Giant ‘5 Stones’ sculptures transform NIE campus into a space for play (15 August 2025)
"Five giant inflatable stones have been scattered across the National Institute of Education (NIE) campus, reimagining the traditional childhood game of five stones.
Titled 5 Stones, the artwork was created by artist, curator and NIE senior lecturer Twardzik Ching Chor Leng. It invites young people to learn about the traditional game and spark conversations with the older generation who grew up playing it."
More families in Singapore using childminding and elder-minding services (15 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – More than 40 infants are enrolled in a new significantly subsidised nanny service here in childminders’ homes and in rooms in Tampines East and Nee Soon East community clubs (CCs).
Another 180 families have indicated their interest in enrolling in the service for infants aged two months to 18 months, said the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) on Aug 14.
ECDA, which is under the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), launched the three-year childminding pilot in December 2024 to provide more affordable infant caregiving options for parents."
Secondary school students go on a journey through time with ST180 exhibition (15 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Ayden Lim, 12, associates The Straits Times with fond memories of reading newspapers with his grandfather.
But until recently, he did not know the national broadsheet was “very old”. After learning more about its long history, he now “appreciates how ST keeps the memories” of the nation’s past."
Learning to let go as a parent of a teenage son (15 August 2025)
"For my next act of fatherhood, I plan to help my son disappear.
My oldest son, Sebastian, is about to turn 19 and – painful as it is to admit – what he really needs is a little less of me. Okay, a lot less of me."
Keeping score: Has Premier League ceded too much power to maths geeks? (15 August 2025)
"The world’s most-followed domestic football league returns this weekend, supercharged by data analytics like never before.
The English Premier League (EPL), Singapore and much of Asia’s favourite sports league, may not be the Major League Baseball (MLB) or the National Basketball Association (NBA), where big data has long reigned and maths whizzes, who could just as easily be running algorithms at Goldman Sachs, shape everything from recruitment to in-game tactics. But it is by no means a bystander in this numbers revolution."
Sport changed their lives, now these students want to give back through Deloitte’s fund-raising run (15 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Up until 2024, Muhamad Shazali Juma’at was often absent from school.
With little interest in his studies, skipping classes became a regular habit and the thought of dropping out even crossed his mind several times.
But that began to change after the NorthLight School student took up football as a co-curricular activity in 2024."
Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a ‘war mate’ bond with their students (16 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – When Mr Ivan Lim applied to work at tuition centre Keynote Learning Hub two years ago, he had an unusual job interview.
“I was asked, ‘Would you mind taking the O-level exam as a private candidate?’” recalls the 38-year-old English tutor, a former international school teacher. “It was a very strange interview question.”
He is one of three tuition teachers at Keynote Learning who sit the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-level) examination every year, usually in the subjects they teach."
Minor Issues: Are ghosts real? And other pesky questions kids ask (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The annual Hungry Ghost Festival is nearly upon us. Some quarters of the Chinese community believe that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar – between Aug 23 and Sept 21 in 2025 – the gates of hell will be thrown open and unleash a host of ghosts into the human realm.
These spirits are a hungry lot and, upon arrival, will feed on the offerings laid out by humans. Offerings such as sugar-laden cakes, breads and biscuits, as well as incinerated joss sticks and charred joss paper, all of which leads me to suspect that these poor souls have no fear of diabetes nor taste buds."
Play time: Why kids should watch live performances and what’s coming up (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Families with young children will be spoilt for choice when it comes to live performance options in the coming months.
Get ready for singalong concerts with popular characters from CoComelon and Disney Jr. And the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will be introducing kids to classical music in an accessible way."
Children’s concerts, theatre shows in Singapore from August to December (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – From August to December, families with young children can enjoy a wide variety of live performances.
Wonder how live shows can help your children learn? Read this article where theatre practitioners share tips on how you can get your kids ready for their first live show.
Koko The Great
Village boy Koko goes on an imaginative journey in this theatre play inspired by local pioneer artist Liu Kang’s oil painting Life By The River."
Too busy to care? Young Singaporeans on why they make time for community work (17 August 2025)
"While his peers were busy with schoolwork and weekend plans, then 16-year-old Mohammed Aizam Abd Rahman was working part-time as a banquet server while caring for his 69-year-old cancer-stricken grandmother.
He was close to her. She had helped his mother raise him after his father died of a sudden heart attack when he was 9.
Her medical bills put a strain on the family’s finances. His mother worked as a laboratory assistant.
But the community stepped in to help.
“Neighbours sending food over, teachers and friends checking in on me at school – these small acts got us through the day-to-day,” says Mr Aizam, now 26. He is majoring in political science at Northwestern University in Illinois, the United States, on a scholarship."
Confessions of a born-again Singaporean (17 August 2025)
"At 12, frustrated after I came home with subpar results for a maths paper, I decided I wasn’t suited to be a Singaporean.
As a child of the 90s, I – rightly or wrongly – believed there needed to be certain checkboxes to be a model Singaporean. Do well in all subjects, check. Be a demure, size 6 girl, check. Excel in sciences and maths, check."
More than $850k raised for Singapore Children’s Society in annual walk (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The Singapore Children’s Society raised more than $850,000 from its annual fund-raiser walk and family day, which drew 4,200 people to the National Stadium on Aug 17.
The event this year, called Walk For Our Children, was organised to spur young families to get active and to teach parents how to help their teenage children strengthen their emotional well-being and resilience."
NDR 2025: New Islamic college campus will be in Rochor, students can take courses at SUSS next door (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Students pursuing their studies at the future Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will have their own campus in Rochor, next to the upcoming Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) campus.
Each institution will have its own buildings that will reflect their unique identity and purpose, but students from both schools will also share facilities, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Malay Rally speech.
Speaking at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 17, he added that SCIS students will also be able to sign up for SUSS social science courses.
“This way, students from both institutions can better interact with one another, enriching their campus lives,” he said."
NDR 2025: S’pore looking at more ways to strengthen online safety for children and support parents (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Amid concerns about the impact of technology on young people, in particular, screen addiction, Singapore is considering more ways to support parents and make online spaces safer for children.
Some countries have passed new laws to tighten access to social media and the internet for children, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug 17.
“We are studying their experiences closely to understand what truly works. And we will consider what more we can do to strengthen online safety for children,” he said during his National Day Rally speech at the ITE College Central."
NDR 2025: Vaping will be treated as a drug issue; much stiffer penalties to be imposed, says PM Wong (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - The Government will take much tougher action against vaping and treat it as a drug issue with stiffer penalties to be imposed, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In his National Day Rally speech on Aug 17, PM Wong said every generation worries about negative influences impacting their young people.
He said new risks will emerge and vaping is a serious concern."
NDR 2025: Developing human qualities key priority for schools in age of AI, says PM Wong (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Schools are working to help students become discerning users of technology, amid growing concerns that they may rely too much on artificial intelligence (AI) and take shortcuts.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said there is unease that students may not make the effort to learn and master the fundamentals.
Ultimately, the concern is that they may never learn how to think for themselves, he said on Aug 17 at his second National Day Rally at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.
He cited an example of a teacher who noticed that his students’ essays improved almost overnight, and later found out they had used AI chatbot ChatGPT to improve their writing."
NDR 2025: New govt-funded traineeship scheme for ITE, poly, university graduates (17 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Institute of Technical Education, polytechnic and university graduates can soon tap a new government-funded traineeship scheme aimed at beefing up employability for young Singaporeans and giving them more career choices.
The initiative will expand from the one first introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many companies stopped hiring for full-time jobs but some were prepared to give traineeships."
How bad science is becoming big business (17 August 2025)
"Researchers are dealing with a disturbing trend that threatens the foundation of scientific progress: Scientific fraud has become an industry. And it’s growing faster than legitimate peer-reviewed science journals can keep up with.
This isn’t about individual bad actors any more. We’re witnessing the emergence of an organised, systematic approach to scientific fraud. This includes paper mills churning out formulaic research articles, brokerages guaranteeing publication for a fee and predatory journals that bypass quality assurance entirely.
These organisations disguise themselves behind respectable sounding labels such as “editing services” or “academic consultants”. In reality, their business model depends on corrupting the scientific process."
Normal (Tech) more likely to finish school, do as well in job market as Normal (Academic) peers: Study (18 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Students from the Normal (Technical) stream fared the same as their peers from the Normal (Academic) track in the labour market, with little difference in employment, earnings or wealth accumulation outcomes, a long-running cohort study has found.
The joint study by a former Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) economist and an NUS academic also showed that N(T) students were more likely than N(A) students to complete secondary school and attain a post-secondary qualification.
The study was published on May 22 as part of MTI’s quarterly economic survey report."
Teacher who molested pupil on three occasions gets jail term reduced by 3 months on appeal (18 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A primary school teacher who was initially sentenced to 2½ years’ jail for molesting his pupil on three occasions has had his jail term reduced by three months on appeal.
The incidents took place from 2016, when the girl was in Primary 5, until she was in Secondary 1 in another school in 2018."
New online tools by SkillsFuture Singapore help companies plan and curate staff training (18 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Companies can now take stock of their employees’ skills and assess gaps using new online resources that can chart career pathways to help in staff development.
These online tools, TalentTrack and TalentTrack+, were launched by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) on Aug 18."
‘I vaped when I woke up until I slept’: More youth vaping to cope with stress, say social workers (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – After he failed his O-level exams, which he took as a private candidate, Malcolm (not his real name) used etomidate-laced vapes, or Kpods, to cope with the disappointment.
His friend from school had introduced him to them, and Malcolm, 18, was soon diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
He would vape from the time he woke up until he slept."
‘We don’t want youth to enter darker places’: Counsellors say support key to kicking vaping habit (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Amid a wave of tougher enforcement action and public criticism of young vapers, some social workers are calling for more compassion for these addicts.
Instead of shaming or condemning them, these social workers believe parents and teachers can support them in their recovery."
‘I’d have phone in one hand, vape in the other’: Youth addicted to vapes gets help to quit habit (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - For five years since he was 17 years old, the three things Adam (not his real name) could not leave home without were his phone, wallet and vape.
Introduced to vaping by his friends as an alternative to smoking, Adam said: “I would vape almost daily. Sometimes it was because I was bored, and other times because I felt stressed.
“It became such a habit that if I didn’t have one hand on my phone and the other hand holding my vape, I would feel strange.”
Court to assess if teen who advertised vapes for sale on WhatsApp can receive probation (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A teenager advertised she had vapes for sale, prompting a raid of her home by the authorities who discovered seven such devices.
On Aug 19, Albee Chai Buo Yin, 19, pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing an imitation tobacco product, and one charge for advertising the sale of vapes on messaging platform WhatsApp.
A probation suitability report has been called for Chai, who will return to court on Sept 30 to be sentenced."
S’pore starts Stop Vaping microsite; Ong Ye Kung thanks influencers for taking stand against habit (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – An anti-vaping microsite was rolled out on Gov.sg a day after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech that the Government will take tougher action against the scourge.
Titled Stop Vaping, the page went live on Aug 18."
Game of drones: Singapore Poly students strike hard and true in flying soccer arena (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The high-pitched whir of propellers fills the air as nearly a dozen drones hover inside the arena.
