askST: Does it make sense to take an AI-related degree given the rapid technological changes? (11 March 2024)

"Q: My child is keen to take a degree in artificial intelligence (AI), but I’m concerned about the speed at which the technology is advancing. Will his degree still be relevant after he graduates?

AI is evolving at a staggering pace and could impact over 300 million jobs worldwide, says a 2023 report by US-based investment bank Goldman Sachs."

LINK



SUTD announces new president to drive greater innovation in design and technology (11 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE - The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will welcome a new president in August 2024 as part of a new strategy to raise its standing as a leader in design and technology education.

Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, who is currently provost, will take over the role of president from Professor Chong Tow Chong on Aug 1. Prof Chong, an electrical engineer by training, will continue to teach as a professor in the university."

LINK



Bond-free Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship open for application till April 30 (11 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Singaporeans whose monthly household income is $5,000 or below can now apply for a bond-free scholarship to pursue full-time language, linguistic and humanities degree courses at Singapore universities.

The Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship is open for applications from now until April 30."

LINK



Lawyer struck off for not disclosing plagiarism; fellow NUS grad who came clean called to the Bar (13 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Two National University of Singapore (NUS) law graduates, who were caught for plagiarism in the same examination while they were undergraduates, took different paths when they applied to be admitted to the Bar in 2023.

One fully disclosed her wrongdoing in her admission application, while the other did not."

LINK



Former dean of NUS and prominent political scientist K.J. Ratnam dies at 88 (14 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – The former dean and head of political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Professor Emeritus Datuk K.J. Ratnam, died on March 10. He was 88.

NUS announced his death on its website on March 13, describing Prof Ratnam as a distinguished political scientist, educator and scholar."

LINK



Screening tool for autism effective in detecting condition earlier in children: Study (14 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – A new study has shown the effectiveness of a screening tool in early detection of autism in primary care settings, allowing for earlier interventions for young children with the condition.

The large-scale study, which was conducted between August 2020 and November 2022, involved 5,336 children between the ages of 17 months and 20 months."

LINK



NTU taking part in two international motor racing events in 2024 (15 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is revving up for two international motor racing events taking place within months of each other in 2024.

On April 27, an autonomous race taking place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit will feature a Formula Three car running on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms programmed by NTU."

LINK



Long wait for subsidised support pushes parents of kids with developmental needs to private sector (16 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Mr Chye Kiat Keng first suspected his son, Bob, had autism spectrum disorder because the boy could not walk or talk when he was 1½ years old.

“He wasn’t interested in class at all,” recounted the 49-year-old, who is in the private education sector. “We didn’t know why... whether he was purely not interested or if he didn’t understand.”

LINK



Dropping out of medical school? Deciding on poly or JC? Exam stress? A Reddit forum can help (16 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – For more than 200,000 young Singaporeans, a unique online sanctuary has emerged for them to discuss their innermost thoughts on everything from examination stress to mental health to career anxieties.

Started in 2017, this online community known as /r/SGExams exists as a forum on the social media platform Reddit and is run entirely by seven youth volunteers aged between 17 and 25."

LINK



Minor Issues: Learn empathy by experiencing what it is like to be different (17 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.

The quote, usually attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius, applies well to being more empathetic to others, especially those with disabilities or special needs."

LINK



Fun With Kids: Inflatable water park in Sentosa, Earth Hour Festival, free book about horses (17 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.

Splashtopia inflatable water park

Get respite from the hot weather at Splashtopia inflatable water park, which runs until March 31 at Palawan Green in Sentosa."

LINK



AskST: What do you need to apply for the new University of the Arts? What are the career prospects? (17 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – The first university to focus on the arts in Singapore will take in its inaugural batch of students in August.

Applications for the University of the Arts (UAS) opened on Oct 2, 2023, and will close on March 31."

LINK



Books will endure, for readers will ensure it (17 March 2024)

"The afternoon is in December, the steak is fine, the moment is unforgettable. The writer is educating the journalist. Gracefully. Wisely. Kindly. Inadvertently. I’m at lunch with the delightful Ovidia Yu, the celebrated Singapore author, and in conversation she politely asks if I have ever written fiction.

