

Among them are more childcare leave, lower preschool fees and greater financial support for families as their children grow.

“In one sentence, I would say that this slew of measures is intended to give Singaporeans greater confidence and assurance in their marriage and parenthood journey,” Ms Indranee said.

She said this represented a shift from concentrating resources and measures at the point of birth to supporting families over a longer period.

Having children is a journey that stretches across many years, with families facing different needs as their children move from preschool to primary and secondary school, and then tertiary education.

The measures are therefore intended to “walk that journey with parents so that they know that the government is there for them and that they have support along the way”, Ms Indranee said."

Amos Yee to be charged over online posts allegedly promoting racial disharmony, making indecent statements about children (25 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Amos Yee will be charged on Wednesday (Aug 26) over “alarming and racially divisive” content he allegedly published online.

The police said on Tuesday that they received several reports between April and July this year concerning online content published by Yee.

The content was “found to be alarming and racially divisive”, and investigations were subsequently conducted, they added.

Yee, 27, was found to have made two posts on his blog on Apr 7 and Apr 11. He also uploaded a video on X on May 27, in which he stated that Singapore's Malay-Muslim and Indian communities were heavily discriminated against by the Chinese majority.

“He also made statements about the government's treatment of these communities and suggested that they should protest against the government,” the police said.

In another blog post published on Jun 30, Yee said, among other things, that children were capable of consenting to sexual acts and advocated for the abolition of laws governing the age at which children can consent to such acts, according to the police.

“This is on top of three other videos that he made and which were found to be uploaded online in 2021, in which he made statements advocating sexual relationships involving children and the abolition of laws prohibiting child sexual abuse material.”

For allegedly publishing these contents, Yee will be charged with knowingly attempting to promote, on grounds of race, feelings of disharmony between different racial groups; and for making indecent communications likely to cause alarm.

The offences are under Section 298A(a) of the Penal Code 1871 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 (POHA).

An offence under Section 298A(a) of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.

An offence under Section 4(1)(b) of POHA is punishable under Section 4(2) POHA with a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,900).

The police also said they had issued an Online Criminal Harms Act disabling direction on Aug 18 to take down the video on X.

“X has complied with the DD and the content is no longer available. For the remaining offensive contents, the police have issued stop communication directions to Yee to remove the existing posts on his personal blog,” they added.

“The police take a serious view of acts that threaten racial and religious harmony in Singapore, and of indecent communications, including those that advocate or promote sexual relationships involving children.

“Any person who commits such acts or communications will be dealt with swiftly and firmly in accordance with the law.”

Yee is already facing charges for dodging National Service obligations.

He is accused of failing to report for pre-enlistment medical screening over nine years, from April 2016 to March 2026.

He is also accused of leaving Singapore without valid exit permits over two periods: from December 2015 to April 2016, and from December 2016 to March 2026.

Yee had left Singapore for the United States in 2016, after being jailed twice for making remarks about Christians and Muslims.

He was granted asylum by the US in 2017, but later charged with possessing child pornography and grooming a minor.

He pleaded guilty in the US in December 2021 and was sentenced to six years' jail."

More youths investigated for shop theft in Singapore as experts urge early intervention (25 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The number of youths investigated for shop theft rose 28.8 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with the same period last year, according to police figures provided to CNA.

A total of 358 youths aged between 10 and 19 were investigated from January to June, up from 278 in the first half of 2025.

The increase comes even as the overall number of shop theft cases rose at a much slower pace.

There were 2,095 shop theft cases in the first half of this year, up 2.2 per cent from the same period last year.

Food items, personal care products and alcoholic drinks were among the items typically stolen from retail outlets reporting shop theft cases.

WHY YOUTHS SHOPLIFT

Experts say young people may turn to shop theft for reasons beyond financial need or curiosity.

Possible factors include peer pressure, bullying, emotional distress and instability at home.

“Youths steal to gain social capital among their peers. Sometimes they (do it to) cope with their internal emotional distress or to cover basic needs when there is instability at home,” said Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, executive director of Impart, a youth-focused charity organisation.

“When kids lack healthy pro-social avenues for excitement, or feel disconnected at home, they turn to risky behaviours to get that quick hit of dopamine or status,” he explained.

Social media could add another layer of pressure, as young people compare themselves with their peers and seek social acceptance.

“I believe that we are lacking a lot of role models for the youth, and that space has been taken up by other TikTok creators or people,” he said.

Constant comparison with others could contribute to a sense of “unmet needs”, added Mr Narasimman."

More leave for parents, more work for the rest? Childcare leave boost sparks workplace debate (26 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Whenever a colleague takes childcare leave, 29-year-old finance professional Adam (not his real name) usually shares the extra workload with the rest of his team.

Most of the time, he does not mind that the two colleagues in his team of five take time off work to attend to their children, especially when their absences were planned for and the tasks are properly delegated.

But when they take childcare leave at short notice, Adam, who is unmarried, often finds himself reshuffling his own leave plans or shouldering additional work.

So when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at this year’s National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23) that a new childcare leave scheme will give more time off to working parents, he felt conflicted as he was generally supportive of moves to address Singapore’s falling fertility problem.

“I work in a small company. If colleagues with children in my team are getting extended leave, more workload falls onto the people who do not have kids,” he said.

“I thought that the amount of leave they had was already quite substantial. I was taken aback when I heard they were increasing it.”

Under the new scheme, each parent will get eight days off if they have one child, 10 days if they have two children, and 12 days if they have three or more children.

This is up from the current six days off a year if the parent has a child aged six and below, or two days a year if the child is between seven and 12 years old.

Adam’s mixed feelings about the expansion of childcare leave were echoed by others.

CNA spoke to 10 people who were either single, married without children or have children above the age of 12, to understand how those who do not benefit directly from the childcare leave changes felt.

Like Adam, many were broadly supportive that the changes give parents the support they needed, but were worried that they could end up shouldering more work when their colleagues were away.

While those in bigger organisations said the impact would be minimal given that there is enough manpower to spread the burden, those in smaller firms are unsure that the work can be shared fairly.

Several also pointed out that short-notice childcare leave already causes staffing issues in leaner workplaces. Some worried that this could cause resentment between employees who are parents and non-parents.

The increase in childcare leave also gave rise to questions about fairness, as those interviewed felt that similar benefits could be extended to workers who provide care for elderly family members.

Asked about these concerns on CNA’s Talking Point on Monday, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and for Health Rahayu Mahzam said they were “legitimate” issues.

Working as a lawyer before entering politics, Mdm Rahayu said she had also experienced the difficulties of shouldering the workload when her colleagues were on leave.

“Which is why we then need to manage the different stakeholders. And the government has always been doing this in collaboration with employers, with workers, with unions to try and come up with a middle ground that is workable."

She added that the government is not just in discussion with stakeholders about childcare leave, but flexible work arrangements and better manpower policies as well.

That means there is a need for proper human resources policies and conversations about supporting parents, she said.

“We are trying to encourage and nudge a culture where the whole society comes together and appreciates that we all may have different needs.”

Amos Yee gets fresh charges for indecent comments, promoting racial disharmony (26 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Online commentator Amos Yee Pang Sang on Wednesday (Aug 26) received four fresh charges linked to posts he made about race and children.

This brings his total number of charges to seven, including three for allegedly dodging National Service (NS).

According to charge sheets, the 27-year-old Singaporean allegedly promoted feelings of disharmony between racial and religious groups in Singapore in two blog posts in April.

In the posts, he allegedly discussed racial discrimination, commented on crimes and sentencing, and suggested that members of certain races should protest to hold another race accountable.

On May 27, he uploaded a video in which he allegedly commented on racial discrimination and the reasons for the number of inmates from a certain race. He also suggested that members of that race protest.

Yee is accused of indecent communication by publishing an article titled "Why Sex with Babies is Bad" on Jun 30, 2026.

He was also charged with indecent communications over videos made in 2021 while he was outside Singapore. The videos were titled "Free Speech for the Pedophile", "Why Child Pornography Should Be Legal" and "Why Pedophilia Is Alright". In the videos, he labelled himself as an "advocate" for "child porn" and "baby porn".

Asked if Yee had any position on the new charges, Yee's lawyer, Mr Divanan Narkunan, said the new charges were served yesterday and he was in the middle of taking instructions.

The prosecution offered bail of S$15,000, on conditions including that Yee must not post anything online concerning his views on paedophilia, or anything inciting ill feelings between racial groups.

Yee attended court with his mother but did not address the court.

X took down the video published in May after police issued a direction requiring it to do so. Police also directed Yee to remove the posts from his blog.

Yee was originally charged with NS enlistment offences after being deported to Singapore from the United States in March.

He was set to plead guilty to the NS-related charges in September, but the hearing has been vacated as of Wednesday and refixed for a pre-trial conference on Sep 18.

NS defaulters can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to S$10,000, or both, per charge.

For promoting racial disharmony, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

For making indecent communication likely to cause alarm under the Protection from Harassment Act, an offender can be fined up to S$5,000."

Former swimming coach gets jail and caning for molesting 10-year-old student repeatedly (27 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A former swimming coach has been sentenced to two years' jail and three strokes of the cane for molesting a 10-year-old student three times in a month, with his students telling the police about how he tickled them.

Quek Yeong Kang, also known as Alex, had claimed trial to three charges of molestation and alleged that the victim had complained about him so she could change coaches.

In a judgment made available on Thursday (Aug 27), Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted him of the three charges, rejecting his evidence and bare assertion that the victim had fabricated the allegations.

The court heard that Quek, a 49-year-old Singaporean, was a swimming coach with 20 years' experience.

The victim took classes under Quek on Saturday evenings with her sister, her brother and another six students.

CNA is not naming the pool where it occurred in line with the gag order protecting the victim.

THE VICTIM'S ACCOUNT

According to the victim, she had swum a couple of laps in the pool on Oct 14, 2023 and was standing in the water when Quek came up behind her and molested her.

Initially, she thought it was an accident, but it happened again two or three times. She was 12 at the time when she testified, and used two dolls to demonstrate what happened.

She said the same thing happened again on Oct 21, 2023 after she had swum laps and was resting at the side of the pool. This time, she said she felt uncomfortable and that Quek had touched her two to three times.

On the third occasion on Oct 28, 2023, the victim said Quek molested her again in the same manner three to four times after she completed a set of laps.

During the class, she stopped to ask her sister if Quek had ever touched her private parts, and her sister confirmed that he had.

After the class, as they were walking out, the victim told her older brother that Quek had been touching her and her sister.

Her brother thought she was joking. The victim told her father about it a day later and he told his wife.

They called Quek's fellow coach and told him what happened, before obtaining Quek's number from him and calling Quek on speaker-phone mode.

The victim said that when her father questioned Quek, he could not answer and was stuttering. Her father then called the police."

Commentary: Twins suddenly made us a ‘large family’ - and taught me what gets harder as families grow (28 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Ask parents of two children if they would like to have a third child. One of the first questions in their minds will likely be: Do we have the energy to go through all that again?

If the answer is not an outright no, the questions quickly turn practical: Where will everyone sleep? How do we manage when we’re outnumbered? What do we do for transport? Can we still afford to go on a family holiday?

And perhaps the most important question: Will we be able to give each child enough attention?

For my wife and me, these questions came more suddenly than expected when we found out that we were having twins. We were thrilled, of course, even if becoming parents of three in two years was overwhelming, to say the least.

Such anxieties and concerns likely hold back other Singaporeans from having more children. The costs add up – time, energy, money, space – and can be enough to deter a return to the cycle of gynae visits, night feeds and diaper changes.

ONE MORE CHILD?

For couples who already have children, the question is often not whether they want another, but whether they can stretch to take care of one more.

It is this group of Singaporeans that the family support measures announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally (NDR) on Aug 23 target.

Singapore’s fertility challenge is not just one problem but a series of thresholds with different considerations. Getting couples to go from zero to one child is a different challenge from getting those who have already chosen parenthood to consider having another.

For the latter, the range of new measures could make the prospect of having one more child a little less daunting. This makes sense when Singapore appears to have an unrealised desire for larger families.

Even though the total fertility rate has been falling, parenthood aspirations remain high. The 2021 Marriage and Parenthood survey found that 35 per cent of married respondents felt that having three or more children made for an ideal family size, though only 25 per cent intended to have that many.

THE COST OF ONE MORE

Yes, having another child means more expenses. And it’s not just the cost of one extra person.

Going out as a family? You can’t take a standard ride-hailing car that seats four. If you own a car, you may need a bigger one.

Going on holiday? A family of five might not fit most standard hotel rooms.

Yet, some of the costs can be shared. There are economies of scale to be reaped, from hand-me-down clothes and books to sharing toys and beds.

The new S$10,000 Baby Gift at birth and annual Child Credits of S$2,000 from ages 1 to 16 also put more cash into the hands of parents, rather than credits tied to specific uses. This provides greater flexibility to help address cost concerns.

Just as important is predictability. Parents can count on financial support from childhood to the teenage years – after all, parents don’t just worry about the costs of diapers and formula milk.

The government has also recognised the transport problem. Mr Wong also said there will be additional support to help large families manage transport expenses.

Space is the other big concern. First-timer families will soon have an additional ballot chance for every Singaporean child when applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. Mr Wong also said the government is studying further housing assistance for large families.

While children can share a room when they are younger, they will need more privacy and space as they grow older, particularly if they are of different genders. For multi-generational families living under one roof, like mine, the consideration for space becomes a lot more acute."

Young girls are becoming obsessed with skincare and makeup – why is this happening? (28 August 2026)

"Ifah’s daughter was only seven when she first became interested in her mother’s beauty products. The young girl would observe the older woman applying her skincare and makeup every morning and would ask her mother to apply the products on her too.

“She even learned how to apply them herself – I had to hide my stash so she wouldn’t keep using it,” the 37-year-old technical specialist, who declined to give her full name, said.

One of her friend’s daughters, an eight-year-old, once showed Ifah how she applies makeup and skincare. “She even does GRWMs,” Ifah said, referring to “Get Ready With Me” videos showing creators getting ready for the day.

“I was surprised at how ‘advanced’ she was in her makeup skills at her age.”

These young girls point to a worrying phenomenon known as cosmeticorexia, a blend of the words cosmetic and anorexia.

“Cosmeticorexia is an umbrella term for an unhealthy obsession with achieving ‘flawless’ skin that drives excessive, age-inappropriate, or compulsive use of cosmetics and cosmetic procedures,” said Dr Lynn Chiam, a dermatologist at the Children & Adult Skin Hair Laser Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

Dr Chiam told CNA Women that this preoccupation is evident among young children, particularly girls, who use skincare products meant for adult skin, despite having no significant skin concerns.

She said this can be seen in the “Sephora kids” phenomenon, where girls, typically aged seven to 14, spend a lot of time in beauty stores browsing and buying skincare or makeup.

WHAT COSMETICOREXIA CAN LOOK LIKE

“The blend of ‘cosmetic’ and ‘anorexia’ is used to signal an obsessive, compulsive nature of a behaviour, and it has physical and psychological consequences,” Dr Chiam said.

It can start with a heightened awareness of beauty products, skincare or even aesthetic procedures, she added.

“Some of my patients include teenagers who are well-versed not only in the newest creams and serums but also in procedures like lasers, energy-based devices, even Botox and other injectables,” she said.

Some have used products to achieve “flawless glass skin” – a South Korean beauty trend characterised by smooth, clear and highly moisturised skin – and other viral beauty trends.

Others ask for specific ingredients or treatments they’ve encountered online, without knowing or caring that these may be harmful to young skin, Dr Chiam added.

The concern, however, goes beyond how many products young girls own or how much they know about skincare.

Dr Chiam said some patients – and their parents – have told her how distressed the girls become when they miss a product in their multi-step skincare routine.

Others constantly buy new products to address perceived flaws, sometimes leaving them with little money for necessities such as lunch or school supplies.

“Often, these young girls will fixate on certain tiny blemishes and will spend considerable effort and money to correct them,” she said. “To them, their appearance is central to their self-worth.”

As their obsession intensifies, some children may become less concerned about whether the products they use are appropriate for their age, said Associate Professor Mark Koh, head and senior consultant of dermatology at KK Women's and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

“Social media marketing targets girls far more aggressively with complex anti-ageing products,” he said. “Ingredients such as retinoids, exfoliating acids, Vitamin C and heavily perfumed products are generally formulated to address concerns associated with adult skin.”

The impact of cosmeticorexia may extend beyond the skin. Lim Shoon Yin, executive director of gender equality organisation Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), said the phenomenon raises questions about what happens when young people's insecurities become a market to be tapped.

“This isn’t just a skincare trend; it’s a preview of how the next generation will relate to their bodies,” Lim said. “When eight-year-olds are using retinol, we’re not looking at vanity; we’re looking at an industry that has found a way to sell insecurity earlier and earlier.”

Early childhood sector aims to recruit 1,800 more infant care educators by 2030 (28 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The early childhood sector aims to recruit 1,800 more infant care educators by 2030 to meet rising demand for infant care places, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said on Friday (Aug 28).

This follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally announcement on Sunday (Aug 23) that monthly fees for full-day childcare and infant care will fall to S$150 (US$120) and S$300 respectively by 2030, as part of efforts to make preschool more affordable and accessible.

The lower fees, before means-testing, will apply to every Singaporean child regardless of household income, and lower-income families will pay even less.

Full-day childcare at government-supported preschools currently costs S$365 to S$559 a month after basic subsidies, while infant care costs S$746 to S$1,256.

EXPANDED HIRING GRANT

From September, ECDA will expand its Manpower Hiring Grant to help preschool operators recruit and train local and foreign educators towards early childhood certification.

Under the place-and-train arrangement, employers hire candidates first, who then receive part-time training for the role. The grant covers up to 70 per cent of training stipends and 50 per cent of course fee subsidies for eligible trainees.

Training stipends will be raised across trainee categories, with extra support for infant care certification such as the Assistant Infant Educator and Fundamentals Certificate in Infant Care courses.

Funding under the grant will be extended by three years to Dec 31, 2030, and ECDA will explore overseas partnerships to widen the pool of candidates.

“ECDA’s focus is to build a strong and well-trained infant care workforce. Infant care educators require specialised knowledge and skills to support the developmental and caregiving needs of infants,” it said.

The agency is also looking to draw on preschool educators already qualified to work in infant care.

More than 2,000 hold such qualifications, but only about 4 per cent were working as infant educators as of August, with the rest serving older age groups.

ECDA said it is exploring additional support for educators interested in infant care, to encourage more of them to take up such roles and obtain certification where needed.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a Teachers’ Day celebration at E-Bridge Pre-School at Sumang Lane on Friday, Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said the government's focus is to build a strong and well-trained infant care workforce.

"Infant care is much more than routine care. Our infant care educators create safe, nurturing environments where infants can grow, learn, and develop holistically. They are trained to be responsive to each child's needs and build warm, respectful, and trusting relationships with our young ones."

"I hope more people will join our preschool workforce and be the dedicated 1 per cent of Singapore's workforce who help shape our country and our future generations," Mr Goh said."

Dinosaur Odyssey, Japan's acclaimed live show with realistic dinosaurs, will land in Singapore in December (28 August 2026)

"Fancy getting up close with a walking T-rex in Singapore? You can now do so this December at Resorts World Sentosa, as Japan's acclaimed Dinosaur Odyssey live show will stage its first large-scale indoor production outside the country.

Happening from Dec 3 to 6 at Resorts World Convention Centre, Dinosaur Odyssey will feature 15 ultra-realistic dinosaurs, including a stegosaurus, brachiosaurus, ankylosaurus, triceratops and tyrannosaurus.

Each show lasts about 70 minutes and will see the dinosaurs moving about the space, within an arm's reach of audiences. The show will also feature music, dance and theatrical effects.

Approximately 3,000 seats are available at each show.

The dinosaurs in the show are designed to replicate the physical characteristics and movements of real dinosaurs, and are brought to life using a self-supporting mechanical suit.

There will also be a photo experience where ticketholders can get a professional photo opportunity with a 12-metre-long T-rex.

This add-on experience costs S$30 and is limited to just 100 people per show. Ticketholders will also get a dinosaur mini plate.

Dino fans can also look forward to a store offering more than 100 types of dinosaur-themed merchandise, including figurines and fossil replicas, as well as a cafe serving dinosaur-themed food.

General tickets for Dinosaur Odyssey will cost between S$58 (US$45.60) and S$128, with wheelchair accessible seats available at S$38.

A VIP package is also available for S$168, which includes one Cat 1 seat, a plushie, and a photobook.

An early bird sale will take place from Sep 3 to 9, with tickets going at 10 per cent off.

Official sales will then commence on Sep 10.

Tickets can be purchased via Sistic and Klook.

Dinosaur Odyssey will take place between Dec 3 and 6 at Resorts World Convention Centre. More information is available on this website."

Once excluded from PE, now a national athlete: Meet Singapore’s only female national wheelchair rugby player (29 August 2026)

"It used to be called murderball because of how physical the sport is. Most people know it as wheelchair rugby.

Each team has four players and, throughout the game, you will hear the resounding clang of wheelchair against wheelchair, metal against metal, as players fight to get a ball across the goal line.

These collisions are an integral part of the game, said 25-year-old Nur Sabrina Suhaimi.

“It’s like bumper cars – exhilarating. It is a game where you can unleash your madness in a legal way,” she laughed.

Hearing the young Singaporean para athlete talk, you might forget that she has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare genetic neurological disorder that damages peripheral nerves. It causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of sensation, usually beginning in the feet and legs, and can later affect the hands and arms.

Sabrina’s fingers curl inwards and she is unable to fully straighten them, making it hard for her to grip items, open a mineral water bottle or button shirts.

