TTSH to train TCM students from NTU on patient, integrative care (9 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – From 2027, junior doctors shadowing senior physicians on their rounds at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) will be joined by undergraduates studying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

They will be final-year students of the four-year Bachelor of Chinese Medicine programme at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

The hospital is joining forces with the university to combine western treatments with eastern therapies in exploring the role of TCM as a complementary modality."

Scholarships among several ground-led initiatives to help people of Palestine: Shanmugam (9 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE - An initiative that offers scholarships to study in Singapore is one of several ground-led efforts to help the people of Palestine, said Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

He met three recipients of the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative on Oct 9. Two of the Palestinians are pursuing postgraduate degrees at the Singapore University of Social Sciences and National University of Singapore (NUS), while the other is in an undergraduate programme at Singapore Institute of Management."

From a giant ‘squid’ to a T-rex: Science Centre’s biggest dino expo to open on Oct 11 (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – From Oct 11, visitors stepping into a hall at the Science Centre Singapore will be transported more than 400 million years into the past, when prehistoric creatures still roamed the planet.

Greeting guests at the entrance to the centre’s latest exhibition, Dinosaurs | Extinctions | Us, is a full-scale model of one of the top predators of the Ordovician period – the Endoceras, a shelled cephalopod similar to a modern squid, that can grow up to 5.7m.

That exhibit is bathed in a shimmering ocean-blue light in a reference to how the area north of the tropics was almost entirely ocean during that period, which began more than 480 million years ago."

Subscribing schools of ST’s Little Red Dot invited to explore Singapore Oceanarium in Big Day Out (10 October 2025)

"Dress up as a denizen of the sea, play games and solve a mystery to win prizes while exploring the new Singapore Oceanarium – this is what awaits upper primary pupils whose schools sign them up for an exclusive event this October.

The event, Big Day Out, is free for schools that subscribe to Little Red Dot, The Straits Times’ weekly publication for primary schools. Previous Big Day Out events have been held at locations such as the National Museum and ArtScience Museum.

This year, marking Little Red Dot’s 20th anniversary celebration, ST has partnered with Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa to bring this special experience to life. The event will be held on the morning of Oct 28."

New NUS Medicine research facility looks to slow down ageing (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A new facility for clinical trials looking into healthy ageing and the prevention of age-related diseases has opened at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

The 350 sq m centre supporting healthy longevity research has state-of-the art equipment to evaluate, among others, skin and scalp health.

A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Dexa) machine, which allows for a non-invasive assessment of bone mineral density and body composition, will arrive soon, said Professor Andrea B. Maier, director of the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, which was established around 1½ years ago."

New dean for Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy appointed (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Professor Joseph Liow Chinyong has been appointed the new dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), the National University of Singapore said on Oct 10.

He will start on Oct 15, taking over from Associate Professor Leong Ching, who has served as acting dean since July 1.

He will lead LKYSPP in “advancing its mission to develop future public leaders, contribute cutting-edge research, and engage with pressing policy challenges across Asia and beyond”, the university said."

Degree holders gain more as over 5 in 10 S’pore workers see significant changes at workplace: Report (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Degree holders are more likely to land jobs that require a high skill level and gain more pay than those without a degree, amid significant changes taking shape at workplaces.

According to the Jobs-Skills Insights Report released on Oct 10, 56 per cent of Singapore workers have reported more opportunities for job-related training and workplace learning as the workplace transforms.

However, degree holders benefit more from these opportunities, showing gains in skills use, pay and autonomy compared with non-degree holders, who saw minimal improvement. The report’s analysis found that not all degree holders are highly proficient in literacy and numeracy skills, and not all who are highly proficient in these skills hold degrees."

Singapore ranks 12th in global skills index, ramps up push for national skills-first approach (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE - Singapore ranked 12th out of 30 countries on a new global index measuring how prepared nations are to adopt skills-first practices.

The index evaluates how well countries integrate skills-based approaches into training, recognise and reward workers’ skills, and support a shift towards skills-based hiring and development.

The Skills-First Readiness and Adoption Index by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) scored countries based on 25 skill-related indicators."

Friends are often first responders to bullying victims, says Edwin Tong (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – The first responders to bullying cases are often the victim’s friends and peers, rather than counsellors or parents, so it is important for people to be able to recognise signs of bullying and listen to those who are struggling, said Minister for Law Edwin Tong.

When everyone is trained to do so, Singapore can become a nation of supporters and listeners that overcomes the stigma surrounding mental well-being issues, he added, speaking at the launch of a movement against bullying on Oct 10 at social impact space The Foundry.

The Take A Stand movement, led by youth charity Character and Leadership Academy, will roll out anti-bullying tools and train more peer supporters in the coming months. "

68% of S’pore youth open to changing jobs: SUSS study (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A recent study has found that 68 per cent of youth in Singapore are open, actively or passively, to new job opportunities.

Financial gain and job stability ranked as their top two priorities, while flexible work arrangements and work-life balance were also important, according to the study by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).

Results from the study on youth employment were released on Oct 10 during a media briefing held at A Good Place, a community hub at One Holland Village."

Rethinking talent: Lessons beyond the grading curve (11 October 2025)

"One story stays with me whenever the season of high-stakes exams returns to torment many in our nation – as it is doing so now. My daughter sat her PSLE several years ago. She was usually quite calm about such things: the sort who would shrug off and smile at the endless advice that poured in from well-meaning uncles and aunties.

But even she, a few nights before the start of exams, broke out in a cold sweat and found herself unable to sleep. For a child raised to take things in her stride, this was the first real taste of pressure; as a parent, it was a sobering glimpse of just how heavy the education system can feel in Singapore."

Singapore Polo Club raises funds for four beneficiaries including ST School Pocket Money Fund (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – The Singapore Polo Club (SPC) has kept up with the times and played an active role in Singapore while keeping the tradition of polo alive, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Oct 11.

The club, which was founded in 1886, has broadened to support the equestrian and sporting community here, and given back to the wider society through outreach initiatives, he said at the third edition of the SPC Outreach Polo Tournament and Carnival.

These include equine-assisted therapy, stable tours for the underprivileged and people with special needs, and raising funds for charity, he added."

Pre-school enrichment programme brings art classes to more kids from lower-income families (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – An enrichment programme for pre-schoolers has been expanded to allow more pupils and older children from lower-income families to develop their creativity through art and craft classes.

Run by Bright Horizons Fund, the charity arm of pre-school operator NTUC First Campus, the programme known as “You’ve Got Talent” was previously reserved for My First Skool pre-schoolers.

Under the expanded initiative, about 40 children aged between four and eight from Nanyang, Boon Lay and Taman Jurong attended the weekly sessions between July and October."

Education, central to Singapore’s progress, will evolve for the future: Ong Ye Kung (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Education has been central to Singapore’s progress as a nation, said Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung on Oct 11, describing it as “the most powerful social equaliser”.

“It allows every Singaporean to realise their potential regardless of background and nurtures them to contribute to family, community and country,” said Mr Ong, who is also Health Minister.

Malay/Muslim self-help group Yayasan Mendaki has been a steadfast champion of this cause, he said. He was speaking at the annual Anugerah Mendaki awards, held at the NUS University Cultural Centre where 529 students received awards."

Fostering teens: Couples make an impact on them before adulthood and show them ‘how to do family’ (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Unlike most parents, Mr Khairul Amin Zakaria is unbothered by the sounds of children quarrelling.

His foster daughter Siti (not her real name) joined his family in 2016 when she was nine years old. Mr Khairul, his wife and their four children tried to make Siti feel at ease in her new home, but the pieces fell in place only a year later.

“I was happy when the children started to quarrel. In the first year, Siti kept to herself. When they became comfortable enough with one another to argue, that, to us, was a good sign. We felt we had achieved something,” recalls Mr Khairul, a constituency director at the People’s Association."

Fostering teens: Couple’s daughters became foster sisters to two girls (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Mr Bob Chia and Ms Lee May Ling chose to foster a teen when their own children hit their late teens.

Their first foster child arrived at the age of 13, about four years ago. Their daughters were then 18 and 19 years old.

“We thought the age gap would not be too wide,” says Ms Lee, 52, an administrative manager in the construction industry. She hoped the children would be able to relate to one another better, compared with if they had fostered a baby instead.

Mr Chia, 52, a sales director in an IT services firm, adds: “The whole family is involved in fostering a child. Our girls could play a ‘jie jie’ (big sister in Chinese) role.”

Fostering teens: Former foster child can’t bear being separated from foster home (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – One of Mr Ahmad Ashrafiqri Kahar Muzakar’s fondest memories is of watching horror movies in the living room of his foster home.

During his teenage years, he would sometimes roll out mattresses, together with his foster parents, their children and two other foster children, and fall asleep in front of the television.

Mr Ashrafiqri, 25, was touched whenever his foster parents chose to sleep on the floor with the kids, forgoing their comfortable bed in their four-room HDB flat in Woodlands."

Fostering teens: Dealing with academic stress and a teen romance (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Mr Bhaskar Peri and Mrs Hema Peri find fostering a teenager an entirely different challenge from the other five children they have fostered over the last six years.

Mr Peri, an account manager in a technology firm, says: “It’s like starting a new adventure compared with caring for smaller kids. If you have been raising a child from a young age, you can gauge his or her reactions and moods.

“It may seem easier to care for teens because they know how to express themselves, unlike young kids, where you have to find out what they need. On the other hand, if teens don’t want to talk, they won’t.”

New task force to look at career development, effective use of AI for Malay/Muslim youth (11 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A task force to help develop the youth in the Malay/Muslim community, including identifying career development opportunities, was launched on Oct 11.

Announced in July, the task force is led by Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health Rahayu Mahzam and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

It will be supported by a joint secretariat comprising the People’s Association (PA) Malay Activity Executive Committees Council, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Mendaki and the National Youth Council."

‘I was a Kpod addict’: A vape user’s journey through addiction and rehab (12 October 2025)

"I started smoking cigarettes at the age of 17. By the time I was 20, I was smoking about one pack a day. In 2018, I started vaping to save money.

Back then, a vape cost about the same as a pack of cigarettes, but it lasted for about a month. I eventually vaped more than I smoked because I didn’t need to leave my house to vape.

In June 2024, my cousin’s girlfriend introduced me to Kpods. She told me: “This thing is stronger than cigarettes.”

‘I need him to apologise,’ says mum whose son attacked her while high on Kpods (12 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – She was close to her only child, a 27-year-old son, but his addiction to etomidate-laced vaporisers, or Kpods, damaged the relationship.

It got to a point where her son physically hurt her once when he was high and struggled with withdrawal.

Rose (not her real name), 56, then applied for a personal protection order against Ben (not his real name) because as a single parent with little family support, she was fearful that he would hurt her badly."

What does it truly mean to be a mother? (12 October 2025)

“You’ll never understand until you become a mother yourself,” my mother often told me.

As a headstrong teenager, being mothered meant fielding an endless volley of worries."

Minor Issues: Excited for my child as Singapore’s education pathways open up (12 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – As my youngest child approaches the end of her secondary school era, I feel optimistic about the next many years of her educational life, and those of the cohorts after her.

What I like most? That the education system is being tweaked to be more fluid and inclusive. I also like that it offers practical and forward-looking options."

Fun With Kids: Marina Bay Sands’ family deals, Giant Clam Calamity book, theatre show Brainstorm (12 October 2025)

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

Buy one ticket, get two free at MBS

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is dedicating the month of October to celebrating children. Till Oct 31, receive two free passes for your kids aged two to 12 when you buy an adult ticket to four selected experiences."

Curved lines, cosy vibes: Designing safe spaces for youth mental health (12 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Designing spaces for youth mental health or special needs is taking off in Singapore.

In the last two years, several such venues have been built or renovated."

ST School Pocket Money Fund receives $164k boost from financial advisory firm PFPFA (12 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) has been given a leg-up in its efforts to help children from lower-income families after a $164,000 donation from financial advisory firm PFPFA.

PFPFA presented a cheque for $100,000 to STSPMF at the firm’s annual charity night on Oct 11, a joint media statement on Oct 12 said. A further $64,000 was raised during the event."

All SIT students and alumni to receive career planning support (13 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Current students and graduates of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) can now receive career planning support through the newly launched Design Your Futures (DYF) programme.

Rolled out to all undergraduates in September, the programme uses design thinking approaches developed by Stanford University and futurist Verne Wheelwright in the US, which allow students to explore and plan their personal and career goals."

15-year-old among 5 caught vaping after HSA told of hot spots in Khatib, Yishun, Punggol (13 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE - Following reports from the public, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) identified vaping hot spots in Khatib, Yishun and Punggol and fined five people for vaping.

Aged between 15 and 37, they were caught vaping during joint enforcement operations from Oct 8 to 10 conducted by HSA and the National Environment Agency.

Among them was a 15-year-old girl who was caught in Punggol."

Will young teachers in Singapore last in an increasingly complex profession? (13 October 2025)

"When I was a novice teacher, I remember a head of department telling me that classroom teaching was the “bread and butter” of our profession. Thus, it would factor the most during our appraisal and performance ranking.

But teaching is such a small aspect of the job, and is increasingly getting smaller. The numbers say so."

Talent ‘for hire’: How firms can tap unicorn start-up’s initiative for AI-trained interns to help boost work efficiency (14 October 2025)

"For the last three years, enterprise orchestration platform Workato has been steadily growing Singapore’s artificial intelligence (AI) talent pool by providing training to polytechnic and university students.

On Sept 22, Workato officially launched the AI Institute Alliance with seven Institutes of Higher Learning: Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, National University of Singapore, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore University of Social Sciences and Temasek Polytechnic.

It is the company’s first AI Institute Alliance in the countries it operates. Headquartered in Palo Alto in Silicon Valley, with offices in the US, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and India, Workato considered Singapore a “natural choice” for the AI education-enterprise initiative."

How video games are shaping a generation of boys, for better and worse (14 October 2025)

"In the last decade and a half, boys and young men aged 15 to 24 more than doubled their average time spent gaming to about 10 hours a week, according to a major survey.

Some teachers say gaming has disrupted focus in classrooms. Some economists have linked it to the decline in young men’s work hours. Many readers told us it was a chief reason for the recent struggles of boys and young men."

Singapore Writers Festival: Check out these 14 events for families, foodies and more (15 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – The Singapore Writers Festival boasts on its website that it has more than 200 events. But good luck trying to find anything in the black hole of horror that is its unwieldy online calendar.

The Straits Times arts team has ploughed through the schedule and unearthed gems for a range of demographics, from families to hardcore readers.

There are picks for the science fiction-inclined, the history nerd, the poetry lover, the foodie and, yes, those who want to catch a glimpse of their favourite Singapore author."

Parents, don’t let the manosphere raise your child (15 October 2025)

"In my 17 years as a relationship counsellor and clinical sexologist, I’ve had parents arrive at my practice confused and frightened.

They’ve seen their teenage sons locking their bedroom doors, spending long stretches in the toilet or in front of mirrors. Or, they may have walked in on their sons watching porn."

Why competitive parents are driving down fertility rates (15 October 2025)

"In the debate about tumbling fertility levels, the high cost of raising children, delays in marriage, access to birth control, and the career aspirations of women are usually subjected to scrutiny. Even bulky and expensive car seats have been likened to a form of contraception.

But what about envy? The issue may not be so much the expense of rearing kids and giving them the best start in life, but perceptions of how you perform in that role relative to others."

Firm whose platform lets non-techies create AI apps among winners of Meta’s incubator programme (15 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – While creating artificial intelligence apps have long been viewed as an activity reserved for tech-savvy professionals, one company aims to change that by allowing anyone to do so just with a few clicks and natural language prompts.

Straits Interactive’s Capabara platform lets anyone create AI apps that can help to make their work more efficient or streamline operations. For instance, it can be used by teachers to create tutoring apps while consultants can create an app to practise their conversational skills.

The Singapore-based firm is one of three winners of tech giant Meta’s inaugural Llama Incubator Program, a six-month initiative that culminated in a demonstration day on Oct 15."

NUS Yusof Ishak House reopens as sustainable hub for students to gather and collaborate (15 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE - The National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yusof Ishak House has been refreshed to become an environmentally friendly hub for students, after a three-year renovation.

Much of its original 1977 structure, including staircases and arched roofs, has been retained to preserve the building’s heritage, as well as to reduce the environmental costs and construction waste that would result from a full rebuild.

The university aims for it to be a net-zero energy building that better serves students’ needs, with multipurpose study spaces and new food options."

31,000 more students to benefit from MOE financial support, bringing total to 133,000 (16 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE - About 31,000 more students will be eligible for financial help to defray their school expenses from 2026, after the Ministry of Education (MOE) raised the income eligibility cap of its financial assistance schemes.

In total, about 133,000 students are expected to receive MOE financial support each year, said MOE on Oct 16.

The gross household monthly income ceiling for the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme for government, government-aided and specialised schools will go up from $3,000 to $4,000. The per capita income ceiling will also be raised from $750 to $1,000."

More pre-schools to join programme to detect developmental needs in young children (16 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A programme that supports young children with developmental needs, as well as monitors their physical growth and dental health, will be expanded to more pre-schools from January 2026.

The Mission I’mPossible 2 initiative, which is funded by Lien Foundation with a budget of $5.9 million, has been working with 3,500 children from 16 PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots pre-schools in Sengkang and Punggol since 2022.

The plan is to eventually include all PCF Sparkletots pre-schools, which number close to 350."

Interior design boss loses $7,000 to bulk order scam while discussing deal on ‘school project’ (16 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A woman who thought she could earn $5,000 in commission within hours ended up losing $7,000 to a bulk order scam."

All Ms Christina Heng, a director of an interior design company, had to do was to transfer a $7,000 deposit to a “Malaysian supplier” for 60 mattresses. She was supposedly paying this deposit on behalf of “Dunman High School”."

A man claiming to be from the school had contacted her by phone, seemingly for renovation works in the school. The man, a “Mr Lee”, subsequently asked her to order the mattresses, which cost about $30,000, for the school.

After eventually paying the deposit via bank transfer, she waited for the school to transfer the $30,000 to her bank account. But this never happened."

Beware of scammers posing as educational institution staff asking for school fees: Police (17 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – Scam victims have lost at least $44,000 in three days to ruses involving the urgent payment of school fees, with the police warning the public to be careful of such rackets.

In a release on Oct 17, the police said since Oct 14, at least 15 cases were reported involving scams via e-mails that purportedly came from educational institutions."

Artificial intelligence in S’pore classrooms: How do we know it’s making a difference for teachers? (18 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive. Teachers in Singapore are among the world’s fastest adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) and, to be fair, they probably thought it would mean shorter working hours.

But this has not quite happened.

Three in four teachers here use AI tools to teach or support learning, according to the latest Teaching and Learning International Survey (Talis). They also clock an average of 47.3 hours a week – slightly higher than six years ago, and above the global average.

What AI has done is to reshape how teachers spend their working hours. Eight in 10 teachers say such tools help them plan lessons or automate administrative work, but the time saved often gets absorbed by other responsibilities – from verifying AI outputs to learning new systems to providing more personalised support for students."