“Two pages,” I glumly say."

LINK



Extreme heat affects men’s fertility and birth outcomes: NUS study (18 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Punishing hot weather affects not only a person’s health or work productivity but also affects couples’ fertility and birth outcomes, a project by the National University of Singapore (NUS) found.

Rising temperatures could further reduce Singapore’s resident total fertility rate, which dipped below 1 – a record low – in 2023. The rate refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years."

LINK



NTU scientist admits sending messages to arrange for commercial sex with children (18 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – A scientist from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) sent messages to foreign mobile phone numbers in 2019 and 2020 in an attempt to arrange for commercial sex with children as young as 12 years old.

Jason Scott Herrin, 49, a principal research fellow at NTU at the time of the offences, was also found to have 31 obscene films and 90 photographs of child abuse after his phone was seized in August 2020."

LINK



Sec 3 students invited to attend NDP National Education shows after missing out due to Covid-19 (18 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE – Students who were unable to attend National Day Parade (NDP) National Education (NE) shows due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be invited to the shows in 2024 and 2025.

This applies to current Secondary 3 students in Ministry of Education (MOE) institutions, as well as those who will be in Sec 3 in 2025, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on March 18."

LINK







Game on at the National School Games (7 February 2024)

"As the cauldron is set ablaze, the National School Games 2024 kicks off. The stage is set for more than 65,000 student-athletes to represent their schools across 29 sports. Let’s meet some of them at the opening ceremony.

By Arielene Wee

The National School Games (NSG) 2024 kicked off on 30 January 2024, with more than 65,000 student-athletes representing their schools across 29 sports.

A new Pool and League competition format has been introduced this year, providing more playing opportunities for student-athletes. In several team sports such as badminton, football and hockey, student-athletes will play at least six matches - compared to the traditional competition format where they could be eliminated after the first round of competition. This allows teams of comparable abilities to play in the same pool, and provides a positive competitive and learning experience for participating student-athletes.

Punggol Green Primary School’s badminton athlete Koh Jun Chen Nicholas Junior is excited about the new format. “We get more exposure, and it lets us have a more fun time during the competition with more chances to play,” says the Primary 6 student."

LINK



Meet the Student Welfare Officers who ‘remove barriers’ for those who find it hard to attend school (20 February 2024)

"Students who come from difficult backgrounds may need more help to thrive at school. SWOs help to spot those at risk and connect them with the right support, so they’re back at school. Schoolbag takes an inside look at the impact of this group of MOE officers, how they reduce absenteeism, and how they reach out to students and families in need.

By Lim Jun Kang

A typical morning for Student Welfare Officer (SWO) Ng Yi Jie involves monitoring student attendance for the day.

It sounds simple enough but she takes the duty seriously.

What may look like a minor issue, of a child not showing up for school for a day, could be the tip of an iceberg, says the SWO at Zhangde Primary School.

“We can’t just say it’s fine because it’s only one or two days,” says Ms Ng. “We want to prevent these ‘one-off’ incidents from escalating into something more serious.”

She works with class teachers and Year Heads to better understand the student’s situation. If there are hints of deeper issues, and a phone call to the parents isn’t enough, the school’s Home Visit Squad is activated. A name coined by the school, the Squad comprises school leaders, Head of Departments, school counsellors, and Ms Ng. They conduct home visits in small groups to ensure the student’s well-being, and to stem any potential slide into long-term absenteeism."

LINK



Total Defence Day: Are our students ready for national disruptions? (22 February 2024)

"Our schools were part of over 500 organisations that participated in Exercise SG Ready, Singapore’s first island-wide Total Defence exercise. Students went through simulated shortages of food, power and water. Let’s hear more about their experiences.

By Arielene Wee

Schools across the country commemorated 40 years of Total Defence Day on 15 and 16 February 2024 by participating in the inaugural Exercise SG Ready, which simulated disruptions of food, power and water supply.