Within the inflatable “cage”, the spherical drones zip past one another to get through the opposing team’s hoop, colliding as they block opponents, and sometimes crashing to the ground.
On both sides of the arena, five players steer the flying “soccer balls” using controllers similar to those of video game consoles.
Welcome to drone soccer – a game where the aircraft acts as the ball. Like regular football, the “strikers” aim to score as many goals as possible – by flying the drones through the hoops within three minutes. The “defenders” from the opposing team try to block them from scoring."
New ITE facility with mock-ups, simulations to train built environment students (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A new facility in ITE College East will train students in architecture, engineering and construction courses by simulating work environments they will encounter in the real world.
Spanning over 2,000 sq m, the Sustainable Built Environment Hub is the first of its kind and will help students hone their digital and technical skills, ITE said on Aug 19."
Science Talk: Looking beyond the recycling rate – at the other half of Singapore’s waste story (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Singapore’s overall recycling rate fell to 50 per cent in 2024. With half of the total waste generated here being recycled, this figure is the lowest level in over a decade. This decline in recycling rate, from 60 per cent in 2014, may raise concerns over the progress of Singapore’s waste management system.
However, while the recycling rate often captures headlines, it tells only part of the story. An equally important but less widely discussed indicator is the amount of waste generated in Singapore.
The total waste produced – recycled and non-recycled – reached a record low in the past decade. In 2014, Singapore generated 7.5 million tonnes of waste. In 2024, the figure fell to 6.7 million tonnes – this despite the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and population growing over the decade."
4 days’ jail for former pre-school teacher who kicked and bruised pupil’s shin (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A pre-school teacher forcefully kicked and bruised the shin of a four-year-old pupil who she thought had caused her to nearly trip.
Alamelu Paramaguru then scolded the little girl who hugged her injured leg in pain.
Alamelu, who did not own up to her actions at first, was charged after investigators viewed CCTV footage of the incident in April 2024.
On Aug 19, the 57-year-old Singaporean, who is no longer working as a pre-school teacher, was sentenced to four days’ jail after she pleaded guilty in July to ill-treating the child."
Conversational games, pitch zone and lifestyle market among highlights at SG Youth Forum 2025 (19 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – What are acceptable pathways of success in Singapore? For Ms Clarice Song, 37, there is no fixed route.
It should be shaped through exploration and fun, said Ms Song, co-founder of the youth organisation Bold At Work, adding: “There are not enough conversations about how one can pursue alternate pathways in Singapore.”
Hoping to encourage more of such conversations, Ms Song and her team created That’s How We Roll!, a tactile game which encourages players to explore their own narratives of success and what it means to them."
New annual course will groom future leaders of Singapore’s Chinese community (20 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Some 100 Chinese community participants in their 30s and 40s will be the beneficiaries of a government-funded initiative to foster the future leadership of the community over the next five years.
They should be active in the Chinese community, demonstrating a passion to serve, to be eligible for the Chinese Community Leadership Course, said Mr Chee Hong Tat, chairman of the Chinese Community Liaison Group (CCLG), at the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) in Toa Payoh on Aug 20."
Staff member found with active TB after screening at 2 pre-schools; no children diagnosed so far: CDA (20 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A staff member at the MindChamps PreSchool in East Coast has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis after a screening of children and staff there, as well as at MapleBear Toa Payoh.
None of the children at either pre-school have tested positive so far, and there is “currently no evidence of spread within the pre-schools”, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) in a statement on Aug 20.
The agency conducted screenings at the MindChamps and MapleBear pre-schools on Aug 13 and Aug 15 respectively, after a pre-school teacher who had taught at both schools tested positive for the disease."
3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE (20 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - A pupil from Sengkang Green Primary School has been caned for his involvement in bullying a female classmate, with the school acting “in a timely manner”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The boy is among three Primary 3 pupils suspended after death threats were sent to the girl’s mother. She had earlier reported them to the school for bullying her daughter.
The girl, who stopped attending school because of the bullying, will return to school with a safety plan in place, with her parents no longer requesting a transfer, the ministry said."
Filipino teens celebrate coming-of-age with traditional bash in Singapore (21 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE –Temasek Polytechnic student Andrea Din celebrated her 18th birthday in December 2024 in grand style: about 120 guests showed up at the Holiday Inn Orchard ballroom.
Filipino customs were followed; the birthday girl danced with 18 male relatives or friends, receiving a rose from each one. Her female relations and friends lit 18 candles and offered her well-wishes.
This is the “18 roses” tradition, a part of an 18-year-old girl’s coming-of-age celebration, known as a “debut”."
Free breakfast for P6 pupils at Cheers, FairPrice Xpress outlets in September (21 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - More than 12,000 Primary 6 pupils will be able to redeem free breakfast bundles at Cheers and FairPrice Xpress convenience store outlets islandwide on Sept 3 and 4.
In a statement on Aug 21, FairPrice Group said its Cheers Breakfast Club initiative, which is running for the second year, aims to support pupils as they prepare for their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
Each bundle, which is worth more than $20, will include fresh fruits, wholemeal bread, chicken essence, Milo and cereal."
Singapore students shine in Paris with record medal haul at history Olympiad (21 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Eight students from Singapore pitted their wits against more than 400 students from around the world in a worldwide history contest, only to miss out on the top spot.
The students, who came from a host of schools in Singapore, brought home a record medal haul from the International History Olympiad in Paris."
Teacher charged over allegedly making student undress in video call, sending her his nude photo (21 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A teacher was on a video call with one of his female students when he allegedly instructed the then 15-year-old to undress, and she complied.
The man is accused of exposing himself and performing a sexual act at around the same time.
He is also said to have sent the girl a picture of his naked body, the court heard.
The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named owing to a gag order to protect the girl’s identity, has been charged with one count each of committing a lewd act with the teen and circulating an obscene image to her."
Protecting the endangered species known as entry-level workers (21 August 2025)
"One of the biggest fears about artificial intelligence (AI) has been the extent to which it can reduce or even remove the roles of large swathes of employees. The debate is now zeroing in on the disproportionate threat it poses to young people entering, or about to enter, the job market.
It’s no longer about AI stealing jobs. It’s about AI smothering careers in their cradle."
How not to use AI is a skill Singapore must master (21 August 2025)
"In a speech heavy on nostalgia as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recalled the simpler, halcyon days of his youth, the undercurrent of uncertainty and disruption was equally strong.
As his former schoolmate in Victoria Junior College, I found that his recollections at the National Day Rally of growing up in the 1980s could just as well have been mine. Back then, we engaged with computers in laboratories in school or community centres. Making video calls on personal handheld devices was the stuff of science fiction."
New ACS special education school to take in 100 pupils with autism in January 2026 (22 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - A new special education (Sped) school for children with autism will take in 100 pupils across Primary 1 and 2 when it opens in January 2026.
The ACS (Academy) is set up by Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) and Methodist Welfare Services, a social service agency.
The newest member of the ACS family, it will be the fifth Sped school here offering the national curriculum for students with autism and who have no intellectual impairment."
askST: What parents can do if their child is targeted by a bully or is a bully (22 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Following the recent cases of school bullying, parents are seeking advice on how they can help if their child is targeted by a bully or bullying someone.
Here is timely advice from clinical psychologist Carol Balhetchet, who studied bullying at the Singapore Children’s Society where she worked for more than 20 years."
Man who allegedly sexually assaulted toddler in pre-school worked as a cook in the same school (22 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The court has lifted a gag order on the identity of a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a two-year-old girl at her pre-school.
Teo Guan Huat, 60, who was then working as a cook at the pre-school, is accused of reaching into the toddler’s diaper and touching her on at least eight occasions between May and November 2023.
The Malaysian was arrested and has been in remand since December 2023."
Govt-funded traineeships for fresh graduates to kick off in October with up to 800 places (22 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Recent and soon-to-be graduates can apply for traineeships under a new scheme to tackle job concerns amid a more uncertain labour market and volatile economic climate.
Applications for the government-funded traineeships start in October, with up to 800 positions offered for a start across various sectors, with each lasting three to six months.
Trainees will receive a monthly allowance ranging from $1,800 to $2,400 for the duration of their stint, and the amount may vary depending on the scope of each traineeship, said the Ministry of Manpower, Workforce Singapore (WSG) and the Public Service Division (PSD) in a joint statement on Aug 22."
Govt prepared to increase support, traineeships for fresh grads if job market worsens: Tan See Leng (22 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Fresh graduates could get more support if the labour market worsens and long-term unemployment continues to rise, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Aug 22.
The Government is prepared to provide more help for this group including funding more traineeships if the economic situation worsens, he said."
EdTech can be a gamechanger for more engaged learning (8 May 2025)
"While EdTech tools can support more engaging lessons for more diverse students, learning how to use these tools effectively can be challenging. Here’s how three educators are doing it.
Using tech to dispel the fear of learning
Forgotten how to calculate the area of a trapezium? Fret not. Because Senior Teacher Mr Charles Yip at Tampines Secondary School has a simple and catchy melody to which he sings, “Half the sum of the parallel sides, and times the height between them.”
Using music to help students remember mathematical formulas is something Mr Yip, who has been teaching for 20 years, has been doing for a while. He used to make up these tunes himself, and also used songs found on YouTube. More recently, however, he’s been tapping on Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically, the Generative AI (Gen AI) tool Suno, to craft these jingles. And that’s just one way technology is helping him make his Mathematics lessons more engaging.
“I always question myself: why can’t the students remember or understand the concepts?” he says. Very often, he realised, it was simply because these concepts were not presented in ways that were interesting and accessible to them. For some, there is also the very real obstacle of fear.
Take algebra, for example. “Some students approach this topic with an unfounded fear, maybe because it’s a more abstract concept. If I tell them the next topic I am teaching is algebra, they will say ‘it’s so difficult’, even though they have not encountered it before.”
To dispel this fear, he decided this year to use the framework of an adventure story to introduce students to algebraic expressions. He used Gen AI tools, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to come up with the plot of students getting lost in a jungle while trying to reach a mysterious city. To get directions to their destination, they had to tap on their understanding of algebra to answer questions.
Mr Yip used Adobe’s Firefly AI tool to generate the accompanying illustrations for this story. To craft the questions, he drew from lessons that other teachers had shared on the Community Gallery in the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS), MOE’s online teaching and learning platform for students and teachers."
Designing a platform to stretch imaginations and build communities (13 May 2025)
"For Mrs Judy Swee, teaching is a calling. And when her interest in Design Thinking was sparked, it kindled in her a desire to bring like-minded students and teachers together.
“Educators are designers too. When I encounter a problem, I define it, scope it, then brainstorm solutions and test them one by one,” says Mrs Judy Swee, drawing the link between her passion for teaching and enthusiasm for Design Thinking. And it is this connection that led the Head of Department of Discipline at Bedok Green Primary School (BGPS) to initiate and organise the inaugural Design Thinking Conference for primary schools in the East Zone.
The event, which took place on 3 April this year, was attended by 170 teachers and students from 18 schools – a resounding turnout that far exceeded Mrs Swee’s expectations.
A casual chat that ignited a passionate cause
Despite its success, the conference’s origin was humble. It all started from a chat between Mrs Swee, who also heads the Student Leadership committee, and her fellow teacher Miss Chin Ching Shia.