She needs a walking cane, as well as braces known as ankle-foot orthoses on both legs to walk short distances.

But when she’s on a purpose-built rugby wheelchair, she flies across the court.

As Singapore’s only female national wheelchair rugby player, Sabrina said the men were initially gentler on her simply because of her gender. That was until they saw her fire.

“Recently, we had a tournament, and I kept banging into my opponent. He told me that I own this court,” she laughed.

THE GIRL NO ONE THOUGHT COULD PLAY SPORTS

Colleagues and friends are always surprised that Sabrina plays this hard-hitting sport. Off the court, she is a gentle soul with the most infectious laugh.

Growing up, she was the smallest kid in every class, and not in the least bit athletic.

At five, she began walking noticeably slower than her peers. Then, as she progressively lost function in both ankles, she developed foot drop, making it difficult for her to lift the front of her feet when walking.

When she was eight, her mother took her to the doctor, but they could not figure out what was wrong.

Gradually, in secondary school, climbing steps got more difficult and her mobility declined. For her safety, her physiotherapist advised her not to participate in physical education classes.

“I thought I couldn’t do sports anymore, and that made me feel like I was different from others,” she told CNA Women.

It was only after her condition progressed to her hands and she could not flex her fingers that doctors conducted more specific tests and diagnosed her with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. She was 16 by then.

After years without an explanation, the diagnosis gave Sabrina a better understanding of her condition.

“There’s currently no cure for this. But as my muscles progressively get weaker, staying active can help me maintain my strength and mobility,” she said.

However, in May 2024, Sabrina suffered a bad fall. While stepping out of her house to get into her mobility scooter, she missed a step and fractured her ankle. The injury left her wheelchair-bound for a year.

“That was the lowest point of my life. I couldn’t do a lot of things. I couldn’t even go to the toilet on my own, and had to keep asking my mum for help,” she said.

“I had heard of other people with my condition losing the ability to walk and I was worried this would happen to me.”

The graphic designer had also been retrenched from her job at a creative agency a few months before the fall.

“I felt like I was just a burden to my mum,” said Sabrina. “I did not want my mum to have to worry about taking care of me when she got older.”

Little did Sabrina expect the injury to lead to a new passion and pride.

To get on her feet again, Sabrina joined an inclusive swimming class. One of her swimming coaches, who happened to be a former wheelchair rugby coach, introduced her to the game.

THE WHEELCHAIR BECAME HER SUPERPOWER

That’s how Sabrina went from being excluded from PE class to becoming a national athlete for Singapore, playing offence.

Wheelchair Rugby Association Singapore (WRAS) has around 27 members, including athletes with spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, neurological conditions and amputations. The Paralympic version is played by athletes with impairments affecting both their upper and lower limbs.

Competitive players receive classification points according to their functional abilities, and they use custom-built lightweight wheelchairs designed for speed, agility and hard collisions.

High pointers usually dribble, pass or carry the ball and score, while the mid and low pointers block opponents to clear a path for them. Sabrina is classified as a high pointer because she has more functional abilities.

Because collisions are part of the game, falls are common.

Having just recovered from her own fall, Sabrina was apprehensive at first. But the wheelchair rugby community helped her overcome her fears.

“The moment someone falls, all the caregivers, coach and teammates will clap to give them support,” she said. Team staff members and match officials are trained to help them back up safely, and players also learn to protect their head and neck when they fall.

If the players aren’t injured, the game continues “like nothing happened”, she said. “Because of this, it feels like a fall is nothing that serious.”

MUIS to strengthen safeguards for children and youth through common framework across mosques (29 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will develop a common safeguarding framework across mosques to strengthen protection for children and youth.

The council announced on Saturday (Aug 29) that it will also strengthen safeguarding education for children, youth and parents, and extend safeguarding resources and support pathways to vulnerable families.

The new measures come after a sexual assault case involving young children at a mosque. A self-styled religious mentor had taken two young boys from a vulnerable family into his fold, raped the younger one at least 10 times and molested the older one.

The 37-year-old Singaporean man, who was sentenced in mid-August, is not an accredited religious teacher.

MUIS had said after the case that it would strengthen existing security measures, including patrols and closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring.

“We want our mosques to be places where our young people feel comfortable coming back — to pray, learn, meet friends, ask questions, contribute and grow,” said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Mr Zaqy Mohamad on Saturday at the aLIVE Service Learning (aSL) CARE-nival 2026.

“And they must also be places where our children and youths feel safe.”

COMMON SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORK

The framework will set out safeguarding principles, the responsibilities of mosque personnel as well as clear reporting and escalation protocols when concerns arise, said MUIS in a press release.

It will be rolled out progressively through several initiatives, including training mosque staff and volunteers to help them recognise signs of abuse or neglect, respond appropriately to disclosures, maintain professional boundaries and understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

It will also establish clearer reporting and escalation protocols to standardise the documentation, reporting and timely escalation of safeguarding concerns, with clear roles and responsibilities across the organisation, said MUIS.

The council will also enhance monitoring for informal gatherings involving minors through a “risk recognition approach”.

This will identify recurring mentoring or teaching activities, conduct appropriate checks where necessary, and intervene where there are concerns about unauthorised teaching or inappropriate boundary crossings, MUIS said.

The framework will involve periodic safeguarding audits and spot checks, conducted with District Offices, it added.

These audits will review physical safety measures such as visibility, lighting, CCTV coverage and signage, while reinforcing safeguarding practices across mosque premises”, said MUIS.

The new framework builds on existing governance and safeguarding measures already implemented across mosques, including requirements for ARS-certified asatizah to conduct formal religious classes and registration requirements for external religious groups, the council said.

Other current measures include CCTV coverage and access controls where appropriate, safeguarding training for educators and staff, supervised children's activities, and an existing incident management and reporting framework.

STRENGTHENING EDUCATION

The council also plans to provide “practical, age-appropriate guidance” for children and youth on how to protect themselves.

“Protective behaviour learning inserts have been introduced for aLIVE students to help them recognise unsafe or inappropriate behaviour, know how to respond and report concerns to a trusted adult,” said MUIS, referring to its teaching programmes for young Muslims.

“Age-appropriate infographics will also be shared with students to reinforce these messages,” it added.

Parents will also be engaged through awareness resources and existing touchpoints, said MUIS.

“These resources will help parents to recognise warning signs, speak openly with their children about personal safety, navigate online risks and know where to report concerns or seek support.”

I took 10 weeks of parental leave but couldn't fully leave work behind (29 August 2026)

"Before I became a father, when mandatory paternity leave was still just two weeks, I thought spending two to three months away from work to focus on my growing family would be enough to transition to parenthood.

However, I was sorely mistaken.

It took me four months to find my footing as a father in 2023, even though I wasn't employed during that time.

Then, in October 2025, I had my second child. The tension between being present for my family and my work responsibilities hit me hard.

I am fortunate to work at Centre for Fathering, a non-profit. With support from the board directors and my colleagues, I had 10 weeks of parental leave when my second child was born.

But even then, fully disconnecting from work was harder than I expected.

I struggled as I considered the responsibilities and rhythms of the financial year, and how the team would operate without me.

Although I was physically present with my family, my mind was at work.

Even as the chief executive officer of an organisation dedicated to fatherhood, I found it hard to be fully present. It made me wonder: How much harder is it for other fathers?

MORE LEAVE, BUT WILL FATHERS TAKE IT?

Since Apr 1, 2025, paternity leave has been legally protected, and fathers are entitled to four weeks of mandatory government-paid paternity leave.

The latest Family Trends Report from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), released last month, showed that 61 per cent of fathers whose child was born in 2024 took government-paid paternity leave, up from 47 per cent for children born in 2016.

This is encouraging. But it also means that nearly four in 10 fathers take no paternity leave.

The reasons are often personal and practical. From our conversations with dads at the Centre for Fathering, some have shared concerns about stepping away from work, including difficulties arranging cover for their responsibilities, or balancing work and family demands.

Self-employed fathers may not be familiar with the support available to them as well.

However, such personal considerations are not the only factors that can influence a father's decision to take paternity leave. Workplace cultures can also discourage them from taking the leave available to them.

Many workplaces are still struggling to adapt to the notion of fathers as caregivers.

Even though progress has been made, attitudes and mindset shifts take time, and it could be many years before fathers are seen as caregivers with the same importance as mums.

Many workplaces provide entitlements such as parental leave and flexible work arrangements, but the attitudes of line managers and colleagues can send a different or loud message.

Subtle disapproval in tone or body language, and requests for meetings during a father’s leave tell people that those who make family a priority are seen as less committed to their work.

During this year's National Day Rally on Aug 23, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that parents will enjoy more childcare leave, with each parent getting up to 12 days of leave a year depending on the number of children they have.

While these measures give parents more opportunities to care for their children, workplace disapproval may discourage fathers from taking time off.

It reinforces mothers as the main caregivers, even though fathers do play a crucial role in a child's upbringing.

Today, about half of fathers and mothers do not use their childcare leave, as shown in the July report on family trends by MSF.

With the government now funding all childcare leave days, instead of employers bearing the cost of the first three days, a key cost barrier is reduced.

Employers should therefore have greater incentive to support workers taking leave, which could help increase take-up.

If take-up remains low, that could point to a gap between our ambition to be a nation "Made For Families", as the national initiative supporting marriage and parenthood puts it, and the lived experience of working parents."

'I am exactly where I want to be': The primary school dropout living life on his own timeline (29 August 2026)

"It was only a couple of years after dropping out of Primary 1 that Presslee Chng fully understood that his life was different. Every weekday morning, all the kids in his neighbourhood were lugging their backpacks to school, dressed in their uniforms – but he had absolutely nowhere to be.

Back then, his family got by on his dad's odd jobs, said Mr Chng, now aged 25. They would pack up what little they owned into boxes "every half a year to a year" because they didn't own a home and couldn't afford to keep up the rent in their various rental flats.

The unravelling of his nascent school life came in 2008 when the family was evicted from their flat. Mr Chng had just started Primary 1 at Anderson Primary School, but in the scramble of leaving, all his school uniforms and books were locked in their old flat.

At a cafe in The Star Vista mall, the wiry young man recounted his childhood to me with the practised ease of someone who has told the story many times before.

His parents, he said, sat him and his older two siblings down and explained that they would be pulling all three children out of school "temporarily".

Most of Mr Chng's memories of that time are hazy – but he does remember his mother looking sad and his typically rambunctious brother and sister being subdued for a while.

Initially, seven-year-old Presslee didn't fully appreciate how serious things were. He was just happy to stay home from school.

"It doesn't sound good now (but) as a kid back then I didn't like school," he confessed sheepishly.

Mr Chng didn't know it then, but he would never get the chance to wear his primary school uniform again.

He went on to spend nine long years out of the school system, missing many of the milestones a Singaporean child would mark in their academic journey, including the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

It was only later on that he would realise how dropping out of primary school would set him back in life.

But now, Mr Chng is living a life he never dared to dream of as the proud recipient of a Ministry of Education (MOE) Teaching Award, and on his way to becoming a teacher."

Singapore to legislate stronger safeguards, possible daily time limit for teens on social media (31 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore plans to introduce legislation early next year requiring social media platforms to roll out stronger safeguards for teens, including possibly setting a daily time limit, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.

If a platform cannot or does not want to introduce these stronger safeguards, Singapore intends to raise the minimum age of access to that platform to 18, Mrs Teo told journalists in an interview on Friday (Aug 28).

The government wants to know what platforms can do to protect teen users from "stranger danger", or direct messages from people unknown to them, she said.

Algorithmic feeds, autoplay and infinite scroll are also a concern, with discussions touching on how to introduce a natural stop point for infinite scroll.

“The idea has been put forward when we engaged with many different groups, that a time limit for the use of a particular platform...could be one way of dealing with infinite scroll,” said Mrs Teo.

Singapore currently has a code of practice that covers six designated social media services: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, HardwareZone and X.

Mrs Teo noted that the measures Meta agreed to in its US settlement would apply to users up to age 18, in line with Singapore's intended approach, though the details differ in places.

“Some of the areas which Meta has agreed to implement are the same areas that we have been discussing with them about...But there are some differences in the details,” she said.

For example, Meta agreed to let parents of teen users turn off autoplay, but continuous autoplay remains the default. Singapore wants autoplay off by default, with parents able to switch it on.

Meta's settlement also included a daily limit of two hours across Facebook and Instagram, tightening to one hour per platform in a second phase.

Mrs Teo said there is no "magic number" but called the arrangement a useful reference point. “It doesn't mean if you use a service for 59 minutes it's very safe, and then if you use it for 61 minutes it's very unsafe.”

THREE HOURS "A BIT TOO LONG"

An expert panel convened by the Ministry of Health to study social media's impact on youth mental health found that one in three users aged 15 to 17 already spend more than three hours a day on social media, Mrs Teo noted.

The panel also found that one in six users aged 10 to 24 show signs of problematic social media use.

“What it does suggest is that three hours is a bit too long. It ought to be less than that,” she said.

Whatever figure Singapore settles on will not satisfy everyone, she added. “The daily time limit really is a reminder that we should get on with other aspects of our life.”

Beyond the newly operational Online Safety Commission, which began work in June, engagement on other aspects of online safety has been ongoing. Mrs Teo said platforms have known about the age assurance measures "for a long time", and about the stronger safeguards for nine to 12 months.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his National Day Rally speech in August that Singapore would require platforms to introduce stronger safeguards for young users.

While most platforms already set a minimum age of 13, enforcement is largely left to them, he noted, calling self-declaration "just not good enough" and pushing for more robust checks to properly enforce the minimum age.

CHECKING A USER'S AGE

Singapore already requires app stores to implement age assurance measures, Mrs Teo said.

This is done through one of three broad methods – age estimation, which uses information a platform has about a user to estimate their age; age inference, which uses similar information to conclude an age range; and age verification, which checks a user's age against official records.

When age assurance was made mandatory for app stores, operators were asked to propose their own methods, which were approved if they appeared "reasonably robust".

The government intends to take a similar approach with social media platforms.

“When it comes to being able to properly ascertain a user’s age, some steps are needed. If you don’t have a certain expectation of accuracy, then the methods of arriving at an estimation or an inference of the person’s age, these could lead to a lot of errors,” Mrs Teo said.

This means a single attempt to confirm a user's age may not be enough, she added. If a platform later gets signals suggesting a user is younger than it thought, it might need to reconfirm their age, meaning some inconvenience for users.

“If we want the platforms to be able to properly assess the occasions where they have a child user, then the rest of us have to support that these methods are implemented, and so we have some mental preparation that it may cause the rest of us some inconvenience.”

Officer from welfare home gets fine after elbowing, kicking 10-year-old boy in prayer hall (31 August 2026)

"SINGAPORE: An officer at a welfare home was ordered by the court on Monday (Aug 31) to pay a fine of S$8,000 (around US$6,300) for ill-treating a 10-year-old boy.

The 43-year-old Singaporean man pleaded guilty to a charge of ill-treating a child under his care.

The court imposed gag orders protecting the victim, which prevents the accused, the welfare home and the victim from being named.

The offender had been a welfare officer at the home since 2018 and was tasked with supervising the residents. He was also a practitioner of silat, a form of martial arts.

The victim had been a resident at the home for about half a year when a woman spotted him climbing a parapet on the second floor on Aug 11, 2025.

She complained to the welfare officer about the act.

The victim later went to the prayer hall on the first floor and the officer scolded him about it.

About 16 other residents were in the hall waiting for prayers to begin.

While in a row behind the other residents, the officer perceived that the boy was smirking at him and smiling.

He used Hokkien vulgarities on the boy and told the boy that he could spit saliva at him. He also said that the "camera" was not working, meaning that he could hit the boy without being caught.

The man then swivelled his upper body and struck the boy's face with his elbow, causing him to stagger to the right.

The boy stood still and was silent after this, but the man kicked him and pushed his chest, causing the boy to fall backwards onto his back and buttocks.

The other residents heard the impact and turned to look, and the man instructed the boy to join the rest for prayer.

The incident was caught on closed-circuit television cameras.

The victim sought medical treatment for tenderness and was discharged that same day. The doctor filed a police report."

From classrooms to communities: Young Singaporeans build ties in Uzbekistan (31 August 2026)

"UZBEKISTAN: Growing up in the ancient city of Bukhara, Amirbek Baxshilloyev was surrounded by craftsmanship.

He comes from a family of artisans and is an eighth-generation practitioner of goldwork embroidery, a craft closely associated with the historic Silk Road city.

But the teenager had ambitions that stretched far beyond his hometown.

He attended a Russian-speaking public school and developed an interest in mathematics, and hoped to pursue his studies overseas.

In his free time, the 17-year-old helped guide tourists around a mini museum at his family’s workshop – an experience that helped him improve his English.

That dream recently became reality when he was accepted into the engineering physics programme at the prestigious Stanford University in California.

“I'm proud to represent not just myself, but also an idea of someone from an underprivileged background getting into (such) schools. It inspires a lot of people,” Amirbek told CNA.

His long-term ambition is bigger: He hopes to help solve the challenges standing in the way of fusion energy.

He credits his achievement in part to Freshman Academy, an education centre in the Uzbek capital Tashkent. Among his mentors is Singaporean Nigel Li, who leads the academy’s research institute.

NURTURING UZBEKISTAN'S YOUNG TALENT

Mr Li, 27, said many young people in Uzbekistan have enormous ambition but may lack access to the resources and skills needed to pursue it.

“(The students here) are hungry for a lot of knowledge and opportunity, but they just don't have the tools,” he said. “We decided to … develop these programmes so that these students have the requisite skills to approach this complex world.”

The academy helps students build skills such as critical thinking and writing, while connecting them with opportunities abroad, ranging from undergraduate studies to apprenticeship.

Amirbek joined the academy’s Full Support programme, which guides students through the university application process. After securing his place at Stanford, he is now giving back by mentoring and coaching younger participants at the academy.

For Mr Li, education is an area where Singapore has something distinctive to contribute as Uzbekistan becomes increasingly outward-looking.

“Uzbekistan is hungry for expertise and knowledge and Singapore has a lot to offer,” he said.

“While we may not be a manufacturing powerhouse the way China is, or have the capital that the United States has, we have the know-how of nation building. We have expertise in developing educational pedagogies.”

Mr Li moved to Uzbekistan after returning to Singapore earlier this year from Washington, where he had worked and studied, specialising in conflict and arms control.

“I wanted to contribute my knowledge differently,” he said. “Rather than trying to mitigate destruction, I wanted to plant the seeds for development and construction of a new generation's ability to build a better world.”

What has struck him is the optimism he sees among Uzbekistan's youths. More than half of the country’s population of 38 million is under the age of 30.

“Every young person I meet wants to do something – start a business, study abroad, develop their own artificial intelligence language model. We can learn a lot from the hopes and dreams of people here,” he said."

Man gets jail, caning for raping stepdaughter; victim not believed by family, placed in welfare home (1 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A delivery man repeatedly raped his stepdaughter from when she was 16, including in the back of his van and in his one-room flat while his wife and six other children were asleep.

When the abuse was uncovered, the victim's mother and siblings did not believe her. She could no longer live with her family and was placed in a welfare home.

The 43-year-old Singaporean man, who cannot be named by court order to protect the victim's identity, was sentenced on Tuesday (Sep 1) to 22 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane.

He pleaded guilty to four charges of rape, with another nine similar charges taken into consideration.

THE CASE

The court heard that the man lived in a one-room flat with his wife, a 42-year-old woman, and their shared children.

The woman had seven children – four with her first husband, including the victim who is her firstborn, and three with the offender.

They were married towards the end of 2015, when the victim was nine.

The family slept together in the same room, either sharing a bed or sleeping on their own mattresses.

In June 2023, when the victim was 16, she began receiving lewd text messages from her stepfather. When she refused to engage in a sex act with him, he confiscated her phone.

That same month, she accompanied him on his delivery rounds in his van.

While they were in a car park in Tampines, the victim was sorting parcels when her stepfather raped her. He ignored her pleas to stop.

After that, he returned the girl's phone to her.

Between July and December that year, he raped her again in the van at least five times.

He also raped the girl at home, while the rest of the family was asleep around them. The girl would give in because he threatened to confiscate her phone.

On one occasion, she cried silently and covered her face with a soft toy.

In total, between June 2023 and February 2024, the man raped his stepdaughter at least 12 times. This happened at least once or twice a month.

One time, when the teenager missed her period, he told her to eat pineapples to avoid a pregnancy or induce a miscarriage.

The man regularly demanded sex from the girl by sending her text messages, which he would delete using his cloud access to the victim's phone.

However, the girl managed to capture a screenshot in February 2024. She felt helpless throughout the nine-month ordeal and was unable to stop her stepfather physically due to his strength.

She did not tell her mother, fearing that she would not believe her.

After the last rape on Feb 13, 2024, the victim could no longer endure the assault. She confided in her boyfriend, who advised her to inform her mother.

The teenager then showed her mother the screenshot of her stepfather's messages.

Confronted by her mother, the stepfather laughed it off and denied any wrongdoing. He also suggested that it was the victim who sent him lewd messages.

The victim confided in her school teacher, who referred her to a school counsellor. The counsellor reported the incident and a police report was made.

The police seized phones from the stepfather that contained recordings and screenshots from closed-circuit television cameras he had installed in the flat, depicting the man sexually abusing the victim.

He was placed in a drug rehabilitation centre for drug consumption from March 2024 to September 2025. After that, he was transferred to Changi Prison and has since been remanded for the rape offences."