These disruptions, which could stem from various sources like cyberattacks, geopolitical tensions or even natural disasters, relay the importance of our six pillars of Total Defence: Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defence.

Our schools were part of over 500 organisations that participated in Exercise SG Ready, Singapore’s first island-wide Total Defence exercise. Held between 15-29 February 2024, the full exercise, known in short as TD40, also simulated disruptions such as disinformation campaigns, phishing, and drone attacks.

This year’s campaign, “Together We Keep Singapore Strong”, emphasises the many ways that Singaporeans can put Total Defence into action in our everyday lives."

LINK



Our school, our family, our village (6 March 2024)

"When the A-Level results were released recently, we spoke to three St Andrew’s Junior College graduates to hear about who and what defined their JC years. One common thread emerges: Their journeys are marked by gratitude and personal growth.

By Arielene Wee

“I transferred from the Science stream to the Arts stream halfway through JC1, because I realised Arts subjects are what I’m really interested in. I ended up having to repeat JC1, but it was what I wanted to do.”

Max Lim had transferred from the Science stream to the Arts stream, and found support and camaraderie with peers who also were repeating a year. “We encouraged each other, and I really enjoyed what I was studying.” With a renewed interest in school, Max even joined the Literary and Debate Society CCA on his friend’s recommendation.

For now, Max has yet to decide on a university major, but he is taking his time to consider his pathways. “I will not go in headfirst without knowing what I’m interested in this time,” he laughs."

LINK



When more hands-on learning unlocked his passion for programming (6 March 2024)

"He calls his time at Crest Secondary School “life-changing”. Find out how the school for G1 students fit Soh Shi Yong to a tee, giving him a post-PSLE experience that has taken him to polytechnic and beyond. What’s in store? He has plans for a degree and career in the IT sector.

By Arielene Wee

After receiving his PSLE results, 23-year-old Soh Shi Yong recalls feeling disappointed. He was assigned to the Normal (Technical) stream, but he felt he could have done better.

It was then that his teachers introduced him to Crest Secondary School, the first of a new kind of school started in 2013. Called a Specialised School for Normal (Technical) students (SSNT), it offered a customised Secondary 1 to 4 curriculum that integrated academic learning and vocational training.

Crest was later joined by Spectra Secondary School as Singapore’s second SSNT, and with the introduction of Full Subject-based Banding and the removal of streams in 2024, the two schools now take in G1 students.

The Crest way of practice-oriented learning with industrial attachments sounded interesting, so Shi Yong decided to visit its Open House. There, he found himself attracted to the curriculum it offered.

Shi Yong recalls, “It gave off a very lively atmosphere. There were classrooms designed like Home-Fix and Giant to teach merchandising, workshops with bench drills and vices for mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and plumbing. All these technical things really interested me.”

He also a met a teacher, Mr Derek Loh, at the Open House, whose words motivated Shi Yong and inspired him to see beyond his grades."

LINK



“I never felt like I didn’t have enough, or that I was less than anyone” (6 March 2024)

"Shannon Chan is grateful for the financial assistance and school programmes that ensured she could enjoy school without worry. But when her family’s struggles mounted, she succumbed to personal challenges. Find out how this gutsy girl, now a Psychology undergrad, pulled through with the help of her teachers and a community mental health service. Her message? Don’t be afraid to seek help.

By Lee Qing Ping

Singapore Management University undergrad Shannon Chan has been a beneficiary of the Financial Assistance Scheme and various school bursaries from her days in Woodlands Ring Primary till when she graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).

The schemes covered her for her essentials, while her learning needs and activities were covered by day-to-day life at school.

She’d attend supplementary classes for her areas of her studies she was weak at, and her CCAs filled her time well.

She grooved to hip-hop in her Modern Dance CCA at primary school. At secondary school, she picked up lifesaving skills through Red Cross Youth CCA, and in poly, grew public-speaking chops as President of the Civil Defence Lionhearters Club.