Mrs Swee recalls the two of them being at the Design For Change Challenge last year. This is an annual competition where students meet and engage with industry and community partners to come up with impactful solutions to solve real-world problems. “I asked if she would mind hearing me out on this idea that I had, and since she was my captive audience, she couldn’t say no,” jokes Mrs Swee with a hearty laugh.
Mrs Swee’s “Instead of sending students out for competitions, why don’t we organise it ourselves?” pitch captured Miss Chin’s imagination, and by the end of the conversation, the both of them had brainstormed a bunch of ways to make this happen. The major objective: fun."
Crossing levels, gaining perspectives (26 May 2025)
"These three teachers made the deliberate move to teach at a different level – from junior college to secondary to primary – driven by a passion to better understand and support student development. They share with Schoolbag the insights and skills they have gained on their journeys to become more masterful educators.
Ms Nicole Law leapt from academic-driven excellence into applied education to support a different student profile
It is a given that academically inclined students often enter schools with a strong academic focus. But what Ms Nicole Law observed at Hwa Chong Institution (College), where she taught Economics for four years, was that some studious students may thrive even better in environments that emphasise practical hands-on application of classroom knowledge and skills to real-world settings.
“I’ve had students who transferred to polytechnics and were much happier for it. That really opened up my thought process about the applied education pathway and I wanted to learn more about it,” she explains of her decision to apply to teach at NorthLight School, which has a non-mainstream curriculum. The school has an experiential approach to teaching and learning, as well as an added emphasis on students’ social-emotional development.
“I was drawn to the school’s mission. It’s not about chasing a particular grade, but rather giving students back the confidence to continue to develop themselves,” she elaborates.
She was also keen to make a direct impact on a group of students whom she had encountered while working at MOE HQ, where she had to reply to appeal letters from parents whose children had not met the entry requirements for polytechnics and ITEs. Ms Law shares that the letters often shed light on the personal family circumstances, such as the home environment, that had impacted a child’s studies. And she also saw first-hand the effect policies had on people’s lives.
In her current role as the Subject Head for Info-Comm Technology at NorthLight School, Ms Law has learnt to build strong teacher-student relationships by scheduling one-on-one time with each of her students. Like other form teachers at NorthLight, she also makes periodic home visits to engage her students’ parents."
A school and a tech start-up gamify the learning experience to bring sustainability lessons to life for students (27 May 2025)
"Gan Eng Seng Primary School and Move Technologies teamed up to enhance students’ learning experience within the school’s Applied Learning Programme through a Virtual Reality game. Read about how this partnership has benefitted students, the school and the company alike.
Imagine a game where you explore your surroundings, encounter a talking cat, and solve puzzles to search for an elusive treasure.
This is how Primary 5 students at Gan Eng Seng Primary School (GESPS) are deepening their understanding about sustainability, thanks to their school’s partnership with Move Technologies, a social enterprise that aims to tackle real-world problems with virtual products.
Enhancing the existing Applied Learning Programme
The immersive gamified experience, where students learn about food packaging while exploring a simulation of their neighbourhood, is a recent addition to the suite of learning experiences within GESPS’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP) on food sustainability, From Farm to Table. According to Ms Brina Tan, the Head of Department of Science at GESPS and the school’s ALP coordinator, the ALP aims to develop “confident communicators, critical and creative thinkers, as well as students who are more curious about their learning.”
For Primary 5 students, the programme focuses on the topic of food packaging – understanding properties of materials suitable for use as food packaging, distinguishing between biodegradable and non-biodegradable options, as well as exploring ways to reduce food packaging waste.
“Students at this age may be starting to pack food to bring to school or from hawker centres to bring home to their family,” Ms Tan explains. “We want them to be role models and positive influences on those around them by making more sustainable choices in food packaging.”
While existing learning experiences within the ALP enabled students to learn the content, the initial rollout of the programme – Move Technologies hadn’t come into the picture then – didn’t quite get the response intended. “Students had in-class discussions and projects, and went on a learning journey on upcycling,” says Ms Tan. “Some of our students, being very hands-on and kinaesthetic in nature, found the classroom portions a bit dry.”
While considering how to make the programme more engaging for all students, the teachers in the ALP team wondered: what if students could learn through a self-paced game with puzzles to keep them motivated and actively involved? This way, their understanding of the content could be assessed too."
Wayfinding through the secondary school years (28 May 2025)
"The teenage years can be some of the most tumultuous ones. Three resilient teens give us a glimpse into their lives and how they navigate the pressures of their growing-up years.
Secondary school represents the beginning of teenage years and an important stage of growth, where students are exposed to new experiences and academic, social and personal stresses. The challenges faced during this time can be significant for teens, so we speak to three secondary school students to learn about how they are overcoming these hurdles by understanding their needs and finding support in the people around them.
Ruth Kan unwinds with books and art, and says managing the boundaries between school responsibilities and play is a delicate balancing act
Like many students, the things that dampen Ruth’s everyday mood revolve around studies, such as seemingly endless piles of homework or lagging behind in revision. The Secondary 4 student at Kent Ridge Secondary School admits that managing the increased academic difficulty at the Secondary 4 level, while juggling her Student Council and floorball CCA commitments, is no small feat.
To unwind from the pressures of school, Ruth reads and sketches at home. “Since young, I have always been interested in drawing animals.” For four years now, she has allocated consistent time to practise drawing, resulting in the highly realistic animal art she produces today.
Ruth manages to juggle her hobbies alongside all her other responsibilities thanks to a keen sense of how to delineate time. While she has Student Council duties before or after school hours, “I try not to let that affect my studies,” she explains. By completing her homework and studying in school, she keeps her time at home free for recreational activities.
Besides that, Ruth also dexterously adjusts the amount of time she spends on recreation during busier seasons. For example, she allows herself time to do one piece of art before going back to her studies. This way, she effectively sets boundaries between work and play to keep a good balance between the two. “When I study, I study very hard. When I’m not, I don’t touch my textbooks at all.”
Ruth also credits her school’s Character and Citizenship Education programme with helping her cope with the challenging teenage years. She gives the example of how teachers have offered advice on time management to help students revise effectively and feel less overwhelmed. “In this way, we are able to learn how to navigate through our feelings and problems,” she says."
Where sports meets syntax (3 June 2025)
“The football field and the classroom aren’t as different as they appear,” says this English Teacher who applies the same winning techniques in coaching and crafting lessons.
By Sabrina Lee
In Bartley Secondary School, Mr Lee Guo Sheng moves seamlessly between two seemingly different worlds: the football field and the classroom. His systematic and measurable approach to both coaching the sport and teaching English relies on the same principle – breaking complex skills into measurable steps. Here’s how this educator scaffolds learning on and off the field.
Breaking down success on the field
In Mr Lee’s Football Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), he uses a goal setting approach where he establishes clear, measurable targets for players: “This week, focus on making 10 successful passes to teammates. Next week, we’ll aim for 15.” For shooting practice, it’s equally concrete: “Today, try to score once within the penalty area. By month’s end, let’s work toward scoring two times from the same position.”
Alumnus Kendrick Hiang, who is currently pursuing coaching qualifications through the Singapore Coach Excellence (SG-Coach) Programme, is proof of just how well this approach works.
Mr Lee recalls, “When Kendrick first joined the CCA, he would kick the ball as hard as he could and hope for the best.” So, he started working with Kendrick one-on-one at the start and end of every practice session, repeating the basics to build confidence."
Why choosing the JC Arts stream was the best decision for me (17 June 2025)
"I was torn between passion and pragmatism when I entered Catholic Junior College, but I decided to go with my heart and am glad to say that I have no regrets.
By Yee En Xue
Like many of my junior college schoolmates, I wrestled with the idea of choosing the Arts stream over the Science stream when I entered Catholic Junior College (CJC). Society often champions STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) pathways for their perceived stability, which leaves students like us, who gravitate toward the humanities, questioning whether following our interests is practical. Eventually, I gave in to my love for literature and writing, and after a year of studying the Arts, I can confidently say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.
A surprisingly pragmatic journey of passion
While there is a prevailing perception that choosing the Science stream is more pragmatic, embarking on an education pathway that does not align with one’s passion can be demoralising too. Many of my humanities-inclined friends who opted for the Science stream tell me that they look back at their decision with regret and now wonder if they would feel more fulfilled had they chosen to follow their interests instead.
Now that I’m in JC2, I can surprisingly say that the Arts stream, besides being a path of self-expression, is also one that is practical and filled with opportunities. From Day One in JC, I have been exposed to a rich tapestry of learning experiences that goes beyond textbooks. And that has led me to discovering that my passions have real-world examples and applications.
For example, “language change” is not only a linguistic concept I learnt in English Language and Linguistics (ELL), but also a reality that underpins the global linguistic landscape as proven by the famous evolution of the word “Google” from a proper noun to a verb. We see it in social media too, with the coinage of new words like “doomscrolling”, and the broadening of the meaning of the word “story” beyond simply being a narrative or account of events."
All in a night’s work: How sleep shapes tomorrow’s learning (19 June 2025)
"From bedtime battles to moody mornings, two local researchers help unpack what parents need to know about their children’s sleep health. They also debunk adult myths about sleep that may be keeping our young ones from restful slumber.
As part of the Grow Well SG movement, families are encouraged to build strong daily habits that help children thrive. Research shows that children need more rest than adults often realise; it supports brain development, emotion regulation and the ability to focus in school.
But as children grow more independent, sleep can slip down the priority list. That’s why it’s important for parents to help build healthy routines early. To support parents in doing that, we asked two experts – Associate Professor Joshua J Gooley, a sleep scientist at Duke-NUS Medical School, and Professor John Wang Chee Keng, a chartered sport and exercise psychologist and physical activity and sedentary behavioural researcher at the National Institute of Education – to tackle some common sleep myths and share research-backed advice for families.
1. “My child seems okay on just 6 hours of sleep.”
Children might power through the day, but that doesn’t mean they are thriving. “Just one night of inadequate sleep will result in a drop in attention performance the next day,” says Assoc Prof Gooley.
Lack of sleep also shows up in different ways for kids. For example, they could struggle to focus or manage their impulses and become more irritable. When sleep deprivation becomes chronic, it takes a toll on their mental well-being. “It’s a vicious circle,” says Prof Wang. “In the long term, moodiness may kick in. If you’re not in a good mood chronically, then it’s also hard to have positive relationships with others. On top of that, their academic performance may drop. Then they’ll feel anxious trying to improve their grades, but they can’t, because their cognitive functions are hindered.”
Biologically, children need more sleep, notes Assoc Prof Gooley. “Their brain just needs more sleep to grow, recover and retain new information,” he explains. “We know that when you’re well-rested, your attention is much better. And attention is the starting point for everything else that follows.”
As a father of two children, he knows it isn’t so straightforward, of course. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a sleep researcher. My kids also want to go to bed later than they should,” he muses. “So, there is a struggle sometimes. But we try to get them into a routine from an early age: that going to bed late is not what we do as a family.”
Levelling up students’ resilience with CCE lessons (23 June 2025)
"From mending broken pottery with gold to engaging in bonding activities, students share how CCE lessons have shaped them.
By Eveline Gan
What do you do when confronted by setbacks, failure and disagreements? For students at Crest Secondary School, Deyi Secondary School and St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School, these challenges aren’t seen as obstacles – they are opportunities to grow stronger, more resilient or become a better friend.