AI, working parents, growth markets: New Minister of State Foo Cexiang on his priorities (1 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Bringing businesses, workers and the government closer together to deliver tangible outcomes for Singaporeans will be a key focus for new Minister of State Foo Cexiang, as he takes on his manpower and trade and industry portfolios.

For the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, that means tackling questions such as how companies can harness artificial intelligence without compromising workers' development, how workplaces can better support parents and how Singapore can tap new growth markets overseas.

Mr Foo, who took office at the two ministries on Tuesday (Sep 1), said he sees his role as one of connecting different groups and perspectives, then finding common ground that can be translated into practical results.

Speaking to CNA on Aug 14, ahead of assuming his new role, Mr Foo said this approach has remained consistent throughout his years in the public service and his time serving residents in his constituency.

It is also one he intends to bring to his new portfolios.

MAKING AI WORK FOR WORKERS

Among the issues high on his agenda at the Manpower Ministry is how companies integrate AI while ensuring that workers still have opportunities to learn, develop and progress in their careers.

Mr Foo said he intends to work closely with the human resources (HR) sector on the issue.

“Together with HR, we’ll be able to influence, in some sense, how AI is integrated within not just a company, but a worker's career development pathway,” he said.

This means looking closely at which tasks can be handed over to AI and where space should be preserved for employees to gain experience and grow their capabilities, he added.

“We should integrate AI because the potential is significant,” he noted.

“But it's in the how and in the where that the in-depth conversations need to be had between companies, business leaders, HR leaders, unions and workers. That is the important conversation that will be critical in this next phase.”

BALANCING WORKING PARENTS & BUSINESSES

Mr Foo is also looking at how workplaces can better support parents while recognising employers’ operational needs.

As a father of three, he said he understands the challenge of balancing career and family responsibilities, and how this could weigh on young couples as they consider whether to have children.

He believes there is room to explore different forms of workplace flexibility and find arrangements that work for both employees and businesses.

“Many parents who are running companies or in managerial positions understand this tension intimately themselves because they have to manage this on an everyday basis,” he said.

“So, this is something we really have to work on, get more feedback and views, (explore) different scenarios, different forms of flexibilities, so that we are able to build into the overall system.”

Singapore teen births at lowest in over 20 years; safe, judgment-free environment key to seeking help: Experts (2 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: When Ms Jannyce Lim gave birth at 19, some relatives frowned on her decision to become a mother so young.

She struggled with postpartum depression and her husband was not able to provide the support she needed as he was still a student.

However, her mother stood by her. She stepped in to care for the baby and covered some of the baby's expenses when Ms Lim struggled to hold down a long-term job.

Ms Lim was one of 140 teenage mothers who gave birth in Singapore last year.

The number of teenage births fell by more than 40 per cent from 244 in 2024, and is at its lowest level in at least 20 years, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) reports on births and deaths in Singapore.

ICA defines a teenage birth as one where the mother was 19 or younger when the child was born.

Ms Lim acknowledged that her experience as a teenage mother differs from that of many others. Having a supportive parent was significant, she said.

Since Ms Lim married before the age of 21, she was required to undergo a mandatory marriage preparation programme.

Through the programme, she also met a counsellor from Fei Yue Community Services, who gave her a safe space to talk about the difficulties she was facing.

The support she received from both her mother and counsellor helped make the transition into motherhood less isolating, she said.

Responding to queries from CNA on the factors that could have contributed to the decline in teenage births, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that because live births among teenagers remain “relatively uncommon” and the 2025 figure represents a single year of data, the lower figure does not necessarily indicate a declining trend.

Separately, the ministry said the incidence rate of abortions among teenagers over the past five years has remained largely unchanged, at about two in 1,000 teenage females.

While teenage pregnancies may be a concern that cannot be completely eliminated, experts said it remains important to ensure that young mothers who become pregnant have access to the support they need.

CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Ms Lim had a strong support system to help her navigate motherhood, but not every teenager may have the same resources or be equipped to cope with the demands of becoming a parent at a young age.

Dr Cassandra Cheong, a consultant with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), said that while a teenager may be biologically capable of pregnancy, she may not be developmentally prepared for parenthood as her brain is still developing and is extremely sensitive to stressors.

“Teenage pregnancies often intersect with mental health concerns, unstable relationships, school disengagement, poor sexual health literacy and financial hardship,” said Dr Cheong, who also leads KKH’s Clinic for Adolescent Pregnancy.

These overlapping challenges can also make it harder for teenagers to seek support when they need it, particularly if they fear stigma or judgment.

“Creating an environment where young people feel safe to ask questions and seek help without fear of judgment remains one of the most important areas for improvement,” she said.

She said improving access to contraception, identifying at-risk individuals early, and providing dedicated services and post-delivery contraception counselling all play a role.

“Ultimately, preventing teenage pregnancy is not something any single service or sector can achieve alone. It requires a coordinated effort across healthcare, education, social services, and the community, each playing its part in supporting young people at different points in their lives,” Dr Cheong said.

Ensuring that teenagers feel safe seeking early antenatal care is important, as it allows for timely monitoring of mother and baby, early identification of complications, and access to nutritional, psychological and social support.

“Yet many pregnant teenagers face significant barriers to seeking care early. Some have limited awareness of their own reproductive health, not knowing, for instance, that a missed period warrants a pregnancy test, or even how to go about getting one. They may also be in denial, fearing backlash from family or societal stigma.”

Commentary: Support for children of unwed parents reflects Singapore’s refreshed social compact (2 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: There was one small but significant shift in the new SG Child Support Package unveiled at this year’s National Day Rally. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that every Singaporean child will receive almost $$70,000 (US$55,000) in direct financial support by the time they turn 17.

This includes children born to unmarried parents, who until now have been excluded from the Baby Bonus cash gift. As recently as February this year, the government explained in a parliamentary reply that this benefit was not extended to single unwed parents because it was “designed to encourage parenthood within marriage”.

In fact, such children were previously excluded from Child Development Account (CDA) benefits as well. It was only from September 2016 that children born to unwed parents qualified for government co-matching of their CDA contributions and the one-off First Step Grant (then S$3,000), though they would still be excluded from the Baby Bonus cash gift.

The latest change is welcome for single parents. But there is another significance for all Singaporeans: It suggests an evolution in Singapore’s social compact.

A GRADUAL SHIFT

The new SG Child Support Package represents the latest step in a broader policy evolution that has gradually extended social benefits to single parents.

There has been a “longstanding tension between the objective of promoting parenthood in the context of marriage (as a social norm the government wishes to uphold) and meeting the needs of single parents, especially those who are lower income,” as I noted in my book Refreshing The Singapore System: Recalibrating Socio-Economic Policy For The 21st Century (2021).

In 2013, paid childcare leave was extended to working single parents. From 2017, maternity leave for unwed mothers was increased from eight to 16 weeks to be on par with that for married mothers.

Further to this, the government announced in 2020 that unmarried single parents aged 21 and above could be considered for new 3-room HDB flats in non-mature estates, rather than having to wait till age 35 like singles.

Even so, there remains a differentiation in benefits according to a parent’s marital status. Notably, a single unwed mother cannot claim Working Mother's Child Relief, which allows married, divorced or widowed working mothers to directly lower the amount subject to personal income tax.

POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE MARRIAGE WHILE SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD

Extending benefits to children of unwed parents need not mean abandoning incentives for marriage entirely.

The government can continue to encourage marriage through policies directed at adults – including tax and other family benefits – without differentiating the support available to children according to their parents' marital status.

Singapore’s population challenge, underscored by a record-low fertility rate, makes it all the more important to find ways to pursue both objectives.

It is noteworthy that non-marital births have not risen despite the progressive extension of benefits to children of unwed parents, including CDA benefits from 2016. There was an average of about 745 non-marital births annually to Singapore citizen mothers from 2020 to 2024, compared with more than 1,000 annually from 2006 to 2012.

Past experience thus offers little reason to expect that providing more support to children of unwed parents will, by itself, lead to a significant increase in non-marital births."

Over S$30 million in SG Culture Pass credits used; new portal to help seniors access cultural outings (2 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Around 411,000 Singaporeans have used more than S$30.4 million (US$23.9 million) in SG Culture Pass credits in the scheme's first year, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said on Wednesday (Sep 2).

As of Aug 31, about S$2.9 million had been spent on Singapore literature books, while about S$1.6 million had been used on local films.

Of the 1.4 million Singaporeans who registered for the SG Culture Pass, 68 per cent had not attended a local arts and culture event in the previous five years, MCCY said.

The ministry added it has been working with Active Ageing Centres, community clubs and nursing homes to organise cultural outings for seniors.

These partners help identify suitable events, redeem SG Culture Pass credits and plan the outings, helping seniors overcome barriers such as digital literacy and mobility challenges.

To make such outings easier to organise, MCCY will introduce a new Group-Assist Portal from mid-October, allowing more community partners to organise group outings and simplify the redemption of SG Culture Pass credits.

The portal will be piloted for outings from November to December in partnership with organisations such as Lions Befrienders and Care Corner Seniors Services.

“The launch of the new Group-Assist Portal will help us continue supporting seniors in staying socially connected and mentally active through organised outings to SG Culture Pass programmes,” said Care Corner Active Ageing Group deputy director Sharon Tang.

REACHING NEW AUDIENCES

Nine in 10 survey respondents who attended a programme using their credits said they were willing to attend another local cultural offering beyond the SG Culture Pass.

Youths aged 18 to 35 accounted for 43 per cent of credit usage, while adults and seniors made up 38 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, MCCY said.

Live events were the most common type of programme supported by the SG Culture Pass and accounted for the largest share of credit usage across all age groups.

“The SG Culture Pass provides this important nudge,” said Dr Hoe Su Fern, principal research fellow and director of the Cultural Policy Lab at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

“It offers a crucial first taste of the arts,” she said, adding that this could help normalise activities such as watching a play or learning pottery as everyday pastimes.

Dr Hoe noted, however, that a single visit rarely builds lasting habits, and that whether people return depends on efforts by practitioners, organisations and supporters to turn that initial experience into a longer-term relationship.

Introduced in September 2025 to encourage more Singaporeans to experience local arts and heritage, the SG Culture Pass now supports more than 1,400 cultural programmes, 3,100 books and 23 films.

More than 900 arts and heritage partners, 76 publishers and 17 bookstores are involved in the scheme.

Eligible Singapore citizens aged 18 and above in 2025 have received S$100 in SG Culture Pass credits, which can be used until Dec 31, 2028.

MCCY said it will continue to review the SG Culture Pass and work with sector partners to ensure that the scheme remains relevant, inclusive and effective in fostering participation.

This includes continuing to refresh the range of eligible offerings and exploring ways to expand the network of authorised ticketing platforms."

Childcare leave changes 'will take some time' to implement: Indranee Rajah (2 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Changes to Singapore's childcare leave scheme "will take some time" to implement as the government prepares legislative amendments and works through the operational details which could require "at least several months", Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah said.

Speaking in a CNA938 radio interview that aired on Wednesday (Sep 2), Ms Indranee, who chairs the inter-agency Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, said that there are “a few things” that need to happen before more childcare leave can be implemented, including amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Act that will take time to legislate.

“Operational issues” need to be worked out with employers, the unions and parents “just to make sure that we get all the details tied down”, she said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23 that each parent will get eight, 10 or 12 days of leave a year if he or she has one, two or three or more children respectively.

This is up from the current six days of leave a year for each parent with children aged six and below, or two days a year if the children are between seven and 12 years old.

When asked about concerns that the enhanced leave could cause workload issues for employers and non-parents, Ms Indranee said that the leave situation at workplaces is generally a “very tight” one.

“If one person is out of play, somebody else has to step in, bear the load, or you have to scramble to find somebody to cover,” she said.

Ms Indranee said the government has done “step one”, which is to cover the costs of the childcare leave.

This means that the employer now has the additional cash in hand which they can use to pay those colleagues who are covering for the parent who is taking childcare leave, or to be able to hire somebody else to cover, she said.

EASIER SAID THAN DONE

However, she added that implementing more childcare leave is “easier said than done”.

Even if the details are ironed out, the implementation cannot be immediate as childcare leave is provided for in legislation. That means that amendments to the Child Development Co-Savings Act have to be proposed, debated and passed in parliament first, before the amended law comes into force, she said.

Ms Indranee added that there will also be IT systems that need to be updated to properly track parents who go on childcare leave, so as to ensure that employers are reimbursed the correct amount.

“It's going to take at least several months … these are the things that have to take place first, and we will announce the start date as soon as we can,” she said.

In the meantime, she exhorted workers to play their part to give sufficient notice to their employers before taking leave, whether to care for children or for their own aged parents.

For employers, she said having contingency arrangements should be part and parcel of normal HR policy.

“For example, the job sharing or flexi work arrangements would be helpful,” she said. “In fact, the flexi work arrangements part can benefit anybody - not just parents, but anybody who needs to take time off for unexpected contingencies.”

Social media bans for teens: What Talking Point learnt from Australia, Malaysia (3 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE/SYDNEY/KUALA LUMPUR: “I can guarantee,” a teenager told his peers, “no matter how many restrictions (the authorities) put in place, we’ll somehow find a way to bypass (them).”

It is a viewpoint the authorities themselves have heard over the past couple of months during focus group discussions as Singapore considers how best to regulate children’s access to social media.

At one of the discussions among youths aged 13 to 35, the same teen thought there should be “full access” from age 13 onwards. Another said the government could “give guidelines” to parents to implement at home.

As Talking Point host Diana Ser joined their group, none sounded confident about the enforceability of restrictions. Said one boy: “There’s only so much (the government) can do.”

Yet the pressure on policymakers continues to build up.

One in six young people aged 10 to 24 show signs of problematic social media use, associated with issues such as depression and anxiety. About one in five youths aged 15 to 35 have reported being cyberbullied.

While Singapore is now deciding how to protect its youth — with plans to legislate stronger safeguards early next year, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said this past week — some countries have already acted.

They include Australia, which became the world’s first country to ban access for under-16s to social media last December, and Malaysia, which implemented its restrictions in June.

Have the laws been successful and what does life look like for the teens living under them? Ser visited both countries to find teenagers making their way back to social media and the measures raising problems of their own.

Are bans the best solution, or are there other ways to keep children safe, Talking Point asks in a two-part special as the difficulty of protection becomes clear.

WATCH PART 1: Should children under 16 be banned from social media? (23:00)

A BAN WITH GAPS

Back in September 2024, Kelly O’Brien’s daughter, Charlotte, had been bullied at school for a couple of years, which eventually escalated online. According to O’Brien, the last message her 12-year-old received was, “you’re fat, you’re ugly, go kill yourself”.

She found her daughter’s suicide note the next morning. Asked if Charlotte would still be alive without social media, she answered: “Yeah.”

Eight weeks later, the girl’s parents were in Canberra, meeting the Australian prime minister and hoping to garner bipartisan support for raising the legal age for social media to 16.

“Having already lost everything, I thought there was nothing to lose to fight for other kids in Charlotte’s name,” said O’Brien.

What followed was that under-16s were barred from 10 social media platforms, with hefty fines for platforms that do not take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts.

When the law was passed, though, Kelly did not feel happiness. “You can’t get your child back, but it’s (a) relief that other people might,” she said.

“(The ban) is for...the next generation who’d just know this life to be normal — to not want 10,000 likes or 800 followers.”

That hope may be aspirational. A study by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner found that 81.5 per cent of under-16s were using social media in March, compared to 85.9 per cent before the ban.

“Nothing really changed for me. I’m still on all of the platforms,” said Alyssia, 14, who had “done (her) lashes” and worn lip gloss the day she scanned her face, which was enough for her to complete the age verification.

Michael, 13, has seen his friends exploit the same loophole. They would “look left, look right” and “suck in their cheeks” to look older.

When the scan could not be beaten, teens found other ways around it, such as by switching devices and logging into a new account. Some of them got help from their parents, according to Michael.

“The ban has failed,” said Alyssia’s mother, Wendy Chang, who herself got locked out of Instagram when the ban took effect and she had to take a picture of herself for the facial estimation checks.

“For a whole week, I was banned,” she said, “but not Alyssia!”

A government-commissioned age assurance trial had tested more than 60 technologies and concluded that age verification could be done effectively. So, what has gone wrong?"

Not the technology, according to Andrew Hammond, who was the trial’s deputy project director. He pointed to flaws in the implementation such as the lack of an age buffer.

His team’s report recommended that platforms perform another check on anyone who gets a borderline pass, as testing for age assurance at 16 — when appearances change “quite regularly” — is “quite hard”, he said.

He thought it likely that someone like Alyssia was let “straight through” because there was no buffer mechanism on the platform.

In the case of Chang, he suggested that lighting, such as “too much light”, or a “variety of...scenarios” might have caused the inaccurate estimation of her age.

The failure he sees happening is that “people just aren’t getting asked to verify their age that often”.

To sign up on “nine out of the 10 platforms”, he said, it is enough for users to state that they are 16 or older, and “away you go”.

Australian authorities have responded. After flagging potential enforcement action against five platforms in March — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube — for non-compliance with the law, the government has moved to almost double the maximum fine for breaches.

It is set to increase from A$54.6 million (US$39.1 million) to A$99 million."

Actor Romeo Tan on experiencing middle child syndrome while growing up (3 September 2026)

"Being the middle child isn’t always easy. Sometimes you’re just caught between an older sibling to “listen” to and a younger one to care for.

Romeo Tan can surely relate.

In the new Mediacorp multi-generational series Brighter Days, which spans more than three decades, the 41-year-old actor plays two roles: Li Zhongcheng, a 1996 HDB nanny, and his son Li Yiwei in 2026.

In the show, Yiwei grapples with the painful aftermath of losing his younger brother (Jeffrey Xu) as a child, an incident that also caused his mother to suffer from depression. Years later, after his brother is found, Yiwei struggles to earn his forgiveness for the pain he caused.

Speaking of brotherhood, that’s certainly something Romeo Tan can relate to in real life.

The actor has an older brother who is six years older and a younger brother who is five years younger.

When they were kids, Tan shared a bunk bed with his younger brother, which made them especially close.

He also looked up to his older brother and saw him as a good role model.

Tan, however, quipped in an interview with Chinese-language media vibes by 8world that his older and younger brothers are less close to each other, which is why he acts as the “middleman” between them.

But being literally in the middle comes with its challenges too.

Admitting that he experienced “middle child syndrome”, Romeo Tan said that he was more rebellious and would sometimes feel jealous of both his older and younger brothers.

“When I was young, mum would always say: ‘Gor gor (older brother) is a good role model, you should learn from him,’ and ‘Your younger brother is the well-behaved one, you should learn from him too,’” he recalled.

“I felt like I was always looking up to my older and younger brothers, but my mum never praised me.”

Thankfully, that never affected their sibling bond.

“Everyone knows their place. I won’t overstep my older brother, and my younger brother won’t overstep me. We also would never fight with our older brother,” he said.

“We respect each other and get along well. Even if we have occasional arguments, once it’s over, it’s over.”

The actor also admitted that he was a mischievous child who struggled academically and often gave his parents plenty of headaches.

“But I’ve always continued improving myself. When I was serving National Service, I became an officer and made my parents proud. Now that I’m an actor, they also think this ‘ah boy’ has turned out pretty well.”

Father wins right to choose son's primary school in court tussle with ex-wife (3 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A family court has granted a father the right to choose his son's primary school, after the boy's divorced parents failed to agree on the matter and filed applications to the court.

The former couple married in 2019 and had one child before divorcing in 2022.

The boy is due to enter primary school in 2027, according to a judgment published on Wednesday (Sep 2).

THE CASE

The boy's parents had agreed to joint custody. From February 2024, the mother would have the boy from Wednesdays to noon on Sundays, while the father would have him from noon on Sundays to noon on Wednesdays.

Both parents wanted the boy to be enrolled in a primary school of their choice. By the time the judge heard their applications in July 2026, the first phase of admission had passed.

District Judge Goh Zhuo Neng laid out some non-exhaustive issues which are considered and raised when determining which parent should have sole authority to register a child in a primary school.

First, the reputation of the school. Judge Goh said this is a "popular but often fruitless path of debate".

"Well-meaning parents would argue that their child would have the best start if they were placed in a school that is perceived to provide a superior curriculum and prestige," he said.

"This fails to take into account whether the child might adapt well to the environment and also that places in these schools would be oversubscribed and difficult to get into."

He said placing emphasis on this risks turning all applications on primary school registration into a ranking exercise, marginalising other factors which are more important.

The second factor is alumni association, which is usually raised together with the reputation of the school.

"However, the benefit here is distinct and relevant only insofar as it improves the child's opportunity to obtain a place in the school," said Judge Goh.

The third factor is the distance the child lives from the school, which the judge said was a "useful factor" in evaluating the issue, especially when the court is being asked to choose between a school that is very close and a school that is very far.

The impact of distance is particularly significant in the morning when the child has to wake up in the wee hours to attend primary school assembly, which usually starts at 7.30am, he said.

The distance will also have an impact on places given in priority to children who live within 1 to 2km of the school.

Another factor is which parent bears the greater share of responsibility in caregiving for the child, as this parent understands the child's schedule and needs and strong weight would generally be given to their choice of school.

Other factors include availability of places and conduct of the parents - behaviour which negatively affects the ability of the child to be enrolled would be taken into account, said Judge Goh.

THE DECISION

In this case, Judge Goh allowed the father to decide on the primary school. If there is no available spot at the school of his choice, the child will be registered at any other school where the father can secure a place.

The judge said he regarded travelling time and the time needed to prepare the boy for school as key factors.

Both parents opted for schools which were no more than five minutes from them.