“I never felt like I didn’t have enough, or that I was less than anyone. If I wanted something, I worked hard to get it,” she says."

LINK



Lights, camera, reaction: How Ajoomma filmmaker’s trip to the Oscars started with grandma (6 March 2024)

"A visit to a film set where his grandmother had a bit part set him on the path to filmmaking. Along the way, Mr He Shuming found wisdom in three teachers, an arts education, and his mum. She was the inspiration for the lead character in Ajoomma, his debut movie nominated for numerous awards.

Mr He Shuming remembers vividly the day of his A-level English Literature exam 20 years ago – and it has nothing to do with how he fared. As soon as he was released from the exam hall, he rushed to meet his grandmother, who was attending a casting call for a bit role.

This was for the 2005 homegrown horror film, The Maid.

“When she got cast as a ghost, I also followed her to the shoot,” recalls the 38-year-old filmmaker, eyes dreamy at the memory. “It was my first time on a film set, and accompanying my grandmother that day opened my eyes to the filmmaking industry,” he says. Watching the crew work harmoniously to nail down a scene energised him. “It solidified my desire to work in the industry,” he shares.

The diehard cinephile, who used to spend his pocket money on movie tickets and DVD rentals, never wavered in his ambition.

Today, he is best known as the director of the critically acclaimed 2022 film, Ajoomma, which was nominated for four Golden Horse awards. The movie stars veteran local actress Hong Huifang as a K-drama-obsessed widow who goes on a journey of self-discovery in South Korea."

LINK



Five love languages in action: How five parents show love for their school-going children (7 March 2024)

"Schoolbag sits down with five Parent Support Group members after a workshop on the popular Five Love Languages, and ask how they tailor the ways they show love based on their kids’ love languages. From writing notes of encouragement to playing their favourite sport with them, see if any of these tips resonate with you.

By Sabrina Lee

Forty members of Parent Support Groups (PSGs) from various schools replaced their usual Saturday morning routines with a workshop on the Five Love Languages.

This workshop centred on the concept of how signs of love are generally expressed in five ways: physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time and receiving gifts. Attendees were taught to examine how their children may prefer to express and perceive love, and how parents can show love in a way that the child understands best.

Attendees, made up mainly of PSG leaders, also learnt how to facilitate workshops that teach the love languages. The workshop was organised by the Community and Parents in Support of Schools (COMPASS). Made up of PSG leaders, educators, and others, COMPASS meets regularly to explore ways to enhance children’s learning and growth both at school and home.

Curious to find out what the most common love languages are among children? We asked five PSG attendees to share their child’s primary love language and how they apply this knowledge to boost their child’s well-being and school experience."

LINK



MOE Committee of Supply 2024 Highlights (13 March 2024)

"Singaporeans desire to build a nation where no one gets left behind, where every student has a path to pursue their dreams, no matter their starting point. How do we build such a Singapore?

At the recent Committee of Supply Debate as part of Budget 2024, the Ministry of Education announced initiatives to lift up those in need, celebrate diversity, and encourage Singaporeans to keep learning for a lifetime.

To prepare our next generation to learn for life, we must re-envision education as…

a. A continuing journey, where we learn not just in the first 15 years of school, but throughout the next 50 years of our lives;

b. A celebration of strengths, where we appreciate a diversity of talent in society; and

c. A collective effort, where students learn in schools, classrooms and beyond – from the physical community and society to the virtual world.

Here’s an overview of MOE’s latest support measures for Singaporeans this year."

LINK







Open for Nominations: Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award 2024 (2 February 2024)

"From 2 February to 1 April 2024, students, educators, parents, and members of the public are invited to nominate outstanding Malay Language teachers for the Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award (AGAB) 2024."

LINK



Release of 2023 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Results on 23 February 2024 (16 February 2024)

"The results of the 2023 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) examination will be released on Friday, 23 February 2024, 2.30pm."