Schoolbag chats with teachers and students to learn how Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons help students level up their social-emotional skills and tackle life’s ups and downs.
Seeing the value and beauty in failing at Crest Secondary School
Failure is often seen as something to be avoided, but for a group of 14-year-old students at Crest Secondary School, a Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lesson inspired by Kintsugi has reshaped the way they view and respond to failure.
Kintsugi is a traditional art form originating from Japan, where broken pottery is repaired with lacquer dusted with gold. To simulate this process in class, the students were tasked with creating art out of torn pieces of paper. Mr Ooi Heng, who led the CCE lesson with his form class, explains that the goal was to show students how broken things can become something even more valuable and beautiful.
“Just as pottery becomes stronger and more beautiful with its gold-filled cracks, failure is an opportunity for the students to grow into more resilient individuals,” says Mr Ooi, who is also the Subject Head for Science and Environmental Education."
‘I can read a whole paragraph now!’ (25 June 2025)
"In this second instalment on the School-based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) programme, let us find out how SDR has been making a difference in the students’ literacy journey, and how some of the techniques can be applied at home.
“Last time I couldn’t read any words, but now I can read a whole paragraph!” exclaims Keira Lim. The Primary 3 student at Singapore’s Xishan Primary School is not just celebrating a personal victory; she is articulating quiet breakthroughs happening in mainstream classrooms across the island.
During the thrice-weekly hour-long sessions after school, teachers trained in the School-based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) programme patiently guide small groups of 4 to 5 students, systematically build reading skills through phonics, sight words, and reading comprehension strategies.
“The challenges are as diverse as the students themselves,” reflects Ms H’ng Hwee Shi, Senior Teacher, Learning Needs. She explains that some students struggle to read individual words but still grasp the overall meaning, while others read fluently yet have difficulty understanding what they have read.
Teachers tailor their approach for each student by turning their learning challenges into stepping stones for success. For Keira, who once struggled with reading materials meant for her age, the strategies she learnt during SDR sessions not only helped her progress but also enabled her to help her classmates.
“In regular classes, they’re the silent ones,” Ms H’ng says, describing her students with dyslexia. “But in these small SDR groups, they come alive.” She observes how the intimate setting transforms her students’ willingness to take risks, to stumble through difficult words, and to raise their hands. “When they stop fearing mistakes,” she adds, “they start believing in themselves.”
“Watching a child go from struggling to read to being able to read to learn – it makes every challenge worth it,” says Ms H’ng. “With three lessons a week, each lasting about 45 minutes, the SDR is rigorous and demanding for the teachers to implement, but it is rewarding to witness students grow in confidence as they progress in their literacy skills.”
‘Ma, I’m not JUST a goalkeeper’ – how my child taught me a parenting lesson (25 June 2025)
"Sports can bring out the competitive spirit in our children, but who is the one in the spotlight? This writer weighs in on how she learned a thing or two about supporting her child’s strengths and interests.
By Linda Lee
When it comes to team sports, the goal is simple: win as a team. But there’s always an MVP or two, right?
Which is why, in football, the spotlight usually lands on the strikers. Not the goalkeeper. The goalie rarely gets cheers for doing his job. But if he dives the wrong way or misses a penalty? Cue the groans.
So, my son has been playing football for a while. He’s tried out various positions but recently chose to settle on goalkeeping.
Being the involved (read: slightly meddling) mum I am, I gently suggested he consider a position with more visibility—and more running. Not going to lie, I thought it might help him shed some baby fats.
But more than that, I didn’t want him to feel like a spare part while his teammates dashed around. With his naturally “chillax” nature, I worried he might have just accepted a role no one else wanted. I nudged him to speak to his coach. “Or I could talk to him, if you prefer,” I offered.
He hemmed and hawed, and I silently wished he’d just speak up for what he wanted.
Then one day, he did.
“I want to be a goalkeeper because I don’t think I can outrun my friends,” he said, in a very demure, very thoughtful manner. “And I enjoy the wind in my hair when I dive for the ball. So, I think this position works for the team and me.”
That was my moment of clarity: It’s not about what I want. It’s about what he wants."
13 and ready for social media… or not? (26 June 2025)
"Ever wondered why social media apps are rated as 12+ on the Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store? Is 13 the ‘magic age’ when children can be on social media? Aside from age, what else should parents be looking out for in terms of whether their children are social-media ready? Ministry of Education’s Senior Guidance Specialist Hendriawan Selamat shares more in this article.
Your child has been telling you that they want to sign up for a social media account. Their 13th birthday has recently passed and that’s the minimum age social media platforms require users to be. So, it should be ok, right?
Hold on.
13 – the magic number?
Are 13-year-olds really mature enough and ready for social media? And why is the age restriction up to 13 years of age?
The minimum age of 13 for social media accounts comes from the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a 1998 law protecting children’s privacy. When users sign up for social media accounts, they must declare that they are 13 or older, allowing platforms to collect their information. However, this age requirement is based on privacy law rather than whether teens are actually ready for social media.
To ensure that children are protected by the safety features that have been built into the various platforms, it is important that the age provided when setting up the account is accurate. For example, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram automatically make accounts for users 13- to 16-year-olds private by default and prevent strangers from direct messaging them. Parents need to be aware that lying about children’s age when signing up for social media accounts bypasses important safety and privacy features designed to protect young users.
Sensitive content that may be considered upsetting, offensive or sensitive are often restricted for younger users. Hence by not providing their actual age, children have higher risks of exposure to inappropriate and sensitive content."
Reaching out with regular check-ins and heartfelt chats (26 June 2025)
"Educators across three schools share how they help students who are facing challenges feel seen, supported and understood.
Can you recall a time when a reassuring pat on the shoulder or a few encouraging words from a teacher lifted your spirits? In school, besides close friends, teachers are often the first to notice when something’s not quite right.
Mr Rajiv Jude Illesinghe, Subject Head of Student Well-being at Northland Primary School, believes that educators play a crucial role in supporting student well-being. “Times have changed, and with everything being online, the adversaries students now face are not as visible. That’s why it’s so important for students to see teachers as people who care about them, who want to hear their voices and say, ‘I’m here for you’,” he says.
From casual chats to insights drawn from tools such as check-in surveys, teachers from three schools share the ways in which they connect with and reach out to their students.
Northland Primary School
When one of his students began acting out in class, Mr Jude sensed that something was wrong. But the student clammed up and insisted that everything was fine when the concerned teacher checked in with him. Undeterred, Mr Jude turned to the Termly Check-in survey data that the student had completed earlier. Combing through the responses, his worry deepened.
“For questions such as ‘Are you excited about school holidays?’ and ‘Do you have friends in class?’, my student answered ‘No’. The responses unravelled a bigger picture of what the student was going through,” Mr Jude shares.
Mr Jude then reached out to the student’s parents, who were unaware of the impact certain changes in the family were having on their child. “The child’s father was moving overseas, but the parents did not realise that it was affecting their child. I advised the parents to have an open conversation with their child.”
Mr Jude shares that the student has since returned to his cheerful self. “He has moved on to secondary school but came to visit me on Teacher’s Day. He looks really joyful again,” says Mr Jude."
Beyond drawing and painting: How art teachers inspire our children and help them see the full picture (27 June 2025)
"Three Master Teachers with decades of experience in teaching art share their perspectives on how art education and art teachers, in a rapidly evolving world, are now more crucial than ever to help us thrive in future.
Ms Chun Wee San’s approach to teaching art is informed by neuroscience. She purposefully uses anecdotes to spark conversations and curiosity in her students, so that they learn and remember better. She shares three ways in which she fosters this curiosity in students, and helps them grow comfortable with uncertainty – a key trait of the world today."
Lighting Up Classrooms with the Joy of Teaching (9 July 2025)
"From quiet breakthroughs to class-wide celebrations, 12 teachers share the moments that bring a smile to their face at work.
We ask our Outstanding Youth in Education Award finalists and recipients: What brings you joy?
Mr Lim Yang Jun (Fuhua Primary School)
Teacher Recipient, OYEA 2025
Mr Lim champions inclusivity, transforming spaces to cater to students of different needs.
With his team, he introduced calming corners in every classroom, signalling that any student may experience negative emotions, and ready support is available to all, regardless of their challenges or backgrounds.
In this way, the physical environment itself becomes a powerful tool for fostering a welcoming and inclusive school community."
What coming full circle looks like (21 July 2025)
"When Ms Ng Lee Siah left teaching in 2009, she wanted to try out different career options. Five years later, she found herself returning to her educator roots. She shares with Schoolbag how the unconventional loop she had taken has shaped her, and what has changed – or not – in the teaching profession.
Speaking to Ms Ng Lee Siah, one gets the sense that she has an adventurous and inquisitive streak. But it’s not something that is immediately apparent when Schoolbag first met her at the Project Work Marketplace of Ideas Pitch. The Eunoia Junior College (EJC) teacher, who teaches Project Work (PW), was there to accompany her students for their group presentation.
Named Sustainabite, her PW group had proposed to create a recipe kit with insect-based protein product to combat food insecurity in Singapore. Their comprehensive and practical proposal – and charming presentation – won them first place in the pitching event, and they readily credited Ms Ng for her guidance in helping them shape their work.
Sustainabite’s win aside, their quirky personalities compelled us to find out more. There are five of them: one wants to go into public policy; one is a self-proclaimed insect lover who is determined to work for NParks; one wants to go into foreign policy and law; one wants to study biology; and one is interested in music cognition and neuroscience. So, how did Ms Ng get all of them on the same page? Turns out, she herself has as diverse a set of interests as the winning team she oversees.
A fortuitous posting
Ms Ng first entered the teaching profession fresh out of school. “I graduated with an Engineering degree from Nanyang Technological University, and I applied to all the jobs I didn’t mind trying out,” she recalls. “I went for interviews with a few companies, and MOE got back to me, offered me a teaching position.”
That led her to her first teaching stint, where she was trained to teach Mathematics and posted to Pioneer Junior College (PJC). “I went to the school website to find out more about the school, and I saw that the PW oral presentations were ongoing. My interest was piqued and I remember wondering if I could call the school to ask to sit in for the presentations,” Ns Ng says.
She did not contact the school eventually, but fate would have it that PJC set up the PW department that year. The Head of Department (HOD) asked Ms Ng if she was interested to join. She said yes immediately, which surprised him. “The idea of working on a project and solving a problem sounded interesting to me because there was no PW when I was in JC,” she elaborates."
Chatterbox conversations: A fun way to bond this Racial Harmony Day (21 July 2025)
"Teaching children about racial harmony doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most powerful lessons happen through everyday conversations at home – and a simple paper chatterbox can be the perfect conversation starter.
The everyday conversations that we share with our children carry more significance than we might realise. These moments are valuable opportunities for our children to learn and practise having respectful conversations. Interactions like this one open our hearts and build a genuine interest to learn about other cultures. They form the building blocks for practising and upholding harmony in our diverse society.
This Racial Harmony Day, let’s extend the commemoration beyond school activities by engaging in meaningful conversations at home to understand each other’s thoughts and feelings about our cultures and experiences. One fun way is to use a paper chatterbox – a beloved childhood game reimagined with a thoughtful twist.