However, they lived 30 to 40 minutes away from each other, so it would mean that the boy had to travel about 30 minutes each way when he stayed with the other parent.

The mother proposed a school, unnamed in the judgment, seven to 10 minutes from the boy's current preschool.

While this was in the interest of maintaining status quo, the judge did not think this was in the boy's best interests.

"Preschool start timings were more flexible and later than those of primary school. (The primary school) was also 20 minutes from both parents' homes," said Judge Goh.

He said giving the father sole authority to choose the school would give the boy three mornings a week where he need not wake up as early to get to school.

"This was a clear advantage the father had over the mother," said the judge. "The father would also be able to prepare (his son) for three full days of school...as opposed to the mother who only needed to prepare him for two full days of school."

Arts groups, museums seek to sustain momentum after SG Culture Pass attendance boost (3 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Arts groups in Singapore are looking to turn a boost in attendance from the SG Culture Pass into a longer-term habit as the scheme enters its second year.

Some say partnerships and new outreach efforts will be key to bringing arts and cultural experiences to more communities.

The SG Culture Pass was introduced in September last year to encourage more Singaporeans to experience local arts and heritage.

Around 411,000 Singaporeans have used more than S$30.4 million (US$23.9 million) in Culture Pass credits since its launch, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said on Wednesday (Sep 2).

REACHING NEW AUDIENCES

The scheme appears to be reaching beyond the usual arts crowd.

Of the 1.4 million Singaporeans who registered for the pass, 68 per cent had not attended a local arts and culture event in the previous five years, according to MCCY.

Nine in 10 users surveyed also said they were willing to attend another local arts and culture event after using their credits.

Youths aged 18 to 35 accounted for 43 per cent of credit usage, while adults and seniors made up 38 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, the ministry said.

Arts groups say the challenge now is to sustain that momentum and reach those who may be harder to draw in.

At the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT), more than 60 per cent of the audience for its recent musical Legally Blonde used the Culture Pass.

Productions like this have helped bring in newcomers.

The theatre company said roughly half of Culture Pass users are visiting SRT for the first time.

Its focus in the scheme's second year will shift towards people who are not regular arts-goers.

“It's my sense that the older generation especially are not so frequent arts consumers,” said SRT’s managing director Charlotte Nors.

“The first wave of Culture Pass users might have a higher percentage of people who are theatre goers or arts consumers.”

SRT plans to introduce special Culture Pass packages for selected productions, including performances where the S$100 credit can cover two tickets.

It also hopes to encourage older Singaporeans to use their credits to take younger family members to children's shows."

Healthcare costs, education stress: Incoming Minister of State Shawn Loh on adopting ‘listening approach’ (3 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Healthcare costs for seniors and unnecessary stress in the education system are among the concerns incoming Minister of State Shawn Loh has heard from residents as he prepares to take on his new portfolios in health and education.

The MP for Jalan Besar GRC, who will assume his new appointment in January, is holding back from setting out firm priorities before taking office.

Instead, Mr Loh said he wants to first listen to a range of stakeholders, including those beyond his constituency, before forming his views and subsequently contributing to policymaking.

“I'm deliberately suspending judgment, and deliberately not trying to prescribe what I think are my ideas without first listening,” he told CNA.

Mr Loh said both ministries affect the lives of virtually all Singaporeans, and that his listening approach would also extend to those working in both sectors.

“I'm mindful that both for education as well as health, these are large ministries. The policies are delivered by a large group of highly dedicated professionals, whether it's education officers, nurses, doctors, and I want to hear their views as well."

CONCERNS FROM SENIORS AND PARENTS

As a first-term MP, Mr Loh has already gained a window into some concerns that intersect with his incoming portfolios.

The Whampoa ward where he serves has both an ageing population and young families moving into new Build-to-Order flats.

Among seniors he has interacted with, healthcare costs remain an issue.

“Some have outlived their savings, some have outlived what they provisioned for, for their healthcare, and there's a lot of uncertainty because they don't know how much more they have to pay for healthcare.”

He also spoke of parents concerned about stress in the education system.

While some stress is necessary for children to grow and move beyond their comfort zones, he said too much unnecessary stress “destroys the joy of learning for many of our children”.

“In an age where knowledge is so easily available, especially with AI, you don't want our children to graduate by having the joy of learning beaten out of them.”

Maintaining curiosity throughout life is particularly important, he added, and is an area he hopes to better understand.

Over the past year, he has raised issues in parliament ranging from the Silver Support Scheme for seniors to childcare, infant care and student care for families.

He believes these are concerns he can bring into discussions in his new role.

A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Mr Loh’s family life gives him another perspective on both portfolios.

A father of four, he has one child in secondary school, two in primary school and one in childcare.

"We interact with both the education system and the healthcare system quite regularly. It allows me to have a first-hand feel, even before I joined politics, of the journey that many Singaporeans go through.”

He also has ageing parents, giving him an understanding of the caregiving pressures people in his age group face.

“I also understand that many in my age group are feeling the stresses or are anticipating the stresses of caregiving, and that's also an issue that I think many Singaporeans continue to think about.”

Commentary: Will Meta’s US settlement change how Singapore regulates social media? (4 September 2026)

SINGAPORE: Meta’s US$18 billion settlement with US states and territories, alongside its agreement to implement new child-safety features, came as a surprise. The federal lawsuit was expected to be a drawn-out affair but concluded one week after the trial commenced.

This latest development is significant as it adds another layer of duty of care by social media companies to young users.

It also guides policymakers on how they can enforce safer design. Singapore plans to introduce laws in early 2027 requiring social media platforms to roll out stronger safeguards for teens – and for platforms that do not comply, Singapore aims to raise the minimum age of access to 18.

PLATFORMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE “HOW”

Meta and other social media companies have come under heavy regulatory scrutiny in recent years. Earlier this year, Snap and YouTube settled lawsuits over their impact on users’ mental health ahead of trial.

In legislating against social media, governments have focused on the “whom” and the “what” – young users, and harmful content. This approach has informed policies like the under-16 social media ban.

Meta’s settlement in the US extends platforms’ responsibility to the “how”. What Meta agreed to – limiting the amount of time children spend on their platforms, banning access from midnight to 6am, and removing push notifications during school hours – will change how young users engage with social media.

Meta previously said its existing tools like screen-time warnings and parental controls make their services safer for children. However, experts highlighted that such features are rarely used as they are not automatically turned on.

The reality is that social media companies, being profit-making companies, make deliberate architecture choices to attract users and keep them on the platforms. What’s more, history shows how Meta tweaks product features for different markets for this purpose.

For instance, the company introduced Facebook Lite for developing countries that run on slower networks. A different set of tools usable with lower data bandwidths were introduced for Facebook Lite.

Other country-specific rollouts include Facebook Marketplace and the tweaking of Newsfeed after the 2016 US presidential election so users would see more posts from their friends and family, and fewer from brands, businesses and media. While this adjustment might not have been made for revenue purposes, it was a response to the scrutiny the platform faced for the spread of election mis- and disinformation.

These architectural changes point to social media companies’ ability to not just change product settings quickly but also for markets of their choice.

WILL SOCIAL MEDIA BE SAFER?

On paper, the changes that Meta said it will make to Facebook and Instagram aim to limit the amount of time young users spend there and make the platforms less addictive.

However, the new features do not fully address the problem of harmful content and the personalised targeting of users via platform algorithms. The harm posed to young people does not just stem from how much time they spend online but also what they are exposed to.

Moreover, making social media safer should not happen only after it is rolled out to users. User safety considerations must be made upstream, when a product is designed and being developed.

According to the World Economic Forum, “safety by design puts user safety and rights at the centre of the design and development of online products and services”. The intention is for technology companies to “minimise online threats by anticipating, detecting and eliminating online harms before they occur”.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SINGAPORE

Meta’s lawsuit has made clear that if left to their own devices, social media companies are unlikely to take necessary drastic steps.

Regulators will have to shoulder the responsibility of defining safety standards for children and take action should social media companies fail to meet the standard. The community, comprising users, parents and educators, will have to remain vigilant and step up to call for accountability.

Singapore’s approach to improving online safety for users has been a multi-pronged one. Since 2022, the government has introduced a slew of regulations which seek to mitigate the negative repercussions of social media use at the content, platform, and system levels, and more recently, at the victim level.

At a forum organised by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Institute of Policy Studies in July, Minister Josephine Teo said that safety is not just about content, but also how much time children spend on social media and the nature of their interactions.

Besides addictive features, policymakers should also be concerned with product features that put children in dangerous situations such as chat functions. For example, platforms could be required to restrict messaging from strangers and notify parents and guardians of accounts that send messages to their children.

While Meta’s product tweaks will be made for the US market only, the settlement is likely to nudge similar considerations in other jurisdictions, which could leverage their regulatory frameworks to impose obligations on Meta and other platforms. And they should, because children all around the world, regardless of their nationality, deserve so much more."

She once failed almost every subject and hated school – now she’s the teacher who fights for every student (4 September 2026)

“I hated school.” This was one of the first things Raja Shahridah Raja Suhaini told me, shortly after being named one of four National Level winners at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University’s Caring Teacher Awards 2026.

It is rare to hear a teacher admit this with such startling candour.

But the 35-year-old, known to her students at Beatty Secondary School as Ms Shah, was dealt very different cards from most.

Her father was incarcerated for the first five years of her life for drug use. And after his release, he joined her mother as a cleaner.

The family lived in a one-room rental flat, worrying about basic survival needs, such as what to eat the next day. Shahridah’s parents could not afford to take care of her two younger sisters and had to give them away to relatives.

Shahridah did not go to kindergarten. She spent her childhood trailing her parents to work.

“I was that young kid running around Takashimaya without shoes while my parents were cleaning the area. Sometimes, I helped sweep the floor,” she told CNA Women.

Her parents mainly spoke Malay, so when she went to Primary 1, Shahridah could not speak much English. She also could not read.

“I was scared most of the time. I didn’t understand what my teachers were saying. My teacher would take out this big book and make us read out loud in front of our friends. I always cried,” she recalled.

Right up to Primary 4, she failed every subject except Malay. She became rebellious and stopped caring, spending her time catching tadpoles in the school’s fishpond.

Today, the woman who once hated school is a teacher who goes from house to house knocking on the doors of pupils who skip school, inviting them back to class.

“There are times when I visited their house and it brings me back to when I was young,” Shahridah said.

THE TEACHER WHO NEVER WANTED TO BE ONE

When she was a child, Shahridah’s parents fought for every opportunity for her. On weekends, they would rent shows such as Mr Bean and RoboCop, deciphering the spoken English and subtitles together.

On their day off, they would take her to the library and have her read out loud. Librarians and other adults would correct her reading, and her parents would thank them for it.

By Primary 2, Shahridah could read.

Her parents would also take her to McDonald’s to do her homework. Whenever she encountered a difficult question, they would approach random strangers for help.

“Imagine walking up to someone and telling them you are not able to teach your own child,” Shahridah reflected.

Witnessing her parents’ hardship and sacrifices, Shahridah was determined to study hard to forge a way out of poverty for her family. From Primary 5, she started to score.

She went to Temasek Polytechnic to study Consumer Science and Technology and even won a gold medal for her academic performance.

After graduating, she received two job offers – one to be a Central Narcotics Bureau officer and the other, to be a Food and Consumer Education (FCE) teacher. It was her mother who decided for her.

Shahridah ended up teaching at Balestier Hill Secondary School, which later merged with Beatty Secondary School.

“Where I came from, you don’t have many choices. A lot of things get thrown to you. You just learn to like it. You do it and you do it well,” she said.

Teaching, however, turned out to be much more for Shahridah.

WHEN COOKING BECOMES CONNECTION

Shahridah teaches FCE to lower secondary students, and Nutrition and Food Science to upper secondary pupils, covering topics such as healthy food choices and practical cooking skills.

She gets her students to make trending pasar malam foods such as Ramly burgers, ice cream, and kunafah, a traditional Arab dessert.

“No other lessons will allow you to eat as you listen to the teacher,” she laughed.

Shahridah even bursts into Disney songs such as Let It Go and Can You Feel The Love Tonight while cooking – a quirk that endears her to students.

Many of them come to her with things they would tell no one else.

A girl with special educational needs who grew up without a mother came to Shahridah when she had her first period and did not know how to wear a sanitary napkin. Shahridah showed her how.

Another student who was living with a relative after his parents died also came to Shahridah. For three months, he waited outside the staff room after school to ask her how her day was.

“It felt like he wanted to say something and was holding back. But I did not expect it to be abuse. He was a very jovial boy,” she reflected.

“One day, I nudged him and asked, ‘What is it you want to tell me?’” That was when he told her he and his siblings were being physically abused.

Shahridah worked with the school and relevant agencies to move the boy and his siblings to a safer environment, although they had to be separated.

The boy is now 18, about to enter polytechnic, and currently working to earn money. “His siblings are all he has. He told me that he’s going to get a house so they can be together again. I’m proud of him,” Shahridah said."

Actress Rebecca Lim opens up about postpartum life after birth of daughter: 'The pressure to bounce back is real' (4 September 2026)

"Three months after the birth of her daughter, Singaporean actress Rebecca Lim, 39, has opened up about postpartum life and some of the challenges she's faced since then.

Lim's daughter, whom she calls Baby M, is her second child with husband Matthew Webster.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday (Sep 2), Rebecca Lim opened up about struggling with her body image, saying: "Mostly, I struggle with how I look in the mirror. And I despise myself for feeling that way. I know that there’s more to life than that. But I’m only human. And the pressure to 'bounce back' is real."

Lim added that she had to constantly remind herself that "comparison is the thief of joy".

"But some days, I can’t pretend that I’m okay. And perhaps that’s what I want to say. That it is okay if you’re not okay. Every one of us is fighting a battle no one else can see."

Lim also advised people to embrace their new selves because "perhaps this changed version is better. Softer, yet stronger and wiser".

Lim's post has since resonated with fans and friends alike, triggering a wave of support. Actress Vernetta Lopez reassured Lim, saying: "It’s a feeling many people, including myself, have, and I didn’t even give birth! You’re effortlessly beautiful, mummy or not, though!"

Rebecca Lim previously spoke with CNA Lifestyle about welcoming her newborn daughter to the family home, revealing that Baby M had to stay in the hospital for medical check-ups.

However, at the time, Lim said she tried to stay positive.

"I tried to think of it from a different point of view. Perhaps I could go home to spend a few more nights with just my son. That was the mindset that I was taking, as opposed to only worrying about my daughter," said Lim."

Public cleanliness satisfaction falls to 91%; toilets and neighbourhood spaces see biggest declines: SMU survey (4 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Satisfaction with public cleanliness fell to 91 per cent in 2025 from 94 per cent in 2023, with neighbourhood spaces recording the biggest decline among six domains surveyed, a study released on Friday (Sep 4) found.

Satisfaction with public toilets also fell sharply.

The study's researchers said the decline could partly reflect rising expectations, as Singaporeans have become accustomed to higher standards of cleanliness over the years.

The latest figure still marks a significant rise from 2017, when overall satisfaction stood at 82 per cent in the survey's first edition.

The 2025 Public Cleanliness Satisfaction Survey, conducted by the Singapore Management University (SMU), is the seventh edition of the study, led by Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Tay Straughan and Dr Mathew Mathews, principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies.

It surveyed 2,007 Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 21 and above between December 2025 and April 2026.

The findings come as the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported fewer fines and corrective work orders in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, a decline it attributed to continued efforts to clean up targeted littering hotspots.

NEIGHBOURHOOD SPACES SEE SHARPEST FALL

All six domains measured – transportation nodes, leisure venues, commuter paths, spaces after public events, neighbourhood spaces and food outlets – recorded lower satisfaction than in 2023.

Transportation nodes and leisure venues remained the highest-rated, though satisfaction slipped in both: from 98.3 per cent to 97.2 per cent for transportation spaces such as roads, bus stops and MRT and LRT stations, and from 96.8 per cent to 95.1 per cent for leisure spaces such as parks, malls and playgrounds.

Neighbourhood spaces recorded the steepest dip of the six, falling from 93.3 per cent to 87.4 per cent, their lowest level since 2018.

The decline was sharpest at void decks, corridors and lift lobbies, where satisfaction fell 8.8 percentage points to 80.9 per cent, the largest drop among all 20 public spaces surveyed.

Asked about the decline in neighbourhood satisfaction, the researchers said several factors could be at play, including higher expectations, more waste from increased deliveries and whether cleaning services have kept pace amid higher manpower costs.

Food outlets remained the lowest-rated of the six domains, as they have been since 2021, with satisfaction falling 2.8 percentage points to 82.4 per cent. Hawker centres and coffee shops continued to be among the weakest performers, falling 5.5 percentage points to 76.4 per cent and 3.6 points to 76.8 per cent respectively.

Prof Straughan suggested that temperature could also shape perceptions of cleanliness, with patrons potentially less tolerant of non-air-conditioned hawker centres and coffee shops than of air-conditioned food courts.

"When it's hot, there's this perception that there's this level of grime...everybody is so grumpy, so that also affects how we perceive cleanliness of the spaces shared," she said.

PUBLIC TOILET SATISFACTION DECLINES

Separately from the six domains, the survey also tracked public toilets, where satisfaction fell 8.2 percentage points, from 83.7 per cent to 75.5 per cent.

Coffee shop toilets fared worst, dropping 12 points to 48.3 per cent, while hawker centre toilets fell 10 points to 60 per cent. Toilets in downtown and central business district malls remained the best-rated, at 93.6 per cent.

The fall in toilet satisfaction comes even as the Public Toilets Taskforce, set up in 2024, has recommended measures including grants for coffee shop operators to renovate and deep-clean their toilets.

The study suggested these efforts may have raised public expectations, adding: "The full benefits of these efforts may take time to be felt, particularly in high-footfall dining environments where maintaining cleanliness presents greater operational challenges, and where continued focus is expected to yield meaningful improvements over time."

Respondents were also less likely than before to see individual users as primarily responsible for toilet cleanliness, with more attributing responsibility to operators and premises owners instead.

"This may suggest that public toilet cleanliness is perceived differently from other public cleanliness issues and highlights the continued need to reinforce individual responsibility for maintaining clean public toilets," the study said.

Dr Mathews said people may expect more of themselves in places where they feel they have greater power and agency.

"But in areas like the toilet, for instance, people may not feel that they have the same level of ability to do something. But nonetheless, it's something that needs to continue to be highlighted - that everybody can play a part in (making) things better, even in bathrooms."

Beyond STEM: Why Singapore tertiary institutions are putting more emphasis on arts and social sciences (7 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Programming a robot to perform a series of movements once meant spending time writing lines of code.

Today, with artificial intelligence handling much of the technical work, students can get it done in under a minute.

That leaves them with more time to think about what they want the technology to do, and to find solutions for different scenarios.

It is a small example of a broader shift taking place in tertiary education institutions here: from STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – towards STEAM, which adds arts to the mix.

PSB Academy said demand for STEAM education has grown 47 per cent in the past two years, with student numbers rising from around 3,400 in 2023 to 5,000 last year.

Its CEO Derrick Chang said the demand is driven by students who want to expand their skill sets beyond their main subject of study.

He said technical students, for example, are looking to develop skills such as design thinking and communication skills, while non-technical students need to be comfortable using AI.

“Gone are the days where a technical person can just stay technical for a long time,” he said.

“As an engineer today and in the future, you need to be able to communicate your thinking, communicate your innovation.”

Noting that it was no longer “a single track”, Mr Chang said the ability to be multidisciplinary would continue to be critical to surviving in this new economy.

The private education institution is also building an Integrated STEAM Hub at Tai Seng, with larger, interdisciplinary learning spaces and high-tech facilities. The hub is expected to be ready in 2027.

FRAMING THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY

At the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), there is also a growing focus on combining technology with the humanities and social sciences.

The university said its refreshed curriculum is designed to attract students with strong interests in fields such as economics, business, psychology and philosophy, alongside those proficient in mathematics and the sciences.

Dr Grace Dixon, associate head of the programme, said these subjects should not be seen simply as “soft skills” added to a technology degree.

Instead, they help students understand the context and the problems they are trying to address before using design and AI capabilities to resolve them.

“It's not just about asking, 'can we do this', but 'should we do this', for whom and under what conditions?”

“If you frame the problem incorrectly, even an excellent technical solution may solve the wrong problem,” she added.

At the university, students and alumni will also get funding and support via a S$35 million (US$27.6 million) investment platform to pursue entrepreneurial projects.

At the Singapore campus of James Cook University, students are similarly being pushed to tackle real-world problems.

Its new barramundi hatchery facility lets students train in conditions that mirror the aquaculture industry, including learning how to respond when things do not go according to plan.

“We're really making sure that students are problem-focused, and that they've got practical skills, and that they're resilient,” said Professor Carole-Anne Upton, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor for Singapore.

“Resilience is quite a hard thing to teach, and we talk about resilience and agility as key skills for a changing workforce.”

Woman sues preschool for negligence after son was pushed off indoor slide by another student (7 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A woman is suing her son's preschool for negligence after he was pushed off a 75cm-high indoor slide by another student during playtime, leaving him injured.

She claimed that the teachers who were present at the preschool play area did not notice several incidents between her son and another boy because they were on their mobile phones or chatting.

The trial opened in the State Courts on Monday (Sep 7), with the woman claiming that there were no safety mats laid out under the slide at the time of the incident.

The woman is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. She is represented by Mr Goh Choon Wah and Mr Mitchell Leon from Characterist LLC.

A gag order has been imposed to prevent the publication of the identities of the woman and her child, as well as the preschool's name and address.

The court heard that the child is currently six years old and that the woman has another son who is nine years old. The woman's age was not revealed in open court, although she appeared to be in her 30s.