LINK



All Schools to Benefit from Increased Capacity at New Outdoor Adventure Learning Centres (23 February 2024)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will be consolidating eight outdoor adventure education sites to four locations, which will allow all schools to conduct upper primary and lower secondary cohort camps at these sites. Together, these four locations are projected to fully meet the camping needs of some 100,000 students participating in cohort camps and uniformed group programmes each year, from 2032 onwards."

LINK



Release of the 2023 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Results (23 February 2024)

"Candidates who sat for the 2023 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) examination received their results from their schools today."

LINK



MOE's Response to Queries on CCE Lessons on the Israel-Hamas Conflict (23 February 2024)

"The Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum supports the holistic development of our students, including the development of their values, social-emotional well-being, and citizenship dispositions. CCE lessons include discussions on a range of contemporary issues such as mental wellbeing, casual racism, as well as global events like the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas conflict."

LINK



Infosheet 1: ITE Progression Award (4 March 2024)

"The ITE Progression Award (IPA) supports ITE graduates to upskill to a diploma earlier in their careers, to secure more progression prospects in their chosen professions."

LINK



Infosheet 2: Full SBB-related changes on SEC examination timetable, Polytechnic Year 1 admission criteria (4 March 2024)

"Changes to Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examination table

Please refer to Figure A for the comparison between the current GCE N(T)/N(A) and O-Level examination timetable, and SEC examination timetable which will be implemented from 2027."

LINK



Infosheet 3: Enhancements to SPED sector (4 March 2024)

"Enhancing Affordability and Quality of Special Education (SPED)

To reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), MOE will work closely with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to lower monthly fees in nine SPED schools serving students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Multiple Disabilities (MD) charging higher fees by mid-2025. "

LINK



Future of Learning: Empowering Contributors to Build a Better Tomorrow (4 March 2024)

"At this year's Committee of Supply debate, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced measures to deepen the culture of lifelong learning in Singapore, develop students holistically to maximise their potential, and support learners with different learning needs."

LINK



New SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme to Boost Mid-Career Upskilling and Reskilling (4 March 2024)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE), together with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), will jointly introduce the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (SFLP) to better support mid-career Singaporeans, aged 40 and above, in the pursuit of a substantive skills reboot."

LINK







Former Kinderland Sunshine Place preschool teacher given conditional warning for pushing child; operator fined S$5,000 (20 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — A former educator at Kinderland @ Sunshine Place has been given a 12-month conditional warning by the police following investigations into a video that showed her pushing a child.

Kinderland was fined S$5,000 for the incident at the Sunshine Place branch, which is in Choa Chu Kang. Its licence tenure has also been shortened from 36 to six months, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) on Tuesday (Feb 20).

The teacher, previously identified as educator C by Kinderland, was seen "forcefully pushing" a three-year-old child in April 2022."

LINK



Fewer graduates found work 6 months after leaving university in 2023, but median salary up slightly: Survey (22 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — The proportion of university graduates who found employment within six months of taking their final exams dropped to 89.6 per cent in 2023 from 93.8 per cent the year before.

This is according to the results of the annual Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey released on Thursday (Feb 22).

The median gross monthly salary among fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment rose slightly, however, increasing by 2.7 per cent to S$4,313 from S$4,200 in 2022. The figure rose by 10.5 per cent between 2021 and 2022."

LINK



To complete A-Levels, students beat odds such as dad's sudden death, repeating 1st year of junior college (23 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Even though he had to repeat his first year of junior college after switching from the science stream to the arts stream, 20-year-old Max Lim Zhen Jie was pleased with his final results, including several As and a distinction for his General Paper (GP).

Mr Lim, who is now serving his time in National Service, returned to St Andrew's Junior College where he finally received his results after three years in junior college instead of the typical two.

While he still needs to complete his time with the army, Mr Lim is excited to embark on the next chapter of his life — enrolling in university to study a humanities-related major that might carve a career path related to his favourite subject, history."