You’ll find questions within to get you talking and thinking about race and culture, like “What is your favourite festival and why?”."
Finding a school that’s good for your child (22 July 2025)
"With students graduating into an increasingly complex world, choosing a school for them must go beyond simply looking at its academic track record. Mrs Tan Chen Kee, MOE’s Director of Schools, explains why it’s crucial to understand your child to ensure a good match between them and the programmes a school offers.
Strong bonds are often rooted in empathy – after all, there’s nothing like walking a mile in someone else’s shoes to truly understand where they are coming from. And if that means venturing into uncharted territory, Mrs Tan Chen Kee, MOE’s Deputy Director-General of Education (Schools) and Director of Schools, is up for the challenge.
To bond with her godson, who’s currently in Primary 6, Mrs Tan gamely took up gaming so she could better understand this pursuit he spent so much time on. “I’m really no good at it, but he takes me on his raids, and I wander around and randomly shoot where he tells me to shoot,” she describes, laughing heartily. “And I do it so I can understand his reality. The world the young generation faces today is totally different, and we won’t do them any good by judging them based on our reality. We need to enter their world and then bring them to where they need to be.”
In the same spirit, Mrs Tan decided to accept an invitation to a Facebook group for parents of primary school students about a year ago. “I wanted to get insights into what weighs heavily on parents’ minds and hearts, what keeps them up at night. It’s about seeing things from their lived reality.” From heated debates about different parenting approaches to unfiltered comments about schools and teachers, her year of observation spent “in the field” was illuminating.
“All parents want the best for their children,” says Mrs Tan. “They are trying their best based on the information they have access to, and their own life experiences.” If parents spent their own youth navigating a system that was more focused on academic results and saw how professional pathways opened up with the help of school experiences and networks, scepticism about the message that “every school is a good school” is understandable.
“Many parents still define a good school as one that is well-resourced and has a track record of producing good academic results,” she acknowledges. “They think that there is only a certain basket of schools that will create the best set of opportunities for their children and drive their own decisions along these directions.”
Over-parenting vs being involved – here’s why the difference matters (23 July 2025)
"Work pressures can cause time-starved parents to jump in to solve problems for their children instead of seizing teachable moments. Mrs Tan Chen Kee, MOE’s Director of Schools, shares how parents can better work with their child’s teachers to help the children flourish, and recalibrate expectations for a more meaningful partnership.
Back when Mrs Tan Chen Kee was a student, silence was golden when it came to parent-school interactions.
“My mum was a teacher then, but still, she didn’t really care about what was going on in school unless the school called her,” says Mrs Tan, who’s now MOE’s Deputy Director-General of Education (Schools) and Director of Schools. “And when that happened, it usually meant bad news, so it was better for the school not to call.”
While the belief then was that “no news is good news”, today’s paradigm between schools and parents is quite different. “The parenting approach has changed over the years,” Mrs Tan acknowledges. “These days, most parents want to be a lot more engaged with schools.”
That is a healthy sign, since both parents and schools share the same goal of helping the child flourish. However, being too involved can lead to over-parenting, which can have its drawbacks. One of these is what Mrs Tan calls “short-circuiting the process of learning”.
What does that mean? Well, let’s say a child is not able to get into the co-curricular activity (CCA) of their choice. How a parent responds can inform the life lessons their child absorbs from the experience.
Scenario 1: The parent helps the child to understand that in life you don’t always get what you want, but be open to what you get
In this scenario, the child comes to terms with the reality that in life, we don’t always get what we want. “So it’s about learning to deal with setbacks and disappointment, to be more resilient, and to bounce back” says Mrs Tan.
By opting for a different CCA, the child could also discover new interests and hone a sense of flexibility with regards to different pathways. Parental involvement could then be talking to their child about being open to alternative possibilities in life."
Next Stop, Primary School: Preparing the Child, and the Parent (29 July 2025)
"Making the leap to primary school can feel daunting for both parents and children. Seasoned preschool leader Ms Loy Wee Mee shares practical strategies to make this transition smoother.
While academic preparation often dominates parents’ concerns about Primary 1 transition, Ms Loy Wee Mee, who has 24 years’ experience in the early childhood sector, says that life skills and social-emotional readiness matter more. Here, she shares what parents can focus on in the years leading up to primary school.
Building essential life skills
The foundation for a smooth transition begins well before K2. Children develop crucial skills through daily routines, from managing their belongings to problem-solving.
For instance, they learn to handle situations like forgetting their water bottle by finding appropriate solutions, such as requesting a cup. Parents can also get their children to be familiar with skills like handling money and time management, so when they enter primary school, they can confidently buy food at the canteen and finish their meals on time.
“Going into primary one is not about academics. It’s really about that self – how excited is the child to say, ‘Great, it’s going to be another journey. I can do it.’,” explains Ms Loy."
Next Stop, Primary School: A Principal’s Perspective (29 July 2025)
"Does more preparation mean that children would do better in primary school? Woodlands Primary School Principal Mrs Lillian Chen shares what parents can do to help their children thrive in primary school.
What’s really needed at Primary 1?
Children need fundamental self-management skills, not solely academic preparation, to thrive in primary school, says Mrs Chen. She emphasises that children should be able to handle basic tasks independently, such as packing their school bags with a given timetable and managing toilet routines.
Social-emotional preparation is equally crucial. “Children need to understand how to make new friends, how to interact with new friends,” says Mrs Chen.
Is it even possible to over-prepare my child?
While parents’ intentions are good, over-preparation through excessive academic enrichment classes can be counterproductive. “Too much of it can actually take away the joy of learning because students start to associate learning with stress, a packed schedule, or even overly challenging tasks,” Mrs Chen cautions.
She highlights concerning scenarios where students end up disengaged due to over-preparation. “We do see instances of students in class being very bored, and when asked why are you not engaged? The child’s reply can be, usually, ‘I have already learnt this two weeks ago during my tuition class.’”
This disengagement can affect crucial aspects of learning, particularly the development of soft skills through collaborative projects and group work, Mrs Chen says."
Next Stop, Primary School: The Power of (Continued) Play (31 July 2025)
"What’s the true value of play, especially when formal schooling starts? Hear from Mr Lee Hoi Leong, a parent of two and co-founder of a non-profit organisation focused on encouraging creative skills and confidence in children.
How should we see ‘play’?
The word ‘play’ often carries negative connotations among adults, being viewed as the opposite of work and study. “We often hear ‘please don’t play, go and study’, or if you’re working, then you’re not playing,” Mr Lee observes. But he thinks we got it backwards. “From our personal experiences, most of us have very positive memories of play. We remember the fun moments rather than the times we were working intensely. Play is positive.”
This perception of play as the antithesis of productivity, Mr Lee suggests, misses its true value. Play offers significant developmental benefits, particularly in building a child’s sense of agency.
“One thing that I really like about play is that most of the time, the player is in control. We are in self-directed mode,” he says. This element of control and self-direction in play, Mr Lee explains, is vital for children’s development. It helps them build confidence in making decisions and managing their own learning – skills that become even more crucial as they progress through primary school and encounter more structured expectations.
Making time for unstructured play
As a parent himself, with two children in primary school, Mr Lee says that he can “totally identify with the peer pressure that Singaporean parents are facing” when he hears about friends sending their children to extra classes.
“One of the few things that (my wife and I) very intentionally do is to set aside time for play,” Mr Lee shares. He admits that it can be challenging now that his children are in middle and upper primary, and their time is increasingly taken by up homework and after-school programmes.
This is where the intentionality is particularly key. “We make sure that there are a few times in the week where we bring them to play sports, go to the playground, go to the park, or just let them choose something that they want to do,” Mr Lee says."
Choosing to teach: What led me here and what keeps me going (1 August 2025)
"Many may think that returning to the classroom year after year is what teaching is about. But for me, it’s a career that is much more – with its potential for personal development and the privilege to work with young minds.
By He Jia Wen
In my 16 years as a teacher, I have had my fair share of questions from students and friends about my career choice. “Why did you become a teacher?”, “Should I go into teaching?”, and even “How come you stayed so long at the job?”
I love it when students ask these questions. Beyond sharing my story with them, it is also a great opportunity to reflect on what brought me to the job and what is keeping me here.
What got me into teaching was simple: I accepted a teaching scholarship at 18 which allowed me to study what I loved (English Literature) and guaranteed me a job when I finished my university studies. Before that, I had intentionally applied for a relief teaching stint at a secondary school after my A Level, just to be sure I know what I am signing up for.
In those few months doing relief teaching, I found that I enjoyed the dynamic nature of student interactions. While there was some structure in how a lesson progressed, I could not anticipate how students would react. Initially, I would get worried when I went off-track during a carefully planned lesson. But these moments often brought about questions or quips from students, which I slowly started to welcome, as they showed students’ curiosity and confidence – and encouraged me. The bustling activity and infectious energy of students on campus was also an environment I relished. On top of all that, my supervisors gave me positive feedback, which assured me I could do reasonably well at the job.
What kept me in teaching for the next fifteen years was more complex. It was a mix of seeing the impact of my words and actions on students’ life choices, having the chance to grow professionally, and being in a job that expected me to reflect on my personhood."
The future is student-made and eco-friendly (5 August 2025)
"From automated drying racks to solar ovens, students are applying their science knowledge and creativity to overcome everyday climate challenges. These school-led initiatives show how the next generation is taking real steps toward a greener future.
Drying clothes, cooking, commuting – we do not think much of these everyday actions, but our students are reimagining them through eco-friendly design. This initiative is in support of Go Green SG 2025, an annual nationwide sustainability movement organised by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. We speak to four schools whose students are turning curiosity into climate action, one project at a time!
Building toy cars with rechargeable sun-powered batteries
Over 16 weeks, Secondary 1 students at Compassvale Secondary School explored sustainable design by creating rechargeable battery-operated toy cars during their Design & Technology lessons.
As part of the project, the students built two items: a toy car, and a solar-powered battery charger to power the car. Along the way, they engaged in design thinking, artefact fabrication, and the construction of electrical circuits.
Mr Aydrian Yap, Head of Department (Craft & Technology), shared that this project helped students understand how electrical components work together, and how renewable energy can be stored and harnessed to power vehicles.
The students were also allowed to bring their solar charger home to recharge household batteries. This was to encourage their families to shift away from using disposable batteries, a small but positive change in daily habit that goes a long way towards greener living."
They are Lion Mums, hear them roar in this parenting vodcast (14 August 2025)
"How different are they on-screen and off-screen? Catch the actresses from the popular Singapore drama series as they host a series of Canteen Chats on hot parenting topics with MOE teachers, parents and experts.
Every parent wonders: Am I doing enough to help my child thrive?
With so much advice out there, it can be hard to know what really matters. Sometimes, what helps most is just hearing other parents and teachers lay it all out – the wins, the worries, the would-haves – and deciding what’s most important to you.
That’s what MOE’s video podcast series, “Canteen Chats with Lion Mums”, sets out to do.
In four candid episodes, cast members from the popular Lion Mums drama sit down with MOE teachers, parents and experts, and talk openly about parenting, stress, success, resilience and learning. And about what helps, what doesn’t, and how parents and teachers can work together to support every child.
Here’s a quick look at the episodes, and why they are well worth a watch."