She presented four video clips of the incident that occurred on Jul 12, 2024. In the first, she pointed to a girl who was standing at the top of the slide and claimed that the girl was unsupervised by the teachers who were seated further away.

She said it would have been dangerous if the girl had fallen as there was no safety mat below.

In another clip, a different student hit her head on the wall while playing behind the teachers, but they "were really distracted, both looking at their phones at the same time", the woman said.

It was only after the girl cried loudly that the teachers noticed what had happened, the woman claimed.

The rest of the videos showed her son's interactions with the boy involved in the incident, including a head-on collision. The woman said her son could be heard saying "pain, pain" afterwards and the teachers were "completely unaware" that such an incident had happened.

The other boy pushed her son off the slide twice, she said. After the first time, her son fell to the ground but got back up. When he tried to climb the slide again, the other boy, who was already sitting at the top, pushed him off.

This time, the woman's son fell from the top step.

He used his hand to break his fall and "narrowly missed" a tricycle that another student was riding in the same area. After that, he ran to the teachers, showing them his hand. He was injured in the fall, although the extent of his injuries was not mentioned in court.

The woman and her husband broke down in tears in court as they watched the clip of their son. The boy's father covered his eyes as he wept while the video continued playing.

After composing herself, the woman told the court that she had created notes marking key moments in the video clips. "I wanted to have a sense of the overall supervision of the play from the start to the end. I wanted to put things into perspective on when there was supervision and when there was not," she said.

She claimed that these notes were not included in the preschool's submission. "I'm not asking for the school to catch every incident or be (an) insurer of any interaction between the children," she said, adding that, as an educator herself, she knew teachers had limits.

But she said it was "reasonable to expect that teachers will be looking out for dangers" in high-risk areas such as the slide and questioned the lack of mats.

In court documents obtained by CNA, the woman said photos of the preschool play area from 2017 showed shock-absorbent mats around the slide, but these were not laid out on the day of the incident.

DEFENCE QUESTIONS WOMAN

The preschool was represented by Mr Ling Vey Hong from Foxwood LLC. At the start of his cross-examination, he told the woman that he was a parent himself and was sorry that her son had been injured.

He then asked about her use of the phrase "no effective supervision" in her affidavit to describe the teachers' behaviour, questioning what she meant by that and whether she was referring to regulations by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).

Mr Ling asked whether the regulations differentiated between supervision and effective supervision and questioned the claimant's understanding of the rules.

He also asked if she considered herself a careful parent, to which she said: "I find it very hard to say yes or no. I do the best I can."

He pointed to photos of her son regularly sent to her by the preschool and asked if she had noticed any safety mats in them. The woman replied that she only focused on her son's face to make sure he was doing well.

"We don't look at the surroundings. I trust that there will be safe play around the area," said the woman.

In turn, Mr Ling said: "You're saying you didn't notice the mats? Even though you're a careful parent?" The woman repeated that she did not say anything about the surrounding area as she trusted the school.

She also claimed that no teachers were positioned near the slide when they should have been there."

Teen gets reformative training for trafficking Kpods, kicking 84-year-old woman (7 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A teenager who committed several offences, including kicking an 84-year-old woman in a wheelchair and trafficking Kpods, was sentenced to a minimum of 12 months' reformative training on Monday (Sep 7).

His other offences involved working as a runner for a money laundering group and driving without a licence.

He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including trafficking etomidate and transferring benefits from criminal conduct. Another 17 charges were taken into consideration.

The teenager cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act as he was under 18 when some of the offences were committed.

The prosecution had earlier called for a pre-sentencing report to assess the teen's suitability for reformative training, saying probation was not a realistic option given the facts of the case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ernest Goh said in written submissions that the teen's offences were "extremely serious in nature".

He added that the teen had committed a large number of offences over a substantial period from Feb 28 to Oct 16, 2025, often while on bail, "underscoring his recalcitrance and utter disregard for the law".

The prosecution also noted that the teen had previously breached a probation order and was subsequently detained at the Singapore Boys' Home. He reoffended less than a year after his release.

"A sentence of probation would not give sufficient effect to the significant degree of deterrence required in the present case," he said.

On Monday, the court heard that the teen was found suitable for reformative training. District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam told the youth that he required targeted intervention and was assessed to be physically and mentally fit to undergo reformative training.

The teen was also disqualified from holding or obtaining any class of driving licence for two years from the date of his release.

While the prosecution sought a three-year disqualification from driving, the judge said she gave a "concession" as he was a youth offender. But she reminded him that the concession would not be granted should he reoffend.

CAUGHT WITH KPODS

According to court documents, the teen had never held a driving licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle.

However, he purchased a "ghost car" - cars without a valid Certificate of Entitlement (COE) - after coming across an advertisement on the messaging app Telegram.

He bought the car for S$2,500 (US$1,970) because such cars were cheaper and easier to buy than those with valid COEs. The car's registration under the Road Traffic Act had previously been cancelled on Aug 31, 2025.

The teen drove the car on at least six occasions. On one occasion, he drove at 95kmh on a road with a speed limit of 70kmh.

At about 10pm on Oct 15, 2025, after earlier consuming etomidate, he drove the car to Ang Mo Kio to pick up his girlfriend, who was 16 at the time. He then drove towards Causeway Point to visit a restaurant in the area.

But after exiting the Bukit Timah Expressway near Woodlands Checkpoint, he found himself on a road leading to the checkpoint and was unable to switch lanes because there were vehicles on both sides.

At past midnight on Oct 16, 2025, he drove into Woodlands Checkpoint and was subjected to vehicle checks. During the search, ICA officers found 124 vaporiser pods containing liquid, along with other vaporisers and pods. The items were subsequently seized by officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Tests later found that all 124 pods contained etomidate. The teen intended to sell them for S$75 each, giving them a street value of about S$9,300.

The teen was arrested by HSA officers and was escorted to the police station to provide his urine samples. His urine tested positive for etomidate. He had consumed the drug by smoking Kpods bought through Telegram.

HSA officers also searched his house and found five vaporiser pods containing liquid."

AI replacing certain tasks, but not entire jobs: Ong Ye Kung (7 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: While artificial intelligence is replacing certain tasks, it is not replacing entire jobs most of the time, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (Sep 7).

He added that AI is not resulting in mass job displacement, but it is used as a tool, which can lead to job redesign.

“As AI replaces knowledge creation, and even human connection, the impact will be even more profound. Seizing its opportunities, installing guardrails, and pushing back against its adverse impacts are parallel efforts of equal importance that we must start work now,” said Mr Ong at the annual Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum.

Held at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) University Cultural Centre, the forum was attended by about 250 students from various tertiary institutions and members of academia.

Speaking at the start of the forum, Mr Ong set out how he sees changes in the job market.

He cited Graduate Employment Survey (GES) data, which showed that from 2023 to 2025, the proportion of graduates who secured employment six months after graduation declined from 92.9 per cent to 88.9 per cent.

This reflects a “more competitive market”, he said.

Mr Ong said employers are facing changes too, pointing to industries that have been undergoing “significant change” over the years.

For example, automobiles are shifting towards electric vehicles, and ageing populations are reshaping healthcare.

“And then, there is AI. In some organisations and industries, it is automating certain routine tasks. However, these tasks used to be handled by new hires...so AI might have raised baseline expectations of what the new hires have to do,” he said.

“In summary, more graduates entering the market, employers needing to differentiate job applicants and higher expectations of new hires, and these are three compounding factors resulting in a tighter graduate job market and greater job search anxiety that you are facing,” added Mr Ong, who is also coordinating minister for social policies.

JOBS REMAIN RELEVANT

Mr Ong reassured students that Singapore is still competitive and creating jobs.

“You are not entering a declining or stagnant economy. You are entering an economy that is growing, that is attracting investments, and that is still dynamic,” he added.

Singapore remains relevant and competitive, and it has strengthened its position as a key node in global supply chains.

The country also has an open economy, a strong network of free trade agreements, tripartite cooperation, as well as stable institutions and political climate, said Mr Ong.

While some specific jobs such as programmers, editors and translators might be replaced by AI, “large swathes” of jobs remain relevant, he said.

“I know for a fact, healthcare workers remain as busy as ever. In fact, they are hoping that AI can help reduce some of their routine work, some of their tedious work, such as automating record-taking during a consultation with a patient, planning their work rosters ... and providing with an extra pair of eyes when they do diagnostic scans,” he said.

An interior designer told him that he uses AI to improve renderings for clients, but still coordinates contractors, applies for permits, liaises with clients and iterates ideas.

Mr Ong said a young executive from the MICE industry who organises road shows for government agencies also told him that AI can help with some artwork. However, the executive still has to design the overall experience, curate the themes and narratives, and work with partners and media to bring everything together.

“So the feedback by many of these conversations is quite consistent from people across many professions. Most of the time, AI is replacing certain tasks, but not entire jobs – at least not yet. So it is not resulting in mass job displacement, but it is used as a tool, which can result in some job redesign,” he said.

The minister also urged graduates to tap the support available to them, such as free access to AI tools at some universities, career guidance and career fairs.

Mr Ong added that the Singapore Business Federation and employers have a “very big part” to play.

“Employers can help prevent hiring from becoming an ever-escalating arms race. If I put it frankly, the intensity of this arms race is ultimately shaped by how employers hire.

“We are not asking employers to lower their hiring standards. But every additional signal that employers send – hiring candidates with more internships, more credentials, better grades – becomes something that students feel you must chase to curate your perfect CV,” he said.

Mr Ong said that hiring a fresh graduate is always about spotting potential and taking a chance.

Some students have spent years training and playing competitive sports, dedicated themselves to the arts, gone backpacking around the world, volunteered or taken on caregiving responsibilities at home.

While these experiences may not “fit neatly” into a conventional CV, they reflect a candidate’s resilience, initiative, discipline, empathy, character, and work ethic, he said.

“So I encourage, and hope, that employers will look at candidates more holistically, beyond GPAs and internships. Help assure applicants that this is how you hire, and cool down an arms race that is energy-sapping, and I think making the undergraduate experience less holistic for young people at a critical formative age,” he said."

New committee to strengthen safeguards in Islamic religious institutions after child sexual abuse case in mosque (8 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A committee will be formed to examine safeguards across Islamic religious institutions and propose ways to strengthen them, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad said in parliament on Tuesday (Sep 8).

This follows the case of a self-styled religious mentor who sexually abused two young brothers, with some offences taking place in a mosque, while he was on bail. He was convicted and sentenced in August.

The offender was not an accredited religious teacher. Mr Zaqy described him as a regular congregant at the mosque.

"He gathered informally with small groups of youths in the main prayer hall. These were not religious classes that were approved or sanctioned by the mosque," said Mr Zaqy, adding that this is a common practice.

The man cannot be named due to gag orders protecting the victims' identities.

Mr Zaqy said the new committee will be led by two chairpersons who are respected members of the community: Associate Professor Razwana Begum and Ustaz Fathurrahman Dawoed.

The committee's composition and terms of reference will be announced later. It will report directly to Mr Zaqy and its findings will be shared with the community.

Members of parliament (MPs) filed parliamentary questions related to the case after it was reported in the media.

The government is also considering expanding the scope of criminal background checks for those who work with children to cover more types of roles, said Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming.

He added that this may include voluntary screening for those working in unregulated sectors. "This could take the form of a certificate-based system, which several members have proposed," said Mr Goh.

Considerations include the practicability of screening requirements for employers, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises.

"However, when it comes to such things, the safety of our children will have to take priority," he said, adding that more details will be shared when ready.

Mr Goh said that the government must work through many considerations, including how to manage the compliance burden and operational constraints being placed on employers.

"Another important consideration is also the need to strike a balance between the protection of children and young persons, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders," he said.

He added that the government will consult various industries and sectors to understand the potential challenges so that the screening framework can be implemented successfully. This will involve "many sectors, especially many of the unregulated ones", he said.

Currently, people applying for roles involving sustained contact with children and young persons are screened for past offences, including sexual offences, if these roles are regulated by public agencies.

This includes those applying to be full-time mosque staff, recognised asatizah or religious teachers, employees in Ministry of Education schools and Early Childhood Development Agency-licensed preschools, as well as members of SportSG's National Registry of Coaches.

Employers in unregulated sectors are not required to verify employees' criminal records. They may ask prospective employees to declare any past offences and consider this in their hiring decisions."

Singapore’s 15-year-olds second globally in using digital tools to solve complex problems: PISA (8 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore's 15-year-olds ranked second globally in computational problem solving, a new Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) domain that measures how students use computational thinking and digital tools to solve real-world problems.

The new domain was introduced as the focus of PISA 2025's new Learning in the Digital World assessment. Singapore placed second in the world in this area, behind Macau and ahead of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang in China.

PISA is an international study conducted every three years to assess how well 15-year-olds can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations.

The assessment covers reading, Mathematics, and Science, and evaluates students' ability to analyse, reason, and communicate effectively when solving problems.

It also includes an optional component focusing on 21st century competencies, which in 2025 focused on computational problem solving.

A total of 6,600 students from 145 public secondary schools and 12 private schools participated in the 2025 study. Top performers are students who score in the top two proficiency levels for a subject.

More than half of Singapore’s students are top performers in computational problem solving, compared to a quarter of students in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries on average, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) in a press release on Tuesday (Sep 8).

“They are highly effective in applying computational practices such as conducting experiments, analysing data, and building and debugging computational artefacts to solve complex real-world problems,” the ministry said.

In one task in the 2025 study, students programmed a robotic claw to sort out different objects, mimicking recycling plant operations. In another, they modelled the relationship between different exercises and fitness for an application that could help astronauts stay healthy at low gravity.

Singapore’s 15-year-olds reported positive attitudes and healthy behaviours related to using digital devices – 78 per cent said they compare different sources when searching for information online, said MOE in the press release.

OTHER DOMAINS

Singapore’s students also ranked first in reading, and second in mathematics and science for PISA 2025, the study showed. They ranked ahead of students from China in reading, but behind them in mathematics and science. Chinese Taipei came in third for reading, while Macau ranked third for Mathematics and Science.

In 2022, Singapore topped the global league tables in all three subjects.

Singapore also had the highest proportion of academic all-rounders, or students who are top performers in all three domains, among all participating systems at 15 per cent, MOE said.

In participating OECD systems, academic all-rounders formed an average of 3 per cent of students.

They also have strong environmental knowledge and beliefs in effecting positive environmental change compared to their peers, the ministry said.

Students from Singapore ranked second for the new environmental science module, with 27 per cent of them reaching the top two proficiency levels, compared to the OECD average of 7 per cent."

From childhood to career and family: NTU student simulates Singapore life through a game (8 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: What if you could go back and make different choices in life – from what you studied to the career you pursued?

For Nanyang Technological University (NTU) computer science student Zhu Ke Xiong, those questions have become the basis of a game that attempts to simulate an entire Singaporean life.

Called Singapore Life Simulator, the game can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The third-year student has spent the past few months mapping out a web of decisions spanning childhood, education, careers, relationships and family life.

"This is like a flow chart of how the whole Singaporean life is mapped,” the 23-year-old said.

The simulation starts with the player in childhood, with each life phase featuring its own scenarios.

“For example, when you are in childhood, your life decisions are very rudimentary, like whether you want to put your mother's phone in your mouth or not,” he said.

As the player grows older, the decisions get more difficult – whether to sit for another round of the Gifted Education Programme selection exercise, ask a classmate out, stay in a university hall or take up a part-time job.

Eventually come the adult decisions such as choosing a career and a partner.

But behind those virtual choices was a very real concern: What happens when young people grow up believing there is only one “right” way to live?"

New student care operators to provide security deposits after Little Professors Learning Centre case (8 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Newly appointed student care and kindergarten care operators will be required to provide a security deposit from December, as the Ministry of Education (MOE) tightens safeguards following the termination of Little Professors Learning Centre's (LPLC) contracts earlier this year.

The deposit can be drawn on to mitigate financial losses if an operator's business fails, Education Minister Desmond Lee said in a written reply to a parliamentary question on Tuesday (Sep 8).

MOE has also started conducting more regular checks on the financial health of student care and kindergarten care operators to detect signs of financial difficulties earlier.

"This will enable MOE to work with operators earlier if any concerns arise," Mr Lee said.

The ministry has also tightened safeguards against unauthorised GIRO deductions.

Operators must now clearly state in their contracts with parents the purposes for which GIRO deductions may be made, and will only be allowed to make deductions for those purposes.

Operators who make unauthorised deductions may have their services suspended or terminated, Mr Lee said.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is also working with the Association of Banks in Singapore and its member banks to review how safeguards for GIRO payments can be strengthened.

The tighter safeguards follow several issues that emerged at LPLC earlier this year, which led MOE to terminate the operator's student care and kindergarten care contracts in February.

The ministry had said at the time that it was reviewing how student care operators were appointed and whether its vetting processes needed to be tightened."

I got my degree at 36 while raising two young kids, but I’m still looking for a job – was it worth it? (9 September 2026)

"Two years ago, after 16 years in the workforce, I decided to get my degree.

I started working at 19 while still in polytechnic, hosting the weekday morning show on the then-Hot FM91.3 before heading to school.

By the time I received my diploma, I thought I deserved a break – I would work first and get my degree later on.

Eventually, I didn’t see the point of going to university. I already had a sought-after job, I was earning a good salary, and I was getting real-world experience.

Periodically, my parents would nag me about going to university.

My mother, a teacher, got her degree in her 40s. She studied part-time – two nights a week – for almost three years.

Midway through her studies, she was hospitalised with meningitis, but she still managed to get her degree – something she is infinitely proud of. The salary jump she received as a degree holder also made a difference to our family.

My father, on the other hand, was more carefree and never felt he needed a university degree. So, it was truly a “do as I say, not as I have done” moment when he made it abundantly clear that I had to have one.

I was already on the retrenchment track at my former company when he decided to nudge me about it again.

“When I was retrenched, I was slightly older than you and with no degree. I wasn’t even rejected from jobs. I couldn’t even land an interview,” he said.

I’m embarrassed to say I reacted like an angsty teen and shot back: “So a degree will magically get me a job?” But I enrolled for a course after that, purely out of guilt for speaking to my dad that way.

If my degree was going to make him happy and reassure him that I’d have a better chance of securing a job, then I’d do it for his peace of mind. I decided on a bachelor’s degree in business marketing to complement my broadcasting portfolio."

Enhanced childcare leave details to be announced in early 2027: Indranee Rajah (10 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Work Group will announce details of childcare leave enhancements in early 2027, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah said in parliament on Thursday (Sep 10).

The enhancements will take time to implement as they require legislative amendments, and the government is working out implementation details with tripartite partners, she said.

Employers also need time to manage the operational impact of the changes, added Ms Indranee, who chairs the workgroup.

She was responding to questions by Members of Parliament (MPs) on how the expanded childcare leave policy would affect the wider workforce and workplace operations.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at the National Day Rally that parents will get up to 12 days of childcare leave each. Under the new scheme, each parent will get eight days off if they have one child, 10 days if they have two children and 12 days if they have three or more children.

This is up from the current six days off a year if the parent has a child aged six and below, or two days a year if the child is between seven and 12 years old.

The government will reimburse employers for the full duration of all child-related leave up to a cap.

The enhancements are the first set of recommendations from the workgroup, which was formed earlier this year to develop a roadmap for making marriage and parenthood more achievable."

IN FOCUS: Why Singapore's workplace culture remains a stubborn barrier to its fertility push (10 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: When Ms M Low’s newborn was fighting for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) last year, she was still fielding calls and messages from her team despite being on maternity leave.

She asked them to contact her after she left the hospital, and they agreed, but the experience left a bad taste in her mouth.

“My son was in a critical stage in the ICU, and I felt that I should be left alone, because every day I’m worried about my son, every day I’m hearing grim news about my son,” said Ms Low.

Her son died after a month in hospital. But back at work, the persistent cycle of business travel and after-hours drinks went on unchanged.

When Ms Low, 38, became pregnant again, instead of trying to negotiate for a slower pace at work, she simply resigned. “Forget it, let’s take care of this pregnancy,” she recalled her husband saying.

While the recent National Day Rally announcements are helpful, progressive national policies, such as increased childcare leave and higher grants of almost S$70,000 (US$55,000) for each child, do not address the root of the issue for her.

The work culture in Singapore is “intense” and lacks boundaries, she said, adding that it actively prevents couples from starting families safely without having to sacrifice their careers.

On its end, the government has stated that measures announced at the National Day Rally are early moves in its reforms to support parents, and recognises that there is also a need to address workplace culture issues in Singapore.

In his rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong encouraged employers to do their part.

“Support parents in your organisations and give them confidence to take the leave they are entitled to. Help them settle back into work afterwards. Make sure that becoming a parent never becomes a disadvantage in someone’s career,” he said.

The Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup, which is headed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, is set to release a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027 that is expected to tackle workplace culture issues.

Ahead of the rally, Ms Indranee said these issues could not be addressed earlier because more time is needed to balance the interests of employers and employees.

Adding that changing mindsets and attitudes at workplaces is “the much harder part to do”, Ms Indranee said employers, human resource professionals and line managers can shape the experience of employees.

A line manager who is empathetic and happy for you makes it much easier, while a manager who behaves like the employee taking leave is an imposition sends a different signal, she said.

“So, learning how to create better workplace norms and cultures, I think, is a very important part of this.”

Primary 1 registration: More Phase 2C places from 2027, new two-track scheme at 12 schools (10 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Most primary schools will set aside 60 places for Phase 2C from next year's Primary 1 registration exercise, up from 40 currently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Thursday (Sep 10).