TBR (To Be Read): Will South-east Asia ever win its first Nobel Prize in literature? (18 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – South-east Asia, with a population of over 700 million, has exactly zero Nobel laureates in literature out of the 122 awarded. Have no worthy writers come out of the region or are the prize’s opaque processes unfair, unadventurous, unenlightened and simply unbothered by a far-flung and variegated region?

The question of South-east Asia being the “odd one out” – every other region seems to have had its turn – bothered the late political scientist Benedict Anderson, who, in his 2012 essay The Unrewarded, laid out the capricious patterns of the prize’s distribution and South-east Asia’s uneasy position in the laurel line-up.

Anderson – who was fluent in Indonesian, Javanese, Thai and Tagalog – offered possible geopolitical explanations. “None of the national languages of South-east Asia has any transnational aura,” he wrote, citing how the creation of national languages had favoured powerful groups, disenfranchising others."

Singaporean NUS graduate soars to become aerialist in world’s largest water show (18 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – In the days leading up to her move to Macau in 2024 to work as an aerialist, Ms Megan Lau grappled with doubt.

As a philosophy, politics and economics graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS), the 24-year-old could not help but wonder if she was trading a secure future for a fleeting dream.

In her last year of university, she had applied on a whim to join the House Of Dancing Water, touted as the world’s largest water-based show, after seeing a casting advertisement online.

She was taken by surprise when she received a callback for auditions, and later an offer to join the cast."

$1,500 for lower-income families with PCF pre-schoolers to enhance home for living, learning (18 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE – A new initiative aiming to make homes more conducive for children to learn and thrive will provide 260 lower-income families with up to $1,500 for household appliances, as well as items that can be used for a child’s development.

Families can purchase items such as study tables or play areas, as well as appliances such as refrigerators or electric fans.

KidStart Sparkle Homes, which was launched on Oct 18, is open to families with at least one child registered with a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) pre-school.

The families must have been registered as a beneficiary with KidStart for at least eight months and be nominated by their practitioner – KidStart professionals trained in areas such as early childhood development."

‘It was like watching my own family on stage’ (2 September 2025)

"Sibling rivalry, bickering at dinner, caregiving woes – students watch familiar moments unfold, then shape what happens next. In Character and Citizenship Education, the Family Education Interactive Drama Programme is turning perspective-taking into practice; three schools reflect on how conversations and behaviours have shifted.

By Sabrina Lee

It started like any sibling argument: raised voices, bickering, then silence. But this quarrel wasn’t at home – it was centre stage at Hai Sing Catholic School’s school hall, where student Heather Chew leaned in, drawn into the “drama”.

“It felt like I was watching my own family in a play,” says Heather.

Drama that draws students in

That sense of recognition is exactly what educators are aiming for through the Family Education Interactive Drama Programme, jointly developed by MOE and Families for Life to support students’ learning in Character and Citizenship Education (CCE).

Schools such as Dunman Secondary, Juying Secondary and Hai Sing Catholic School are bringing Family Education to life through the Interactive Drama Programme, offered in both live and pre-recorded formats for lower secondary students.

In the live version, performers stage a play, pause at key moments, and invite students to step in with their views and responses. The pre-recorded version lets classes watch the performance on video, with students role-playing scenes and reimagining them in their own way.

In both formats, teachers connect the drama experience back to lessons, helping students reflect and apply the learning in meaningful ways."

The Little Things – Teachers’ Day 2025 (4 September 2025)

"What are some seemingly small, insignificant things our students do that teachers notice, treating every moment as a chance to bring out the best in them? This Teachers’ Day, we celebrate how our educators tap on every student’s quirk by listening and guiding them to realise their potential."

This accidental lecturer is poised to help students find their way (5 September 2025)

"Without an industry background in food science, Chemistry graduate Eric Kwek started from scratch as a lecturer, learning about the protocols, processes and partnerships that would benefit his students. That is exactly why the Senior Lecturer at Republic Polytechnic is good at preparing students for life after school — to show what can be achieved from ground up.

His unapologetically vibrant wardrobe catches the eye – a flash of personality that hints at his teaching style: open, distinctive, and quietly boundary-pushing. It’s more than just flair. It suggests a willingness to stand apart and to create space for others to do the same.

You start to understand that outlook better once you know where Mr Eric Kwek comes from. The Senior Lecturer at Republic Polytechnic’s School of Applied Science didn’t start his career as a teacher. After graduating with a degree in Chemistry, he was unsure of his next steps. He joined Republic Polytechnic as an administrative officer, overseeing timetables and curriculum operations, which also suited his strengths. “I like seeing how everything fits together,” he says. “There’s satisfaction in making sure things run smoothly.”

But what stayed with him weren’t the spreadsheets. It was the fleeting interactions with students: checking in, offering comfort, sensing when someone seemed off.

Born with an eyesight condition that made eye contact and social interaction challenging, he often second-guessed how he was perceived. “I used to avoid eye contact because I was afraid people would think I was being rude,” he shares. That self-consciousness, which had once dented his confidence, also gave him perspective – helping him better understand and support students who struggle in their own ways.

Who, me? A lecturer?

The idea of becoming a lecturer never crossed his mind – until he was invited to teach a Chemistry class, as part of a Republic Polytechnic initiative that gave non-teaching staff the opportunity to try classroom facilitation. The students responded well – but it was his own quiet excitement that surprised him most.

The experience lit a spark – one that made him realise he wanted to teach. Heartened, he embarked on a four-year part-time Master’s in Life Sciences while delicately balancing family and full-time work."

His ‘dual empathy’ approach helps students find their True North (5 September 2025)

"Mr Mario Goh’s students develop not one but two needles in their inner compass – one pointing them to know themselves and the second to understanding others. When they get their bearings right, everything – including grades, career choices, and relationships – will fall into place, says the lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Business & Accountancy.

When Mr Mario Goh approaches a problem, whether previously as an HR consultant, or today as a business lecturer and school adviser, one of the first questions he asks is, “What’s your pain point?”

Being able to define a problem with clarity and unabashed honesty is half the battle won, and not as easy as it sounds, says the Senior Manager for Student Development and Leadership at Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Business & Accountancy (BA).

This is why he has developed a series of frameworks and guiding principles to live by, across his years as an organisational psychologist and with over 15 years under his belt as a polytechnic lecturer.

These principles aren’t dense truths to be distilled, but are meant to be easy to apply like a life hack. One such principle is his philosophy of “dual empathy”, which he applies to both his teaching and mentoring sessions.

He explains, “Students need an inner compass made of two needles: self-empathy and empathy for the ‘other’.”

If they develop a good understanding of themselves, and of who the “other” party is and what they need, they will make better and more confident decisions. The “other” could refer to a project partner, client, society – anyone they are navigating with and need to show empathy for.

“By fostering dual empathy, students can navigate personal and workplace transformations and contribute meaningfully to society in a sustained and enduring way.”

This artist-lecturer designs hope and confidence in her students (5 September 2025)

"Ms Ng Wen Lei believes schools should be places of hope – like what Nanyang Polytechnic was to her when she was a student. Through gentle guidance and artistic insight, the Senior Manager at Nanyang Poly’s School of Design & Media helps students discover that creative confidence lies in believing they always have options.

Should schools be places that spell endless possibility? For Ms Ng Wen Lei, Senior Manager at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media, that question isn’t philosophical – it’s practical. And personal.

Years ago, when her A-level results fell short, she felt adrift. “I lost hope,” says Ms Ng. “Then how? Where to go? I despaired.” But flipping through a polytechnic brochure, she spotted a design course, and with nothing left to lose, enrolled in the course. At Nanyang Polytechnic, she found herself immersed in hands-on tools and technical skills. For the first time, she wasn’t just learning – she was making, designing, even taking on freelance projects.

“I realised I could do things. Make things. Earn from my skills,” she says. “It showed me that failure is not the end. There are always options.”

This belief – that creativity offers choices, and choices bring hope – now sits at the core of how she teaches.

“Creativity is having hope in options,” she says. “It means believing that one of many possible paths might work, and having the confidence to try.” It’s a mantra that doesn’t come from theory alone. It’s something Ms Ng has lived, and continues to practise as a lecturer.

Art meets education

Much of Ms Ng’s strength as an educator comes from the life she lived before returning to Nanyang Polytechnic to teach full-time. A practising artist and former artistic director of digital art programme Noise Metaverse, she spent years curating immersive digital experiences and experimenting with form, narrative, and audience engagement.

Her studio practice informs how she teaches: layering experiences, scaffolding discovery, and helping learners navigate the unfamiliar. “I borrow techniques from the art world and apply those methods to unpack creativity for students,” she explains. She’s especially drawn to the ways artists across history tried to be creative – not just what they made. “People think creativity is something you either have or don’t. I want my students to see that it’s a skill. It can be learnt.”

She tailors lessons to her students’ trades and traits (5 September 2025)

"Ms Izriena Idris meets students where they are at – designing competitions around their social media trends, or speaking the language of their courses. This is all part of the skills she imparts as ITE College East Lifeskills Lecturer, role-modelled with her special blend of care and rigour.

Ms Izriena Idris is a Lifeskills Lecturer at ITE College East, but to her nursing students, she speaks like a nurse, and to her engineering students, she speaks like an engineer.

This is a method Ms Izriena describes as “trade-speak”, where she adapts lifeskills to the specific language and context of each student’s future profession. It reflects her belief that teaching should connect with students’ training, be relevant to their professional identities, and make soft skills applicable to daily life and work.

For instance, when teaching communication to nursing students, she emphasises phrases that convey emotional sensitivity and build empathy. These skills are necessary for nurses who regularly handle delicate conversations with patients and their families during vulnerable moments. With engineering students, she helps them emphasise clarity, structure, and logic in their statements – attributes essential for reporting faults or managing technical issues.

“Communication looks different in every job, and makes a difference in every job,” she explains.

Her own chameleon-like skills at communication and rapport-building are what landed her the lecturing career she enjoys.

Over 15 years ago, she was handling marketing and college relations at ITE when her manager spotted her ability to connect with students of all backgrounds. She eventually decided to become a lecturer, where her skills in business services and professional development could make a direct impact on students.

Reading the room and switching up the energy

Through Ms Izriena’s lessons on public speaking, resume writing, and financial literacy, her students learn to put their best professional foot forward.

However, these subjects might inadvertently come across as too abstract or not directly relevant to students, and this requires Ms Izriena to be creative and adaptive.

For example, when she was teaching mental health as part of her Personal & Professional Development modules, she observed her students becoming restless. She quickly adapted, putting aside her lesson plan to ask them about mental health struggles that they had come across.

Gradually, the students opened up and shared stories about their close friends, family members and even themselves. “Once they heard their classmates share personal experiences, it changed everything,” says Ms Izriena. “Suddenly, they were listening.”

And only then did she return to her lesson plan."

He brings purpose and precision to every classroom move (5 September 2025)

"Shaking things up may be a good way to describe Mr Marek Otreba’s style of teaching. He thrives on using innovation to help students be better thinkers at St Andrew’s Secondary School. The Lead Teacher (Social Studies) earns his students’ respect not just for running fun and engaging lessons, but for making learning more accessible through differentiated lessons.

You could write your answers on paper or… How about getting out of your seat, pretend to be an influencer, find a spot around the school and deliver your answers via a video post?

To Mr Marek Otreba’s students, such are the fun and spontaneous activities he comes up with in class and out.

Get to know Mr Otreba better and it is clear that a lot of thought goes on behind these seemingly casual moves. Every task, digital feedback form, or station rotation (a structured circuit of short activities each focused on a specific skill), starts from an intentional place to help students think harder, grow in skill or values, or to simply benefit from differentiated instructions.

A different kind of Humanities teacher

Originally from Canada, the 42-year-old Lead Teacher (Social Studies) at St Andrew’s Secondary School came to Singapore in 2011 following two years of teaching in the UK. It was a “sliding doors” moment: He was seeking a permanent teaching role, and MOE reached out via an international job portal.

When offered the role, he was told: “We don’t want you to adapt to the way we teach Humanities. We want you to ignite change.” He has stayed true to that invitation.

Over the years, Mr Otreba has led and co-led cluster and national-level Networked Learning Communities (NLCs), and founded the Assessment and A.I. NLC, to explore how emerging technologies can support meaningful teaching and learning. For these efforts, he was conferred the MOE Outstanding Innovator Award in 2023."

She teaches them ‘not just to look but also to see’ (5 September 2025)

"It’s been no regrets for Mdm Elsie Cheng, who swopped engineering for teaching to leave more impact on people’s lives. She finds imparting and shaping values to be among the most rewarding parts of teaching design and technology as Edgefield Secondary School’s Head of Department for Craft & Technology.

There is a moment that Mdm Elsie Cheng Swee Eng will never forget: Her Design and Technology student, passionate about cats, was struggling to sketch his idea for a grooming device. His drawings were a far cry from the elegant solution he envisioned.

Mdm Cheng could see where the possibilities lay, but she was not about to lay them on a silver platter. Instead, she offered tips to guide him there.

Months later, that same student built a prototype that dispensed powder while grooming, which helped contain the flurry from the pets’ shedding fur. As she holds up a photo of his creation, Mdm Cheng, the Head of Department for Craft & Technology at Edgefield Secondary School, smiles with pride. What mattered to her was not the result, but the growth of the student as he worked towards his goal.

This moment was one of many that cemented her decision to leave the corporate world to become a teacher.

From engineer to educator

At the start of her career, after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, she joined Hewlett-Packard as a procurement engineer. But that left her feeling unfulfilled somehow. “I could not get the kind of job satisfaction I wanted. I did not get to see the end product, or the impact of what I was doing.”

She thought about how her Secondary 2 Form Teacher had seen an educator in her and suggested that she take up some tutoring work way back when.

Hence, she made a shift to education in 2011 – with no regrets. Her engineering expertise gave her a systematic way of breaking down challenges, but teaching gave her something deeper: the chance to shape lives. “In engineering, I was solving problems. In education, I am helping others learn to solve them.”

Students are attracted to Physics thanks to her magnetic lessons (5 September 2025)

"Mdm Quek Shir Ryn is driven to show how relevant Science is in her students’ lives, so that they embrace the subject beyond grades. As Head of Department (Science) at Bartley Secondary School, she also exudes a gravitational pull on colleagues to design more engaging learning experiences together.

Mdm Quek Shir Ryn did not enjoy Science as a student. That is always a surprise coming from the Head of Department of Science (!) at Bartley Secondary School. She might even have spaced out once or twice in class, she confesses, because “I couldn’t understand the ‘why’ behind the concepts”.

As a teacher today, when she sees her students looking restless, it reminds her of her younger self. “It’s not that they are not trying. I can see that they are trying very hard in many other areas like their CCA, Student-Initiated Learning, or leading their peers,” she reasons. That is a signal to her to up her game, to help them find the relevance behind what they are learning.

Making links to industry and perfumery

Her intent came through clearly in the years after the Covid-19 pandemic. The school’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in Chemical and Applied Sciences (Fragrance) had stalled. Industry partnerships had gone quiet, and student engagement had dipped. “I thought, I need to do something about this,” she says. “If we want our students to take science seriously — to see its relevance — then they need to see it applied in the real world.”

Mdm Quek reached out to companies and strengthened partnerships with industry players such as P&G and Scent by Six, who subsequently gave input to the programme. Guest speakers were invited to share career pathways in STEM, and students were brought on learning journeys to fragrance labs and consumer healthcare companies. For the perfumery module, Mdm Quek collaborated with perfumery experts to enhance students’ understanding of how scientific principles apply to real-world fragrance formulation.

Cultivating tomorrow’s STEM leaders today

As ALP programme owner, Mdm Quek is known for planning learning journeys that demonstrate real-world application of STEM concepts — including trips for department teachers to the NUS Science Demo Lab and ITE College Central. She believes that for students to be excited about STEM, teachers must first be inspired themselves.

When Secondary 3 students visited A*STAR’s National Metrology Centre, they deepened their understanding of SI units and the role measurement science plays in supporting industries. They also learned how precision in measurement underpins innovation, ensures product reliability, and facilitates international trade.

Beyond the classroom, she extends STEM learning through industry partnerships. When she brought students to Kenvue Singapore, they gained invaluable insights into the fragrance development process and learned how sensory science influences consumer experiences. They also explored how global industry leaders like Kenvue and Givaudan collaborate, and the technologies involved in creating consumer health products."

Family tradition that led to her career of a lifetime (5 September 2025)

"At first, she resisted the pull of the classroom. Now, she cannot imagine life without teaching. Mdm Lee Siok Kwan, PE Teacher at Woodgrove Primary School, comes from four generations of teachers. She designs physical activities that build character, imparts skills, reinforces values and promotes mental well-being.

At 55, after 24 years in the teaching service, Mdm Lee Siok Kwan has taught thousands of students. For all her students, she hopes to leave behind moments that matter to each.

Mdm Lee, who currently teaches Physical Education (PE) and Programme for Active Learning (PAL) at Woodgrove Primary School, gets so much job satisfaction that she cannot picture herself retiring. “I want to keep teaching as long as I can,” she says. “Teaching warms my heart and fills my soul.”

Teaching in their DNA

Coming from a family of teachers – grandparents, parents, husband, and soon, her son – Mdm Lee initially resisted the pull of the classroom. “Teaching is in my DNA, but I never knew it,” she says.

After her GCE A-Level examination, without any clear goal in mind, she enrolled in what was then known as the College of Physical Education at the suggestion of her father, a PE teacher himself. Her initial years as a beginning teacher were challenging, but also rich in learning, which laid the foundation for her teaching career. Subsequently, she took four years off to raise her four children, but she had already been bitten by the teaching bug by then.

“I was grateful I was there for my children’s milestones, and thankful that MOE kept the job open for me all those years.” When she was ready to return to work, what surprised her was how much she missed teaching and she appreciated the opportunity to continue “touch(ing) many lives”.

The class that made her realise her true calling

Posted to Woodgrove Primary School to teach PE and English after her extended absence, she faced a class which posed various challenges. There were social-emotional concerns, learning difficulties, and dysfunctional home situations rolled into one – her toughest class to date.

“I made the effort to get to know the students well, eat with them during recess, and find out their interests,” she says. Through these informal encounters, she listened to their stories and began to understand them better while forging bonds with them."

With a culture shift, she turns mistakes into motivation (5 September 2025)

"How do teachers respond to their students’ errors? At Kong Hwa School, they view them as springboards to learning and growth. Ms Diana Lin’s “Culture of Error” approach also shapes student mindsets to look beyond grades and strive for improvement.

The Primary 6 girl was inconsolable. Tears streamed down her face over her score that was just shy of a better grade.

Her teacher Ms Diana Lin, better known to her students as Mrs Tan, was concerned. Here was a child who wanted to become a teacher when she grew up, and loved learning, but was feeling so upset over missing a single percentage point.

While such incidents do not happen frequently, Mrs Tan, who is Kong Hwa School’s School Staff Developer and has been teaching at the school for two decades, says that these incidents crystallise the need to help children see that learning is about growth, not just grades.

Rewriting the rules of mistakes

Mrs Tan, a recipient of the MSEA Gold Award in 2022 and the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan LEAP Award in 2024, has been reshaping how teachers and students across the school approach mistakes.