LINK



Teachers don't impose personal views, advocate for any party in school lessons about Israel-Hamas war: MOE (24 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Responding to some concerns online about what schools are teaching on the Israel-Hamas war, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that teachers do not impose their personal views, "nor do they advocate for the interests of any particular parties involved in the conflict".

For younger students, the lessons hone in on empathy for the victims of the conflict, while lessons for older students also focus on verification of information sources and appreciating diversity in perspectives, the ministry said on Friday (Feb 23) in response to TODAY’s queries.

Its statement came after numerous posts began circulating on social media channels on Friday, voicing concerns over what schools are teaching students about the conflict in Gaza."

LINK



MOE lessons on Israel-Hamas war aim to help students reflect on safeguarding cohesion, respecting diverse views: Chan Chun Sing (25 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons on the Israel-Hamas conflict are designed to help students reflect on how to safeguard cohesion and harmony in a multiracial society.

These lessons also aim to help students understand their own emotions and empathise with others, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Sunday (Feb 25) in an interview.

Mr Chan’s remarks come after concerns arose online this week about what schools are teaching students about the conflict in Gaza."

LINK



In full: Chan Chun Sing responds to questions in interview on MOE's CCE lessons on Israel-Hamas conflict (25 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Why does the Ministry of Education (MOE) have lessons on the Israel-Hamas conflict?

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Sunday (Feb 25) explained the importance of these Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons and elaborated on how the materials were curated.

He also addressed questions about teachers who may feel conflicted by the subject matter as it may go against their personal beliefs, as well as whether the ministry would consider an opt-out option for parents who do not feel comfortable letting their children participate."

LINK



Gen Y Speaks: Hustling too hard led me to burn out at 26. Now I know there's no prize for being 'the busy one' (25 February 2024)

"Growing up, my parents were loving but demanding.

My father was a private tutor who had quit his full-time job in the optical industry so that he would have more time for us. Every night, after giving tuition, he would tend to our homework. During exam periods, we would have daily intense revision sessions with him.

My homemaker mum is a perfectionist who took excellent care of our home and was always on top of our studies. Upon receiving our exam results, she would always sit down with us to go through our wrong answers, instructing us to try again until we got them right."

LINK



Parents with self-control, who don't use harsh punishments tend to have emotionally resilient kids: NUS study (27 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Parents who exercise more self-control and face less financial stress tend to use less harsh punishments with their children, a National University of Singapore (NUS) study has found.

As a result, their children are more emotionally resilient and “mentally empowered”, especially in times of adversity such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

The research paper also showed that children who lived in “safer”, tight-knit neighbourhoods built resilience and had reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety at times of adversity."

LINK



Ex-Kinderland teacher faces fresh charges over ill-treatment of 3 more preschool children (28 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — A former Kinderland teacher was on Wednesday (Feb 28) handed three more charges for allegedly ill-treating preschool children.

Lin Min, 34, was also charged with using criminal force on two counts.

These charges involve three children."

LINK



NUS assistant professor charged with drug offences, including having vape device with Class A controlled drug (29 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — An assistant professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was charged with vape and drug offences on Tuesday (Feb 27).

Jevdic Dorde, 39, has been suspended from work since August 2023, a spokesperson from NUS told CNA on Thursday.

The Serbian national was handed three charges: For consuming a cannabinol derivative called 11-Nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid around early August 2023; for possessing drug utensils at a unit in Clementi Road on Aug 4, 2023; and for possessing a vape device containing a cannabinol derivative in the form of tetrahydrocannabinol."

LINK



Singapore schools to include anti-drug content in more subjects, amid rise in young abusers (29 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — With an increasing number of new drug abusers below the age of 30 in Singapore, students will begin learning about the dangers of drugs through more subjects in school, announced Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam on Thursday (Feb 29).

While anti-drug content is already taught in character and citizenship education (CCE) and science lessons, he said it will be extended to other subjects. This includes General Paper, which was recently made compulsory for students in junior colleges and Millennia Institute.

Starting this year, Singapore will also declare an annual day to remember the victims of the "lucrative" drug trade, including abusers and their loved ones."

