Fun With Kids: Singapore Polo Club’s carnival, Donald Duck-themed light-up (8 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.
Singapore Polo Club’s Outreach Polo Tournament and Carnival
Go on pony rides, feed horses and play games at Singapore Polo Club’s carnival on Sept 15. The club in Mount Pleasant Road will be open to the public from 10am to 6pm."
Viewpoint: My grandmother bought and ran a school in Sembawang in 1948 (8 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – In 1948, at the age of 23, my grandmother, Madam Zhang Juan, raised $500 to buy Poi Chai school in Sembawang.
Situated in the kampung at Chong Pang, the Chinese-medium school served the children in the area."
Taking leave to help your child study for year-end exams? Support them in these ways instead (8 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – As the final countdown to the Primary School Leaving Examination begins – the written papers are from Sept 26 to Oct 2 – you may be planning to take leave from work.
You want to be a supportive parent, but your presence at home during the exam crunch can add to your kid’s stress levels."
When mini-me is unlike me: Raising a child who is my complete opposite (8 September 2024)
"A friend, an introvert, was complaining about her hyperactive seven-year-old daughter sapping all her energy.
The little one bounces out of bed and is raring to go out for a weekend of outdoor fun, while my friend just wants to hibernate in bed and recharge after a week of tedious work."
Graduating students can pay concessionary bus, train fares for 4 months after studies from Dec 28 (9 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – From Dec 28, graduating students entering their next phase of education or the workforce can pay concessionary fares on public buses and trains for four months after their studies.
The Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Sept 9 that this will benefit about 75,000 students from institutions such as secondary schools, junior colleges, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics every year."
Meet members of Team Singapore going to WorldSkills Lyon 2024 (9 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – Singapore has sent its biggest team ever to compete in the upcoming “youth Olympics” of vocational skills in France, with a contingent of 35 youth aged 18 to 23 competing in 30 skill areas.
They will be among the 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries and regions around the world gathering in Lyon for the 47th WorldSkills Competition (WSC) from Sept 10 to 15."
Relief staff pool among efforts to improve special education teachers’ well-being (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - Special education (Sped) teachers will get more time off to go for training or step away for medical or urgent leave, as a pool of relief teachers will be developed, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Sept 10.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will work with Sped schools and social service agencies (SSAs) to form a pool of relief teachers who can step in when needed, he added."
Mobile Guardian breaches: MOE takes legal action against contractors; new app expected by Jan 2025 (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - A new application to manage the use of students’ devices is slated to be rolled out by January 2025, after the Ministry of Education (MOE) terminated the existing Mobile Guardian app in all students’ iPads and Chromebooks.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing told Parliament on Sept 10 that legal action has been taken against relevant contractors involved in Mobile Guardian’s various incidents in 2024."
New gifted education approach will not change typical class sizes in schools: Chan Chun Sing (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – The new approach to gifted education will not result in changes to typical class sizes of 30 to 40 pupils in primary schools here, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Sept 10.
Schools are able to decide on class sizes for school-based programmes and after-school modules for higher-ability learners, as well as for those who need more learning support, he told Parliament in response to questions from MPs on changes to the 40-year-old Gifted Education Programme (GEP) announced in August."
National strategy needed to prevent suicides: Singapore mental health advocacy group (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - A coordinated, whole-of-society effort is needed to prevent more suicides, which disproportionately affect young people, said a group that has published a 160-page report outlining a national suicide prevention strategy for Singapore.
Among the White Paper’s recommendations are having a national office coordinate various anti-suicide efforts that function independently of mental health services, a surveillance system that produces more regular data, and a national public awareness campaign on suicide prevention."
Only half of Singaporeans know how to access help for suicide support services: Study (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – At 22, James (not his real name) spent most days cooped up in his room.
Knocks on the door from his family went ignored, and plates of food left on the dining table for him were uneaten."
Free breakfast for PSLE pupils at Cheers, FairPrice Xpress outlets on Sept 20 and 21 (11 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - FairPrice Group will be giving out 12,000 free breakfast bundles to Primary 6 pupils who are taking the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) in 2024.
In a statement on Sept 11, the FairPrice Group announced that it will distribute the breakfast bundles at 131 Cheers and FairPrice Xpress outlets across the island on Sept 20 and 21."
More pre-school teachers going for training to hone their craft in early childhood (12 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - More pre-school teachers are going for training to be better equipped to support young children with special needs or learn classroom management, among emerging areas of need in the sector.
Since its inception five years ago to provide training to Singapore’s early childhood educators, the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC) said the number of pre-school teachers attending courses to upskill while working has more than doubled."
Bye-bye 5Cs, hello purpose: How will we redefine the Singapore Dream? (12 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – A couple of days ago, while cleaning out my closet, I found something that I had long forgotten about: My secondary school report book.
As I flipped through it, looking at my uneven grades over four years, one thing stood out to me. Every year, we were ranked according to how well we did academically, not just how we did against our classmates, but among the whole cohort."
Higher starting salaries for SIT’s class of 2023, with tech graduates earning the most (12 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE - Fresh graduates from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) in 2023 drew higher starting salaries, although fewer of them were able to find jobs after graduation.
The results from the latest graduate employment survey, released by SIT on Sept 12, showed that those in full-time permanent jobs earned a median gross monthly salary of $4,000 in 2023, up from $3,950 in 2022."