She worked with her Vice-Principal to create a “Culture of Error”. This approach challenges both teachers and students to see mistakes as learning opportunities rather than something undesirable. The approach required teachers to examine their own reactions to student errors and reflect on how their responses influenced classroom dynamics.

“It took a little bit of time for everyone to get on board,” Mrs Tan acknowledges. “Teachers had to be vulnerable and share how they feel about making mistakes as an adult, and rethink how they react and respond towards their students’ mistakes.”

This Science teacher is a ‘balsam plant’ for spreading knowledge and kindness (5 September 2025)

"At Endeavour Primary School, Mr Jonathan Lo’s secret to effective Science education is to make it so captivating that students forget they are learning. The Head of Department of Science proves every day that the most rigorous form of education can often feel like play.

When 12-year-old Adhrit Rayala is asked what plant his teacher would be, he says, “Balsam plant.”

Then, with theatrical flair, he makes an exploding hand gesture to mimic seeds bursting from their pods. Most teachers would be bewildered with the comparison. Mr Jonathan Lo, however, takes it as a compliment, tickled. He even teasingly clarifies with Adhrit if he is referring to the knowledge he imparts, and Adhrit nods emphatically.

It is a metaphor that captures exactly how Mr Lo teaches – knowledge spreading far and wide through his thoughtful pedagogy at Endeavour Primary School.

“He makes science come to life!” Adhrit says, eyes sparkling as he recounts adventures that sound more like treasure hunts than textbook lessons. Like the time Mr Lo mysteriously brought plants to class, only to have students design their own experiments to see how water is transported in plants. Or when a seed collection project sent Adhrit’s family across the island in search of a floating seed found only at West Coast Park.

This is Science education at Endeavour Primary School: experiential, engaging, and transformative.

Rewriting the rules

Where Mr Lo is concerned, “I do not want to teach just based on the textbook. It is boring to learn the flower parts by only reading about them,” he states.

Instead, his lessons unfold like real-world mysteries. And this also applies to Mathematics. To get students to understand percentage change, Mr Lo brought in an example of a movie-ticket promotion that looked great… until students crunched the numbers. What could have been a routine exercise morphed into a masterclass in critical thinking, consumer behaviour, and ethics.

“I asked them about their feelings and opinions about the deal. ‘What do you really think about these promotions? Would you be attracted?’” Soon, the class was debating how companies market to seniors, students, and families, and whether those deals were truly fair.

Then came the twist: Mr Lo told his students that he was misled by the terms of this promotion, and explained how he provided feedback and got a refund. “Even as a teacher, I am still learning.”

She teaches lessons in flavour, grit and dignity (5 September 2025)

"For Ms Lina Tan Lay Nah, food is never just food. It offers a chance to connect, go green, or advance patient care. At Nanyang Polytechnic, the Senior Lecturer and specialist in food technology teaches students how to create meaningful products and find purpose in the process.

Food isn’t just sustenance, says Ms Lina Tan Lay Nah. It’s care, comfort, and when done well, a form of dignity. And above all, it must be tasty.

“If it’s not tasty, forget it,” she often tells her students. No matter how nutritious a dish is, she believes it won’t succeed unless people actually want to eat it.

That focus sharpened in 2019, when her father-in-law, who had dysphagia, choked after she made him a nutrient-rich porridge, thoughtfully enhanced with goji berries. The berries’ seeds, which retained their firmness after cooking, created a dual texture that was hazardous for someone with swallowing difficulties.

For Ms Tan, a Specialist (Food Technology) and Senior Lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic, the experience wasn’t just humbling. It marked a turning point.

Overcoming her berry bad start

In ageing Singapore, where nearly one in four citizens will be 65 or older by 2030, dysphagia is a growing concern. The condition, which affects one’s ability to swallow safely, can lead to malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and even death.

Yet food options for its patients are somewhat limited, bland, and unappealing. Ms Tan then made it her mission to develop meals that are both suitable and enjoyable.

She introduced the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), encouraging students to reimagine food for people with swallowing difficulties.

One of their creations included the world’s first nutrient-fortified local dessert for such patients, a Herbal Tea Duo that won at the 13th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards 2025 (Food & Nutrition category), and a mocktail that was recognised by the World Food Innovation Awards 2025 (Best Drink Innovation).

One team even reimagined bandung, the nostalgic rose syrup drink, into a safer version, as liquids that are too thin may go down the windpipe."

He teaches AI, assisted by AI (5 September 2025)

"In his classroom, Mr Max Chua, a Lecturer at ITE College West, blends empathy with innovation, using AI to teach and to listen. His own story of second chances now shapes how he gives others theirs.

The Advanced Computing Lab at ITE College West is nearly bare. Just a few pieces of AI-generated artwork are displayed in a cabinet at the entrance, and bright green tables glow under fluorescent lights.

This minimalistic room is where Mr Max Chua, who teaches at the School of Electronics & Info-Comm Technology, reimagines how students learn AI. “As part of our curriculum and pedagogy development, I created the AI Classroom to personalise learning at scale – essentially giving every student the experience of a class size of one,” he explains.

In his classes, students self-explore key concepts using GenAI tools, supported by prompt engineering guides and scaffolding questions. With GenAI, students can enjoy personalised advice to their questions. Then, during lessons, Mr Chua guides the class to apply these concepts to solve real-world problems.

The results are promising. “Students who went through the AI Classroom scored around 20 per cent better than those in normal classroom groups. Many also shared that AI helped them better understand coding and gave them the motivation to explore further.”

Learning without barriers

Making technology accessible is a constant theme in Mr Chua’s work. He specialises in AI, High Performance Computing (HPC), and Electronics Engineering, and has created modules that allow students to build real-world AI applications, even if they have never written a line of code.

“Not everyone comes in knowing how to code. My job is to scaffold learning: to deconstruct concepts so students can build their foundation from the ground up,” he says, as a leader of ITE’s Generative AI HPC teams.

His curriculum work features partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Google, and the National Supercomputing Centre. He also leads Train-the-Trainer sessions and develops general electives that support fellow educators. His workshops on AI and HPC have benefitted over 100 fellow educators. “I myself cannot teach the whole world. I need to multiply this effect,” Mr Chua elaborates.

Beyond his work at ITE, Mr Chua contributes to the community to build up AI competencies in Singapore. He is part of digital community The Gen-C, a collaboration between the National Library Board and AWS that upskills the public in AI skills like prompt engineering, working with Large Language Models (LLMs), and fine-tuning models."

She weaves a passion for nature into language lessons (5 September 2025)

"Ms Debbie Wong, who teaches English Language and Literature at North Vista Secondary School, shows that when students connect authentically with Singapore’s natural heritage, they don’t just learn about conservation – they become its champions.

A text message arrives, accompanied by a close-up of a spider. “This should be the green crab spider?” writes 15-year-old Alfonse Lee, who moments earlier had walked straight into a web at a park and immediately pulled out his phone to document the encounter.

Ms Debbie Wong’s face lights up as she remembers this: It’s not just the spider encounter that excites her – it’s what the encounter represents. Here’s a student who once walked through the world focused inward but now looks out and up, stopping to examine creatures most people would ignore, curious enough to reach out to his teacher to learn more.

An English Language and Literature teacher who is also the School Staff Developer, Ms Wong has spent the past two years weaving environmental consciousness into language learning. Her dedication has not gone unnoticed: She was nominated for the Inspiring Teacher of English Award in 2024 and received NParks’ Community in Nature, Teacher of the Year Award the same year.

From aircon to advocacy

The irony isn’t lost on Ms Wong that she was once everything her current self is not. “I was a creature of comfort,” she admits with a laugh. “Air-conditioning over outdoor adventures, every time.”

The shift came through heartbreak of the most personal kind. When both her daughters were diagnosed with dyslexia , “I was very crushed,” Ms Wong says. “I felt that they wouldn’t be able to appreciate the written word the way that I would as an English Language and Literature teacher. It was heartbreaking.”

Desperate for alternatives, she began taking them outdoors. The moment of clarity came after a walk at Changi Beach with her older daughter. Suddenly animated and confident, the little girl delivered a presentation about intertidal marine life to her Kindergarten 2 classmates. “She was brimming with joy,” Ms Wong recalls. “You could hear the pride and wonder in her voice.”

TWhen Ms Wong shared this story with her Secondary 3 class, their immediate response was, “Ms Wong, we want to do that for our Values-in-Action project too!”

He turns classrooms into creative spaces and safe havens (5 September 2025)

"To his students, he’s not judgy – that’s high praise coming from teens. Mr Abdul Hadi Bin Abdul Wahab, who is a Senior Teacher (Art) at Holy Innocents’ High School, welcomes adventurers who wish to dabble in all kinds of artistic media, or in inter-disciplinary learning. And when students need an open heart or a listening ear along the way, he’s there for them too.

Step into the art room at Holy Innocents’ High School (HIHS) and it is immediately clear that this is no ordinary class in progress. Students gather over sketchbooks, digital tablets, or film footage. Not because they have to, but because they want to. Whether they are using photography, animation, or installation, they are encouraged to work in the medium that lets their message speak.

This is Mr Abdul Hadi Bin Abdul Wahab’s domain, where students are trusted to think, create, and speak through their work. “I always ask my students: Are you doing this for the grade or for yourself?” says the 35-year-old Senior Teacher (Art). “Because how you answer shapes everything you produce.”

Mr Hadi took to teaching from young – starting with always finding ways as the eldest child to amuse his brothers. “I liked to design experiences or games for them, and they seemed to enjoy themselves,” says Mr Hadi, smiling at the memory. The first signs he would wind up as an art teacher came from his youthful passions for art and filmmaking.

His inaugural posting was to a junior college, where he met students who had creative chops but dropped Art after secondary school anyway. “They were creating for grades, not for themselves. When they failed, they assumed they were not creative or skillful enough,” he says. Six years in, he was convinced he should make the switch to teaching at secondary school. “I wanted to be where the foundations were being laid.”

What does it mean to make art that matters?

These days, he focuses on building those foundations, designing a curriculum that gives students room to experiment, fail, and return to their ideas with deeper insight. Drawing and painting are just the beginning. Students in his classes explore augmented reality (AR), 3D tools, film, photography… he rarely denies their choice of media. “Art should be comforting, meaningful, and speak to their hearts,” he explains.

He uses the Art Inquiry-based Learning Model to guide this process, helping students tackle real-world themes that matter to them. And when the themes are honest, so is the work. Some projects they have made include AR trails about cultural memory, fashion pieces tied to personal identity, and other projects that ask not just what looks good, but what holds meaning. When that process happens, the learning comes naturally.

One student was feeling disconnected with the art diet of portraits and still life. When she joined Mr Hadi’s class in Secondary 4, he saw that “those things did not resonate with her”. He suggested, “Why not do something for yourself?” This was followed by yet another profound question: What would you create if this were your last artwork?

This set her on a wholly unfamiliar journey, but she was inspired. She chose to make it personal: a photo installation in tribute to her mother. It was thoughtfully composed, emotionally honest, and deeply moving, says Mr Hadi, who turned it into an exhibition piece at school."

She builds confidence in ways that get students talking (5 September 2025)

"Science teacher Germain Kang could be mistaken for a life coach – that’s how passionate she feels about enhancing student wellbeing. The Year Head (Upper Sec) at Fuhua Secondary School devises strategies to build self-esteem and peer support for every student.

Ms Germain Kang keeps a folder on her phone called “Encouragement”. It is filled with messages from students thanking her for changing their lives.

What is remarkable is not that she has it – it is that she needs it. Because teaching, she learned, is equal parts giving and taking, building up and being worn down, creating hope while fighting your own moments of doubt.

The folder gets its heaviest use on days like the one she is recalling now. It was the day she missed meeting a student who regularly skipped school – for months, he made good on their arrangement to meet each morning, grinning when she treated him to some candy. “All the work was undone,” Ms Kang recounts. “It was only one day that I missed, but he didn’t come back to school.”

Making sure everyone gets a fair shot

Ms Kang is the Year Head (Upper Secondary) and Chair of the Student Development Council and Student Wellbeing Committee at Fuhua Secondary School.

One reason she feels prepared for these roles is how she has personally experienced the peaks and troughs of school life, from failing exams to being crowned secondary school valedictorian. Key to her progress, she admits, was not wanting to disappoint her parents. But what sustained her progress was the growing confidence in herself.

Enter Project FRESH, a schoolwide start-of-year programme she created with her team to help students build social confidence. They play games and use resources like conversation cards as icebreakers – all for a chance to build friendships from day one.

When gamifying quizzes in her Science classes, she creates individual as well as team modes, so “everybody gets a chance to shine and also work together to raise the bar for the whole class to win”.

And when she gives affirmation, it is for results as well as for effort. After every weighted assessment, for instance, her announcement slides list not just top scorers but also those who made the most improvement.

This has echoes of her own trajectory. “I want them to know that where you begin does not define where you can go.”

His teaching subjects? Accounting, integrity, vulnerability (5 September 2025)

"When teaching the balancing of books, Mr Simon Sng is also shaping young lives. The Year Head (Lower Secondary) at Bedok South Secondary School has a systematic approach to build relationships with students, parents, and teachers – echoing the discipline of an auditor.

Three years into his career as an auditor, Mr Simon Sng was grabbing lunch at a mall when he spotted two students struggling with their accounting homework. Without hesitation, he approached them.

“I just tapped one of them on the shoulder and asked, ‘Are you alright? Do you need help with your accounting homework?’” he recalls. That started an impromptu tutoring session, and the students opened up about what was bothering them. Then came their question that changed everything: “Are you sure you are not a teacher?”

“It was like a trigger point,” Mr Sng says. “I realised teachers impact lives.”

Soon, he would make the leap from auditing into teaching.

More than numbers, it is about integrity

Currently the Year Head (Lower Secondary) at Bedok South Secondary School, Mr Sng was once written off as an at-risk student. “I was not a good student,” he reveals. Behind his skipping of classes and disengagement during lessons, he was shouldering adult responsibilities, working as a private tutor, to help support his family when his mother was ill.

But he had teachers who supported and acknowledged his every progress, showing him that underneath all the missteps was a lot of potential. “I want to be a teacher who can be there for students like they were there for me,” he explains.

His corporate years taught him invaluable lessons about integrity and moral courage. In auditing, he had to surface discrepancies regardless of client pressure. This commitment to do what is right, even in uncomfortable situations, became deeply ingrained in his character.

Now, that same principle is threaded through all he does in education. “It is about teaching students about integrity,” he says, “having the moral courage to stand up for what is right, not just in accounting, but standing up for people who need help.”

She ensures that students with different needs have opportunities to shine (5 September 2025)

"Mdm Usha d/o Krishnasamy crafts learning moments that blend structure with heart. With calmness and consistency, coupled with innovative methods, she makes learning accessible to different learners. The Lead Teacher for Learning Needs (Special Educational Needs) at North View Primary School also guides teachers on inclusive strategies with a steady and practised hand.

“Teacher, I spoke in Tamil. You haven’t given me points.” It’s a small request from a young student. Eager, proud, beaming. But Mdm Usha d/o Krishnasamy takes it seriously. “Mother Tongue learning is about having a positive experience,” she says. “It is about providing a safe space for them to practise and explore the language.”

After 23 years in the classroom, Mdm Usha, whose students call her Mrs Theva, remains energised by these moments. Not because they are dramatic or showy, but because they signal quiet change — the kind that takes root when students feel seen and supported.

Mdm Usha is the Lead Teacher for Learning Needs (Special Educational Needs or SEN) at North View Primary School. She teaches Tamil Language and Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), and uses inclusive practices to support learning and behavioural needs both within the classroom and other school activities. She also mentors teachers of students with SEN, by guiding them on their use of inclusive practices.

A mantra she adopted, “Essential for some, useful for all”, reflects how she approaches inclusion with intention and practicality. Structured routines and simple, clear instructions form the backbone of her classes. “When I say ‘Position 3’, students know exactly the sitting posture to assume – upright, arms folded on a table clear of clutter, to be ready to learn. These cues help all my students, not just those with SEN.”

She uses multimodal and multisensory techniques — songs, chunking, visual aids, text-to-speech software — to support reading and oral communication. In her Tamil lessons, she incorporates tech platforms like Nearpod and Kahoot to spark excitement, and creates her own instructional videos to make the experience more personal.

“When students hear my voice in the videos, they recognise it immediately and tell me so! That connection makes them pay attention.” She adds, “Rapport is very important. If a teacher does not connect with the students, the same tools will not have the same effect.”

These personalised touches, Mdm Usha believes, create a sense of safety and familiarity. She reassures her students that mistakes are part of learning. “You don’t have to be perfect,” she tells them calmly. “Just try.”

She finds ways to lift her students’ ‘invisible burdens’ (5 September 2025)

"At Fuhua Primary School, Mdm Nurul Huda Bte Juma’at turns emotional touchpoints into teachable, trackable moments. The HOD (CCE) also develops schoolwide programmes that embed values into daily routines, customise care, and equip teachers to manage tough conversations.

The primary school student was clutching an unopened umbrella, catching up to his little sister to shelter her in the downpour. When their father approached, he took the girl’s hand and walked off without acknowledging the boy, leaving him standing there, drenched, his shoulders slumped in resignation.

“I just broke down,” Mdm Nurul Huda Bte Juma’at recalls of witnessing this scene involving her student from afar. “Children may be carrying invisible burdens.”

Difficult situations like this underpin her dedication to be empathetic and understanding towards every student’s needs. Currently the Head of Department for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) of Fuhua Primary School, Mdm Huda develops comprehensive frameworks that guide in the implementation of pastoral care and weave character-building into every corner of school life.

Building systems that inculcate good values

In short, Mdm Huda doesn’t leave the inculcating of good values and outcomes to chance.

“We need to be intentional in our values education,” she says. “We need to ask ourselves — what are the learning outcomes in each particular lesson?”

Her comprehensive values chart anchors every term to one school core value, that is reinforced through multiple platforms. Each morning, student leaders share the day’s character focus during assembly with the school population. It might go like this: “The character trait of the day is care. We need to listen more, and exercise empathy for others.”

Teachers receive updates through calendar invites highlighting the core value for the week, along with curated lesson resources for reinforcement with students.

The message is then threaded through the Sixer Programme, Fuhua’s peer support programme supported by the House System that takes all the students through values-based games and activities.

To produce the chart, Mdm Huda also collaborated with the HOD PE and Aesthetics, Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) Coordinator and CCA teachers to map CCE developmental milestones into their weekly activities, ensuring classroom, CCA, and Sixer experiences reinforce one another.

The process of mapping was more intricate than it sounds: she took reference from the MOE CCE developmental milestones and repackaged them into bite-sized statements that teachers could relate to and apply in their lessons.

For instance, she created simple, adaptable statements like ‘demonstrate a positive outlook in life’ that teachers could easily incorporate across different subjects. Teachers could use this to recognise students who maintain an optimistic attitude when tackling challenging questions.

When Mdm Huda shared this milestone map with her colleagues, she was delighted that teachers appreciated its clarity and readily used the statements in their lessons."

Watch: How these educators make the ordinary, extraordinary (11 September 2025)

"These happy faces belong to the eight recipients of 2025’s President’s Award for Teachers. How exactly do they bring out the full potential of their students and colleagues?

To many of us, the teachers who leave the deepest imprint are the ones who turn the everyday rhythms of school into moments that matter.