Smaller-intake schools with fewer than 180 Primary 1 places will retain 40 reserved places in Phase 2C. In this year’s registration exercise, 27 out of 179 primary schools had an intake of fewer than 180 places.

Phase 2C is open to all children regardless of prior connection to a school, so more reserved places should widen access for those without such ties, MOE said.

Phase 2B, which is for children whose parent has volunteered at the school, or who has ties to a religious or clan group affiliated with it, will keep to 20 reserved places.

Children in Phase 2B and earlier phases continue to have priority admission ahead of Phase 2C applicants. Balloting kicks in whenever applicants exceed vacancies in any phase from 2A to 2C Supplementary.

The larger Phase 2C allocation could reduce the number of places available in Phase 2A, which is for children whose parent is a former student of the school.

For example, in a school with 240 places where 90 are filled in Phase 1 – reserved for children with siblings already at the school – 20 of the remaining 150 places would be reserved for Phase 2B and 60 for Phase 2C. This means only 70 places would go to Phase 2A, down from 90 previously.

TWO-TRACK SCHEME IN 12 SCHOOLS

From next year's registration, 12 schools in neighbourhoods where public housing makes up less than 40 per cent of homes within 2km will also split their Phase 2C places into two equal tracks – one for applicants living within 2km, another for those beyond it – with no home-school distance priority within either track.

The 12 schools, mostly in Bukit Timah with a few in Marine Parade, are:

• Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)

• Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)

• CHIJ (Katong) Primary

• Methodist Girls' School (Primary)

• Nanyang Primary School

• Ngee Ann Primary School

• Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School

• Raffles Girls' Primary School

• Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School

• St. Margaret's School (Primary)

• Tanjong Katong Primary School

• Tao Nan School

Singapore citizens continue to have priority over permanent residents, whose applications are considered only after all citizen applicants across both tracks are admitted.

Balloting will be conducted if the number of citizen applicants exceed its places in each track. If there are unfilled places in one track, they will be moved to citizen applicants in the other track."

Food, music and culture: Why some Singaporeans are choosing to learn Malay (11 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: For Mr Johanan Teo and his girlfriend, Ms Marisa Lim, a shared love of Malay food helped spark a wider interest in the culture – and eventually the language.

"We both really like Malay cuisine. We really like eating at nasi padang stores. We like going to Malaysia to try new food, new Malay food as well," said Mr Teo, 29, a full-time home chef.

He counts ayam masak merah, a spicy tomato-based chicken dish, among his favourites to cook and eat.

Their interest eventually led them to sign up for conversational Malay classes at their local community club using their SkillsFuture credits this year.

They are among a steady pool of adult learners picking up the language, some of whom are taking their learning beyond the beginner level.

One tuition centre told CNA it is also seeing growing demand among younger students.

During his National Day Rally last month, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that given Singapore's location in the region, it would be valuable for Singaporeans to learn Malay and better appreciate Malay culture."

New OBS Coney Campus officially opens, features wheelchair-accessible high adventure elements (11 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The new Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) Coney Campus, which features wheelchair-accessible high adventure elements, officially opened on Friday (Sep 11).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that while Singapore has "changed dramatically" since OBS was set up in 1967, the need to build character has not diminished.

"If anything, it has become even more important," he said.

"We know we cannot shield young people from every setback or difficulty. But we must continue to equip them with the capabilities and the ability to face adversity with confidence and grit. And that is exactly what OBS is designed to do."

Also in attendance on Friday were Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo as well as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan.

With the new campus, OBS will be able to offer the MOE-OBS programme to all Secondary 3 students by 2030.

Last year, about 65 per cent of the Secondary 3 cohort from across 90 schools took part in the programme.

"We will not stop at secondary school. We will expand opportunities for older students too," said Mr Wong.

"After secondary school, they can come back again – be it at ITE, polytechnic or university. So, we want OBS to become a rite of passage for all young Singaporeans."

Spanning 12ha, the new campus features team-based high and low adventure elements, some of which are wheelchair accessible.

This will allow more people to participate in the MOE-OBS Challenge programme, said Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) and National Youth Council (NYC) in a joint press release."

'More than just a privilege': Increase in Phase 2C places draws mixed reactions from alumni parents (11 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: When Jasmine heard that more places would be set aside for Phase 2C applicants in the Primary 1 registration exercise from next year, she felt disappointed and worried.

The change could mean fewer places under Phase 2A, which gives priority to alumni.

"As an alumna of Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS), she will be eligible to register her four-year-old daughter in 2028 under Phase 2A.

Jasmine, who wanted to be known only by her first name, lives more than 2km from SCGS, but is considering moving closer to improve her daughter’s chances.

“For many years, it’s something that parents from these schools felt was very competitive, even in the alumni round. Now we’re going to be squeezed even more.

“I understand that people who are not in this position may feel it’s just a privilege. But it’s more than just a privilege. It’s a shared experience that you also want your children to have. The same traditions, same school environment, same stories,” the communications professional said.

“I want to share these conversations, bond over a similar childhood. And that's what I’d lose if I sent my child to another school,” she said.

Jasmine, who also has a two-year-old daughter, worries about the longer-term implications if her elder girl does not get into the school. If so, her younger daughter would not qualify for Phase 1 at SCGS, which gives priority to children with an older sibling already at the same school.

“I don’t know what it’s going to look like. I don’t think it’s fairer. You’re taking away the opportunity from some people,” she said. “You might potentially have a country of parents who will constantly try to work out how to get what they want.

“The competition in the alumni phase will now be even worse.”

The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Thursday (Sep 10) that most primary schools will set aside 60 places for Phase 2C from next year's Primary 1 registration exercise, up from 40 currently.

Twelve schools in neighbourhoods where public housing makes up less than 40 per cent of homes within 2km will also split their Phase 2C places into two equal tracks – one for applicants living within 2km, another for those beyond it – with no home-school distance priority within either track.

These schools are mostly in Bukit Timah, with a few in Marine Parade."

I attended a lecture in a bar and rediscovered the joy of learning so-called useless things (11 September 2026)

"Two weeks ago, I found myself attending a lecture for the first time since graduating from university in 2017.

I was early for class, which didn't happen often back in school. Despite that, my classroom, a cosy bar on the second floor of a Tanjong Pagar shophouse, was already packed to the brim.

There was another marked difference between this lecture and the numerous others I'd endured in my university days. I was excited about the topic: ghost stories in hyper-modern Singapore.

The lecture was conducted at Braveheart Sake Originals by Ms Ashley Chin, who did her research paper on the same topic as part of a master's degree at England's University of Cambridge.

Ms Chin, a curatorial research assistant at the Asian Civilisations Museum, spent the 45-minute lecture tracing a history of why and how we tell ghost stories in Singapore, from pre-colonial times to the present day.

One particularly intriguing example came from a 1950 article in The Singapore Free Press, which gave a blow-by-blow account of a medicine man's battle with a spirit in his house, even reporting that he had lost the fight.

Ms Chin contrasted this with how, as Singapore modernised, the media began to portray spirits as superstition.

As she talked, my classmates and I – about 40 of us in total – listened with rapt attention. Some took notes on their phones while nursing a cup of sake or a cocktail; others fixed their unwavering gaze on our teacher's PowerPoint slides.

Even after the lecture ended, the audience's curiosity took the discussion further, with questions about the rights of factory workers who experienced outbreaks of mass hysteria in the 1970s – episodes involving people screaming, fainting or entering trance-like states.

None of us really needed to know any of this. But we wanted to.

For most of us, learning has been tied to either grades in school or productivity in the workplace.

When was the last time we learnt something purely for the fun of it, with no exam paper to pass, skill to acquire or career benefit to reap – simply because we wanted to know?"

Singapore pianist Wang Congyu left school at 16, had no stable home in Paris and became a Steinway Artist (12 September 2026)

"When Wang Congyu sat down in an office at a concert hall in Courbevoie, northwest of Paris, he had already flown in from the south of France, taught piano masterclasses for four or five hours and asked one of his students to present the concert taking place elsewhere in the building.

Wang could have been forgiven for looking depleted when he sat down for the interview with CNA Luxury. Instead, the Singaporean concert pianist joked, gesticulated animatedly and spoke at the speed of a sprint.

This is just another day in Wang’s life. The 34-year-old, who grew up in Clementi, performs internationally, directs music festivals and has recorded albums devoted to Poulenc and Debussy. Since 2022, he has been a Steinway Artist, joining the piano maker’s international roster alongside musicians such as Diana Krall, Lang Lang and Billy Joel.

He had come a long way. When he dropped out of school and moved to Paris at 16 to study music, he was effectively homeless. He slept on friends’ couches and sometimes went weeks without a proper meal.

“The only thing I was thinking about was the next day,” he said. “What you’re going to eat, where you’re going to sleep.”

On paper, Wang’s story has the contours of a classic underdog tale: A school dropout who played piano for supper became a Steinway Artist whose work now brings together young soloists, teachers, conductors and orchestras. Wang does not see it that way.

“I don’t have any success,” he said. “It’s just like survival mode.”

Yet it raises the question: How did a boy who hated the piano, walked out of school and landed in Paris without a bed become a Steinway Artist performing on international stages?

THE PIANO HE HATED

For a man who has built his life around the piano, Wang’s first encounter with it was adversarial.

“I hated it,” he said. “I was really bad at it.”

Wang was three when his parents made him learn his first tunes. His older sister played the piano and violin, excelled at school and later became a doctor. Wang describes himself as her rebellious opposite: unexceptional at school and unwilling to practise an instrument he had never chosen.

Music caught his interest at about 13, when the chapel band at Fairfield Methodist Secondary School needed a pianist. Few students could play, so Wang joined. The others encouraged him and told him he was good.

“I didn’t know I had a gift,” he said."

This former lawyer writes inclusive children’s books so kids of different abilities can enjoy the same stories (12 September 2026)

"Lee Seow Ser was on a sabbatical from her legal career in 2014 when she fell ill and needed surgery and treatment. It was a “major turning point” in her life, she said, one that led her to take “a leap of faith” and leave her job.

“I had a deep yearning to fulfil other life aspirations,” Lee said.

Lee had been writing as a hobby while in legal practice. She volunteered with National Parks Board (NParks), taking photos and writing about Singapore’s parks. When literary festivals came around, she would take leave to attend them – “to treat myself to a ‘mental spa’ to stimulate my creative juices”.

While on sabbatical, she had lunch with her friend Hidayah Amin, founder of Helang Books, a local independent publishing house.

Lee asked her: Why don’t bookstores in Singapore carry books for persons with vision loss?

Lee didn’t have any personal connection with visually impaired people. However, she felt that, in a world shaped by visuals, “sight is a key sensory function and being able to experience the colours of this world is a privilege”.

“As someone who likes to write, I thought it both my duty and desire to render the content of what I write in a format accessible to those who wish to read but cannot do so with their eyes,” she added.

After researching braille books, the two women decided to transcribe Hidayah’s award-winning children’s book The Mango Tree into braille. It tells the story of a girl with a connection to the title tree, touching on family relationships and an appreciation for nature.

“We spent some of our own money to engage the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) to transcribe the text into braille and to produce the braille book,” the 53-year-old said.

“We also took the innovative step of including a tactile cover image of the mango tree and its fruits so that blind children can feel the picture for themselves.”

Is Singapore psychologically prepared for a terror attack? (12 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: "It's the moment that you have all been waiting for. The people I will be killing."

Those chilling words were in a 21-page manifesto written by a self-radicalised 14-year-old student who was planning a mass-casualty stabbing attack at his secondary school during the school holidays.

With just weeks before his planned attack, the teen was arrested by the Internal Security Department (ISD) in May. Authorities called the incident a "close shave".

This year marks 10 years since the launch of SGSecure, the country's community response to the threat of terrorism.

CNA spoke to psychologists from ISD and the Ministry of Home Affairs' Home Team Psychology Division on whether Singapore and its people are psychologically prepared to deal with a terror attack."

'Sexual predator' exploited 14-year-old girl, arranged threesomes involving at least 6 other men (14 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Barely two months after his last sentence for a sexual offence against a 14-year-old girl lapsed, a repeat offender began preying on another girl of the same age.

The 39-year-old man befriended the teenager online before pressuring her into "threesomes" with him and his friend, and later with a former co-worker.

He then advertised for "threesome sex" with strangers, arranging encounters involving the victim and at least four men over the next few years.

On Monday (Sep 14), the man pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual penetration of a minor, two charges under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act for recruiting a child for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and one charge of causing hurt to the victim.

Another 14 similar charges will be considered at sentencing.

None of the parties involved in this case can be named under a court order to protect the victim. The other men involved are currently under investigation.

The prosecution described the accused as a "sexual predator" whose history of offending showed that he posed a danger to vulnerable girls.

At the prosecution's urging, the court called for reports to assess the man's suitability for corrective training and preventive detention as sentencing options.

Corrective training lasts between five and 14 years, while preventive detention involves jail periods of between seven and 20 years.

Corrective training is imposed on repeat offenders with the aim of reforming them and correcting their behaviour. Preventive detention is a more severe punishment that places a recalcitrant offender in jail to protect the public."

10 years after workplace blast in Singapore, former migrant worker expands school he built in Bangladesh (14 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Ten years ago, a workplace explosion in Singapore left Mohammad Ataur Rahman with third-degree burns to 73 per cent of his body and loss of hearing in one ear.

“I was afraid that (it) was my last day and I was not able to survive,” he recalled.

Today, the 31-year-old runs his own school in his hometown in rural Bangladesh and has recently moved its students into a bigger building with capacity for around 400 children.

Part of the more than S$137,000 (US$107,870) Mr Rahman received in work injury compensation helped turn that ambition into reality.

Around S$30,000 went towards setting up Al-Shohag Kindergarten, while another S$30,000 was used to buy the land on which its new building stands.

Speaking to CNA while back in Singapore for an education symposium, Mr Rahman said he hopes the expanded school will give children in his community the opportunity to continue their education - something he was unable to do.

“I don’t want anybody to leave school like myself,” he said. “I want to make sure that they are continuing (their) education.”

How sport science is helping Singapore’s elite athletes gain a competitive edge (14 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore’s elite athletes are increasingly tapping sport science and technology to uncover small performance gains that may not be visible to the naked eye.

With the Asian Games starting on Saturday (Sep 19), such marginal improvements could prove crucial as athletes seek an edge over their competitors on one of the region’s biggest sporting stages.

Sport Singapore’s (SportSG) High Performance Sport Institute draws on areas including physiology, strength and conditioning, psychology and performance analysis to identify where individual athletes can improve.

The aim is to use data alongside the observations of athletes and coaches, helping them make more informed decisions about training and competition.

“If a quick 1 to 2 per cent of anything can make a difference, you probably get an advantage,” said Dr Low Chee Yong, head of sport science and sport medicine at the institute.

“At the highest level, even the 1 or 2 per cent can lose a chance of silver or gold."

But he stressed that collecting data alone is not enough. The findings ultimately have to translate into meaningful changes in an athlete’s training.

“If everyone is unique, not one set of instructions can work for everyone,” said Dr Low.

“But with our data, now the coach is able to fine tune the instruction and help the athlete get the improvement they need.”

Teen warned for sexually assaulting sister at 13 gets jail, caning for molesting her again (15 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A teenager who sexually assaulted his sister when he was 13 spent a few years in a boys' home before returning to the family and molesting his sister again while she slept.

Although he was found suitable for reformative training, the now-19-year-old was sentenced to 12 months' jail, with one stroke of the cane.

District Judge Carol Ling decided that the need for deterrence outweighed the emphasis on rehabilitation for a young offender.

The prosecution noted that the teen could control his behaviour as he had refrained from sexual relations with his girlfriend out of "religious conviction", but chose not to with his sister.

The court also heard that the family had shown a "limited ability" to maintain protective measures such as separate sleeping arrangements and supervision.

The teenager is appealing against his sentence and is currently out on bail."

Studio Ghibli immersive exhibition to open at Gardens by the Bay from Dec 18 (15 September 2026)

"Studio Ghibli fans will be able to be spirited away into recreated worlds from films including My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service when The Story of Studio Ghibli opens at Gardens by the Bay from Dec 18, 2026 to Jul 4, 2027.

The immersive exhibition will span nearly 3,500 sq m, making its Singapore presentation the largest of The Story of Studio Ghibli to date. It will feature 12 life-sized recreated worlds inspired by Studio Ghibli films, including Spirited Away, Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Boy And The Heron.

Produced by Tsukuru, Inc and M Experience and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the exhibition will combine physical sets with multimedia installations to recreate scenes and settings from the films.

Fans can encounter the Ohmu from Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, stand beside Totoro while waiting for the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro and walk alongside No-Face in the bathhouse inspired by Spirited Away.

The exhibition will also look beyond the films’ artwork and production materials, exploring the ideas and values behind the stories. Themes include creativity, resilience and environmental stewardship, with educational initiatives and learning opportunities currently being developed.

Chief executive officer of M Experience Sean Lim said the exhibition is intended to allow visitors to engage with the stories beyond simply viewing recreated scenes.

“Through 12 recreated immersive scenes inspired by iconic Studio Ghibli films, visitors will be invited to step into the stories themselves and connect with the emotions, values and imagination that continue to resonate across cultures and generations," he said in a press release.

Tickets are now available through Klook, the official ticketing partner."

Creativity, confidence and a DSA edge: Why parents are investing in children’s art classes (15 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: For some parents, art classes are no longer simply about teaching children how to draw or paint.

Enrichment providers say families are increasingly looking to art to develop creativity, confidence and communication skills.

At Tree Art, enrolment in its art enrichment classes has more than doubled since 2022.

"I believe there's a change in the parents' mindset nowadays,” said the school’s chief financial officer Teh Chun Sem.

“They are not only focused on academics, they are more focused on things like creativity, confidence level, how you train yourself, how you explain your ideas,” he said.

Art education should not be viewed only as training for children who want an artistic career, Mr Teh said.

Such skills could be applied to other fields, he said.

“For example, as an engineer...you have an imagination, you have creativity. In the future, you can create something different, and not just copy and paste.”

Uzbek mother-son duo arrested for allegedly stealing about S$5,000 worth of items from Changi Airport shops (15 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Two Uzbekistan nationals, a mother and son, have been arrested for allegedly stealing about S$5,000 worth of items from multiple shops in Changi Airport’s transit area, the police said on Tuesday (Sep 15).

They will be charged in court on Wednesday.

The police said that they were alerted to a case of shop theft at a retail outlet in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 6.46pm on Aug 28.

A retail assistant discovered that three pairs of sunglasses were missing from a display shelf, according to preliminary investigations.

CCTV footage showed a male teenager taking the sunglasses at around 6.28pm and leaving the store without paying. The sunglasses are valued at about S$1,460.

Officers from the Airport Police Division located the teenager and his mother before they departed Singapore. The three pairs of sunglasses were recovered, along with other items suspected to have been stolen."

NUS academics distance themselves from study on civil servants' home purchases near unannounced MRT stations (15 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Two National University of Singapore (NUS) professors Ivan Png and Jessica Pan said on Tuesday (Sep 15) they knew nothing of a working paper alleging "informed trading by civil servants" and have asked the authors to remove their names from its acknowledgements.

Two other NUS academics named in the paper, Sumit Agarwal and Wenlan Qian, referred CNA to the authors. A fifth NUS academic, Professor David Reeb, said he may have made a comment or asked a question when an earlier version of the paper was presented years ago, but does not recall where or when he encountered it.

Prof Png, who is a Distinguished Professor at NUS, told CNA he was puzzled to have been thanked in the paper, which examined property purchases by public officials near MRT stations whose locations had not yet been made public.

“I do not know the authors and did not know of their paper until a colleague referred me to the CNA report, following which I received a stream of WhatsApp messages from friends,” he said.

Prof Png, whose research interests include the economics of productivity and innovation, said he provided neither comments nor data for the study.

“Please remove my name from the acknowledgements,” he wrote to the lead author of the study in an email seen by CNA.

Prof Pan, who is vice-provost for graduate education at NUS, said her name appeared by "mistake". "I only found out about the paper today and have asked the authors to remove my name from the acknowledgements," she said.

CNA has contacted the authors of the paper: Tomasz Piskorski of Columbia University, Jian Zhang of the University of Hong Kong and Amit Seru and Chun Zhao of Stanford University.

CNA has also contacted all the other academics named in the acknowledgements to find out more about their input and involvement in the study."

MUIS says human resource management system hit by cybersecurity incident (15 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has been hit by a cybersecurity incident involving a human resource management system operated by Singapore-based software vendor Avelogic.

It is working closely with the affected organisations, Avelogic and the relevant authorities on the necessary next steps, said MUIS in response to CNA queries on Tuesday (Sep 15).

The incident does not affect the delivery of public-facing or government services, it added.

“Business continuity arrangements have been implemented to support essential HR and payroll functions, and affected employees are being provided with the necessary guidance and support,” MUIS said.

MUIS declined to give further information, citing ongoing investigations.

It did not specify how many people were affected or what information may have been compromised.

The Singapore Police Force confirmed with CNA that a report was lodged and that investigations are ongoing."

Singapore launches over 200 training courses with free AI subscriptions, new skills centre (16 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Over 200 artificial intelligence-related training courses that include free six-month subscriptions to selected premium AI tools for eligible Singapore citizens were rolled out on Wednesday (Sep 16), the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) announced.

The agency also launched Connect by SWDA, a careers and skills service centre at the Lifelong Learning Institute, to bring together careers, skills and workforce support under one roof.

Speaking at the launch of the SkillsFuture Festival at the Lifelong Learning Institute on Wednesday, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong said SWDA – the new statutory board consolidating the functions of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) – must make the skills system easier for Singaporeans to navigate.