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."
In 2018, I lost my IT job and thought I’d never be in tech again. Now I teach AI to students and adult learners (27 June 2025)
"In late 2018, I was the head of IT in a firm I had dedicated many years of my life to. One afternoon, I was called into a meeting, handed an envelope, and told that my role had been made redundant. Just like that, 18 years of hard work, late nights and quiet sacrifices went up in smoke.
The first thing I did was call my wife. She didn’t say much, just “Come home first. We’ll figure it out.”
Her words grounded me in that moment. Because truthfully, my mind was completely blank – I had no idea what to do next."
'Affordable, safe and rigorous' – but are Singapore’s universities truly elite? (27 June 2025)
"When Mr Martin Ruzicka first applied to universities in 2022, Asia was not even on his radar. But after his first semester at University College London (UCL), he withdrew and transferred halfway around the world to continue his studies in Singapore.
The 20-year-old from the Czech Republic is now in his second year of business school at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Why the switch from UCL – widely considered as one of the best universities in the United Kingdom – to NTU?"
'A pioneering figure': Former NUS law school dean Thio Su Mien dies at 86 (30 June 2025)
"Singapore (NUS) law faculty and co-founder of TSMP Law Corporation, died on Monday (Jun 30) at the age of 86.
In a statement, TSMP called her a "pioneering figure" in Singapore’s legal landscape and lauded her "trailblazing role" in legal academia.
"The partners of TSMP Law Corporation are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed founder Dr Thio Su Mien. Dr Thio’s contributions to the profession and society have left an indelible mark," said the boutique law firm."
Driver who caused death of pillion rider not NUS student; police looking into his claim (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The police are looking into the claim by a driver who caused a pillion rider's death that he was a student of the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Singaporean Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat, 30, had been identified as an NUS student at the time of the incident, in reports on court proceedings based on official court documents.
However, after Tee's sentencing, NUS posted a statement on Facebook saying that Tee "has no affiliation with this university"."
New AMK Hub library will be more accessible but may be more crowded, library patrons say (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Retiree Betty Goh visits Ang Mo Kio Public Library every morning from Monday to Friday. She lives two bus stops away and visits the library to read the newspapers and books as part of her daily routine.
Come 2026, Ms Goh and other regular patrons of Ang Mo Kio Public Library will have to go to AMK Hub for their fix of books and a quiet, air-conditioned space. The National Library Board (NLB) confirmed on Jul 1 that the library branch will relocate next year.
The 67-year-old told CNA that she had already heard rumours about the move before it was officially announced, adding that other regulars at the library had discussed it, too."
Families with eligible children to get S$500 in Child LifeSG credits in July (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Families with eligible children will get S$500 (US$393) in Child LifeSG credits later this month, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) jointly said on Thursday (Jul 3).
Those with older children will also get S$500 in top-ups to their Edusave or Post-Secondary Education accounts in July, the ministries added. These one-off support measures were first announced in February's Budget speech by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to support families with children in managing their child-raising costs.
CHILD LIFESG CREDITS
The Child LifeSG credits for children born between 2013 and 2024 are set to be disbursed during the week starting from Jul 7, while for those born this year, the expected disbursement is in April 2026.
More than 450,000 children are expected to benefit from the credits, said the ministries."
From rejection to reinvention: Some fresh graduates, retrenched workers find their way out despite sluggish job market (4 July 2025)
"For many fresh graduates today, landing a job right out of university may feel like a pipe dream given the tough labour market.
Mr Dylan Sim, 26, who graduated as a valedictorian from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a degree in Southeast Asian Studies in June last year, had expected to secure full-time employment within four months.
But nearly a year after graduation, he found himself still hunting for a job, having already encountered “countless rejections, failed interviews and even an offer being rescinded”."
The ex-scholar who took a risk and booked a one-way ticket to the US during COVID in search of a job (5 July 2025)
"When Debbie Soon arrived in Los Angeles at the start of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had brought the world to a standstill.
While family and friends were hunkering down in Singapore, Ms Soon had other plans.
Leaving behind a stable role at mixed martial arts organisation ONE Championship – where she worked after completing her scholarship bond and also at Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC – she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to the United States without a job waiting for her on the other side."
I don’t want to micro-manage my kids’ schoolwork. But as a PSLE parent, do I have any other choice? (5 July 2025)
"In October 2024, I declared that I would be easing up on pressuring my five kids to do well in school.
I wrote: “Sometimes our kids need to fall before they can decide to pick themselves up and keep walking. As parents, we can guide and support – but we can’t live their lives for them.”
I received mixed responses to that piece from friends and family, who largely fell into two camps: “Their Grades, Their Choices” and “I’ll Do Anything It Takes To Help My Child Succeed”."
Technical issue causes tank to collide into traffic light during National Day Parade education show (6 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A tank experienced a technical issue on Saturday (Jul 5) during a National Day Parade 2025 education show, causing it to come into contact with a traffic light.
In response to queries from CNA, a Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) spokesperson said the incident took place at about 7.20pm.
The Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank (L2SG) experienced a technical issue following the Mobile Column segment of the National Day Parade 2025 National Education (NE) Show 2.
“This resulted in an incident along North Bridge Road, where the tank came into contact with a traffic light,” said the spokesperson."
*SCAPE to reopen in November, offering more room for programmes aimed at youths (7 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Youth hangout spot *SCAPE, will fully reopen in November this year after three years of upgrading works, with an expected annual footfall of more than 2 million people.
The space, located in the heart of Orchard Road, will shift its focus from retail offerings to youth-led programmes such as career pathways and community building.
It plans to add 30 per cent more openings for such programmes. Through this, it hopes to reach more than 30,000 youths every year, said Mr Ethen Ong, deputy executive director of *SCAPE."
Trying to catch students using AI a 'lost cause', Singapore university professors say (8 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When Tim was tasked with a written assignment last semester, the third-year engineering student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) simply turned to ChatGPT.
Using his senior’s essay as a reference, he asked the generative artificial intelligence tool to construct a new essay. He then rewrote it into something he was “capable of” and submitted it as his own.
“It’s very hard to get caught,” said the 24-year-old, who requested that his real name not be published."
New SkillsFuture registry to boost quality of educators with regular training from next April (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is aiming to level up the quality of its educators through a new national registry.
The lifelong learning statutory board said these efforts are part of an initiative called the Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway (TAEPP).
The initiative is developed by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) with the support of SSG to improve the professionalism of the training and adult education sector.
Educators delivering SSG-supported training will be required to be on the new registry from Apr 1 next year. The registration process will commence from the fourth quarter this year."
Woman charged with sexually grooming her primary school student, stalking him (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A woman who allegedly committed sexual offences against a primary school student and stalked him was charged on Wednesday (Jul 9).
The court imposed an order preventing the 34-year-old Singaporean woman and the boy from being identified. Court records showed that the accused was the victim's primary school teacher at the time.
She faces four charges of causing sexual penetration of a minor, performing an indecent act with a child, sexual grooming and stalking."
MOE to hire more than 1,000 teachers annually: Desmond Lee (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to hire more than 1,000 teachers annually, said Minister for Education Desmond Lee on Wednesday (Jul 9).
Mr Lee, who was speaking at the annual Teachers’ Investiture Ceremony at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Nanyang Technological University, said the move was aimed at strengthening the teaching profession.
MOE previously said that it recruits up to 700 teachers annually, a figure that has remained consistent over time."
NUS researchers tried to influence AI-generated peer reviews by hiding prompt in paper (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A team of National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers attempted to sway peer reviews generated by artificial intelligence by hiding a prompt in a paper they submitted.
The research paper has since been withdrawn from peer review and the online version, published on academic research platform Arxiv, has been corrected, said NUS in a statement on Thursday (Jul 10).
Arxiv is hosted by Cornell University. The paper, titled Meta-Reasoner: Dynamic Guidance for Optimized Inference-time Reasoning in Large Language Models, was written by six researchers, five of them based at NUS and one at Yale University."
Career fairs, upskilling workshops: Government considers more support to boost fresh grads' employability (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Ms Nur Farisya Fahrurazi has been on the hunt for a marketing job since graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic two months ago.
The business studies diploma holder said she applied for 20 positions but only received two job offers.
“A lot of them required me to have a degree or at least three years of experience, which I currently do not have. (I don't even have) a portfolio,” said the 20-year-old, who has since settled for an administrative job."
Nuclear safety research in Singapore boosted with S$66 million grant, new radiation-proof facility in NUS (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A key institute on nuclear energy research was boosted with a S$66 million (US$52 million) grant as it unveiled its new premises at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Friday (Jul 11).
With the grant, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) will expand its research into nuclear safety, NUS and the National Environment Agency NEA) said in a joint media release.
The institute now has a 12,900 sqm building located at 16 Prince George's Park, which is part of NUS' campus."
Parent or pal: Why you should not try so hard to be your child’s 'friend' (11 July 2025)
"I have always been fascinated by how my aunt has a remarkably close relationship with her son.
Even when my cousin was overseas, she would call him almost every day. Across oceans, they shared updates on how life was going, celebrated milestones such as birthdays and even sent each other personalised care packages.
When I asked how she built this bond, her advice was: "Be like a friend."
'Drained all my savings': Some master's degree graduates wonder if sacrifice pays off (11 July 2025)
"A master's degree has long been seen as a significant qualification to help employees open doors to better job opportunities, higher pay or even a career change.
However, the reality can be less straightforward, given Singapore's sluggish job market of recent years, with some recent master's degree graduates reporting that they have not necessarily achieved the employment edge that they were hoping to get.
The return on investment on the cost of such a degree, as well as the opportunity cost of taking time out to complete it, were the other concerns raised."
From Singapore to Silicon Valley, this young woman now shapes ChatGPT's future (12 July 2025)
"TikTok's Chew Shou Zi is not the only Singaporean driving global technology.
You may not have heard of Ms Jerene Yang, but chances are, you have probably used the technology she is helping to develop.
The 35-year-old is head of OpenAI's Runtime, the massive computing engine behind ChatGPT. Ms Yang's team of 35 artificial intelligence (AI) engineers and experts help to enable new ChatGPT models to be trained and rolled out for use."
They look like regular vapes, but drug-laced 'Kpods' are more lethal and pernicious (12 July 2025)
"When David (not his real name) first tried an e-vaporiser offered by friends in January last year, he had no idea that the liquid inside it contained more than just nicotine.
It was only when he felt lightheaded after taking a few puffs that the teenager, now aged 20, suspected it was not a regular vape, which in itself is illegal in Singapore.
After he confronted them, they revealed it was a "Kpod" – a drug-laced vape that typically contains chemicals such as etomidate, a fast-acting anaesthetic used in medical procedures. However, he still continued using it."
'The more internships, the better': Why some secondary school students are starting the hustle early (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: While many teenagers spent their March school holidays catching up with friends, Secondary 4 student Aloysius Lim had a different plan.
Instead of hitting the badminton courts with his friends, the 16-year-old was busy interning – his first experience in the working world.
The Temasek Secondary School student, an ex-student council president and former captain of the school's softball team, spent two months interning at social enterprise Make the Change."
'The more internships, the better': Why some secondary school students are starting the hustle early (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: While many teenagers spent their March school holidays catching up with friends, Secondary 4 student Aloysius Lim had a different plan.