This year’s recipients of the President’s Award for Teachers are eight such outstanding educators. At first glance, their classroom may look like any other. But so much else happens: the planning, learning, trialling, collaborating and facilitating. Not to mention the countless conversations and acts of care that all add up. And this is just for their students.

What about the work they do to shore up their profession and build up their colleagues and peers?

The effort that our eight recipients put in every day is not always obvious, but its impact stays with their students and colleagues long after."

How do MOE Kindergartens support children’s emotional and mental well-being? (18 September 2025)

"Learning to understand and manage emotions is a crucial part of every child’s development. At MOE Kindergarten (MK), we create safe spaces where children are encouraged to express themselves and learn that all feelings are valid. Here’s how our MK educators are helping our little ones build the social-emotional skills they need to form meaningful connections with others.

MK@Dazhong “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” Programme

Teachers introduced the Emotional Cups and Self-Help Kits to help children learn skills such as managing disagreements, navigating misunderstandings, or taking turns between peers.

These simple tools give children a healthy outlet to express their feelings, reflect, and resolve them.

For example, they doodle how they feel on pieces of paper, which are then ‘stored and secured’ in their personalised cups, after which, they explore what they can do using the picture cards in the self-help kit.

“As a teacher, it’s incredibly rewarding to witness how these small tools are making such a big difference. Seeing our children respond with such enthusiasm, kindness and confidence is the most joyful outcome of all.” - Ms Vaeshanavi Manoharan, MK Level Head at MK@Dazhong

MK@Tampines Social and Emotional Check-in Corner

Here, children are given the time and space to pause and reflect on their emotions.

Resources such as emotion charts empower them to recognise, name and navigate their feelings. The space helps little ones develop self-regulation skills through calming strategies like deep breathing, sensory tools and fidgets.

“Teaching values can be an abstract concept for children. As teachers, we break down what each value looks like in real-life situations and make it as concrete as possible to the children.” - Ms Sasha Leung, MK Level Head at MK@Tampines"

The Real Life of Teachers: The Good and the Gritty (23 September 2025)

"Beyond the lesson plans and CCAs lies the true story of what it means to teach. 18 educators open up about the moments that build them, challenge them, and remind them why they chose this calling.

These 18 teachers know that real teaching can happen anytime.

During classes? Sure.

But also in the unscripted, unexpected moments between lesson plans.

Far from an Instagrammable moment, it’s…

The professional expertise that turns chaos into learning.

The emotional intelligence that reads invisible struggles.

The canteen chats that changes lives.

Meet 2025’s President’s Award for Teachers (PAT) recipients and finalists

Welcome to the real life of teachers.

The good, the gritty, and everything in between."

Our Schools, Our Stories 2025 (25 September 2025)

"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.

Discover the winning entries of this year’s contest. More than just photographs or videos, these are stories that celebrate the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that make school a place of growth and inspiration."

Our School Community: Junior Category (25 September 2025)

"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.

BEST PHOTO STORY

School Life in a Snap

By Hsu Audrianna Ii-Zanne, Lyha Medina Binte Kamzaruddin and Kieran Tan Ze Xu

Fuhua Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Najuma Banu

We love capturing the fun and exciting moments that happen across the different CCAs in our school.

From friends dancing, training on the field, and playing the guzheng, to learning how to start a fire with dried leaves, every moment is a memory worth snapping.

In our Infocomm CCA, we learn how to take clear and creative photos, using techniques like framing, lighting, and timing. Sometimes we capture action, other times we focus on happy faces and teamwork. 

Each photo tells its own story. We’re proud to be behind the lens, turning everyday school life into lasting memories."

Our School Community: Youth Category (25 September 2025)

"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.

BEST PHOTO STORY

More Than a Teacher: A Mentor , A Friend , An Inspiration

By Png Yi Qi, Tay Xin Ying, Rachael and Zhang Haoran

Yio Chu Kang Secondary School

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Yip Seng Yiam Gerald

My Chinese teacher, Madam Chi King Kiok, has devoted over 50 years to education.

She’s now in her 80s. After retiring in 2008, she continued as a flexi-adjunct teacher, finding joy and meaning in guiding the next generation.

With patience and empathy, she formed close bonds with us and became someone we could trust. Embracing the spirit of lifelong learning, she overcame challenges in adapting to new technology, learning from her younger colleagues and students along the way.

Her advice to the younger generation is to manage time well, use mobile devices wisely, and always stay in control of emotions. Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire many."

Our School Community: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)

"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.

BEST PHOTO STORY

A Journey of Kindness: K1 Children Touch Hearts in the Neighbourhood

By Mr Prakash Ezekiel

MOE Kindergarten @ Bendemeer Primary School

Our K1 children embarked on a learning journey to appreciate the unsung heroes in our neighbourhood.

From packing care packs to making heartfelt crafts, they personally thanked shopkeepers, construction workers, and MRT staff for their hard work.

Through these simple acts, our young learners discovered empathy and gratitude, interacting with confidence and kindness.

This outreach built awareness, self-confidence, and a deeper sense of community — a reminder that even young hearts can uplift and inspire."

World of Possibilities: Junior Category (25 September 2025)

"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Ready to Dream, Ready to Try

By Lionell Ho Yao Zu and Danise Jacob

Woodlands Ring Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Muhammad Bin Amir Said Alkatiri

School is where we discover endless possibilities. Whether it is leaping for the sky, scoring a basket, kicking a ball, or walking with friends, every moment sparks adventure.

Here, we are encouraged to explore, challenge ourselves, and grow in confidence. School is not just lessons, but where we find talents, push limits, and believe anything is possible. And through it all, we live our motto — We Do Our Best. With effort and courage, the possibilities are endless."

World of Possibilities: Youth Category (25 September 2025)

"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Different Pathways, Endless Possibilities

By Ngui Shisi, Joie Nio Yu Tong and Goh Zi Riz Tiffanys

Nanyang Junior College

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Chan Guang Hui

Our school offers many co-curricular activities, from drama to dance, giving students chances to shine. These experiences deliver a newfound and refreshed meaning to school life, as they open doors beyond academics.

Whether on stage or on the sports court, every movement is a brushstroke in each student’s book. It is more than a moment; it is a door to endless possibilities and pathways yet to be discovered."

World of Possibilities: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)

"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Chasing Curiosity in China

By Ms Chua Zheng Yi Jane

Kheng Cheng School

These photos show how my students stepped out of their classrooms and into a world of wonder.

In Shanghai and Suzhou, every street, museum and garden became a place to learn. From observing koi in a garden pond in Suzhou’s Museum to posing under lanterns in an alley, each snapshot reflects their growth and joy.

Whether laughing at new discoveries or learning to navigate cultural differences, they show how learning comes live in unexpected ways. This was more than a trip; it was a journey of hearts, minds and friendships."

Priceless Moments: Junior Category (25 September 2025)

"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.

BEST PHOTO STORY

Hi! I’m Sheldon!

By Ridwan Bin Razali

Fernvale Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Siti Erliasari Binte Haroon

I want to share my priceless journey since transferring to Fernvale Primary School. On my first day, I met Calvin, who became my first friend. He’s very kind, and introduced me to classmates who would shape my school experience.

My love for soccer helped me bond with them. I’ll never forget the moment they cheered for me and celebrated with me during our PE lesson. They made me feel truly accepted.

Exploring Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden opened my eyes to new adventures, but my most treasured moment was building a LEGO model of our school stage with my friends. As we clicked the pieces together, I knew I had found my place here."

Priceless Moments: Youth Category (25 September 2025)

"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.

BEST PHOTO STORY

In The Spaces We Shared

By Yee Yi Hui and Edelia Binte Muhamad Nizam

Nanyang Junior College

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Chan Guang Hui

The most priceless moments aren’t always the big events or loud celebrations. It’s the little moments, the quiet laughs and simple joys, that stay with us forever — snapshots of joy, friendship, and togetherness that we hold close.

We chose moments that reflect our journey: the thrill of learning something new together, the burst of colour and collaboration in creating a shared canvas, and the gentle exchange of ideas when guidance becomes inspiration. Each moment reveals the bonds we’ve forged, the creativity we’ve sparked and the memories that bring warmth to our hearts.

These are the moments that unite us."

Priceless Moments: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)

"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.

BEST PHOTO STORY

A Teacher’s Campsite Reflection

By Mr Ng Chin Yong Ivan

South View Primary School

Watching my students at the P5 camp is one of the most rewarding moments of the year. I saw them overcome fears — scaling rock walls, abseiling with trembling hands — and many succeeded. Their faces beamed, flushed with excitement at what they’ve managed to accomplish.

Through team challenges, they learned to communicate, to listen, and to encourage. The raucous cheers, the happy chatter, and the tired groans after a long hot day all reminded me of the bonds they were building.

What touched me most was witnessing the quieter students shine — going further than most, gamely trying new experiences while others hesitated, surprising even their friends.

Camp isn’t just about adventure, it’s about growth. As their teacher, it fills me with pride to see how they’ve grown, not just as students, but as young individuals finding their footing."

What I Go To School For (25 September 2025)

"What makes school so meaningful? Explore these winning video entries by students, teachers, and school staff from the Our Schools, Our Stories Photo & Video Contest 2025. Here, they show us the moments, people, and passions that shape school life.

BEST VIDEO: JUNIOR

The Heartbeat of Our School

By Tai Cen Qian Adelle, Lau Ying Xi and Yeo Ling

Commonwealth Secondary School

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Christopher Sim

HONOURABLE MENTION: JUNIOR

Hey Wait!

By Zoya Gulam Moinuddin Rehman

First Toa Payoh Primary School

Teacher Facilitator: Ms Ho Chi Chia Brenda

Why I Go to School – Magical Moments

By Muhammad Zufayri Bin Mohd Faridon, Chia Yuan Kai Zac and Teow Kai Jie Jay

Pathlight School

Teacher Facilitator: Mr Benedict Song Jin Huey"

The Concert Hall Classroom (26 September 2025)

"A core learning experience in the lower-secondary Music curriculum, the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) curates bespoke live music performances to connect classroom to stage, celebrate local talent, and deepen musical appreciation.

Mention live music performances and it’s understandable that concerts by international acts such as Taylor Swift and Coldplay come to mind. But beyond these large-scale, buzzy events, Singapore has no shortage of homegrown talents and music events in our own professional arts scene.

To spark students’ interest in these local acts, and forge in them a deeper sense of identity, community, and connection with Singapore’s arts and cultural heritage, MOE and the National Arts Council (NAC) initiated the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) experience to bring bespoke live music performances to them. In its inception year in 2024, more than 12,000 students from 48 schools attended such specially curated music performance as part of PABL. This year, the numbers have almost doubled, with over 23,000 students from 85 schools participating in the programme.

“MOE and NAC work closely with local cultural institutions and performing arts groups to put together each PABL programme, which takes place at Singapore’s professional arts venues. We also strive to feature Singaporean artists, arts groups and local works in each programme, including those by Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award recipients, to help students develop an appreciation for them,” elaborates MOE’s Arts Education Branch (AEB). For instance, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra (MFO) engaged 2023 Young Artist Award recipient Julian Wong to specially curate and rearrange Our Singapore Songbook’s programme since last year.

Making meaningful connections between classroom learning and the local professional arts scene

Unity Secondary School is one of the schools which participated in the PABL for the first time this year. Its Secondary 1 students attended Songsmith: Singapore Songs and Songwriting, presented by The Esplanade Co. Ltd. and Inch Chua with Metronome Collective. During the programme, students were invited to create songs with the performers.

“We simply suggested words to the singers on stage, and they turned them into a full song right there and then! I was honestly stunned by their talent. It was so cool how they could come up with melodies and lyrics so quickly. It made the performance feel super interactive and fun, and I’ll definitely remember that moment for a long time,” says Roselin Manoj, a Secondary 1 student from Unity Secondary School.

For Ms Christine Tang, Senior Teacher (Music) at Unity Secondary School, having her students on the PABL programme is a great way to include learning experiences outside the classroom, with live performances in a professional setting. “They are enriching and bring to life students’ music learning, such as the musical elements of texture, dynamics, and more,” she adds."

Four ways to improve our child’s Executive Functioning skills (26 September 2025)

"What are these skills which help with everyday tasks and challenges and how can we cultivate them? Here are some tips from MK@Punggol Cove educator Ms Khoo Lin Xiu.

Let’s learn A B C … E F! That’s EF for Executive Functioning skills. They’re important for getting through the day, even for adults. Here are 4 ways to strengthen EF skills in our preschool kids.

What are Executive Functioning skills?

EF skills include:

• paying attention

• remembering and following rules

• regulating emotions

• taking turns

• self-control

• flexible thinking"

Start of 2025 Direct School Admission Exercises & ITE and Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise (6 May 2025)

"The Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise for admission to secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) in 2026 will open for application from 7 May 2025. Separately, applications for early admission to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics based on course-specific aptitude and interests will start from 20 May and 2 June 2025 respectively."

2025 Primary One Registration Exercise to Start from 1 July 2025 (14 May 2025)

"New and Relocating Primary Schools to Meet Shifting Demand

The registration period for children's admission to Primary One (P1) in 2026 will be from 1 July 2025 to 31 October 2025."

Student Dancers Reimagine "Growth" Through Chinese Street Dance Competition 成长 -- 2025年第六届爱上华文街舞比赛 (17 May 2025)

"Over 200 students from 19 schools participated in the sixth edition of the Chinese Street Dance Competition. Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) and local media content company MCC, the competition aims to promote the learning of Chinese language and culture through music and dance. The Finals and Awards Ceremony were held at Our Tampines Hub's Festive Plaza today."

180 Students Take Part in Chinese Riddle Competition that Showcases their Language and Problem-Solving Skills (17 May 2025)

"180 students from 24 secondary schools participated in the fourth National Chinese Riddle Competition (全国中学生灯谜比赛) on Saturday, 17 May 2025, 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 engage students in the art of solving Chinese riddles and foster their appreciation of Chinese language and culture."

Singapore Students Clinch Record 11 Awards at International Science and Engineering Competition (29 May 2025)

"The Singapore student delegation clinched eleven awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025 – the highest number of awards won since Singapore's first participation in ISEF in 2001. The delegation of eight students competed against more than 1,700 students from over 60 countries, regions, and territories. In total, four individual projects and two team projects were submitted to ISEF, which was held in Columbus, Ohio, USA, from 10 to 16 May 2025."

More than 650 Students Showcase News Reporting and Language Skills at Annual Competition (30 May 2025)

"This year, 652 students from 60 secondary schools participated in the fourth 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, 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."

MOE Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest 2025 (3 June 2025)

"The Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest (TCEF) is organised biennially by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for teachers to learn together as a fraternity. Held from 3 to 5 June 2025, TCEF2025 will welcome over 18,000 participants and presenters, including teachers from Special Education schools who will be sharing their insights and practices for the first time at TCEF."

Pre-University Seminar 2025 – Re-imagiNATION (5 June 2025)

"552 student participants from 30 pre-university institutions participated in the Pre-University Seminar 2025 Closing Ceremony held at Nanyang Technological University. Into its 56th edition, the annual seminar, which was co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Tampines Meridian Junior College this year, was themed 'Re-imagiNATION' to encourage students, as stewards of the future, to explore innovative and improved solutions to various challenges facing the nation. Through rich discussions and interactions with people of diverse backgrounds, students explored the future of Singapore across three sub-themes, "Thrive, Connect, Grow", and were given insights into a range of issues, policies, and perspectives to build a stronger Singapore."

Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary to Visit Malaysia for ASEAN Education Roundtables on 19 June 2025 (18 June 2025)

"Senior Minister of State for Education, Dr Janil Puthucheary, will attend the ASEAN Ministers of Education and Higher Education Roundtables in Langkawi, Malaysia, on 19 June 2025."

Minister for Education Desmond Lee to Attend the 53rd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Council Conference (30 June 2025)

"Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, will attend the 53rd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Council Conference in Brunei Darussalam, from 1 to 2 July 2025."

2025 School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (1 July 2025)

"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."

Disbursement of Child LifeSG Credits and Top-Ups to Edusave Account or Post-Secondary Education Account in July 2025 (3 July 2025)

"In July 2025, families with eligible children will receive a one-off disbursement of the Child LifeSG Credits (CLC) and/or a one-off top-up of $500 to their children's Edusave Account or Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA). These are part of the suite of household support measures to support families with children in managing their child-raising costs, which were announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2025."

Record Student Participation as Chinese Radio Drama Scriptwriting Competition Opens to Primary Schools (4 July 2025)

"A record number of more than 850 students across 69 educational institutions participated in this year's "Script it Right" Chinese Radio Drama Competition ("与声剧来"中文广播剧创作比赛). 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 competition's award ceremony, which recognised student winners for their strong creative writing skills, storytelling abilities and Chinese language proficiency. The competition was jointly organised by CPCLL, UFM100.3 and Holy Innocents' High School to foster students' passion for Chinese language and storytelling."

Seven Young Educators Receive National Award for Dedication in Nurturing Students (9 July 2025)

"In recognition of their unwavering dedication and impact in nurturing their students, seven 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 held on Wednesday, 9 July 2025."

Racial Harmony Day 2025: Our People, Our Tapestry (18 July 2025)

"Racial Harmony Day (RHD), which falls on 21 July, is commemorated annually by schools to enable students to gain a deeper appreciation of racial harmony and social cohesion. The theme 'Our People, Our Tapestry' reflects how Singapore's diverse cultures interweave to form our unique social fabric, through mutual understanding and respect of our ethnic and religious communities."

Annual Chinese Text Recital Competition Draws Record 2,500 Students (26 July 2025)

"A record number of 2,525 students from 272 primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute submitted more than 1,400 video entries for the 8th National Text Recital Competition. 107 students emerged winners and were recognised for their vocal articulation, fluency and stage presence at the award ceremony today. 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."

196 Students Awarded Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) (29 July 2025)

"196 students received the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) at the 2025 SgIS Award Ceremony. Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, gave out the scholarships at the ceremony."

School Terms and Holidays for 2026 (30 July 2025)

"The school year for 2026 for all MOE primary schools (including MOE Kindergartens) and secondary schools will start on Friday, 2 January 2026 and end on Friday, 20 November 2026."

Opening Address by Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the MOE Scholarship Ceremony (1 August 2025)

"SMS David Neo

Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of the Public Service Commission

Colleagues, Friends

Scholarship and Award Recipients and family members

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good afternoon. Let me begin today's event by congratulating all our scholarship and award recipients and your invited guests.

This is the first MOE Scholarship Ceremony where we bring together recipients of the MOE Teaching Scholarships, the MOE Teaching Award and the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (or START) Scholarships and Awards."

167 Individuals Awarded Teaching Scholarships and Grants at MOE Scholarship Ceremony (1 August 2025)

"167 individuals received scholarships and grants from Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee at the Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship Ceremony held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre today. For the first time, 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."

Students Showcase Vocal and Composition Skills at Annual Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition (2 August 2025)

"42 students were recognised for their vocal and composition skills at this year's "Xin Kong Xia" 《新空下》Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition Grand Finals. A record number of close to 100 students from 23 schools participated in the Singing (Group) Category, which continues to garner interests from inter-school team participation, with the team from Nan Hua High School and Tanjong Katong Girls' School emerging as finalists to compete for the top three prizes at the grand finals. Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Ms Jasmin Lau, graced the event and delivered an opening speech."