LINK



Three preschool employees suspended after children allegedly locked in dark room (29 February 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Three employees at a preschool have been suspended following allegations of child mismanagement, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said on Thursday (Feb 29).

A parent and the preschool in Seletar both made reports to ECDA on Monday. CNA is not naming the preschool in accordance with the Children and Young Persons Act.

The agency said it has started investigations, including an unannounced visit to the preschool, a review of closed-circuit television footage, interviews and verification of records."

LINK



Commentary: Checking your child's devices vs giving them 'phone privacy'? Here's how to balance the two (1 March 2024)

"Smartphone ownership among younger children is increasing rapidly. Many primary school children now own smartphones and they have become the norm in secondary school.

Parents of younger children may occasionally (or routinely) look at their child’s phone to check it’s being used responsibly and safely.

But as children mature into teens, parental inspections will likely feel like an invasion of privacy. Many would not ask for a secondary schooler’s diary, yet phones hold even more personal information."

LINK



Changes to polytechnic year 1 admission criteria, secondary school graduating exams (1 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — From the 2028 intake, students applying to enter polytechnic in the first year will do so under amended admissions criteria, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said.

Currently, students must offer five G3 (or O-Level equivalent) subjects, computed into an ELR2B2 aggregate score. This refers to the grades obtained for English language (EL), two subjects relevant (R) to their polytechnic course choice, and the two best (B) subjects where they obtained the next highest scores.

Under the amended admission criteria from 2028, students will be able to offer one (B) subject taken at either the G2 or G3 level, in their aggregate score."

LINK



100 AI-related scholarships to be awarded over next 3 years as S'pore looks to nurture local talent (1 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — As part of efforts to nurture artificial intelligence (AI) talent here, the Government will be giving out 100 AI-related scholarships to Singaporean students over the next three years, to pursue AI and related undergraduate, master's and PhD courses in top universities.

This is an expansion of the existing SG Digital Scholarship programme, which supports students undertaking technology and media courses.

The Government will also facilitate access to overseas internships in AI-related roles, said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo in Parliament on Friday (March 1)."

LINK



One-time govt funding in 2024 for more ITE graduates to upskill; alumni say good move since 'diploma not cheap' (2 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — In a one-time arrangement this year, a new Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Progression Award would be extended to two more groups of Singaporean ITE graduates, to encourage them to upskill by taking up diploma courses.

This was detailed in an information sheet distributed to the media by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Friday (March 1), to elaborate on what was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Budget 2024 statement on Feb 16."

LINK



'Noble, patient, inspiring': Eugene Wijeysingha, ex-headmaster of Raffles Institution and education visionary, dies aged 90 (3 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Eugene Wijeysingha, the former headmaster of Raffles Institution (RI), has died at age 90.

Wijeysingha, whose career in education spans 35 years, served as RI principal from 1986 to 1994.

The institution said he played a pivotal role in leading the school to independence and coordinated the school's relocation to the Bishan campus in 1990."

LINK



Lessons on Israel-Hamas conflict will be further customised for different age groups, teachers to get more support: Chan Chun Sing (4 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Lessons on the Israel-Hamas conflict that are taught during Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) classes will be further customised for different age groups of students, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing said on Monday (March 4), adding that teachers will get more support.

For younger students, the lesson material will be further simplified, focusing on sensitising them to the plight of innocent victims, Mr Chan said in parliament.

This will teach them how to express sympathy for and empathise with others, and how to manage their emotions regarding the conflict, he added."

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Online misrepresentation of MOE lessons on Israel-Hamas war led to abuse towards teachers, potential 'external interference' involved: Chan Chun Sing (4 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — The recent online uproar about the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lesson package on the Israel-Hamas conflict has led to some teachers being abused and highlights how damaging online misrepresentation can be, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Speaking on Monday (March 4) during a debate on his ministry’s spending, Mr Chan also cautioned against “potential external interference” from parties with an agenda to undermine Singapore’s cohesion.