Instead of hitting the badminton courts with his friends, the 16-year-old was busy interning – his first experience in the working world.
The Temasek Secondary School student, an ex-student council president and former captain of the school's softball team, spent two months interning at social enterprise Make the Change."
MOE not investigating SJI International over student's death on Maldives trip (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Eight months after a student of St Joseph's Institution International (SJII) died during a school trip to the Maldives, the school said that its internal investigation is still ongoing, as the Maldivian authorities have yet to share their findings.
Separately, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Tuesday (Jul 15) it would not be investigating the school's management as it was satisfied that the safety processes were adhered to.
The student, 15-year-old Singaporean Jenna Chan, died during a National Youth Achievement Award overseas expedition in the Maldives, Dr Michael Johnston, the school's CEO, previously told CNA."
41 schools oversubscribed in Phase 2A of P1 registration exercise (16 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A total of 41 schools were oversubscribed in Phase 2A of the Primary 1 registration exercise this year, an increase from last year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday (Jul 16).
The most oversubscribed school in Phase 2A was Gongshang Primary School in Tampines, with 203 applicants for 67 spaces.
Applications under Phase 2A started at 9am on Jul 10 and concluded at 4.30pm the next day."
'There's no moving on': 8 months on, parents of teen who died in Maldives still searching for answers (17 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Eight months after their daughter's death on a school trip to the Maldives, the parents of 15-year-old Jenna Chan say they are still waiting for answers.
Jenna, a student at St Joseph's Institution International (SJII), died during a National Youth Achievement Award expedition on Nov 8. According to Maldivian news outlet the Edition, she was fatally struck by the propeller of a reversing boat while snorkelling near Dhigurah Island in the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.
Her parents said they have heard little from either the Maldivian authorities or SJII. The school, however, maintained that it has made extensive efforts to piece together a full account of what happened."
Commentary: Lecturers need to give students clearer instructions about AI use (17 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Imagine you are a lecturer grading students’ essays about their research methods for the term project. You notice that three students mentioned using artificial intelligence in different ways.
Jane used an AI tool to help format citations in APA style. Don discussed topic ideas with ChatGPT to help narrow down his research focus. Beatrice ran her draft through an AI writing assistant to catch grammatical errors before final submission.
You realise that you did not explicitly address AI use in your course syllabus, and your university's policy broadly states that students must not use such tools without permission from the instructor.
The three students made good-faith attempts at disclosure, but you are uncertain whether their uses violate the spirit of academic integrity. How do you proceed?"
NTU upholds zero mark for student initially accused of using AI (18 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has upheld the zero mark awarded to a student who was accused of using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in her work.
The case emerged after the student posted on Reddit on Jun 19 about being penalised for using AI in a final essay for a module because she made citation errors and used a reference organiser.
After that, NTU convened a panel with AI experts to assess her appeal. She was one of three university students penalised for using the technology."
Staff at Red SchoolHouse’s Toh Tuck branch left unpaid after preschool’s sudden closure (18 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Several employees at a private preschool in the Bukit Timah area have made police reports against their former employer, alleging unpaid salaries after it went bust about two months ago.
Red SchoolHouse @ Toh Tuck closed with just two weeks’ notice in May, leaving dozens of students, parents and staff in limbo.
This follows a spate of abrupt private preschool closures, with at least six reported to have shuttered at short notice in the past two years."
Filipino women jailed for submitting forged university certificates to MOM for employment passes (18 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Two Filipino women who used forged university certificates in their applications for employment passes were jailed on Thursday (Jul 17).
Conol Almira Joy Torres, 29, was given six weeks' jail, Torres Alyssa Riva Fernan, 29, was jailed for four weeks.
Almira had two more charges than Alyssa, for declaring an inflated salary and submitting a forged certificate for a previous job."
Books Kinokuniya opens new Raffles City outlet ahead of previously announced date (18 July 2025)
"Good news for folks who were eagerly awaiting Books Kinokuniya's third outlet: The Japanese bookstore chain opened its new Raffles City outlet on Friday (Jul 18), ahead of schedule by weeks.
Books Kinokuniya previously announced that the outlet would open in August. Its Raffles City store joins Books Kinokuniya's flagship store at Takashimaya, which was reconfigured and "right-sized" early this year, and its other store at Bugis Junction as the remaining Books Kinokuniya outlets in Singapore.
According to Books Kinokuniya, the change in the opening date was because "renovations and preparations progressed ahead of schedule"."
314 suicides reported in Singapore in 2024; largest increase observed in 30-39 age group (19 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A total of 314 suicides were reported in Singapore in 2024, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) said on Saturday (Jul 19).
According to provisional data from the suicide prevention centre, the largest increase in suicides was observed among adults aged between 30 and 39, SOS said in a media release.
SOS said that individuals in this age group experience a range of complex pressures linked to "family issues, job stability and mental health challenges". These concerns have been highlighted by those who have sought help through SOS' 24-hour hotline and text services."
Commentary: Teachers do more than teach – reducing their workload isn’t simple (21 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The need to recruit and retain good teachers is a constant in Singapore. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said it plans to hire more than 1,000 teachers annually, up from 700, to strengthen the teaching workforce in anticipation of more retirements.
In a similar vein, the National Institute of Education (NIE) will shorten its postgraduate programme for teachers-in-training from 16 months to 12 months. It will give them more flexibility to take elective courses based on their interests, and upon graduation, more support for professional learning in classrooms.
This is part of an ongoing review to meet the needs of a diverse teaching force and attract individuals with the right values and motivations to become teachers. But how successful will such efforts be when overwork is a chronic issue in the profession?"
Teenager charged with selling vapes on WhatsApp (22 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A teenager has been charged with selling vaporisers on WhatsApp and possessing vapes of her own.
Albee Chai Buo Yin, 19, was given three charges on Tuesday (Jul 22) under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act for advertising electronic cigarettes, selling vapes and possessing vapes.
According to charge sheets, the Singaporean sold three disposable vapes to a person named only as Javier via WhatsApp on Aug 3, 2024."
Commentary: Even with government support, SingLit is still a tough sell (22 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: As an author, one question I always get when I give talks at secondary schools is: How much does an author earn?
I usually smile and say, “It can vary widely for different authors and well, most of us are not James Patterson or Stephen King.”
Authors earn royalties, which means we get a small percentage from every book sold. In Singapore and globally, royalties typically fall between 5 to 15 per cent of the book's selling price. That price could be based on the gross retail price or a net figure after costs."
Former preschool teacher pleads guilty to kicking 4-year-old girl, leaving bruise (23 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former preschool teacher pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Jul 22) to kicking a four-year-old girl as she felt that the child, who was seated, had nearly caused her to trip.
The child felt pain on her shin, which became bruised.
Alamelu Paramaguru, a 57-year-old Singaporean, admitted to one charge of ill-treating a child under the Children and Young Persons Act."
SJI International student’s death being investigated as ‘negligent death’: Maldives police (23 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The death of a 15-year-old student during an overseas school trip in the Maldives more than eight months ago is currently being investigated as a “case of negligent death”, said the Maldivian police on Tuesday (Jul 22).
Jenna Chan’s family have been kept informed of the investigation process through email, but no official documents related to the investigation have been shared with them, added the police in an email response to CNA's queries.
Jenna, a student at St Joseph's Institution International (SJII), died during a National Youth Achievement Award expedition on Nov 8. According to Maldivian news outlet the Edition, she was fatally struck by the propeller of a reversing boat while snorkelling near Dhigurah Island in the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll."
SOTA parent portal taken down in response to systems vulnerability targeted by global cyberattacks (23 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The School of the Arts (SOTA) has taken down its parent portal to address a vulnerability that it said is the target of a global cyberattack campaign.
In a message to parents on Wednesday (Jul 23) morning, SOTA said the cyberattacks started around Jul 18 and are specifically targeted at school-managed systems.
"To safeguard our systems and data against this critical threat, we are initiating an immediate and mandatory patching process for all school-managed servers that support our parent portal," said SOTA in its message."
Schools told to update systems to guard against potential vulnerabilities; MOE says no cyberattacks found (23 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Wednesday (Jul 23) that it had advised schools to update their Microsoft SharePoint servers with the latest security patch to guard against potential vulnerabilities, but it added that no cyberattacks had been detected so far.
MOE's statement came in response to CNA queries, when it emerged that the School of the Arts (SOTA) had taken down its parents portal as a part of a cybersecurity measure.
The school said it had identified a vulnerability in the third-party server infrastructure supporting the portal and that the third-party service provider had acknowledged such reports from their server customers."
From standalone sites to mall tenants: Is this the future of Singapore's libraries? (24 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: On a weekday morning at the Ang Mo Kio library, seats in the two-storey building are half-filled. Elderly patrons scroll on their phones, young adults work on laptops and others read quietly or nap in the cool air-conditioning.
Despite the whir of nearby construction outside, calm prevails in the library.
“Here is very quiet, the ambience is very good,” said retiree Seak Teik Song, 72, who visits the library to borrow books, read e-newspapers or use the computer."
Court orders 15-year-old caught repeatedly with vapes to be placed in boys' home (24 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 15-year-old boy who was caught with electronic vaporisers on five occasions has been ordered by a court to be placed in a boys' home.
The boy, who cannot be named as he is under 18, will be placed at the Singapore Boys' Home for two years.
According to a statement from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Thursday (Jul 24), he was given five charges for each occasion he was found in possession of a vape device."
Primary 1 registration: 33 schools oversubscribed in Phase 2B (24 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A total of 33 primary schools are oversubscribed in Phase 2B of the 2025 Primary 1 registration exercise, up from 30 last year, latest data from the Ministry of Education (MOE) showed on Thursday (Jul 24).
Twenty spaces in each school are reserved for Phase 2B each year – the last phase where children with links to a school can apply to enter.
Of the 33 oversubscribed primary schools, 29 will go to the ballot."
Two teenagers charged over threatening boy with a knife (24 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Two teenagers have been charged after a boy was filmed being threatened with a knife.
In a video that was posted on Facebook on Wednesday (Jul 23) and widely circulated online, a teenager can be seen holding a knife to the throat of another boy, before slapping him.
The victim is heard being given two choices – to be hit or strip naked. The boy took off his t-shirt before the video ended."
'A distinct edge': University finance clubs set high entry bar but they can aid finance sector job hunt (25 July 2025)
"Entry-level positions in banking and other finance industry firms are proving harder than ever to secure as applicant numbers rise and openings dwindle.
That's why a growing number of undergraduates are turning to university finance clubs as a coveted stepping stone to their dream job in the sector.
But getting accepted into these student-led clubs, which can offer vital inside knowledge and know-how, is no walk in the park. Some clubs accept fewer than one in 10 applicants."
The NUS graduate who loves her 'really, really cool' job as an aerial performer in a Macau circus (26 July 2025)
"In 2014, 13-year-old Megan Lau sat wide-eyed in the audience of The House of Dancing Water, a water-based circus show in Macau. That evening, she climbed into the hotel bathtub and told her mum that she wanted to be a water princess.
A decade on, she's living that dream – as a performer in the very same show.
Nine times a week, she is suspended mid-air in a shimmering 15kg skirt and Swarovski-studded headpiece, hoisted above the audience like a human chandelier and across a stage pool holding about 15 million litres of water."