Students Showcase Creativity and Vocal Skills in Inaugural Malay Choral Recitation Competition (11 August 2025)

"More than 190 primary and secondary students advanced to the finals of Katapella 2025, Singapore's first national-level Malay choral recitation competition, where students showcased their linguistic talents and creative expressions in the Malay language."

More Than 180 Students Showcase Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills at Inaugural National Debate Competition (16 August 2025)

"185 students from 28 secondary schools and pre-university institutions participated in the inaugural National Schools Chinese Debate Competition, and 24 finalists were recognised at the awards ceremony held today. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a pre-recorded speech at the event."

Preschool Teachers Recognised for Nurturing Love for Chinese Language Through Storytelling (16 August 2025)

"28 preschool teachers emerged winners at this year's Storytelling Aids Competition for Preschool Chinese Language Teachers (2025年学前华文教师故事教具制作比赛). With over 270 entries, this year's competition saw one of the highest participations in the past three years. The annual competition aims to inspire preschool Chinese Language teachers to engage children and nurture their interest in learning Chinese Language through creative storytelling."

Opera Estate Primary School and Yusof Ishak Secondary School Emerge as Champions of Katapella 2025 (22 August 2025)

"Opera Estate Primary School and Yusof Ishak Secondary School have emerged as the champions of Katapella 2025, Singapore's first national-level Malay choral recitation competition, in the primary school and secondary school categories respectively. Each winning team received a trophy and book vouchers worth $3,200."

Inaugural National Chinese Reading Competition Draws Over 2,500 Student Participants (23 August 2025)

"A total of 2,541 students from 239 primary and secondary schools participated in the inaugural National Chinese Reading Competition. Among them, 135 students across the primary and secondary school categories advanced to the competition finals today. 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 50 student winners at the award ceremony."

Relocation of Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre to 1 Victoria Lane from January 2027 (23 August 2025)

"New Campus Will Provide UPTLC with Larger Learning Spaces and Upgraded Facilities to Support Teaching and Learning

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will be relocating the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC), currently located at 2 Beatty Road, to the former Stamford Primary School Site at 1 Victoria Lane with effect from January 2027, following the expiry of its tenancy at 2 Beatty Road in December 2026."

195 Students Recognised for Diverse Achievements at Annual Special Awards Ceremony (26 August 2025)

"This year, 206 Special Awards were given out to 195 students from 91 educational institutions to recognise their diverse achievements in both academic and non-academic domains. Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee presented the awards at the Special Awards Presentation Ceremony on 26 August 2025 at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre."

Singapore Students Win 18 Gold Medals, 17 Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals and 1 Team Championship in this Year's International Olympiads and International Young Physicists' Tournament (27 August 2025)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) congratulates all students for their outstanding performance in the International Olympiads for Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, Nuclear Science, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Informatics, and the International Young Physicists' Tournament, which were held overseas from June to August 2025. Outside of the competitions, our students gained valuable experience through interactions with like-minded peers from all around the world."

Four Teachers Recognised at Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' Award Ceremony 2025 (30 August 2025)

"Four teachers received the Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' (MITT) Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions in 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."

Eight Teachers Receive Top Honours for Dedication and Excellence in Education (4 September 2025)

"Eight outstanding educators received this year's President's Award for Teachers from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the annual Teachers' Day Reception on 4 September 2025."

Addendum to the President's Address (17 September 2025)

"MR DESMOND LEE

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to enhance our education system so that Singaporeans can flourish at every stage of their lives and reach their fullest potential, regardless of starting point. We will equip and empower Singaporeans to learn for life and thrive in an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-transformed future."

Close to 10,000 Student Athletes Recognised for Sporting Achievements at Colours Award 2025 (26 September 2025)

"This year, a total of 9,963 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."

Singapore Teachers Embrace Digital Technologies and Benefit from Strong Professional Development: OECD TALIS 2024 Study (7 October 2025)

"Based on the findings of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024, Singapore teachers have been quick to adopt digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to teach their students more effectively. They have benefited from strong pre-service teacher preparation and continual professional development throughout their careers. Our teachers also felt valued by society, and view teaching as an attractive first-choice career option."

41 Schools to Welcome New Principals in 2026 (8 October 2025)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will appoint 41 Principals at the annual Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals on 30 December 2025. Of these, 25 are newly appointed Principals."

MOE Financial Assistance Schemes to Benefit an Additional 31,000 Students (16 October 2025)

"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will revise the income eligibility criteria and raise the quanta of several of its financial assistance schemes for Singaporean students in schools and Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs).

These enhancements can benefit 31,000 more students from lower- and middle-income households, by helping them cope with education-related costs and access school and post-secondary programmes. This brings the total number of students who would benefit from MOE's financial assistance schemes annually to about 133,000."

'If nobody is going to plan for them, then we have to': Parents step in as vocational options shrink (16 August 2025)

"A part-time job at a local café has done far more than give Ms Corinne Poon's 23-year-old autistic son a regular pay cheque.

The 48-year-old who works in the finance industry said it has not only kept her son, JW, thoroughly engaged but also built up his confidence and self-esteem.

Her son got the job after spending nearly seven years in a vocational track after Primary Six, a decision she is "very glad" the family ever made. Ms Poon had decided to opt out of the mainstream track once her son had completed his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

"I'm most grateful that at least he's given the opportunity to learn something, such as new life skills, and be able to contribute to society," she said."

Three Sengkang Green Primary 3 students suspended after threatening to kill classmate and her family (17 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Sengkang Green Primary School has suspended three Primary 3 students after they sent death threats to a classmate's mother who reported them for allegedly bullying her daughter.

In a post on Thursday (Aug 14), a Facebook user named Ni Yin claimed to be the victim's mother and detailed the alleged bullying that led to the threats against her and her family.

She also uploaded an audio clip she received.

In the clip, a person said: “I might dissect her. I might dissect her into pieces like you. So which one do you want me to do? Dissect her? Or end her life in school? Choose one. Either don’t want one, I will kill you instead and your husband.”

NDR 2025: New government-funded traineeship scheme for graduates to tackle job concerns (17 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore will launch a government-funded traineeship programme for graduates concerned about their job prospects amid economic uncertainty.

It will provide training opportunities for graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 17).

The scheme will kick off with a "more focused rollout" and will be scaled up if the economy worsens, Mr Wong told an audience at the ITE headquarters in Ang Mo Kio."

NDR 2025: New Islamic college to be located next to SUSS in Rochor, feature shared facilities (17 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will be located next to the new Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) campus in Rochor, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday (Aug 17).

Students at the college will be able to take SUSS courses as part of their studies, and both institutions will also share facilities, he said in his Malay National Day Rally speech at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College headquarters in Ang Mo Kio.

“This way, students from both institutions can better interact with one another, enriching their campus lives,” he added."

NDR 2025: Singapore to treat vaping as a ‘drug issue’ and step up enforcement (17 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore will treat vaping as a “drug issue” and step up enforcement, toughening its stance on the electronic cigarettes that are illegal but increasingly rampant among youths in the country.

“So far we’ve treated vaping like tobacco – at most we impose a fine. But that’s no longer enough,” said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Aug 17).

In his National Day Rally speech, held at the Institute of Technical Education College headquarters in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Wong added that authorities will hence impose “much stiffer” penalties, including jail sentences and more severe punishments for those who sell vapes with harmful substances."

This preschool educator pairs sound pedagogy with open parent dialogue (18 August 2025)

"When five-year-old Diana joined Ms Guo Jing’s K2 class, the experienced educator was already familiar with her - she had first taught Diana back in 2022. Ms Guo had also taught Diana’s older sister, Barbara, in earlier years and was familiar with the family’s warm and supportive involvement.

Diana, who is of mixed Indian and Mexican heritage, has a gentle nature and quiet determination. “Chinese is not her first language, so she was a bit more reserved during Chinese lessons,” Ms Guo shared.

As a senior Chinese teacher and curriculum trainer cum-coordinator at Kinderland Preschool @ Woodlands Mart, Ms Guo is skilled in adapting her teaching to suit each child’s pace and personality. She recognised that Diana needed a nurturing, pressure-free environment to help her build confidence in the language.

“I gently encouraged her parents to let Diana learn at her own pace and style,” Ms Guo shared. “By giving her space to explore the language in her own time, Diana began to show greater interest and enjoyment during Chinese class.”

This preschool vice-principal says trust between parents and educators builds confident learners (19 August 2025)

"Even though it’s been five years since 11-year-old Kayvier Soh graduated from preschool, his mother, Ms Tanny Tay, still has fond memories of the care and compassion her child received from Ms Quek Dai Tong, vice-principal of PCF Sparkletots @ Sengkang East Blk 103.

“When Kayvier was younger, he had speech difficulties and we enrolled him into a speech therapy programme based on Ms Quek’s recommendation,” Ms Tay shared. “I trusted Ms Quek to make the right professional decisions based on her understanding of Kayvier’s needs.”

“With full support from Ms Quek and the school, Kayvier made remarkable progress,” Ms Tay added. “Today, he can speak confidently and clearly. This was only possible because of the close collaboration between the school, teacher, therapist and parents.”

Building a culture of trust is something that Ms Quek strongly advocates for – especially as it gives parents peace of mind while empowering teachers to make their own decisions. “This reassures parents that educators are committed to creating a safe, nurturing environment, and that we continuously reflect and fine-tune our practices to better support each child’s development,” she said."

Eviction from halls, suspension and even expulsion: How universities, polytechnics are cracking down on vaping (19 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: From S$300 (US$230) fines to suspension and even expulsion, universities and polytechnics are getting tougher on those caught vaping on campus.

Some are increasing security patrols, and many are offering support for those who want to kick the habit.

The moves by institutes of higher learning (IHLs) come amid a national push to clamp down on vaping, which saw Prime Minister Lawrence Wong mentioning the issue during his National Day Rally speech.

“So far we’ve treated vaping like tobacco – at most we impose a fine. But that’s no longer enough,” he said.

Moving forward, Singapore will treat vaping as a “drug issue” and step up enforcement."

Former preschool teacher who kicked 4-year-old girl sentenced to 4 days' jail (19 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A former preschool teacher who kicked a four-year-old girl in a kindergarten classroom was sentenced to four days' jail on Tuesday (Aug 19).

Alamelu Paramaguru got angry because she felt that the girl, who was sitting on the floor, had nearly tripped her.

The 57-year-old Singaporean earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of ill-treating a child under the Children and Young Persons Act.

Both the kindergarten and the victim cannot be named to protect the child's identity."

‘A remarkable educator’: Former principal of Anglican High, Yusof Ishak Secondary principal dies (19 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The former principal of Yusof Ishak Secondary School, who led the school in its move from Bukit Batok to Punggol, died on Monday (Aug 18).

Madam Maureen Lee, 59, was the school’s principal from 2018 to 2024. Before that, she was the principal of Anglican High School from 2010 to 2017.

Both schools posted tributes to her online on Tuesday. No details are known about her job position this year or the cause of her death."

This NUS lecturer and PhD holder left academia to open restaurant that sells one handmade pasta dish daily (19 August 2025)

"With his wire-rimmed glasses and scholarly demeanour, Lim Zhi Han probably looks more suited buried in a book than rolling out fresh dough. For nearly two decades, that was true. The 45-year-old lectured at the National University of Singapore after earning his PhD in physics there.

Last November, Lim left academia to open 42 Pasta Is The Answer, a 20-seat Italian restaurant at Thomson Plaza. He runs it almost entirely on his own, with help from a part-timer, and occasional weekend pasta-making assistance from his wife Hwee Yee, who has a full-time job."

Together with his parents, this preschool teacher helped her student overcome developmental hurdles (20 August 2025)

"Shortly after meeting Guan Yu in her new class, preschool educator Nurul Asyiqin Hasim from E-Bridge Pre-School Upper Serangoon noticed that the four-year-old needed a little extra support.

A sweet and affectionate boy who enjoys helping others, Guan Yu had trouble with certain everyday tasks such as putting on his shoes, buttoning his shirt and drawing. He also occasionally needed support when interacting with peers, but it never stopped him from trying to join in and play with them.

Based on her training and with over four years of experience working as an early childhood educator, Ms Asyiqin knew it would take more than solid pedagogy and savvy classroom management skills to address Guan Yu's developmental challenges. It would require a close partnership with his parents to ensure he received timely interventions and consistent support both at home and in school."

About 100 young Chinese community leaders to be identified, nurtured over next 5 years through new programme (20 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Amid worries about succession in Chinese community organisations, these groups will work with the government to identify and nurture the next generation of community leaders.

Over the next five years, the new Chinese Community Leadership Course will aim to identify and develop about 100 young leaders in their 30s and 40s, the government's Chinese Community Liaison Group (CCLG) said on Wednesday (Aug 20).

The programme will be developed by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) with the support of the government, which will fund it."

Commentary: NDR 2025 – how traineeships can translate into jobs for fresh graduates (20 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The global economy in 2025 is expected to see sluggish growth, with some forecasts warning of the weakest expansion since the COVID-19 pandemic.

While some regions might experience moderate growth, others could face significant headwinds, particularly due to factors like trade tensions, geopolitical risks and technological disruptions.

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong struck a candid but forward-looking tone in his National Day Rally speech. He acknowledged the uncertainties but also emphasised that Singapore’s workforce and businesses must stay nimble and seize new opportunities.

One of the most significant measures unveiled was a government-funded traineeship programme for Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnic and university graduates. It aims to offer fresh graduates more training opportunities, allowing them a foothold in the working world."

TB screening shows no evidence of transmission within two preschools in Toa Payoh and East Coast (20 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: One staff member who worked at MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast has tested positive for active tuberculosis, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Wednesday (Aug 20).

She is a household contact of an earlier case which prompted testing across two preschools, and the agency said early results showed no evidence of TB transmission within both childcare centres.

None of the children at MindChamps PreSchool at East Coast and MapleBear Toa Payoh have tested positive to date."

Sengkang Green Primary bullying case: MOE details timeline, says parents no longer want transfer after meeting (20 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday (Aug 20) released a timeline of events after three Sengkang Green Primary School students were suspended over death threats made to a classmate and her mother.

The school told CNA last Friday in response to queries that three Primary 3 students had been immediately suspended over the incidents, before the affected student's mother Ni Yin took to Facebook to detail the bullying that led to the threats.

The school also said last Friday that in the course of its investigations, it found that the girl had also engaged in "hurtful behaviours". Her mother had called for tougher action on the bullies and a school transfer for her daughter."

She lost her husband to cancer at 45 and now leads a widow support group for grieving women and their children (21 August 2025)

"They fell in love when they were barely 16. The year was 1988 – a time when phones had cords, not cameras.

“In my time, during your O-Level year, you’d write autographs for your friends and attach photographs taken with traditional film cameras,” 53-year-old Cynthia Tay recalled.

“We didn’t have Wefies then. So my friends and I were looking for someone to take group photographs for us. Three guys we met at Raffles City Shopping Centre volunteered, and took photographs with our camera and their camera,” she reminisced."

Up to 800 government-funded traineeships for fresh graduates to be offered from October (22 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Up to 800 traineeships will be offered by private firms and the public sector from October amid concerns from fresh graduates about a tepid job market.

Under the Graduate Industry Traineeships (GRIT) scheme, trainee allowance will range from S$1,800 (US$1,400) to S$2,400 per month depending on the scope of each traineeship, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Public Service Division (PSD) said in a factsheet on Friday (Aug 22).

The government will fund 70 per cent of the monthly allowance for trainees, and the host organisation will fund the remaining 30 per cent, said the agencies. Each traineeship will last between three to six months."

Commentary: How Singapore can protect children while helping them navigate social media (22 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: At this year’s National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the growing concern of excessive screen time for children.

Mr Wong emphasised the need to strike a balance between protecting youth and empowering them to leverage technology, noting that Singapore is observing the experience of countries that have restricted children’s access to social media platforms."

'We are punishing ourselves': The mounting toll of teen Kpod addiction on desperate parents (22 August 2025)

"Ms Tang hasn't slept properly in close to eight months. Once, she stayed up for nearly 36 hours straight, keeping vigil over her 18-year-old son.

She was too afraid that the moment she closed her eyes, he would slip out of the house to chase another hit from Kpods.

Most nights, when the young man heads out to hunt for these e-vaporisers laced with the fast-acting anaesthetic etomidate, he leaves the front gate wide open. These expeditions also set off a blitz of motion alerts on Ms Tang's phone, from the closed-circuit television cameras around their home.

Ms Tang, who declined to give her full name, started noticing her son was acting "a bit weird" last Christmas Eve. It wasn't until a few months later, just shy of Chinese New Year, that she caught him red-handed with Kpods."

MOE warns of scam targeting students with fake tuition payment emails (22 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Friday (Aug 22) warned of scam emails targeting students at institutes of higher learning (IHL), prompting them to make payments for supposedly outstanding tuition fees.

"A police report has been made, and investigations are ongoing. The IHLs have alerted students and parents to warn them about this scam."

MOE also sent a message to all parents and guardians on Friday morning via Parents Gateway, a platform that supports parents and schools on key administrative matters.

The ministry said it had been made aware of fraudulent emails targeting parents and asking for the payment of fees."

Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre to relocate to Jalan Besar in 2027 (23 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre will relocate to Jalan Besar from January 2027 after its current tenancy at 2 Beatty Road in Bendemeer expires.

The centre's new home will be at 1 Victoria Lane, the site of the former Stamford Primary School, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Saturday (Aug 23)."

MSF to raise fostering allowance in bid to attract more couples to foster teenagers; removes income, education criteria (23 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Foster parents caring for teenagers will begin receiving higher monthly allowances in November, as part of new measures to encourage more families to foster older children, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced on Saturday (Aug 23).

In addition, the minimum household income and educational requirements for fostering applicants have also been scrapped, the ministry said in a statement. This took effect in July last year.

Speaking at the annual Fostering Open House held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said the expanded eligibility criteria are aimed at encouraging more couples “to step forward and make a lasting difference”."

New SG Culture Pass credits can be used on over 400 arts and heritage programmes (25 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singaporeans can choose from more than 400 arts and heritage programmes to spend their S$100 (US$78) SG Culture Pass credits, starting next Monday (Sep 1).

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said more than 100 partners have come on board so far.

It will continue to accept programme applications from the sector to ensure a "regularly updated and vibrant selection", the ministry said in a factsheet."

Govt to discuss age-appropriate content with platforms; social media cannot be a 'free-for-all’: Josephine Teo (25 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The government is seeking “meaningful ways of intervening” with social media platforms to keep the digital space safe for younger users, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on a podcast episode released on Monday (Aug 25).

One approach that is being studied is for platforms to adopt age assurance measures so that content is matched appropriately to the users' ages, said Mrs Teo in an episode of CNA’s Deep Dive podcast with host Steve Chia and mother-of-two Jane Foo.

“There will always be unregulated spaces that children could wade into. But having said that, I think it cannot mean that everything on social media is free-for-all,” Mrs Teo said."