Mr Chan’s response came after numerous posts began circulating on social media channels late last month, voicing concerns over what schools are teaching students about the conflict in Gaza."

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Higher starting pay, more development opportunities for special education teachers (4 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — The starting salaries for special education (Sped) classroom teachers and teacher aides will be raised from this year, and more opportunities for professional development will also be extended to them, Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman said in Parliament.

These will be done to “enhance the attractiveness” of the Sped teaching profession and to strengthen Sped teachers’ capabilities, Dr Maliki said on Monday (March 4) during a debate on the spending plans of the Ministry of Education (MOE)."

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Police probe posters put up in NTU toilet claiming university funding Israel in Gaza war (5 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Police are investigating after receiving a report over posters that were put up in Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) toilets claiming that the university is using school fees to fund Israel in the war in Gaza.

The top of the poster reads: “Applying to NTU? Your school fees is funding the genocide in Palestine.”

The poster also details various ways NTU is allegedly funding Israel, such as its collaboration with French multinational company Thales, which has a joint research laboratory with the university and the French National Centre for Scientific Research."

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Childminding service for infants up to 18 months old to be launched under 3-year pilot: MSF (6 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — A new infant childminding service will be introduced in the second half of this year to provide parents with an affordable and reliable alternative caregiving option.

This will be run as a three-year pilot at first, and will be for children aged two to 18 months.

The move came while the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is looking at ways to provide stronger caregiving support for parents of infants, Ms Sun Xueling said."

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Gen Zen: Feeling tired even after taking a break? Don't just sit on a couch all day (11 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — As a 34-year-old, I will soon be celebrating a full decade in the workforce and I have thus become unusually reflective of late. I have come to a stark realisation about myself: I do not know how to rest properly, even when I am given time away from work to do so.

Sure, I have had days off and taken leave from work, all in the pursuit of this concept of rest. What I end up doing is to use these periods to sleep more or sit in front of a television screen to while away the hours.

And after all these supposed breathers, I somehow do not feel recharged. At times, I return to work wishing that I had spent the free time doing something else instead."

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Law graduate called to Bar after confessing to plagiarism pledges to 'justify the faith' placed in her (14 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — A law graduate who was called to the Bar after a five-month deferment for having plagiarised during an examination and lying about it later, said that she will focus on justifying the faith placed in her by the law fraternity and to "make everyone proud".

The comments by Ms Stasia Ong Pei Qi on Thursday (March 14) came after Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon's decision on Feb 27 to admit her as an advocate and solicitor.

He had determined that she was "a fit and proper person" and had "sufficiently demonstrated that she had learned from her past misconduct"."

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Some polyclinics adopt autism screening tool to help early detection in toddlers (15 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — Some polyclinics in Singapore are adopting an international screening tool to help in the early detection of autism in young children in primary care settings.

A new study, involving 5,336 toddlers between the ages of 17 months and 20 months, showed the tool is more than 80 per cent accurate in determining if a child could be on the spectrum.

Early detection of the condition leads to intervention at a younger age, which is key to improving the effectiveness of treatment and overall quality of life, said doctors."

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Ex-NTU researcher pleads guilty to possessing child abuse material, asking to have sex with 12-year-old girls (18 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — A researcher at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who had obscene photos of children and had offered money to have sex with young girls was exposed when the authorities seized his phone over a separate matter.

The phone of Jason Scott Herrin contained 90 photos of children being sexually abused and 31 obscene films.

The 49-year-old American, who has since been fired by the university, was also revealed to have told others to find children for him for the purposes of paid sexual services."

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Secondary 3 students invited to NDP National Education shows after missing out due to Covid-19 curbs (18 March 2024)

"SINGAPORE — All Secondary 3 students at MOE schools will get to watch the National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show this year, as they were unable to do so when they were in Primary 5 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Those who will be in Secondary 3 next year will similarly be invited to the NDP National Education Show in 2025, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a news release on Monday (March 18).

Primary 5 students are usually given the opportunity to attend a National Education Show, which gives a preview of the National Day Parade."

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