I'm trying to be a 'gentle parent', but it's a lot tougher than I thought (26 July 2025)
"I was brought up with rather strict parenting – the kind where most discussions ended with "because I said so" and questioning authority would earn you a lengthy, often heated lecture.
Many of my friends had a similar upbringing. Our parents largely subscribed to the proverbial wisdom of "spare the rod, spoil the child". They genuinely believed that a strict, fear-based approach would turn us into well-behaved, successful adults.
With that, we as children learnt to bottle things up, blow up or, worse, shut down completely when our feelings became too overwhelming. We became people-pleasers, emotional avoiders or masters of silent rage-cleaning (this last one is me, honing in on cleaning things while feeling angry or frustrated)."
Jail for preschool teacher who deliberately tripped toddler four times (28 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former preschool teacher who repeatedly tripped a toddler at a childcare centre was sentenced to nine months and two weeks' jail on Monday (Jul 28).
Saiidah Kamarudin, 34, earlier pleaded guilty to one of two counts of ill-treating the girl, who suffered bruises to her face and bled from her nose. The other charge was taken into consideration for her sentencing.
The victim and the childcare centre cannot be named to protect the girl's identity."
As Singapore grows in popularity with Chinese students, universities roll out Mandarin-taught programmes (29 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: After nearly a decade in the workforce, Ms Jin Qi decided in 2020 that it was time to pursue a master’s degree to advance her career.
But with a full-time job, preparing for English-language tests required by many foreign universities proved difficult. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her plans further.
But when the Chinese native resumed her search after the pandemic, she discovered that some Singapore universities offer postgraduate programmes taught in Mandarin."
MOM investigating company, employer for hiring women with forged university certificates (29 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry (MOM) is in the latter stages of investigating a company and an employer for hiring two Filipino women who used forged university certificates in their Employment Pass (EP) applications, it said on Tuesday (Jul 29).
"MOM is completing its investigations into the company and employer and will decide on the enforcement action to take against them," a spokesperson for the ministry said.
The two women – Conol Almira Joy Torres and Torres Alyssa Riva Fernan, both 29 – were handed jail sentences on Jul 17."
National Museum of Singapore to launch first exhibition as part of revamp (31 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Following a 10-month closure, the National Museum of Singapore will be opening the first of its revamped permanent galleries on Aug 8.
The newly-named Shaw Foundation Glass Rotunda will exhibit a multi-sensorial experience titled Singapore Odyssea: A Journey Through Time, said the museum on Thursday (Jul 31).
Presented through animation and interactive elements, the installation highlights major milestones in Singapore's 700 years of history. It replaces the Story of the Forest exhibition, which centred on the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings."
Uniformed group instructor in 'romantic relationship' with 15-year-old student jailed for sexual offences (31 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: An instructor of a co-curricular activity (CCA) involving a uniformed group got into a "romantic relationship" with a 15-year-old student.
Another student who learnt of the inappropriate relationship reported it to the school's teacher in charge of the uniformed group, leading to a police report.
The 33-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' jail on Thursday (Jul 31)."
Ex-MP Louis Ng takes up teaching role at NUS College after retirement from politics (1 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Former Nee Soon Member of Parliament Louis Ng has joined the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) NUS College (NUSC) as an Associate Professor, and will be in a teaching role.
In an email from NUSC seen by CNA, it was announced that Mr Ng will be teaching elective courses at the college, and could also be assisting students in a project that seeks to benefit communities in Laos.
NUSC has confirmed with CNA Mr Ng's appointment."
She started a pottery brand that feeds street kids in Vietnam – all because of a hotel cup she used on holiday (4 August 2025)
"It started with a wild goose chase. In 2016, when working in Hanoi, Vietnam, as an English teacher, Thushani Lovatt was enchanted by exquisite cups in a cafe. She was told they were made by female artisans at a woman-run pottery studio – said to be the first of its kind in Vietnam.
Three years later, the Londoner moved to Singapore and worked in a non-profit international school, United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) with her husband Tim.
The couple returned to Vietnam in 2023 for a beach holiday in Hoi An, with their two toddlers in tow. Yet again, she was smitten by handcrafted cups at her hotel and was told that they were made by a woman-run pottery studio.
Lovatt was intrigued. The cups from both her trips had to be from the same place."
Mountbatten Vocational School for special needs students to close by end of 2025 (4 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Mountbatten Vocational School (MVS), which serves students with special needs aged 14 to 21, will close its doors this December.
Hopes of establishing a new institute have also fallen through, despite a new site being secured with the government’s help.
Some parents - who were officially informed of the closure in June - told CNA they are concerned their children’s chance at a livelihood beyond the classroom is at stake.
The school, which was founded 50 years ago, equips youths with disabilities with the skills and confidence necessary for employment and independent living."
Meet the proud 'yo-yo boy' whose childhood hobby is taking him to Europe to represent Singapore (6 August 2025)
"To his classmates at university, Xavier Ng seems like any other first-year student, juggling a business degree with freelance marketing gigs on the side.
But when the school holidays came around in May 2025 and other students went on vacation, the 22-year-old headed to Australia and spent eight weeks holed up in a house with his childhood companion: The yo-yo.
"We would start at 10am in the morning and end at 6pm or 7pm at night. We just stay in this cold training room, practising and eating lunch in the same spot every day,” said Ng."
Dear Singapore, your girls playing football want more than applause — they want momentum (8 August 2025)
"Dear Singapore,
Yesterday, I saw a girl playing football at a park near my house. It was late, the kind of hour when dinner plates are cleared and day turns to night.
She was alone under floodlights, just her and a football, with her bicycle parked neatly by the park. She wasn’t doing anything fancy — just touches, turns, juggling. Focused. Steady. No phone, no coach, no noise. The quiet rhythm of practice.
I stood there for a while, not to intrude, but because she reminded me of someone I used to know. Me."
No coding skills? No problem: More Singaporeans learning how to build custom AI bots (8 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From hospitals to homes, Singaporeans with little to no coding experience are increasingly building powerful artificial intelligence tools that automate tasks, support learning and reshape their daily routines.
These users range from frontline healthcare staff who developed a patient service assistant, to parents who have designed bots to help their children with homework.
Enrolments for some custom AI courses have soared nearly 400 per cent since 2023, with experts telling CNA that these customised bots – which they say are quick and easy to build – are becoming the norm.
With Singapore’s national AI programme promising it can be “as easy as making a PowerPoint,” schools and training providers are racing to meet the demand."
How this sign language teacher helped make NDP 2025 more inclusive for the deaf (9 August 2025)
"Every year, Shalini Gidwani excitedly watches the National Day Parade (NDP) on television. Like most viewers, she loves watching the performances, singing along, and taking in the fireworks.
Because she is deaf, however, she often has to guess what’s happening from what she sees onscreen or rely on the subtitles.
A high fever when she was four years old caused permanent hearing loss. Her main mode of communication is sign language, although she lip-reads and can hear some speech with a hearing aid. She also has a slight speech impediment.
In 2024, after years of watching the parade at home with her family, Gidwani got to be part of it and described her participation as “an experience of a lifetime”.
She was the sign language performer for the pledge and anthem, and also appeared in the picture-in-picture box on the live broadcast of the two segments.
She worked with a sign language interpreter to present the anthem and pledge."
Her son's autism sparked a mission to help other parents feel less alone (10 August 2025)
"Nurul Dhamirah Adam never wanted children. In fact, when she married her husband Muhammad Fazli in September 2017, she had even asked him if it was a dealbreaker.
But he accepted her decision and the two started building a life together without the expectation of parenthood.
Five months into their marriage, however, Dhamirah, 31, found herself staring at a positive pregnancy test. She was two months pregnant. It was not what she had planned, but her initial shock gave way to quiet excitement and she began to embrace the unexpected journey into motherhood.
She gave birth to her son Adam Rizq in 2018.
In 2020, when Adam was 18 months old, Dhamirah and Fazli had a second child, a daughter. During her confinement, Dhamirah noticed something different about Adam, and a creeping worry started to form.
“I saw other kids around Adam’s age talking. And I thought, why are the other kids talking? He is already 18 months old and he is not even talking at all.”
Commentary: The human advantage in the age of AI (12 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Last month, artificial intelligence (AI) chalked up yet another win as an advanced version of Google’s Gemini AI model correctly solved five out of six questions in the International Mathematics Olympiad - a gold medal result in the world’s premier mathematics contest for pre-university students. This was an improvement over its silver medal showing in 2024, underscoring just how quickly AI is improving.
Humankind was nonetheless offered a rare reprieve in the contest between man and machine as Polish programmer Przemyslaw “Psycho” Debiak beat an OpenAI model in a 10-hour marathon coding contest in Tokyo.
Even so, it is only a matter of time before such contests swing in AI’s favour, as technology advances relentlessly. This poses the question: Are there any domains where human beings will always have an enduring advantage over AI, and where human relevance is beyond doubt?
Related to this issue is how schools and tertiary institutions ought to prepare the next generation for the age of AI."
MOE briefing students on dangers of Kpods; teachers warned they can be sacked if caught vaping (13 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has instructed all public schools to brief students on the harms and penalties of using Kpods, amid rising concerns over youngsters using such drug-laced vapes.
These mass briefings – to be conducted at primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute – are part of the ministry’s education efforts against vaping that will complement ongoing preventive measures, an MOE spokesperson told CNA.
“Students will also be reminded to be vigilant about vape peddling activities near schools,” the spokesperson added.
This comes after a Primary 4 student from Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) was allegedly approached to buy vapes outside his school last month."
Children at 2 preschools in Toa Payoh, East Coast to be screened after staff member diagnosed with tuberculosis (13 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Children from two preschools will be screened for tuberculosis after a staff member was found to be infected with active tuberculosis disease, a spokesperson from the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Wednesday (Aug 13).
Children at MindChamps Preschool at East Coast will be screened on Wednesday, while those from MapleBear Toa Payoh will be screened on Friday.
CDA, which said it was notified of the diagnosis on Jul 15, did not specify the number of children who would undergo screening but told CNA that anyone who had "close and prolonged contact" with the diagnosed individual would be screened.
Contact tracing was initiated after laboratory tests confirmed the tuberculosis diagnosis. CDA also conducted a site visit to assess the setting and identify the classes, staff and groups who would require screening."
Long hunts, few replies: Singapore university graduates finding it tough in job market, CNA poll shows (13 August 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When Ms Renee Kuek started her job search upon graduating from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) this year, she knew it would be tough.
But the reality proved harder than expected, said the psychology, linguistics and multilingual studies graduate, who has yet to hear back from most companies.
“It's just been a bit demoralising, the whole process,” she told CNA. “There's definitely a lot of pressure and very little response.”
Guardrails for the digital generation: How nations are racing to keep kids and youths safe online (15 August 2025)
"At over 30 years old, the World Wide Web has grown into a highly complicated creature – one that is not only more intricate but also much harder to control.
Starting life as a mostly static network of information, it has evolved into a fast-moving, highly interactive space where people watch, post, comment, share and shape what others see, all at their fingertips.
Governments worldwide have been trying to keep pace with the rapid online developments, putting in place new safeguards to protect users, especially children and teens, from harmful material and online risks."
'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."