Former teacher gets jail for filming male victims in changing rooms (26 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A teacher who had been filming male victims in locker or changing rooms was caught by a member of the public taking videos in the men's toilet at MacRitchie Reservoir.

The witness called the police, believing that the teacher was recording his students in the toilet. However, the victims did not include the students.

Checks by the police later revealed that Woo Weng Chuan, 51, had taken illicit videos of other men in changing rooms."

Commentary: To tackle Kpods and vaping, young people need facts, not fear (26 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: At this year’s National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a major shift: Singapore will no longer treat vaping like a tobacco issue but as a drug problem, with stiffer penalties and stronger enforcement nationwide.

From Sep 1, the government will classify etomidate – an anaesthetic found in Kpods – as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act: Dealers face jail sentences and potentially caning, while users will have to undergo supervision and rehabilitation, with repeat offenders risking jail.

The goal is clear: to close the loophole that has left Kpods in a grey zone – with etomidate not classified as a controlled drug and vapes carrying lighter penalties under tobacco laws – and to curb circulation."

AI-powered SG60 Heart&Soul Experience launched at Orchard Central (26 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A flagship exhibition marking Singapore's 60th year of independence opened on Tuesday (Aug 26) at Orchard Central, using generative artificial intelligence and immersive storytelling to reimagine the country's past and future.

Called the SG60 Heart&Soul Experience, the showcase creates a personalised journey for visitors through interactive installations and digital narratives. It encourages the public to imagine life beyond SG60, said the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the National Library Board (NLB), which jointly organised the event.

The free exhibition is produced by the team behind the 2019 Singapore Bicentennial and the SG50 Future of Us showcase."

Teens behaving badly? What literally goes on in their brains when they drink, skip meals or sleep less (26 August 2025)

"Every generation has something to say about the one before. If you're talking about teenagers, well, there's plenty for fodder in the news. From extreme bullying to thoughtless antics such as flipping a signboard, and putting a drunk juice bottle back on a supermarket shelf during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's enough for you to exclaim: Just what were these kids thinking?

Probably not much because when it comes to the teenage brain, it isn’t quite fully developed yet – and it won’t be until age 25 or so. Because of that, good judgment isn’t something teens can excel in at the moment, according to Stanford Medicine.

While adults like yourself respond to situations using your prefrontal cortex (the brain’s CEO or rational part), the teenager tends to use his amygdala (the emotional part) instead."

‘Not a dying trade’: Plumbing, construction sectors see more interest from degree and diploma holders (27 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Blue-collar trade associations in plumbing and construction say they are seeing more university graduates and diploma holders join their ranks.

Among reasons cited are that these jobs are less vulnerable to disruptions and offer salaries that stack up against entry-level office roles."

Science Centre Singapore's largest-ever dinosaur showcase to open in October, will feature 33 rare fossils and 60 full-scale models (27 August 2025)

"Dinosaur fans in Singapore, mark your calendars for Oct 11, as Science Centre Singapore will be launching its Dinosaurs | Extinctions | Us showcase – letting visitors come face-to-face with some of the biggest dinos that ever lived.

The experience will feature 33 rare fossils and 60 full-scale models across 3,000 square metres and is set to be Science Centre Singapore's largest-ever dinosaur showcase.

A collaboration between Science Centre Singapore and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore, Dinosaurs | Extinctions | Us will bring together two exhibitions unfolding across three interactive zones."

Schools to get stronger anti-bullying policies, review of discipline framework: Desmond Lee (27 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will strengthen school policies on bullying and harmful behaviour in the next phase of its internal review, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said on Wednesday (Aug 27).

The Comprehensive Action Review against Bullying, which began in early 2025, aims to improve existing structures and processes to better tackle bullying in schools, he said.

Mr Lee was speaking at a dialogue with about 20 educators, parents and members of COMPASS (COMmunity and Parents in Support of Schools) at the MOE headquarters. The dialogue session was not open to the media for reporting."

24 students, 2 staff members develop gastroenteritis symptoms at PCF Sparkletots in Mountbatten (27 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating suspected cases of gastroenteritis reported at PCF Sparkletots Preschool at Mountbatten Block 92.

As of Monday (Aug 25), 24 students and two staff members were reported to have developed gastroenteritis symptoms since Saturday, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

None were hospitalised and all affected students and staff members have recovered and returned to the preschool on Tuesday, they said."

Singapore footballer dropped from U-17 national squad after row over studies and training camp (27 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Footballer Mika Baihakki has been dropped from the national under-17 squad after the teen opted to skip an overseas training camp and remain in Singapore to prepare for his examinations.

Mika is the son of former Singapore international Baihakki Khaizan. On Tuesday (Aug 26), Mika’s mother Norfasarie Mohd Yahya raised the issue in posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Ms Norfasarie said that her son was "upfront with the management" about his desire to remain in Singapore during the September school holidays to attend extra lessons and prepare for his N-Levels, rather than attend a training camp in Bahrain."

Schools get nicotine test kits as student vaping cases surge to 3,100 yearly (28 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Schools across Singapore, from primary to junior colleges, have been issued nicotine test kits amid a sharp rise in vaping among students.

The number of students caught vaping has jumped to an average of 3,100 a year between 2022 and 2024, according to new figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE). In the institutes of higher learning, about 800 students were caught a year during the same period.

In contrast, fewer than 50 cases from schools and institutes of higher learning were referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before 2020.

The nicotine test kits have been issued to around 260 schools since March, following requests from schools, MOE said on Thursday (Aug 28)."

Commentary: Your kids are already using AI. Are you ready to guide them? (28 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: By now, it is clear that artificial intelligence (AI) is not going anywhere. In fact, judging from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent National Day Rally speech, it will only become more entrenched in how Singapore works, learns and lives.

While he acknowledged concerns that have been raised over the use of AI by students, such as over-reliance, loss of critical thinking skills and the temptation to take shortcuts, Mr Wong also urged educators and parents to remain open to its potential.

The challenge, he noted, is to strike the right balance: empowering young people to fully exploit the benefits of technology while protecting them from potential harms.

But what does that look like in practice, especially for parents?"

With teacher and parent support, this preschooler grew from rarely speaking to communicating confidently (29 August 2025)

"When Emily first joined the N1 class at M.Y World @ Tampines GreenView, she was quiet and reserved, speaking very little during class. Although she followed instructions well, Emily’s teachers noticed that she rarely initiated conversation with her peers or adults.

“We shared these observations with her parents and learned that she communicated minimally at home as well, often preferring solitary play,” said Ms Amelia Tan, principal at M.Y World @ Tampines GreenView.

To support Emily’s language development, her teachers collaborated with her parents to come up with a plan. In school, the teacher introduced more small-group activities, offering Emily gentle encouragement to express herself in a low-pressure environment. At home, her parents used picture books for storytelling, prompting her to describe the illustrations. They also made a conscious effort to engage her in conversation during weekend outings by discussing the places they visited.

“Over time, we saw steady progress in her verbal participation,” Ms Tan said. “By the end of the term, Emily was confidently engaging with her peers and expressing her needs more openly.”

Students repeatedly caught vaping will face up to 14 days' suspension, 3 strokes of the cane: Desmond Lee (29 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Students caught vaping at schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) will face stricter disciplinary measures from next Monday (Sep 1), Minister for Education Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

First-time offenders in schools will face one to three days of detention and/or suspension, in addition to a conduct grade adjustment. Boys will also face one stroke of the cane.

Repeat offenders face five to 14 days of detention and/or suspension, and a conduct grade adjustment to “poor”. Boys will be given up to three strokes of the cane."

Commentary: When a child reports bullying, the response must come fast and clear (29 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: At a dialogue session on Wednesday (Aug 27) night, Education Minister Desmond Lee laid out broad plans aimed at improving how school bullying is handled.

Disciplinary frameworks will be reviewed, bullying reporting channels will be made more accessible to students, and peer support in schools strengthened.

The goal, it seems, is in part to rebuild trust with parents.

That trust has taken a hit in recent months. The case at Sengkang Green Primary School – in which three Primary 3 boys were suspended after threatening to kill their classmate and her family - shocked many parents. An audio clip containing a death threat was recorded and sent directly to the girl’s mother after she had reported bullying. For a child to hear her peers speak in such a chilling manner must be terrifying. For parents, it is unthinkable.

Just months earlier, a video emerged showing a Secondary 1 boy from Montfort Secondary School being kicked and tripped repeatedly as he tried to walk away. The school disciplined the boys involved and offered counselling.

Both episodes raised hard questions about safety in schools, and whether victims feel protected soon enough."

Singapore's vape clampdown unlikely to lead to more youths smoking, says Ong Ye Kung (30 August 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore's intensified crackdown on vaping is unlikely to result in more youths choosing to smoke cigarettes instead, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday (Aug 30).

Asked if that might happen, he pointed to falling smoking rates: The latest National Population Health Survey showed that the prevalence of daily smoking in Singapore decreased from 9.2 per cent in 2022 to 8.8 per cent in 2023.

Of those who smoke, most are older adults who already do so out of habit, said Mr Ong. "I'm very sure without vaping, young people wouldn't be smoking. It's just not cool."

Quantum computing may sound like science fiction but here's why we need to take it seriously (30 August 2025)

"In a highly secure lab in the United States, at technology company IBM's research facility just outside of New York City, a cryogenic refrigerator hums away, keeping temperatures ultra-cold – icier than the depths of outer space.

Also known as a dilution refrigerator, it keeps temperatures plunged near absolute zero (-273.15°C). The tangle of cylindrical vessels and wires safeguards other complex parts that make up an extremely temperature-sensitive piece of technology at its heart.

A growing number of scientists believe these components may well represent the future of computing, technology more broadly, and even society itself."

This preschooler’s frequent meltdowns eased through joint support from parents and teachers (1 September 2025)

"Parents of children with developmental needs may often hear more about what their child cannot do than what they can but Ms Chou Li Hong, a preschool teacher from Skool4Kidz Campus @ Sengkang Riverside Park, is working to change that narrative.

In her daily interactions with parents, Ms Chou focuses on the child’s abilities rather than their limitations. She also pays careful attention to each child’s interests to better engage them. For example, when a child tends to leave their seat and wander, she turns that restlessness into a movement activity for the class – transforming a potential disruption into a moment of shared engagement.

This approach reflects her commitment to nurturing a compassionate, inclusive environment where every child feels accepted, regardless of their unique abilities and challenges. Ms Chou – who currently teaches an N1 class – also uses play-based learning and sensory activities to encourage exploration and independence in children who may need extra guidance."

Commentary: Why it's hard to have empathy during bullying incidents (1 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: When news broke online of a Primary 3 student sending a death threat to his classmate’s mother, it wasn’t the words that gripped my attention – it was the voice.

“I might dissect her … I will kill you and your husband.” These chilling words were delivered with the singsong lilt of a 9-year-old boy.

Such a brazen attitude to violence is not born overnight. It is learnt and normalised, perhaps through repeated exposure to the digital world."

Singapore parents, students taken aback by tough vaping rules in schools, say teens may find ways around them (1 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The government's crackdown on vaping in schools has taken both parents and students by surprise, with many expressing concern over how harsh the new measures feel – and whether they will actually work.

“My initial reaction to the news of nicotine test kits and metal detectors in schools was one of shock and sadness," said father-of-two Aylwin Lam. "It’s disheartening that the vaping epidemic has reached a point where such drastic measures are deemed necessary."

The 48-year-old regional sales director added: "It feels like we are treating our schools like high-security zones rather than places of learning, which is a sad reflection of the current situation."

Last Thursday (Aug 28), the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that about 260 schools have been issued nicotine test kits since March. Some schools are also using metal detectors and encouraging a “peer vigilance culture”, where students are urged to report classmates who vape."

School camp instructor sent photo of private parts to 15-year-old girl, gets jail (1 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: An external camp instructor kept in contact with a 15-year-old student on social media after running a three-day school camp for her secondary school class, despite knowing his company did not allow this.

Ilyas Mohd Yusoff, now 24, began sending sexual messages to the girl and asked her to have sex with him, before sending a photo of his private parts to her on social media app Snapchat.

The girl reported the matter to her school, and the police got involved.

Ilyas was sentenced on Monday (Sep 1) to eight weeks' jail. He pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally causing a minor to observe a sexual image, with another charge taken into consideration during sentencing."

17 students, one staff member hit by gastroenteritis symptoms at Punggol preschool (2 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Authorities said on Tuesday (Sep 2) that they are investigating suspected cases of gastroenteritis reported at Mulberry Learning, a preschool in Punggol.

As of Friday (Aug 29), 17 students and one staff member were reported to have developed gastroenteritis symptoms since Wednesday, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a joint statement.

Of those, two students were hospitalised – one of whom has been discharged, they said.

“All are recovering well,” the authorities added."

17-year-old boy charged with possessing vape containing cannabis-related substance (3 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A 17-year-old boy was charged in court on Wednesday (Sep 3) with possessing a vape device containing a cannabis-related substance in February.

The boy is also accused of trafficking methamphetamine, cannabis, ketamine and other drugs alongside another male teenager, who was also 17 at the time. The second boy is now 18 years old.

The boys, who are both Singaporeans, cannot be named. Those allegedly involved in offences before they turn 18 are protected under the Children and Young Persons Act."

Giant board games and more at Asian Civilisations Museum's 'playable' exhibit on Asian games (3 September 2025)

"Did you know mahjong started with cards? Or that chess began in India as a war game? A new exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) looks at the origins of some familiar games across Asia – and you can even have fun exploring these at a "playable" exhibition.

Let’s Play! The Art And Design Of Asian Games opens on Sep 5 and features more than 150 works ranging from historical artefacts to newly commissioned pieces by contemporary designers. Other games featured include chess, chaupar, weiqi, xiangqi, shogi and carrom.

Aside from looking at their history, the show also shows how they've been reinvented for modern audiences. There are also communal play spaces where visitors can enjoy classic board games and locally designed titles, alongside digital interactives."

From peer pressure to social media, what's behind the rise in youth shoplifting in Singapore? (4 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The student went to a store near his school, and when no one was looking, helped himself to some bottles of drinks. He left without paying.

The drinks weren't meant for him - they were for friends, or rather friends he was hoping to make. And the student later said he had every intention to return to the store to pay for what he took.

This case, shared by a psychologist, illustrates how the desire to fit in a social circle is among factors pushing youths in Singapore - some as young as 10 years old - to commit theft."

Commentary: Teenagers know vaping is harmful. That doesn’t mean they’ll stop (5 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: My 15-year-old son recently came home from a student leader workshop and told me he’d spent the afternoon with former drug offenders.

The men he met spoke about choices they had made in their youth that slowly led to other risks and ultimately derailed their lives. Their stories included cigarettes, vapes, and increasingly, Kpods - vape pods laced with dangerous anaesthetics. Many said it started with curiosity, peer pressure, or "just trying it once".

My son said their stories didn’t feel like a lecture. They didn’t use scare tactics. They just straight up told their stories, plainly and honestly.

As a parent, I was struck by how formative the workshop was for my son.

Teenagers are often told what not to do. Don’t smoke. Don’t vape. Don’t take drugs. But if you really think about it, how often are they given the space to understand why, or to contribute to the conversations?"

Enhanced internship, higher starting pay among recommendations to draw architectural, engineering talent (5 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A task force for architectural and engineering consultants has proposed enhanced internships with higher starting salaries and dedicated mentors, among a list of 11 recommendations to drive talent to the built environment consultancy sector.

It comes as Singapore's long-term infrastructure plans, such as the Long Island, Greater Southern Waterfront and Changi Airport's Terminal 5 looms on the horizon.

“To turn these complex developments into reality, we need capable and passionate BE (built environment) professionals,” said Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development."

I used to think my mum had no dreams of her own. Now I see that she set them aside for me (5 September 2025)

"My mother has never complained about being a stay-at-home wife and mum – not openly at least.

She shows her love every day in countless quiet acts: never cooking the same meals two days in a row so we don't get bored with eating at home, folding and putting away laundry in our closets, tidying up our rooms for us whenever they get messy.

Growing up, I thought it was all just "mum stuff". This was just how things were: Mothers are meant to be at home and daughters would eventually take up the same roles and responsibilities."

Being a first-time PSLE mum has made me rethink what success really means (6 September 2025)

"Watching my oldest child hunched over a timed practice paper at the dining table, I remembered his very first spelling test in kindergarten.

That was the first of several little milestones that have brought us to this point today: In a few short weeks, he will sit his first national examination, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Nothing has prepared me for this. And yet, everything has, in a way."

Six in 10 youths want wider definitions of success in Singapore: Poll (6 September 2025)

"Six in 10 youths in Singapore hope society can celebrate wider definitions of success, as well as encourage risk-taking and learning from failure. Organisers of the SG Youth Plan gathered more than 200,000 responses from young people and stakeholders from last November to July. The insights into youths' hopes and aspirations will build on existing initiatives to help them reach their full potential, and inform a five-year plan by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth as well as the National Youth Council."

'Nobel Prize for students': Singapore startup wins US$1 million in seed funding after clinching top award (8 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A Singapore startup was named the winner of the 2025 Hult Prize last Friday (Sep 5), earning US$1 million (S$1.28 million) in seed funding.

Stick 'Em is an education technology company co-founded in 2021 by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) alumnus Adam Huh Dam, Singapore Polytechnic graduate Chong Ing Kai and National University of Singapore (NUS) student Tew Jing An.

The start-up provides affordable Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) kits, paired with an online learning platform that enables teachers to conduct their own classes."

Singapore picks up first case of incel radicalised by mixing far-right, far-left and ISIS ideologies (9 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A 14-year-old was issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) earlier in September, in Singapore’s first case of self-radicalisation by a mix of different extremist ideologies.

Influenced by what is known as a "salad bar" of extremist ideologies, the boy staunchly supported the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), subscribed to anti-Semitic beliefs espoused in far-right extremist ideologies, and also identified as an incel, the Internal Security Department said on Tuesday (Sep 9).

Incel is short for "involuntary celibate" and refers to a subculture of individuals – mostly men – who identify as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one.

The boy first came across far-right extremist content in the middle of 2024 and by April this year, he had pledged allegiance to ISIS online."

NLB giving away 60,000 pre-loved books for free this weekend, visitors can bring home 10 books per person (9 September 2025)

"Calling all bookworms to keep this weekend (Sep 13 and 14) free. The National Library Board (NLB) will hold the 10th edition of its Big Book Giveaway, which sees its pre-loved books given away for free. This year's event will have 60,000 books up for grabs – the highest number to date.

Happening at the Plaza of the National Library Building, this year's Big Book Giveaway will have books of various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery and adult non-fiction. There will also be a dedicated section for books about and from Singapore.

Each visitor can bring home up to 10 books per person, with books available on a first-come-first-served basis."

Parents with 3 or more young children to get S$1,000 LifeSG credits from Sep 10 (10 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Parents with three or more young children will receive S$1,000 (US$778) in LifeSG credits from Wednesday (Sep 10), as part of Singapore's efforts to support large families.

The LifeSG credits are for each third and subsequent Singaporean child, aged one to six this year.

Each eligible child will receive S$1,000 each year until he or she turns six years old."

Woman who worked at kindergarten charged with abusing three children aged 5 (11 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A 34-year-old woman was charged on Thursday (Sep 11) with ill-treating three five-year-old children at a kindergarten.