“In Singapore, we have many schemes, many programs, many providers. Sometimes it can be confusing, even overwhelming. So we do need to streamline and be more customer-centric,” said Mr Wong.

“People should not need to know which agency runs which scheme before they can get help.”

SWDA will provide a “simpler and more coherent” journey tailored to the needs of both workers and businesses, he added.

To that end, Connect by SWDA is more than a place for people to sign up for courses.

“It’s where we bring together learning, career guidance and employment support. It’s where job seekers can take stock of where they are, understand where the opportunities lie and get tailored advice on the skills and steps they need to get ahead,” said Mr Wong, who officiated the opening of the centre.

The launch aligns with the agency’s goal to provide more integrated support across careers, skills and workforce development needs, SWDA said."

Smaller classes, streamlined teacher duties among ideas MOE will pilot in 6 schools (16 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A pilot in six schools will study measures to redesign classrooms from 2027, including whether more students can benefit from smaller classes, Education Minister Desmond Lee announced on Wednesday (Sep 16).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will also study streamlining teachers' duties outside the classroom, letting them focus on two of three areas – form teachership, co-curricular activities (CCAs) and committee work, he said.

The six schools are St Anthony's Canossian Primary, Woodgrove Primary, Zhangde Primary, Commonwealth Secondary, Deyi Secondary and Jurongville Secondary.

MOE will use the pilot to explore where smaller classes can make "the greatest difference" to teaching and learning, said Mr Lee."

Ex-PE teacher who kept sexually abusing underage student in hotel rooms gets jail, caning (16 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A former physical education (PE) teacher who repeatedly met his underage student in hotels to sexually abuse her was sentenced on Wednesday (Sep 16) to 16 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane.

The prosecution said the 45-year-old Singaporean man was "so emboldened by his hotel trysts" with the victim that he also committed sexual acts with her at school.

They fought against the defence's submission that the man's main transgression was merely in "crossing the professional boundaries of the teacher-student relationship".

In sentencing, Justice Kwek Mean Luck said the offender was the victim's teacher, trusted by the victim and her parents.

He had abused his position and breached the trust placed in him, taking steps to be alone with the victim and committing numerous sexual offences.

Justice Kwek pointed to the harm caused to the victim, who had suicidal thoughts and nightmares, lost her appetite and engaged in self-harm.

She also described her fear of males and how she had to cope with rumours surrounding her and the teacher even after going to another school.

The Ministry of Education had previously told CNA that the man was no longer teaching at any school and had been suspended from February 2023."

At least 20 species could be new to science after NUS-OceanX deep-sea expedition (16 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: At least 20 species found during an expedition into a little-explored part of the Indian Ocean could be new to science, with researchers saying there may be more discoveries to come.

The 24-day expedition, co-led by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and nonprofit ocean exploration initiative OceanX, was conducted in October last year. It mapped a total of 6,050 sq km of the deep sea and brought back over 2,000 specimens.

An estimated 100 to 200 species were documented, many of which have yet to be fully described.

The advanced research vessel OceanXplorer explored the Monsoon Rise, a largely unexplored seamount chain in the eastern Indian Ocean."

Paedophile who sexually abused 11 girls, including his own daughter and granddaughters, gets jail (17 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A diagnosed paedophile who sexually abused 11 girls over 33 years, with the acts ranging from molestation to rape, was sentenced on Thursday (Sep 17) to 21 years' jail.

The victims were as young as five, and included his daughter, granddaughters, nieces and students at an enrichment centre he ran with his wife.

The judge noted that the jail term should not be crushing or amount to a life sentence for the 71-year-old man, who suffers from a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis.

At the same time, she rejected the defence's call for the exercise of judicial mercy in this case, saying it was not appropriate.

Justice Mavis Chionh said this was a tragic case of persistent sexual offending by a diagnosed paedophile against his own family members and students, who trusted him.

This was despite the man being punished and prosecuted twice, and despite his diagnosis in 2021."

Cybersecurity incident affected 48 mosques, four madrasahs; no ransom paid: MUIS (17 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: No ransom was paid following a cybersecurity incident involving software vendor Avelogic, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said on Thursday (Sep 17).

The incident, first reported on Tuesday, affected Avelogic's human resources and payroll system and clients across different sectors. In the community sector, this included 48 mosques, four madrasahs, the Islamic Learning Hub and Management Office and Mosque-Madrasah-Wakaf Shared Services, MUIS said.

A police report was made, and Avelogic is continuing to investigate the incident and its wider impact, MUIS said.

The council added that it was “concerned” about the impact on the affected organisations and their employees and that it was working with those affected to ensure salaries would continue to be paid on time.

"Alternative payroll arrangements are already in place, and there has been no disruption to religious or public-facing services," said MUIS.

Avelogic has since recovered the affected data and engaged independent cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident.

Based on investigations so far, there is no evidence that a large amount of data was taken from the system, MUIS said. Data stored in the affected system is also encrypted as an additional layer of protection."

Former MUIS senior director gets jail for misappropriating funds meant for religious school (18 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A former senior director of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) was sentenced to seven weeks’ jail on Friday (Sep 18) for misappropriating more than S$68,000 (US$53,300) that was meant for a religious school he used to manage and for accessing its email server without permission after resigning from his position there.

Razak Mohamed Lazim, 59, managed Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah when he was employed with MUIS between 2011 to January 2016.

He received a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for two charges of allegedly cheating Temasek Foundation International of nearly S$785,000 and one charge of accessing the madrasah’s email server."

Coroner rules death of 17-year-old boy who was pinned by basketball frame a misadventure (18 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A coroner has ruled the death of a 17-year-old boy who suffered fatal head injuries after a basketball frame fell on him a misadventure.

Mohd Ridwan was playing basketball at Block 18 Bedok South Road on Jul 26, 2021, when he attempted a dunk and held onto the basketball rim for a few seconds. The structure later fell on him, pinning him.

Delivering his findings on Friday (Sep 18), State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said Ridwan's manner of playing basketball that day did not contribute to the accident.

Dunking and holding on to the rim were “part and parcel of the game” and the structure should easily have been able to withstand the forces involved, he said.

“This was a truly tragic case of a young man with his entire life before him suddenly struck down in his prime,” he said, offering his condolences to Ridwan's family.

He reiterated findings by the Health Sciences Authority that inconsistent welding of the structure could have contributed its collapse.

The upper and bottom parts of the two poles in the basketball structure had been welded together, and the structure broke at the welded joint, which was the weakest point, the court heard on Friday.

If both poles of the basketball structure were one complete pole instead of two parts welded together, the breakage, and consequently the accident, would not have occurred, the coroner said."

Technology, AI have made us hasty readers – and that's a big problem (18 September 2026)

"Some of Mr Julian Teo's secondary school students are in such a rush to answer Mathematics questions that they skip over words. Others start working out the solution even before they finish reading.

The 48-year-old Mathematics teacher said that he has seen this worrying pattern become increasingly common among his students over the past five years.

He showed CNA TODAY an example of the kind of problem sum that his students find too long to read properly. At 146 words, it required them to calculate the cost of driving between four cities.

"Their reading, comprehension and understanding skills are lacking because they don't read books, or long texts or articles, so chunks of words are tough for them," Mr Teo said. He has taught Mathematics in various secondary schools for more than 20 years.

Indeed, the results of the 2025 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released on Sep 8 this year, showed that Mr Teo's students are unlikely to be an anomaly.

The test found that although Singapore's 15-year-olds still ranked first in reading, the country's average reading scores fell by eight points from 543 in 2022 to 535 in 2025.

This phenomenon is not unique to Singapore; it is evident among teenagers globally."

He was given 50% odds of surviving. How childhood cancer shaped a doctor's calling (18 September 2026)

"In 2011, 15-year-old Jason Chng told his mother he wanted to be a doctor. While any other parent might have beamed with pride, she was fearful and hesitant to support his dream.

Given her son's earlier struggle with a critical illness, she worried about his desire to pursue a career notorious for long hours and high stress.

As we spoke in his living room earlier this month – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Dr Chng, now 30 and a third-year resident at Singapore General Hospital, was precise and detailed about the leukaemia diagnosis that upended his childhood and his family's life.

At just seven years old, he had been given a 50 per cent chance of survival. Tests revealed that he had 140 times the normal amount of white blood cells, putting his cancer in the "high risk" category.

Recounting the experience now as a medical professional, he spoke calmly and openly. Nevertheless, there was a palpable emotional undercurrent to his words – and no wonder, considering the ordeal he had survived at a tender age.

For most of his childhood, his parents had done their best to shield him from this grim diagnosis. Despite their efforts, there was no shielding a seven-year-old boy from the effects of a gruelling treatment regime.

He underwent chemotherapy, sedated bone marrow tests, and suffered recurrent infections.

Decades later, the discomfort remained vivid in Dr Chng's mind as he recounted treatments such as intrathecal injections – where medication is directly injected into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord."

Woman wrongfully dismissed because of her pregnancy and maternity leave awarded S$19,800 (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A woman who was wrongfully dismissed because of her pregnancy and upcoming maternity leave was awarded S$19,800 (US$15,520) by an Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT) on Tuesday (Sep 22).

This sum comprises three months of the woman's gross pay on top of another three months' pay for harm caused to her.

The woman, named only as C in the judgment, had received a good performance appraisal before giving birth, but was not given any increment and was later told she did not fit into the new boss' vision of the team.

Parties are usually not named in ECT judgments as the hearings are conducted in private.

The new boss, named as Mr EC, kept trying to call her although she was on hospitalisation leave for pregnancy complications and eventually told her over a call that her employment would be terminated when her maternity leave ended.

Tribunal magistrate Lee Li Choon said this case sheds light on the kind of adverse workplace culture that working women who choose to have children may encounter from certain employers."

Online Safety Commission received over 500 reports on online harm in first two months (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The new Online Safety Commission (OSC) has received more than 500 reports of online harms since it started operations on Jun 29, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on Tuesday (Sep 22).

Between Jun 29 and Aug 31, doxxing was the most prevalent, comprising 44 per cent of online harms reported based on eligible reports received, the commission said.

Online harassment followed, making up 38 per cent of online harms reported. About 8 per cent of online harms involved intimate image abuse, 7 per cent involved online stalking, and 3 per cent involved image-based child abuse where the victims were under the age of 16.

The commission said it resolved more than 90 per cent of eligible reports received. It did not say how many of the over 500 reports received were considered eligible.

An eligible report is made by an eligible victim or on their behalf, and discloses online harmful activity within the scope of the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act."

Mixing energy drinks with coffee or matcha? CASE warns teenagers about caffeine intake (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Teenagers should avoid mixing energy drinks with coffee, matcha or other sources of caffeine, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) warned, after tests found that just one mixed drink could exceed the recommended daily caffeine limit for adolescents.

CASE tested six combinations of commonly consumed caffeinated beverages such as matcha, energy drinks and espresso, after there were concerns that young people may not realise how quickly caffeine can add up when different drinks are mixed.

All six combinations contained more than the recommended daily caffeine limit of 100mg for adolescents aged 12 to 18.

Four of the tested drinks, each containing one energy beverage, had between 100.45mg and 106.4mg of caffeine per 350g serving.

The other two combinations, which mixed two energy beverages with espresso, contained substantially more caffeine.

The strongest combination, which combined espresso with Monster and Red Bull energy drinks, contained 282.1mg of caffeine per 350g serving.

This is equivalent to about three cups of brewed coffee, and is nearly three times the maximum recommended daily caffeine limit for adolescents, CASE said in a media release on Tuesday (Sep 22)."

Former navy cook jailed for sexually abusing 15-year-old boy with army captain (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A former cook with the Republic of Singapore Navy arranged to meet a 15-year-old boy he met online along with his former boyfriend, a captain in the Singapore Army.

While at a multi-storey car park, the two older men sexually abused the 15-year-old schoolboy.

Owen Toh Wei Song, a 26-year-old Singaporean, was sentenced to 12 months' jail on Tuesday (Sep 22). He pleaded guilty to a charge of causing a minor to perform sexual penetration, with another two charges taken into consideration.

The court heard that Toh was a cook with the navy at the time of the offences."

Man who allegedly made unauthorised bookings of SUTD football facilities to be charged with cheating, forgery (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A 41-year-old man who allegedly made unauthorised bookings of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) football facilities will be charged in court on Wednesday (Sep 23) for his suspected involvement in cheating and forgery offences, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said./font>

SPF said they received a report on Jul 3, 2025, alleging that the man had used his position as a deputy manager at SUTD to make several unauthorised bookings.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had made more than 180 unauthorised bookings of SUTD's football facilities over a period of approximately three years," the police said in a news release on Tuesday.

"The fraudulent bookings resulted in a total revenue loss to SUTD of more than S$130,000 (US$102,000)."

SPF added that the man is believed to have deleted booking records in an attempt to conceal his actions.

The man will be charged in court with cheating and forgery. The offence of cheating carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both, while the offence of forgery carries a jail term of up to four years, a fine, or both."

New MSF unit launched to flag child abuse concerns earlier, after review into Megan Khung's death (22 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A new unit has been launched to bring together relevant information from different government agencies to identify potential cases of child abuse earlier and help frontline professionals provide more timely support.

Called Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response (SAFER), it helps these professionals build a more complete understanding of family circumstances, as part of assessing whether children and families may need support earlier, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Tuesday (Sep 22).

SAFER uses a “risk algorithm” to pull together information from available datasets to assess a family’s potential needs and how they may be supported. The unit has been operational since the end of June 2026.

In its first two months, SAFER’s risk algorithm surfaced about 600 cases for further review. These led to 70 cases being flagged to MSF’s Protective Service and Child Protection Case Management (CPCM) agencies’ case managers to step up or strengthen support for the families involved.

MSF committed in parliament to set up a social services coordination centre in response to recommendations from a review panel that looked at the child protection ecosystem after the death of Megan Khung.

Megan was four years old when she died in February 2020. She was abused for months by her mother and the woman's then-boyfriend, before the latter threw a fatal punch.

A review into her death found multiple lapses, shortcomings and miscommunication among the agencies that handled her case."

NUS chairman Hsieh Fu Hua to step down; Leo Yip to take over (23 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, chairman of the National University of Singapore (NUS), will step down on Mar 31 next year, the university said on Wednesday (Sep 23).

He will be succeeded by former civil service chief Leo Yip, who will assume the role on Apr 1.

An alumnus of NUS Business School, Mr Hsieh first joined the university's council in 2003 and served on its board of trustees from 2006 to 2012. He returned as chairman of the board in 2017."

Indranee urges developers to build more family-friendly spaces amid Singapore’s push to support parenthood (23 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah on Wednesday (Sep 23) urged property developers to include more family-friendly spaces in their projects, amid a broader push by Singapore to support marriage and parenthood.

Speaking at the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore’s (REDAS) mid-autumn lunch, Ms Indranee called on developers to include “intentional and inclusive” spaces for young children and elderly people.

Ms Indranee's speech comes amid a broader push by Singapore to support parenthood as the country's total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2025.

At the National Day Rally in August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong gave a preview of the first set of recommendations proposed by the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup chaired by Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

“Reversing the downward trend for marriage and parenthood, which is a global trend and not limited to Singapore, cannot be done by government alone,” she said. “It must be a whole-of-society effort.”

Police investigating video of man in smart glasses allegedly trailing female students (23 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Police are investigating after a video was circulated on social media showing a man wearing smart glasses while allegedly trailing female students.

A police spokesperson told CNA on Wednesday (Sep 23) that a report had been lodged and investigations were ongoing.

The video, uploaded on Tuesday by Instagram account Singapore Parents, showed a man in a dark T-shirt and black shorts walking behind female students in uniforms resembling those of Raffles Institution.

He held his mobile phone close to his chest and was seen pressing the frame of his black-rimmed glasses at one point. When he appeared to notice he was being filmed, he made a U-turn and walked off in the opposite direction.

The incident was said to have taken place along a pedestrian walkway towards Marymount MRT station."

‘Guardian angel’ teacher made him feel seen as a child; hearts melt online as they reunite (24 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: As a young boy living in a children’s home, Dino Isaac used to wish his Primary 3 teacher, Teresa Lee, could adopt him.

Two decades later, their emotional reunion revealed that those feelings went both ways. To his surprise, Lee, now 44, told him she had “similar thoughts”. But she was not married at the time, so she “kept the thought” to herself.

Dino, whose childhood was marked by abuse and homelessness, was placed in a children’s home at age five.

Lee was his form teacher for just half a year, but she was at Jin Tai Primary with him for another two years before transferring to another school. She nurtured his musical talent and made him feel seen and valued.

“Ms Lee was literally a guardian angel sent from the sky,” he said. “She looked out for me in a parental way.”

Now 30, he enlisted the help of On The Red Dot to track her down to her current school to show her how far he has come and tell her his decision to pursue social work, inspired by her kindness.

Their story is part of the show’s Finding series, which returns to reunite Singaporeans with the unsung mentors, friends and figures who shaped their lives."

Easing divorce acrimony: How maintenance enforcement officers help broken families find common ground (24 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: For over a decade after her 2014 divorce, Chloe (not her real name) never received the monthly court-ordered maintenance payments owed to her.

The monthly sums were already modest, set at S$200 (US$155) for their son and a nominal S$1 in spousal support for herself. But the arrears crept up over the years, accruing to about S$28,000 in total.

The thought of chasing her ex-husband for payment – which would have involved applying for a court order – felt daunting, so Chloe let it slide to focus on rebuilding her life.

It was only this year, when her son turned 17 and entered a polytechnic, that Chloe decided that she wanted to enforce the maintenance order.

“It was a weight in my heart that I didn’t do enough for my son,” said the 45-year-old administrative assistant, who earns S$2,800 a month."

ACM's new exhibition brings Mogao Caves and over 1,000 years of Silk Road art to Singapore (24 September 2026)

"Four life-size reproductions of China's Mogao Caves are coming to Singapore for the first time as part of a new exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

Titled Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road, the exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Dunhuang Academy and brings together the cave reproductions with paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, textiles and devotional objects spanning more than a thousand years of Buddhist art and cultural exchange.

It runs from Sep 25, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027 across ACM's Level 2 Foyer and Special Exhibitions Gallery."

National Arts Council seeks operator for new 1,000-seat Tanglin theatre (24 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The National Arts Council (NAC) is seeking an operator for the upcoming 1,000-seat theatre in Tanglin, with the successful applicant expected to bring in high-quality international acts while supporting the local arts ecosystem.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), NAC launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) on Wednesday (Sep 23), open to local and international venue operators, arts organisations and cultural institutions.

The operator will be responsible for areas including artistic direction and programming, venue management and financial sustainability, while overseeing functions such as food and beverage, technical production and facilities.

Applicants must also allocate at least 30 per cent of the theatre’s utilised days each year to at least four local arts groups, while supporting Singapore’s arts ecosystem with initiatives such as residencies and mentorships.

They must also demonstrate experience in financially managing operations of a similar scale."

Over 80,000 finance workers to get AI training by 2028 as industry launches job transformation initiative (24 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: More than 80,000 finance workers in 23 financial institutions will be trained in critical artificial intelligence skills by 2028, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Thursday (Sep 24).

Speaking at the Institute of Banking and Finance's (IBF) annual Distinction Evening, Mr Gan officially launched a collaborative initiative formed by the institute and these financial institutions to assess how AI is changing jobs and to test practical approaches to training and job redesign.

Called the IBF AI Workforce Co-Lab, the 23 institutions have committed to training their entire Singapore workforce in AI skills through IBF-recognised programmes, said Mr Gan, who is also chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

More than half of their employees have already been trained, he said, adding that the training will give employees a common foundation for working with AI.

The 23 institutions, which cut across the banking, insurance and asset management sectors, include DBS, OCBC, UOB, AIA Singapore and Prudential.

Employees will also need skills suited to their specific roles, so the Co-Lab will develop pathways to help workers acquire the necessary skills."

Commentary: Parents want the best for their child, but P1 registration cannot be only about 'me first' (25 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: In a high-stakes, credential-conscious environment, parents understandably want to deploy every available resource to secure their child’s educational future.

Recognising these pressures, the Ministry of Education recently announced adjustments to the Primary 1 registration framework. There will be more reserved places in Phase 2C for children with no prior connection to the school, up from 40 to 60 spots. Additionally, twelve schools in neighbourhoods with more private housing will offer a two-track Phase 2C to include those living beyond the usual 2km radius.

These changes send an important signal about MOE’s commitment to broadening access to schools. Yet in practice, they can feel incremental.

In schools with larger cohorts of 300 students or more, many of them popular schools, 60 spots translate to at most 20 per cent of yearly enrolment. At schools with the median cohort size of 210, it falls just shy of 30 per cent. The 20-seat increase may end up making little practical difference at many oversubscribed schools to “improve access and support inclusivity”."

Singapore parents increasingly value holistic development, but academic concerns persist: IPS study (25 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: More parents in Singapore are embracing a holistic approach to their children's education, but academic signals remain important, with families spending more on tuition, a new study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has found.

Besides valuing happy learning environments and social-emotional development in schools, they also rely on markers of academic school standing, such as cut-off points and branding.

Published on Friday (Sep 25), the study examined parents' attitudes towards their children's education across four broad areas: the education system, schooling choices, educational stress and tuition or enrichment, as well as education policies.

Conducted by IPS Social Lab researchers Dr Mathew Mathews, Dr Melvin Tay and Dr Teo Kay Key, the study surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,500 Singaporean and permanent resident parents with children attending local primary schools."