The woman, whose name was redacted in court documents due to a gag order protecting the identities of the victims, was handed three charges under the Children and Young Persons Act for inflicting unnecessary physical pain and suffering to the children.

The alleged incidents occurred on the same day on Jul 25, 2024, according to charge sheets."

Only 37% of parents in Singapore confident in guiding child's digital habits: MDDI survey (12 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Only 37 per cent of parents in Singapore felt confident in their ability to guide their child’s digital habits, according to survey findings released by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) on Friday (Sep 12).

The remaining 63 per cent felt little or no confidence in their ability to do so.

"For parents who expressed little or no confidence, the main challenges cited were limited time due to work or other commitments, the child’s reluctance to follow rules, the child’s ability to bypass parental controls, and parents’ limited knowledge of parental controls or monitoring tools," said MDDI in a press release."

Why 'AI slop' is taking over the internet, and what it's doing to our brains (13 September 2025)

"A set of triplet babies are using brooms to clean up the mess they made in a supermarket. A kitten is being eaten from the inside out by a swarm of ants. A toddler with an orange for a head is being saved by an orca and a Labubu doll after jumping off a cruise ship.

If all of this sounds like a nonsensical mash of random visuals, that is the point.

Welcome to the latest type of content proliferating on social media platforms, streaming sites, video games and the internet as a whole: artificial intelligence (AI) slop."

What’s with the morbid jokes among youth? How to tell when laughter isn’t the best medicine (13 September 2025)

"Late at night, as I was scrolling through social media as usual, I came across a video. In it, a man is standing at a window of a high-rise block and says, "What if I just – ", before cutting himself off, feinting a jumping motion out the window and then laughing to the camera.

I chuckled at first, then caught myself.

Why did I find that funny? And why did so many others in the comments say something like, "Same … except I'm not joking. Or am I?"

17 students, 2 staff members develop gastroenteritis symptoms at E-Bridge Pre-School in MacPherson (15 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The authorities are investigating suspected cases of gastroenteritis reported at the E-Bridge Pre-School branch at Circuit Road.

As of last Friday (Sep 12), 17 students and two staff members from the preschool in MacPherson were reported to have developed gastroenteritis symptoms since Sep 9, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a joint response on Monday.

No one was hospitalised, CDA, ECDA and SFA told CNA."

‘Harder than I thought to find a job’: Can traineeships help new graduates? (15 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: After applying to more than 150 jobs, AN, a 24-year-old computer science graduate, found herself in a dilemma familiar to many fresh graduates – hold out for a stable job, or consider an internship that pays less but promises a few months of industry experience.

With no offers in hand despite months of effort, she took on a part-time data role paying S$1,000 (US$780) a month while continuing to apply. After half a year of searching, she landed a full-time software developer job in September.

Nevertheless, the lengthy hunt for employment was a demoralising experience, said Ms N, who wanted to be identified by her initials only."

More businesses hit by fake bulk orders, with scammer claiming to be school staff (17 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Three more businesses have been targeted in fake bulk order scams, with the latest incidents involving the impersonation of a staff member from Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS).

The latest scams targeted local Mediterranean restaurant HaPiHa, fruit and vegetable vendor Nabayla, as well as bedding company Simply Dreams.

In all three cases, the scammer claimed to be an SCGS staff member and placed large orders."

Former St Joseph's Institution facilities manager accused of accepting bribes from 3 people (18 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A man who worked as a facilities manager at St Joseph's Institution (SJI) and three people alleged to have given him bribes were charged in court on Thursday (Sep 18).

Ng Cher Him, 58, is said to have accepted bribes of more than S$67,000 (US$52,400) from Renee Song Mui Kuan, 53, Ooi Kim Wei, 48, and Margaret Chin Lee Lan, 71, between 2018 and 2023. Ng, Song and Chin are Singaporeans, while Ooi is Malaysian and a Singapore permanent resident.

Song is a sales manager for both FB Services and Furnishing and Building Services (F&B Services), while Ooi was the director of air conditioning company EuconAir Services, and Chin was in charge of Integrated Security Solution Asia Pacific, said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)."

Singapore to launch mandatory AI literacy course for public servants: DPM Gane (19 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Public servants in Singapore will soon have to attend a mandatory artificial intelligence (AI) literacy course so that they are prepared for an AI-driven era, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Friday (Sep 19).

The course will raise the level of responsible AI use in the public service and will complement digital leadership training, he said during a speech at the annual Public Service Leadership ceremony.

"As leaders, we must set the tone by being open to using AI in our own work, encouraging our teams to do the same, and guiding our people to use these tools effectively and thoughtfully," said Mr Gan."

‘Almost every instructor is doing it’: How university professors are using AI, and why students are concerned (19 September 2025)

"There was one problem with the reading material assigned to Ms Pearl (not her real name) for her English course assignment at the National University of Singapore (NUS): It did not exist.

The 21-year-old was one of 14 literature students at NUS enrolled in EN3254 Worldly Words: Written Image and Visual Text this year.

Over the Chinese New Year break in February this year, the professor had given the class a reading assignment, but when Ms Pearl looked up her assigned scholarly book chapter, she could not find the chapter online or at the university library."

Are you relying on ChatGPT for parenting advice? Here's why AI can’t replace the village a mother needs (21 September 2025)

"When a close friend returned to work after maternity leave, I texted her to see how she was doing. How was she coping with juggling full-time work and caring for her firstborn?

She appeared chirpy and excited, but having gone through the newborn haze and (ongoing) struggles of returning to work myself only a year ago, my alarm bells went off.

At my insistence, she confessed: “Well… So I’ve been back to work for a week, and I thought I could manage caring for my baby and working from home, but it turned out to be so freaking hard. And now I feel like a total failure.”

Baffled, I asked her: “Who told you you could work and care for a baby at the same time? Caring for a baby is a whole other job.”

Sheepishly, she replied: “I asked ChatGPT…”

Her daughter’s meltdowns inspired this Singapore mum to design a journal for kids with big emotions (22 September 2025)

"Andrea Goh Fenton always suspected her daughter Livie was a little different when it came to sensitivity and big emotions, even as a baby.

“Besides feeling overwhelmed in noisy, loud environments, she is also rather self-conscious of what people think of her,” said the 46-year-old.

Her daughter, now four, would get easily upset or angry if she thought someone was laughing at her. “My daughter has an excellent sense of humour but when my husband and I laugh at her quirky comments, she often misunderstands it as us teasing her.”

It would upset her so much that she would have a meltdown, where she would pull her fingers and even scratch herself."

1,700 more unemployed graduates in 2025 cohort led to increased sense of job competition: Tan See Leng (23 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Fresh graduates in 2025 are feeling stronger competition in their job searches partly because more in their cohort are entering the job market immediately after graduation, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said on Tuesday (Sep 23).

There were about 2,400 more fresh graduates who had entered the labour force instead of taking a break or pursuing further studies as of June, compared to the same time last year, he told parliament.

"Even though there were about 700 more fresh graduates who were employed, the additional 1,700 active jobseekers who had yet to find a job may have contributed to a stronger sense of job competition among fresh graduates," he said."

Drop in visitorship, high revamp cost among reasons to relocate Geylang East Public Library (23 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The decline in visitors and the high costs of renovation were considered in the decision to relocate Geylang East Public Library to Tanjong Katong Complex in 2030, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam said in parliament on Tuesday (Sep 23).

From 2015 to 2024, Geylang East library saw about a 31 per cent decrease in visitors, from 670,000 to less than 470,000, she said.

While the National Library Board (NLB) had considered revamping the library at its current site at 50 Geylang East Ave 1, the cost of doing so would be more than twice the cost per square metre compared to relocating it to Tanjong Katong Complex."

Woman admits lying about address so daughter could be enrolled in well-known primary school (24 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A woman lied that she and her daughter stayed near a well-known primary school in order to get the child enrolled.

When the school authorities detected the ruse and began conducting house visits, the Singaporean woman instructed her tenants to lie that she and her daughter still lived there.

The 41-year-old pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Sep 24) to one charge each of giving false information to public servants and giving false information when reporting her change of address. A third charge will be considered in sentencing."

Revolution for kindness? MPs suggest support for Singapore’s youth on day 3 of President’s Address debate (24 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament raised suggestions targeted at Singapore’s youth during the third day of the debate on the President’s Address, including providing support for young parents and teaching empathy in schools.

A total of 18 MPs, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and four other political office holders, spoke in the course of more than six hours of debate on Wednesday (Sep 24).

In his address on Sep 5, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam highlighted the need for a "we first" mindset amid global uncertainty, which the prime minister also referenced in his speech during the debate on Wednesday."

Are in-house or catered meals safer in preschools? Hygiene lapses are the real risk, experts say (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A spate of gastroenteritis cases over the past month has reignited concerns over food safety practices in preschools.

All three affected centres – E-Bridge Pre-School at Circuit Road, Mulberry Learning at Punggol and PCF Sparkletots at Mountbatten – prepared meals in-house, leading to questions over whether in-house kitchens or centralised catering provide safer food.

But food safety experts told CNA that the real issue lies not in where meals are prepared, but in how strictly hygiene protocols are followed."

Commentary: The race to stack internships is hurting young people (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: “How many internships did you do?” That was one of the first questions a student from my alma mater asked me when we met at a recent book club.

When I replied, “Just one, in university,” his eyes widened.

He had already completed two internships even before starting his second year, and he still felt like he was falling behind.

This kind of pressure is increasingly common among young people in Singapore amid anxieties about employability."

Postgraduate courses excluded from mid-career SkillsFuture scheme to avoid creating a 'paper chase': Janil Puthucheary (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A SkillsFuture initiative that provides an allowance to mid-career workers aged 40 and above taking up training courses has not been extended to postgraduate programmes as most jobs in Singapore do not require such qualifications, said Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary in parliament on Thursday (Sep 25).

The authorities are “also careful not to inadvertently perpetuate a paper chase at the master's level”, said Dr Janil in response to questions from Members of Parliament Hamid Razak (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West) and Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) on extending SkillsFuture programmes to support postgraduate studies.

The training allowance, first announced in 2024 as part of the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, helps to partially offset income loss during full-time training. This supports training programmes up to the undergraduate degree level.

That said, mid-career Singaporeans can use their S$4,000 (US$3,100) top-up of SkillsFuture credits to offset the out-of-pocket training fees for selected postgraduate master’s programmes offered by the autonomous universities."

Undergraduate accused of molesting women on public transport pleads for bail to resume internship but fails (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A university undergraduate who faces charges of molesting women on public transport and committing voyeurism was remanded earlier this month for allegedly offending while on bail.

The 24-year-old pleaded with a court on Tuesday (Sep 23) to be released on bail to resume his internship.

He made the request after his lawyer had already submitted for bail on his behalf, saying that his late father's only wish was for him to complete university.

The judge rejected his bid, noting that this was his second time allegedly offending while on bail."

Singapore must break away from seeing education as 'arms race', says Desmond Lee (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore must do more to break away from seeing education as an "arms race", Education Minister Desmond Lee said in parliament on Thursday (Sep 25).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will therefore take steps to study how to reduce the stakes in exams, focus on non-academic aspects of the school experience, and guard against "hothousing" by families with more resources.

MOE will look at ways to refresh the education system in line with the spirit of the government's Forward Singapore agenda, said the minister."

School Sports Fiesta to bring students of different backgrounds together (25 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A new School Sports Fiesta will be launched next month as part of a pilot programme aimed at bringing students from different backgrounds together through sports, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo in parliament on Thursday (Sep 25).

The initiative will begin with 16 schools across three clusters, involving both primary and secondary levels. It is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) to expand cluster-level sports competitions and foster greater social integration among youth.

Speaking on the fourth day of the debate on the President’s Address, Mr Neo said that Singapore’s unity will be “tested in a changed world”. He referenced Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s speech on Wednesday, in which Mr Wong expressed concerns that more than half of young Singaporeans said most of their friends are from the same socio-economic or racial group."

AI tutors are on the rise. Could they disrupt Singapore's billion-dollar tuition industry? (26 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: When her daughter was in secondary school, Ms Shubhada Jayant Bhide had to hunt for the best tuition centres, ferry her to and from classes, and set aside some of her salary to pay for all of it.

These days, her younger son Shrihaan gets the help he needs at home – from an artificial intelligence-powered “tutor”, and at a comparatively nominal price.

The Secondary 1 student turns to his AI tutor whenever he's confused about something he learnt in school, and which he can't find an opportunity to ask his teachers about.

“It is such a gamechanger when it comes to traditional tuition,” said Ms Shubhada, an IT professional in her 40s. “It is literally at our fingertips.”

Museums in Singapore shed 'atas' image but will need to go beyond novelty elements to draw the crowds (26 September 2025)

"On a weekend outing with her family last year, Ms Charleen Phor found herself trailing behind her toddler as he eagerly explored the colourful shophouses of the past and clambered into a cramped cargo hold at the Children’s Museum Singapore.

In a gallery where young visitors were exploring the journey of early migrants, her son peeked into a streetside barbershop and played a multimedia game where he could clean a digital Singapore river.

"I like the very open concept, where the children can explore at their own time and realise, 'This is where I want to park myself'," said Ms Phor, a programmes lead in her early 40s who has visited the museum at Coleman Street three times since its opening in 2022."

Singapore says no established link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism (26 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Friday (Sep 26) there is “currently no robust scientific evidence” between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism in children, despite recent assertions made by US President Donald Trump.

In a Monday news conference at the White House, Mr Trump advised pregnant women not to use the painkiller Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen, or paracetamol, as a primary ingredient.

Medical groups, citing numerous studies, have said that paracetamol plays a safe role in the well-being of pregnant women.

On Friday, HSA, the regulator of health products in Singapore, echoed those calls."

Once considered a golden boy, this ex-scholar left medical school to 'make his 20s count' (27 September 2025)

"At a modest dance studio in a warehouse complex, accessed by clanking cargo lifts, Mr Julian Low was rehearsing for an upcoming performance by the theatre group that he and his wife founded.

It was a setting far removed from the days when he was training to be a doctor at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine).

These days, the 28-year-old Singaporean trains in tai chi, a traditional Chinese martial art, and holds workshops and rehearsals for his theatre collective in this space located at the light industrial zone of Pasir Panjang.

It was in 2019 that he walked away from medical school after third year, so that he could run a video production company."

Why loving my five kids equally looks different for each of them (27 September 2025)

"I've heard the argument for having just one or two children countless times. It goes like this: "I want to be able to love my children equally, and having more children would make that really difficult."

Point taken, but as a mum of five kids aged two to 12 years, I'm here to argue and stand by my reality: I love each of my five kids equally, and I'm willing to die on this hill.

Naysayers might point out: "But you only have a pair of hands and 24 hours a day. You're outnumbered all the time. How could you possibly give each of your children the individualised attention and love they need?"

My trick isn't in having more hands – although I wish I did."

'Serial predator' targeting schoolgirls online by posing as teen gets jail, caning for rape (29 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A young man targeted four schoolgirls as young as 11 years old online by posing as a "lovestruck teenager" before taking them to a secluded place where he sexually assaulted them.

Syed Muhammad Yusri Syed Yasser, now 25, was sentenced on Monday (Sep 29) to jail for 14 years and eight months, and 24 strokes of the cane.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated statutory rape and one count of sexual penetration of a minor, with four other charges taken into consideration."

Recess is served: Here's what students at 5 schools will get when they switch to pre-ordered meals (30 September 2025)

"SINGAPORE: What does it take to prepare meals that appeal to primary school students? According to a caterer managing several school canteens from January next year, even the colour of vegetables matters.

“We think about what type of vegetables to use. Actually, a lot of kids don’t have fancy tastes, in fact, familiarity is comfort,” said Mr Desmond Chin, managing director of caterer Gourmetz.

“So we tend to go towards broccoli, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables like spinach, that’s about it. We wouldn’t give them fancy things like asparagus.”

From January next year, 13 schools across Singapore will roll out a central kitchen model at their canteens. The initiative builds on a 2022 pilot at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, which is managed by caterer SATS.

Gourmetz will operate five of the 13 school canteens adopting this new model – Blangah Rise Primary, CHIJ Kellock, Radin Mas Primary, River Valley Primary and Outram Secondary at its York Hill campus until it closes in 2027."

What you can do if you see a child with special needs who seems lost (1 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: "She's gone. I … panicked, I didn't know where she went."

Mr Edward Chan, a father of two daughters with autism, recalled vividly an incident when his elder daughter went missing.

He had been with his daughters at a playground in front of their housing block when his younger daughter started to cry and wanted to go home.

He asked his wife to meet him at the lobby to pick up their younger girl, and told the older girl to wait at the playground.

When he came back, she was nowhere to be found. "It's just not more than 20 steps (from his older daughter) … she's gone," said Mr Chan."

Foreign student whose bank account was used in fake SAF bulk order scams gets jail, in first such sentencing (1 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A foreign student in need of money sold her bank account details and it was later used to funnel almost S$18,000 (US$13,980) in scam proceeds, with most of the money coming from a fake Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) bulk order scam.

Rajadi Rajasinghe Manamendra Patabadilage Vishwa Madavi, a 22-year-old Sri Lankan, was sentenced on Wednesday (Oct 1) to jail for three months and two weeks.

She was also fined S$1,100. If she does not pay the fine, she will have to serve three days' jail in default."

'Higher risk of misuse': MSF to stop use of Child Development Account money at optical shops, retail pharmacies (1 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will stop the use of Child Development Account (CDA) money at optical shops and retail pharmacies after recent audits found a "significantly higher risk of misuse" at such establishments.

This includes cases where establishments allow parents or trustees to encash the CDA funds, even though it is prohibited.

The CDA is a special co-savings account with government co-matching, and the funds can be used to pay for approved expenses for the child or the child's siblings.

MSF said it conducts periodic audits and checks to ensure that CDA funds are used for authorised purposes only. On top of that, the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) audited selected parenthood schemes, including withdrawals made by parents and trustees."

Police investigating after woman filmed kicking another woman at SMU (1 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The police are investigating an alleged altercation on Tuesday (Sep 30) between two women at the Singapore Management University (SMU), which was captured on video.

The video, circulated on social media, showed a woman in a pink hoodie kicking another woman who was lying on the ground.

The 22-second clip also showed several bystanders moving towards the woman on the ground to check on her after the other walked away."

With no chess club in their school, these girls took the initiative – and won at Singapore nationals (2 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Ng See Jen is no stranger to facing obstacles when it comes to her passion for chess.

As a younger child, she was the only girl at open competitions. There were times she was shouted at by losing opponents. Once, she was told to stay home and play with Barbie dolls.

But See Jen has stuck with the mind sport since picking it up in primary school about six years ago.

"It is good for your mind and it helps strengthen your thinking," she said. "It has many benefits."

So when the Secondary 1 student found out that her new school, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls', did not have a chess co-curricular activity (CCA), it was just something else to overcome."

Teen who assaulted fellow vaper and confronted police, among other offences, sent to Boys’ Home (2 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A 15-year-old boy who attacked a fellow vape user and hurled vulgarities at a police officer after his mother reported him has been placed in the Boys' Home for two years.

The boy, who cannot be named as he is under 18, pleaded guilty to 12 charges. Another eight counts were taken into consideration for sentencing on Sep 25.

The details of the Youth Court case were made available on Thursday (Oct 2). His charges included voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery, harassing a public servant, shop theft and possession of vapes."

One man caught in vape enforcement operations across six institutes of higher learning (2 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: One man was caught during vape enforcement operations carried out over three weeks by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) across six institutes of higher learning (IHLs).

These are tertiary education institutions such as universities and polytechnics.

A 24-year-old was found with two vapes and 10 related components on campus during the operation from Sep 8 to Sep 29.

He was issued a notice of composition and fined on the spot, and the vapes and related components were seized, the authorities said in a joint statement on Thursday (Oct 2)."

NUS implements five-day work-from-office policy for all university staff (2 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) has implemented a five-day work-from-office policy for all full-time staff members, the university said on Thursday (Oct 2).

In response to queries from CNA, an NUS spokesperson said that staff from "central administration units" resumed working on campus five days a week from Sep 1, and the arrangement was then extended to the "rest of the university" from the start of this month.

CNA understands that the university transitioned to a four-day work-from-office, one-day work-from-home policy in late 2023."

34 students, 10 staff members develop gastroenteritis symptoms at two E-Bridge Pre-School outlets (3 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating 44 suspected cases of gastroenteritis in two E-Bridge Pre-School outlets at Dawson Road and Sengkang Square, less than a month after a similar outbreak hit its MacPherson branch.

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued a joint statement on Friday (Oct 3), stating that 34 students and 10 staff members had developed symptoms at the two branches as of Wednesday.

At the Dawson Road outlet, 20 students and four employees have reported symptoms since Sep 18. One student was hospitalised on Sep 26 and discharged the following day.

As of Wednesday, 12 students and four staff members had recovered and returned to the preschool, while the remaining students are “recovering well,” said the agencies in response to CNA queries."

She juggles homework and fast cars. This 15-year-old is Singapore's first female Formula 4 driver (3 October 2025)

"At just 15, Kareen Kaur may not have a driving licence yet — but she’s already clocking speeds of over 200kmh on the racetrack.

The Secondary 3 student, who began go-karting at the age of nine, has made history as Singapore’s first female driver to compete in Formula 4.

F4 is the first rung on the ladder to F1. Drivers will have to progress through F3 and F2 before getting to the pinnacle of motorsport racing - a sport that's long been dominated by men."

17-year-old girl among trio charged with trafficking Kpods (4 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Saturday (Oct 4) charged three suspected suppliers of Kpods, one of them aged 17.

The 17-year-old cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act, as she is under the age of 18.

The other two are: Vernette Heng Cui Teng, 23, and Amir Shah Anwar Shah, 27."

MOE refreshes secondary school art syllabus to prepare students for a changing world (7 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: A “hybrid animal” takes shape on a Secondary 1 student’s art assignment, complete with arms that can help seniors get around.

Koh Wen Cheng, 13, and his fellow classmates are blending different parts of their favourite animals, drawing from their own interests to experiment with unique and unconventional traits.

They then turn to their laptops to discuss and give feedback on each other’s creations – all in a bid to get students to think critically about their work and find new ways to improve.

“The main problem that the elderly are facing now is that they don't really get any friends or peers to talk with … so I drew this animal which can help converse (with them) and (when they need) help getting food, water, or transport,” Wen Cheng told CNA.

This is all part of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) new art syllabus for secondary schools, which has been implemented across more than 140 schools so far."

Singapore teachers work longer hours, report higher stress than OECD average (7 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Teachers in Singapore worked longer hours and were more likely to experience a lot of stress compared to the OECD average, a study found.

The OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey, which is done every five years, is the largest international survey of teachers and principals.

In 2024, 55 education systems were surveyed, including 3,500 lower secondary teachers across all 145 public secondary schools and 10 randomly selected private secondary schools in Singapore. Singapore also took part in the 2013 and 2018 editions."

SkillsFuture providers to be barred from using third-party promoters (8 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Registered training providers under SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) will be prohibited from using third-party promoters starting Dec 1, the agency announced on Wednesday (Oct 8).

SkillsFuture, launched in 2015, is a government initiative promoting lifelong learning and upskilling through courses and training. Singaporeans aged 25 and above receive credits, starting from S$500, that can be used for approved courses.

SSG cited recent public feedback on third-party agents using "undesirable" marketing practices as the reason for banning the use of such promoters."

41 schools to get new principals in 2026 (8 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Forty-one schools will have new principals as part of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) annual appointment and rotation exercise.

Of these, 25 are newly appointed principals, MOE said in a press release on Wednesday (Oct 8).

The 41 schools comprise two junior colleges, 20 secondary schools, and 19 primary schools."

Despite regional decline, US education still appeals to Singaporean students (8 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Drawn to the United States' education system, Singaporean students are still heading there for their tertiary studies, undeterred by recent uncertainties introduced by the Trump administration.

Students and education counsellors CNA spoke to said Singaporeans remained keen on the opportunities for networking and access to research institutes available, with others placing weight on the recognition a US degree affords.

US government data released recently showed a nearly 24 per cent drop in Asian students arriving in the US in August, compared with last year."

Commentary: School canteens aren’t just a logistical problem solved by central kitchens (9 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: When netizens saw what primary school students will eat at recess if they opt for meals prepared at a central kitchen, reactions were mixed.

Some praised the meals as nutritious, as they incorporate wholegrains and lean proteins. Others were unimpressed with the appearance of the food. One CNA reader likened it to combat rations.

However, my concern goes beyond the nutrition and taste of the pre-ordered meals. As a father of three school-going children, I see canteens not merely as places where kids load up on calories, but as living classrooms for self-sufficiency and community. When my children buy food with their pocket money, they learn essential skills – making choices, handling money and interacting with stallholders.

That is why the central kitchen model, which will be adopted by 13 schools in 2026, gives me pause. Though it addresses genuine challenges such as stallholder shortages and rising operating costs, we ought to consider what our children lose when food becomes increasingly automated and impersonal."

Singapore nears goal of training 1,500 responders in psychological first aid (9 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Singapore is on track to train 1,500 SGSecure Responders in psychological first aid by the end of this financial year, as part of a national push to build mental resilience on the frontlines and in the community.

About 1,300 responders have already completed the course, which was launched in 2023 and run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Participants are taught how to provide calm and compassionate support after a crisis.

Responders also learn how to assess needs, listen empathetically and connect people to help, while recognising stress reactions and promoting safety. The focus is on reducing distress, respecting culture and ethics, and caring for both survivors and responders.

According to the Singapore Red Cross (SRC), youths, workers and caregivers have driven a nearly 20-fold increase in demand over the past five years for psychological first aid training."

Scholarships for students among ground-led initiatives to help Palestinians: Shanmugam (9 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Scholarships in Singapore are among the ground-led initiatives to help the Palestinian people, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Thursday (Oct 9).

Mr Shanmugam was speaking to the media after meeting with three Palestinians who were offered scholarships to study at Singapore universities under the Palestinian Scholarship Initiative (PSI).

The initiative was launched in October last year by a group of Singaporeans in response to challenges faced by students due to the war.

Two are in postgraduate programmes at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore University of Social Sciences, while another is a 19-year-old undergraduate at the Singapore Institute of Management."

National Heritage Board is holding a pop-up museum till Dec 14 featuring objects contributed by Singaporeans (9 October 2025)

"From now till Dec 14, the National Heritage Board (NHB) will be running a free-entry pop-up museum titled Museum of U & Me. Located at the lawn of the National Museum of Singapore, the pop-up aims to highlight Singapore's history through a curated collection of everyday objects contributed by Singaporeans from all walks of life.

These include measurements of Princess Diana taken by Singaporean designer Benny Ong; the watch awarded to retired runner C Kunalan when he was named Sportsman of The Year; a made-in-Singapore Setron television set from the 1970s and more.

While some of the items are part of the National Collection, others are loaned objects from the accompanying On The Red Dot series."

Low pay, mismatched expectations: Why Singapore students are turning away from engineering (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: As a child, Mark made model planes using cardboard rolls from kitchen paper. He read books about aircraft and dreamed of becoming a pilot. So when it came time to pick a degree, aerospace engineering was the obvious choice.

Now 24 and in his final year at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Mark – who asked to remain anonymous – is looking for an exit.

“For me, straight up, the number one, and actually the only thing that would come to mind is just starting pay,” he said.

Mark is not alone in considering leaving traditional engineering for the prospect of a better-paying career path."

Tan Tock Seng Hospital partners NTU to bring traditional Chinese medicine into inpatient care (10 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: After suffering a stroke in July, Mr Tan Kay Chuan is now on the road to recovery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) – with the help of a different kind of treatment.

The 60-year-old is receiving acupuncture twice a week as part of his rehabilitation.

Such traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices could soon be part of mainstream inpatient treatment in Singapore, under a new initiative that aims to bring Eastern and Western medical practices closer together in the country’s national healthcare system.

On Thursday (Oct 9), TTSH inked a partnership with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to explore how TCM can complement Western medicine in pain management, rehabilitation and palliative care."

Growing up, I felt guilty talking about money. Here's why I'm changing that for my kids (11 October 2025)

"At the time of drafting this piece, the TOTO prize pool has reached S$10 million this year for the ninth time.

Just a few months ago, I recalled a dinner conversation with my children to help them make sense of the lottery prize pool. I offered them two choices: Pick a million dollars right now (from, say, striking the lottery) or choose one cent that doubles every day for the next 30 days.

Unsurprisingly, one of them picked the first option and the second choice was selected by another. It was only after we brought out the calculators to do some sums that they realised that the one cent would eventually compound into an amount that exceeds S$10 million.

This little exercise is one of the many ways I try to help my children build a stronger understanding and discernment towards how money works – how it can be grown, used and saved."

From text to touch: The braille centre in Singapore helping the visually impaired connect with words (12 October 2025)

"Having optimal space matters to the visually impaired, in more ways than one.

There is, most obviously, physical space. At the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) in Toa Payoh, the corridors are straight and wide, with 90-degree angle corners. Its clutter-free floors lend an overall spartan appearance, seemingly inevitable in a place where function trumps form.

The area is relatively easy to navigate for visually impaired employees, like Jason Setok, supervisor at the association’s Braille Production & Library Services Centre.

The 46-year-old, who’s worked at SAVH for nine years, is familiar with the route from his office to the Braille Production Centre, a room roughly 30 steps away. He doesn’t need a cane for his trip down the hallway, finger-tapping on walls to alert colleagues who may be nearby as he takes us on a tour of his modest workspace.

All things considered, it seems a gentle learning curve compared with picking up braille when he lost his vision at 27 due to glaucoma. He took five months to master it."

More children with autism are joining mainstream schools, and parents are learning what it takes (13 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Nine-year-old Ethan (not his real name) has never once complained about going to school. Each morning, he heads off with enthusiasm and returns brimming with excitement, eager to share stories about his day.

But this year, a new challenge has tested him.

This is the first year the Primary 3 student had to sit for graded examinations. While he excelled in oral assessments – scoring 87 marks in one – he managed just 15 out of 100 in a recent written paper.

“Reading is very difficult for him so he can’t read the questions and he doesn't really understand why exams are important,” said his mother, Jane (not her real name), adding that Ethan has a history of speech delays.

She now wonders if enrolling him in a mainstream school three years ago, instead of a special education (SPED) school, was the right decision."

7-day work weeks, marking while at home: Singapore teachers say they're as busy as ever if not more (14 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: As an English and mathematics teacher in a Singapore primary school, Heidi starts her day at 5.30am.

Classes start two hours later and run until about 1.30pm when school ends. Three times a week, she holds remedial classes until about 3pm. After that, or co-curricular activity commitments, she marks assignments until 5pm.

“Two to three times a week, I continue working in the evenings. On Saturday and Sunday, I also spend an hour or two planning lessons and marking as well. Actually, I would say I do work seven days a week,” she told CNA.

“It really has affected my time with my family members because I’m literally marking while I’m at home.”

Introducing a preschool voucher scheme alone may increase fees without improving accessibility or quality: MSF (14 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Implementing a voucher scheme alone in the preschool sector may result in fees increasing without improving accessibility or quality, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua said on Tuesday (Oct 14).

He was responding to an adjournment motion by the Workers' Party's (WP) Kenneth Tiong, where the Aljunied Member of Parliament proposed ways to achieve fairer and more diverse preschool education.

One of these was per-child subsidies in the form of preschool vouchers that parents can use at licensed preschool centres, in place of direct operator grants.

The WP had, in its party manifesto ahead of the 2025 General Election, proposed that vouchers be given to parents to be applied to childcare or preschool fees, as an alternative to subsidies."

One man's love and legacy of paper: How A'zone and its lecture pads stood the test of time (16 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Inside an industrial building east of Singapore, work is in full swing.

A truck carrying paper shipped from Austria has just arrived at the Loyang neighbourhood, and workers move quickly to unload the heavy pallets.

For paper destined to become notepads and lecture pads, the journey begins with the printing process, where lines, checks and grids are embossed at another location.

The sheets are then sent back to the factory to be sorted and counted by a machine. Various objects like inserts and covers are attached, before a trimming machine takes over to cut them into specific sizes.

A few more steps later and the final products, emblazoned with the A'zone logo, will be shipped to distributors all around Singapore as they have been for the past few decades.

Mention A'zone to most Singaporeans, and you're likely to get a knowing nod. To those born in the 1980s and 1990s in particular, the company's various writing and lecture pad designs will evoke memories of school-going, foolscap-tearing days."

Higher income eligibility cap for MOE financial aid schemes, bigger transport subsidies for students (16 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: Higher income eligibility ceilings across financial assistance schemes offered by the Ministry of Education (MOE), and bigger transport subsidies for primary and secondary students from next year.

These are some of the upcoming enhancements announced by the ministry on Thursday (Oct 16), which could benefit an additional 31,000 students from lower- and middle-income households by providing support for education-related costs, and access to school and post-secondary programmes.

This also brings the total number of students who would benefit from MOE’s financial assistance schemes annually to about 133,000, it said."

18-year-old charged for alleged trafficking of suspected etomidate vape pods (17 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: An 18-year-old teen was charged in court on Friday (Oct 17) for the alleged trafficking of suspected etomidate vape pods, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said.

The pods, suspected to contain etomidate, were found in Kwek Rui An Rayern's vehicle by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on Thursday. The case was referred to HSA.

Two e-vaporisers and 127 suspected etomidate vape pods were seized from the vehicle. Another five pods were seized from his residence at Bedok, HSA said."

Do centralised kitchens spell the end of Singapore’s school canteen culture? (17 October 2025)

"SINGAPORE: When school canteen vendor Rayner Tan opened his vegetarian stall at Mee Toh School in Punggol two months ago, it was not just about selling food.

“I wanted to interact more with kids. That's one of the reasons why I chose a primary school,” said Mr Tan, who had little prior experience in the food-and-beverage industry before taking up the only available non-halal vacancy at the school.

Mr Tan is among a shrinking breed of vendors who have long been part of Singaporeans’ early school years. He was sharing his views on the future of school canteens with CNA’s Deep Dive podcast.

Starting next year, 13 primary and secondary schools will switch from traditional canteens to a central kitchen model, where meals are prepared off-site. Students will be able to collect their pre-ordered food by simply tapping their bus passes at dispensers.

The move aims to tackle a growing shortage of stallholders like Mr Tan, but concerns have also been raised about what students stand to lose in the process."

Doctor or dentist visits can overwhelm kids with ADHD or autism – here’s how to support them (17 October 2025)

"Someone is shining a blindingly bright light into your eyes. You’re in an unfamiliar room with things you’ve never seen, heard or smelled before. Something feels unbearably scratchy around your neck but you aren’t allowed to touch it.

You remember there’s someone in the room with you, the one with the light. It’s a stranger and he’s now asking you to stay still while he touches you with weird objects; some feel cold and wet, others sharp and pointy. And even painful.

If that scenario is already uncomfortable for you as an adult, imagine what it does for neurodivergent children at the dentist’s or doctor’s office. Even a haircut can be as anxiety-inducing as being held hostage in a chair."

'I can motivate people to take action' - how Singapore's young climate activists are leading by example (17 October 2025)

"When Ms Kong Man Jing first stepped off the ferry onto St John’s Island as a junior college student in 2012, she expected little more than a three-day sun-soaked excursion.

Instead, her eyes were opened to a hidden world — coral reefs, skittering crabs, slithering octopuses, sea anemones, and dense forests alive with birdsong.

“I realised, for the first time, that Singapore had lots of beautiful wildlife,” recalled the 31-year-old.

"I was blown away, and I wondered why I didn't know any of this before."

That sense of wonder was the catalyst for Ms Kong to pursue a degree in environmental biology, and later, in 2019, to start Just Keep Thinking – a social media initiative where she shares accessible, bite-sized lessons on science and nature."

Now grown up, ex-bullies open up on what drove their behaviour and wish they could turn back the clock (17 October 2025)

"When an old video of Abdul Wafi Idris assaulting a fellow student resurfaced online in 2024, it reignited a national debate about youth violence and accountability.

The clip, recorded in January 2022, showed a then-14-year-old Abdul Wafi hitting and kicking a boy in the toilet. It spread like wildfire across social media and sparked widespread backlash.

The criticism was intensified because of Abdul Wafi's status as a national boxer representing Singapore on the world stage – someone associated with discipline, control and respect, not senseless violence.

Speaking to CNA TODAY on Oct 10, Abdul Wafi described feeling overwhelmed during his moment of virality, frustrated and embarrassed by the ghost of his past.

Now aged 18, he admitted that in his childhood and early teenhood, he was "angry and aggressive most of the time"."

I took 3 years to write my first book. It was a struggle but it helped me grow through pains and losses (17 October 2025)

"In the late 2010s, I was a student at Hai Sing Catholic School, where we had a rich culture of reading. Mornings involved the passing-around of newspapers, magazine articles, and English worksheets aimed at levelling up our language skills.

While some viewed this as a chore, my friends and I felt it was time well spent. I had a few family members working in the real estate industry, and was spurred by them to read financial literacy books.

Other kids were reading age-appropriate books like Percy Jackson. My typical reads involved Rich Dad Poor Dad, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Warren Buffet Invests Like a Girl – earning me the nickname “finance minister” among friends.

My literary tastes would have likely remained within this limited genre if it wasn’t for a set of reading lists given to us by our English teachers, curated by genre.

This was my first exposure to fantasy, and I was enraptured by it. Reading books like Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings and The Magician’s Guild by Trudi Canavan, I discovered a love for imagining worlds beyond our own and their endless possibilities."

How a young runner with autism stayed the course to finish his first marathon in under 5 hours (17 October 2025)

"Mr Lucas Tan was 13 years old when he discovered his passion for running.

It began as a simple activity to help Mr Tan, who has autism, stay focused.

But Mr Tan's natural talent soon became apparent.

“Lucas has a lot of running potential. He’s consistent and very competitive,” said his coach Norman Koh, who has been training him since the teen started out in 2014.

Now 24, Mr Tan has completed six half-marathons and most recently, a full marathon in Taiwan, where he emerged first in his age category of 20-29 with a time of four hours and 47 minutes."

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