She overcame her parents' doubts and stigma to become a psychologist helping vulnerable teen girls (26 September 2026)

"In 2002, Ms Valerie Wong, then 19, was an intern at a banking institution in the central business district. She was earning S$700 (US$548) a month, more than many of her peers received for similar internships and attachments at the time.

It was a "fancy pants" job at an office near Millenia Walk, one that put her in the same league as well-dressed office workers who patronised expensive gyms and dining establishments.

It was on the pathway to everything she had ever wanted. It was also the "most dreadful month" of her life.

Ms Wong, now 43, had chosen to study finance in a bid to make her family proud. She was pursuing a polytechnic diploma in banking and finance at the time.

But she recalls sitting alone during lunch hours at her internship thinking: "This is what I've been asking to do...How come I feel so disconnected?"

Ms Wong is now on a very different path as the head of HCSA Dayspring, a therapeutic group home in Potong Pasir for teenage girls who have suffered complex trauma, abuse or neglect."

National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum announce leadership changes from Jan 1, 2027 (28 September 2026)

"National Gallery Singapore (NGS) and Singapore Art Museum (SAM) will have separate leaders from Jan 1, 2027, with Chng Hak-Peng taking over as chief executive officer (CEO) of NGS and Dr Eugene Tan leading SAM.

In the announcement made on Monday (Sep 28), Chng will succeed Dr Tan, who has served as NGS' CEO since 2024.

The move marks a change from the current arrangement, under which Dr Tan serves as CEO of both institutions. Dr Tan has been Director of NGS since 2013 and of SAM since 2019, and was appointed CEO of both institutions in 2024.

From January 2027, he will focus on leading SAM as the contemporary art museum enters what it describes as its next phase of growth.

Before then, Dr Tan will remain with the Gallery until the end of December to support the transition before continuing as SAM's CEO and Director.

Chng brings more than three decades of experience across the arts, public and private sectors. He previously served as deputy chair and later CEO of the Singapore Symphony Group (SSG) from 2014 to 2022."

Scrapping PSLE or DSA could create new pressures, send wrong signals: David Neo (29 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Removing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) or Direct School Admission (DSA) could shift pressure elsewhere and send the wrong signals, Second Minister for Education David Neo said on Tuesday (Sep 29).

For instance, a through-train model that skips the PSLE could shift competition to Primary 1 admission, and reduce students’ ability to choose a secondary school that suits the interests and needs they develop later.

Scrapping the DSA programme entirely could send the pressure back to the PSLE and wrongly signal that only academic results matter, he said.

Speaking at the 2026 Institute of Policy Studies forum, Mr Neo said the Ministry of Education (MOE) will look at the parts of the system that fuel the education "arms race" the most, including the transition from primary to secondary school.

Young students face the "most acute" pressure at this stage, he said, noting that the PSLE and DSA often come up in the ministry's engagements with the public."

Youth offending rate rises in Singapore, driven by jump in cheating offences (29 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The youth offending rate rose in Singapore in 2025, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Tuesday (Sep 29), driven mainly by an increase in cheating and related offences.

According to MSF’s youth rehabilitation trends report, the youth offending rate was 5.6 per 1,000 youths in 2025, up from the 4.8 per 1,000 recorded in 2024, though still lower than the 2021 peak of 5.8.

The report defined youths as those aged 10 to below 21."

Singapore Writers Festival 2026: Amitav Ghosh, Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Rachel Smythe among highlights (29 September 2026)

"Writers, readers and lovers of the literary craft, rejoice: The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) returns for its 29th edition from Nov 13 to 22. More than 300 writers, speakers and moderators will take part in over 200 programmes this year, spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, literary translation, crime writing, journalism and even documentary film.

Themed Hidden in Plain Sight, SWF 2026 will examine the stories, perspectives and lived experiences that can be overlooked, obscured or interpreted differently depending on who is doing the looking.

This year, award-winning author Amitav Ghosh, known for works including The Ibis Trilogy and The Glass Palace, will deliver a keynote examining how writers imagine the planet's future amid intensifying global crises.

He'll also join Singapore novelists Jemimah Wei and Balli Kaur Jaswal for What the Family Doesn't Say, a conversation about family secrets, migration, ambition and intergenerational history.

Fans of Mexican Gothic can also catch Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, whose keynote speech will explore truth, deception and artificiality, while American sociologist and MacArthur fellow Ruha Benjamin will examine hidden biases in the digital world in her talk.

Indonesian gender equality advocate Kamala Chandrakirana will speak about cultural memory and gender equality, while journalist Stephen Witt, author of The Thinking Machine, will discuss the rise of Nvidia and its chief executive Jensen Huang.

Other writers appearing include Malaysian Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Tan Twan Eng, Lore Olympus creator Rachel Smythe, Chinese novelist Shuang Xuetao, Nevermoor author Jessica Townsend and Murder Most Unladylike writer Robin Stevens."

Man gets jail for slapping 4-year-old boy at bus stop in front of other preschool kids (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A man became angry after a four-year-old boy pointed his middle finger at him while he was picking up his son from preschool.

He pursued the boy to a nearby bus stop that was crowded with other young kids, grabbed the boy by the arm and slapped him hard on both cheeks.

The boy, who was his son’s schoolmate, suffered bruises on his face and ringing in his ear, on top of emotional trauma that lingered for months and required his parents to change his preschool.

The aggressor, Muhammad Firdhaus Mokhtar, was sentenced to 14 weeks' jail on Wednesday (Sep 30). He was also ordered to pay S$170 (US$133) in compensation to the mother of the victim, who was in court to watch his sentencing.

Firdhaus pleaded guilty to one count each of voluntarily causing hurt and using criminal force on a minor, with a third charge taken into consideration."

Piece by piece: The road to Singapore’s first digital construction WorldSkills medal (30 September 2026)

"SINGAPORE: For Mr Samuel Tan, preparing for this year's WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai meant more than 1,000 hours of training over about five months.

The 20-year-old Ngee Ann Polytechnic design graduate competed in digital construction and won bronze – Singapore's first medal in the category.

His win came as Singapore recorded its best showing yet at the biennial event that brings together young people from around the world to compete in vocational and technical skills, ranging from cooking and welding to cybersecurity.

Team Singapore brought home four silver medals, four bronze medals and 19 Medallions for Excellence. The record haul of 27 awards surpassed its previous high of 22 at the 2019 edition in Kazan, Russia.

Singapore fielded 34 youths across 31 skill areas at the Sep 22 to 27 event, which drew more than 1,400 competitors from over 70 countries and regions."

Indie bookstore Book Bar to move from Duxton Road to Tiong Bahru Community Centre (1 October 2026)

"Independent bookstore and reading space Book Bar is bidding farewell to Duxton Road – but its story won't end there. It will continue at Tiong Bahru Community Centre, where its new home will be about twice the size of its current shophouse space.

Founded by book-loving couple Alex Chua and Sara Ng, Book Bar opened on Duxton Road in July 2023 with a focus on Singapore literature, stocking genres ranging from contemporary fiction and memoirs to essays and children's books.

It also doubles as a cafe and community space, regularly hosting book launches, author conversations, workshops and other literary events.

Speaking to CNA Lifestyle, Chua said the search for a new home began earlier this year as the bookstore approached the end of its lease.

"Our lease was originally scheduled to end in June 2026, so we started looking for options earlier this year," he said. "Tiong Bahru Community Centre was one of the options suggested to us. We decided it would be a good fit, so we tendered for it and we got it."

IMDA and TikTok launch Singapore microdrama programme for media professionals (1 October 2026)

"How do storytellers keep audiences hooked when stories unfold in episodes just minutes long?

That is the opportunity behind the new IMDA-TikTok Microdrama Programme, a joint initiative by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and TikTok Singapore, announced on Thursday (Oct 1), to help local media professionals develop expertise in one of the industry’s fastest-growing formats.

The initiative is part of IMDA’s Digital Content and Capability Development programme, launched earlier this year."

'I gave birth to her, so why do I have to adopt her?’: The unwed single parents adopting their own children (2 October 2026)

"After she gave birth to her daughter three years ago, finance executive Ms Lim had to do something most parents would never even think of: adopt her own biological child."

The 35-year-old, who declined to give her full name, had been dating her child's biological father for six months when she found out she was pregnant.

Her ex made it clear that he did not want to have anything to do with their child – emotionally or materially."

When she started researching the legal implications of having a child outside marriage she was surprised to find out that children born out of wedlock are viewed as "illegitimate" in the eyes of the law."

Islamic religious education providers teaching 10 or more must register with MUIS (3 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: People and organisations that regularly provide Islamic instruction to 10 or more individuals in Singapore must now register with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), under expanded requirements that took effect on Friday (Oct 2).

The rules cover instruction conducted in person, including at home, as well as online, and apply to settings ranging from full-time and part-time madrasahs to Quranic classes.

Travel agencies that conduct Umrah and Hajj preparatory classes will also have to register as Muslim Religious Schools (MRS).

Around 50 individuals and organisations are expected to come under the expanded registration requirements, MUIS said in a media release on Saturday."

I'm 12, and my handmade crafts raise funds for wildlife and charity (3 October 2026)

"I was 10 years old when I first started doing crafts.

During the December 2024 holiday break from school, I began making keychains, phone charms and hair accessories, giving them to my friends and family.

Everyone around me seemed to love what I made, and encouraged me to keep going.

I invited two of my close friends to join me, and together we started a small business selling our handmade crafts outside of school.

My parents were supportive and encouraged me to go ahead, as long as it did not interfere with my schoolwork."

There's a magic school at Orchard Towers and I tried being a magician for an hour – here's how it went (4 October 2026)

“There's no way four aces will actually turn up,” I told the pompadoured man in front of me, half dismissively and half out of curiosity.

We were at Institute Illusions, a new magic school and theatre at Orchard Towers offering live shows and magic lessons. I was there for the latter – albeit an extremely condensed version."

Task force proposes stronger job and training support for people with disabilities to ease 'post-18 cliff' (4 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: To ease the “post-18 cliff” faced by people with disabilities after graduation, a task force has recommended enhancing work exposure opportunities in special education (SPED) schools and stronger job support.

In a report released on Sunday (Oct 4), the five-member task force said many families worry about this “cliff” – the uncertainty over whether their loved ones will be able to find and keep a job, live independently and remain connected to their communities after leaving school at 18.

“Many caregivers also worried about what would happen when they were no longer able to care for their loved ones. Above all, families wanted the assurance that they would not have to navigate the future alone,” the task force said.

It said more people with disabilities will need employment support as the number of SPED graduates moving into work or further training grows. The employment rate of people with disabilities aged 15 to 64 years rose from 33.6 per cent in 2024 to 34.7 per cent in 2025, according to Ministry of Manpower data.

The proposed measures aim to build students’ work-ready skills, make training more accessible and help them get jobs. The task force also recommended strengthening employment support services and streamlining access to grants."

Fewer babies, smaller market: How Singapore baby-care brands are adapting (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A shrinking pool of babies is forcing Singapore's baby-care brands to rethink where growth will come from, even as costs climb and competition turns increasingly global.

For homegrown brand Hegen, which grew significantly for much of the past decade, the effects are beginning to show. Its co-founder and chief operating officer Leon Bock said its Singapore business has seen a “very slight” decline over the past one to one-and-a-half years.

The challenges facing the sector have drawn greater attention following the recent announcement that homegrown brand Tollyjoy is winding down after 55 years.

While the company has said its decision was not driven by financial considerations, its exit comes as the industry adjusts to a smaller domestic customer base, raising questions about what fewer births will mean for companies that depend on parents and young children."

9 years' jail for female teacher who committed sexual acts on female student on bus, in school toilet (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A 35-year-old teacher was sentenced to nine years' jail on Monday (Oct 5) for performing several sexual acts on her then-15-year-old student.

The teacher had pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual penetration of a minor and two charges of sexually exploiting a young person under the age of 16.

Another five charges of sexually exploiting a young person, one charge of sexual grooming and another for sexual communication with a minor were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Both teacher and student cannot be named due to a gag order.

She had performed the sex acts on the student at several locations, such as the school toilet, a karaoke room and on a bus.

As a result of the teacher's actions, the student suffered from nightmares, could not focus and struggled to trust adults."

Driver in Tampines chain collision that killed 2 gets over 12 years' jail, banned from driving for life (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A driver who ran a red light at high speed and caused a chain collision in Tampines that killed two people was sentenced to 12 years and nine months' jail and banned from driving for life on Monday (Oct 5).

It is one of the longest jail terms imposed over a fatal traffic incident in recent history. The next closest is an 11-year sentence for a man who drove drunk into a retiree, severing his body.

Muhammad Syafie Ismail, a 45-year-old Singaporean, had entered a junction at between 129kmh and 134kmh – more than two-and-a-half times the 50kmh speed limit – even though the traffic light had been red for at least 26 seconds.

The resulting chain collision killed a 17-year-old student and a 57-year-old woman, grievously injured three victims and hurt another five, including children.

The student cannot be named after the court imposed a gag order protecting her identity. The woman who died was Ms Norzihan Juwahib, who was seated on a sofa without any seatbelts in the back of a van when the chain collision occurred."

9 years' jail for female teacher who committed sexual acts on female student on bus, in school toilet (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A 35-year-old teacher was sentenced to nine years' jail on Monday (Oct 5) for performing several sexual acts on her then-15-year-old student.

The teacher had pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual penetration of a minor and two charges of sexually exploiting a young person under the age of 16.

Another five charges of sexually exploiting a young person, one charge of sexual grooming and another for sexual communication with a minor were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Both teacher and student cannot be named due to a gag order.

She had performed the sex acts on the student at several locations, such as the school toilet, a karaoke room and on a bus.

As a result of the teacher's actions, the student suffered from nightmares, could not focus and struggled to trust adults."

Study on civil servants' property purchases near planned MRT stations among issues to be raised in parliament on Oct 6 (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: The government's review of property purchases by officers involved in rail planning will come under scrutiny in parliament when it sits on Tuesday (Oct 6), after a working paper showed that purchases were made near planned MRT stations before their locations were public.

Members of parliament have filed multiple questions on the working paper, what the authorities' review has found so far and whether safeguards against the misuse of non-public information should be strengthened.

Questions have also been filed on rising retrenchments in Singapore, the two-year delay to the opening of the North-South Corridor, and changes to the Primary 1 registration process.

CIVIL SERVANTS' PROPERTY PURCHASES STUDY

A total of 10 questions from MPs for oral answer were tied to a United States-based research organisation's working paper on civil servants' property purchases. A separate written question also concerned the working paper.

The study by the National Bureau of Economic Research reported a statistical link between such purchases and people whom its authors classified as civil servants in agencies connected to rail planning.

The paper has not been peer-reviewed."

71-year-old man gets jail for molesting daughter over 20 years ago (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A 71-year-old man was sentenced last month to 16 months' jail for molesting his daughter more than 20 years ago when she was between four and seven years old.

Her mental health was also unstable, so she sought help from the school counsellor and psychologists irregularly from the age of seven to 21, and sought help from a psychologist and psychiatrist consistently after she turned 21.

The offences only came to light after the woman disclosed to her boyfriend about a decade later that she was molested by her father.

The man was charged with two counts of outrage of modesty and was found guilty of both."

ComChest disburses more than S$80 million in FY2025, benefitting over 130,000 individuals, families (5 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: More than 130,000 individuals and families benefitted from Community Chest-supported programmes and projects in FY2025, about 45 per cent more than the average number of service users supported over the previous three financial years.

ComChest, the philanthropic arm of the National Council of Social Service, said on Monday (Oct 5) that it channelled more than S$80 million (US$62.6 million) to 340 social service programmes and projects during the financial year.

The increase was driven by existing programmes reaching more people, including those supporting families, as well as new initiatives such as grovve, Singapore's first integrated youth wellness centre.

ComChest also secured S$113 million in multi-year commitments in FY2025, which it said would give social service agencies greater certainty to plan and sustain their services."

Syariah Court to get wider powers over divorce procedures and child-related orders under proposed law (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Muslim couples seeking a divorce could be exempted from some procedural requirements under proposed changes that would also give the Syariah Court clearer powers over child custody and relocation.

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) introduced the Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill for first reading in parliament on Tuesday (Oct 6).

The ministry said in a media release that the divorce-related changes are meant to reduce administrative burden and unnecessary acrimony so families can focus on healing.

SIMPLER DIVORCE PROCEDURES

Couples must currently attend the Syariah Court's marriage counselling programme before filing for divorce. Where a marriage cannot be reconciled, the court adjudicates disputes using principles of "therapeutic justice" – an approach that prioritises healing and emotional well-being for everyone involved.

Under the amendments, the court could simplify procedures in certain circumstances.

Parties would no longer need to first appoint a hakam or marital conciliator if both agree to end the marriage by talak tafwidh, a form of divorce in which the husband delegates the pronouncement of divorce to the wife."

'Not the time to go soft': Singapore to table law reinforcing deterrent sentences for scam offenders, including youths (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: New legislation will be tabled in parliament to reinforce the deterrence approach when sentencing all scammers and those who facilitate scams "including those who are young", said Senior Minister K Shanmugam on Tuesday (Oct 6).

This comes after a High Court ruling in September that allowed appeals by youth offenders and sentenced them to probation and community sentences instead of a deterrent one, putting weight on rehabilitation as the primary sentencing consideration.

This rationale by the courts "contradicts the approach set out in sentencing guidelines" that recommend jail or reformative training, said Mr Shanmugam.

He was responding to a parliamentary question by Mr Christopher de Souza (PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah) on whether the government will consider additional legislative provisions for youth offenders involved in scams."

8 public officers referred to police after review of 191 property transactions near unannounced MRT stations (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Eight public service officers have been referred to the police after a review of 191 officers' property transactions, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing told parliament on Tuesday (Oct 6).

The review followed a working paper by the United States-based National Bureau of Economic Research, which identified 2007 to 2011 as the period of concern.

The Public Service Division extended the scope to 2014 as a matter of prudence, Mr Chan said, because many new MRT station locations continued to be announced after 2011.

Based on administrative records, PSD identified officers in agencies involved in rail planning who bought property between 2007 and 2014 close to locations later announced as MRT stations, he said.

PSD assessed factors including the officer's role at the time, whether the officer had access to relevant non-public information, and the timing and circumstances of the transaction.

Of the 191 officers, eight were found to have cases that warrant further examination, said Mr Chan, who is also defence minister. Further checks are ongoing."

Fresh grads taking longer to secure jobs, retrenched workers finding it harder to land new jobs: Jasmin Lau (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Fresh graduates are taking longer to secure full-time jobs and retrenched workers are also finding it harder to land new jobs, reflecting the softer hiring conditions in the labour market.

Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau on Tuesday (Oct 6) said the ministry is monitoring fresh graduate employment closely, especially for the 2026 cohort, whose six-month employment outcomes will be available soon.

Ms Lau was responding to parliamentary and supplementary questions about retrenched workers, support for mature workers and fresh graduates' employment rates. Retrenchments rose to 4,620 in the second quarter of the year, the highest level since late 2020."

Teen investigated for allegedly throwing bag of ice cream off Cove LRT platform (6 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: A 17-year-old boy is being investigated for his involvement in a case of rash act after allegedly throwing a bag containing two blocks of ice cream off the platform at Cove LRT Station.

The incident happened at about 11pm on Sep 27 at the station's concourse level, said the police in a news release on Tuesday (Oct 6).

A report was lodged two days later, they added. Preliminary investigations found that the bag contained two blocks of ice cream.

Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the teenager's identity through ground enquiries and CCTV images, the police said.

The teenager is currently assisting with investigations."

Hyrox Youngstars for children aged 8 to 15 to make Asian debut in Singapore this November (7 October 2026)

"Hyrox Youngstars, a version of the popular fitness race for children aged eight to 15, will make its Asian debut in Singapore this November. Following races in cities like Amsterdam and London, Hyrox Youngstars will take place at Singapore Expo from Nov 28 to 29.

The competition is split into four age-specific categories, each further divided by biological gender: eight to nine years old; 10 to 11 years old; 12 to 13 years old; and 14 to 15 years old.

Like the original Hyrox competition for adults, Hyrox Youngstars features eight exercise stations adapted to the different age groups. These include the SkiErg, sled push, lunges and more.

However, the total running distance varies depending on the participant's age group. The full rulebook is available on this website.

Registration for Hyrox Youngstars in Singapore will open on Thursday (Oct 8) on this website.

No transition period for changes to P1 registration taking effect from 2027: Desmond Lee (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Changes to the Primary 1 registration framework will go ahead from 2027 without a transition period, despite calls from several Members of Parliament (MPs) to give families more time to adjust.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday (Oct 7), Education Minister Desmond Lee said: “On implementation timing, we recognise that on one hand, some families have made residential arrangements based on the existing framework.

“But on the other hand, more families would benefit the sooner we implement the changes. In fact, some have asked why we did not make these changes earlier for the 2026 Primary 1 registration exercise.”

Mr Lee was responding to parliamentary questions filed by MPs calling for a transition period. The MPs pointed out that some families may have already made significant decisions on where to live, childcare and schooling based on the existing registration rules."

49 schools to get new principals in 2027 (7 October 2026)

"SINGAPORE: Forty-nine schools will have new principals as part of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) annual appointment and rotation exercise.

Of these, 13 are newly appointed principals, MOE said in a press release on Wednesday (Oct 7).

The 49 schools comprise one junior college, 15 secondary schools and 33 primary schools.

"The appointment and rotation of principals allow schools to benefit from new perspectives and ideas, and enable experienced school leaders to share expertise and best practices across schools," said MOE.

"Through these appointments, principals will broaden their leadership experience and strengthen the schools they are entrusted to lead."

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