In broadening the definition of merit, let’s continue to celebrate success (13 September 2024)
"When the Ministry of Education (MOE) first announced it would stop naming the top scorers in the nationwide Primary School Leaving Examination some years back, a friend told me that the move was a source of disappointment to her daughter.
Every year, the school principal would announce the names of top scorers, who would be called up to take a bow on stage. The girl had hoped that if she did well, she might be able to receive such an honour."
The perpetual challenge of keeping labels out of the education system (13 September 2024)
"In 1968, a ground-breaking experiment was conducted on a third grade class in the US state of Iowa.
Ms Jane Elliott divided her pupils by eye colour, declaring one group inferior and the other superior. The latter was given more perks. Within hours, children who had once been friends turned hostile towards each other, their behaviour shaped entirely by an arbitrary distinction."
Mental health hub shares innovative solutions that may be adapted for Singapore and the region (13 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – Zimbabwe, which has fewer than 20 psychiatrists serving a population of 15 million, started a mental health initiative with senior volunteers offering mental health help in the community. Not only did the initiative take off, but it has also been replicated in other African countries and elsewhere, including New York.
Sitting on a wooden Friendship Bench placed near primary healthcare clinics or safe community spaces, these community health workers, known as “grandmothers”, counsel people who need help for common mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression."
From 2026, more students to be allowed to study higher mother tongue from Sec 1: Chan Chun Sing (14 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE – More students will be allowed to study their mother tongue languages – Chinese, Malay or Tamil – at a higher level in secondary schools as part of a raft of efforts set to kick in over the next few years to shore up bilingual education.
From 2026, pupils who do well in the subject in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be able to take higher mother tongue languages (HMTLs) in Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score."
This school dedicates a whole week to creativity (27 August 2024)
"What do schools do when mid-year examinations get removed? At Lianhua Primary School, students get a week of fun and play – all in the name of innovation. What did they get up to? Let’s count the ways!
By Arielene Wee
When Lianhua Primary School decided to suspend a week of lessons in May this year, it dedicated the time to fun and play in line with the school motto of “Play, Passion, Purpose”.
“With the removal of mid-year examinations (for all primary and secondary schools starting last year), the school team explored how we could make use of the time to design and provide a variety of learning experiences to foster creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning among our students,” says Ms Pamela Kiew, Principal of Lianhua Primary School.
“It was important for our students to have the space to create, experiment and explore,” she adds. “You set them a topic, let them go ‘crazy’ within the boundaries, and they become self-empowered to seek learning in an enjoyable manner. This process of self-discovery was very important to us, and allowed us to meet our student outcomes of Passionate Learners, Critical and Creative Thinkers, Exemplary Leaders, and Confident Communicators.”
Getting ideas through learning journeys, workshops, and prototype-building
Throughout Innovation Week, Lianhua Primary had a series of programmes and activities catering specifically to each primary level. The first half of the week saw students attending workshops and going on learning journeys to places like the Edible Garden City, Science Centre and Enabling Village. Speakers from organisations such as School of X, Playeum, Ketojiak and ThrottleUp Creation also came down to speak to the students about innovation and design thinking.
Based on what they learnt from the workshops and learning journeys, students had to work in teams to create prototypes related to environmental sustainability or inclusivity. They had two days to ideate and test their creations, before presenting them on the last day of Innovation Week.
Ms Kiew explains, “With all the current conversation happening around 21st Century Competencies, it was a huge impetus for us to launch Innovation Week and to do it with dare. While subjects like Maths and Science are essential, skills like communication and adaptive thinking are often best developed through hands-on experiences like experimentation, presentations and collaborative projects.”
Teacher talk: How and why SPED teachers help students learn in spite of challenges (28 August 2024)
"In special education (SPED), triumphs often arrive in quiet moments: a non-verbal student communicates for the first time, or a child grasps a challenging concept after weeks of patient guidance. These seemingly small victories form the heartbeat of a SPED teacher’s journey.
Read on to discover how our SPED teachers create daily triumphs with students, families, and the community.
“Equity means giving every student a fair shot at success”
Mr Teo Poh Seng Alex, Teacher, APSN Katong School
“One of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences was teaching a student who needed significant daily practice to develop and retain her numeracy skills. Every day brought unpredictability – sometimes she’d forget everything we’d worked on, other times she’d recall a past lesson perfectly. We shared moments of frustration and tears, but also celebratory high-fives.
This experience confirmed my belief in customising teaching methods to meet students where they are at. For this student, we started with concrete materials, moved to pictorial representations, and after nearly a year of persistent effort, she could work out calculations using the number line – a visual representation of numbers on a horizontal line.
And I’ll never forget the day she told me, “Mr Alex, I don’t think I need the physical number line anymore, it’s already in my head.” The experience motivated me to challenge students to overcome their perceived limits.”
Wish to do more for your child’s Mother Tongue learning? Here’s how (29 August 2024)
"Home is where the love for our mother tongue begins. Let’s hear from the specialists at MOE’s Mother Tongue Languages Branch on how parents can encourage their primary school children to grow their language abilities. Discover tips and teaching tools for parents too.
“I want to encourage my children to be interested in learning our Mother Tongue Language.”
“I want to expose my children to more of our Mother Tongue Language at home.”
“I want my child to enjoy reading books in my mother tongue.”
Parents often express a desire for their children to use their Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) more frequently. They ask how they as parents can help teachers to achieve this beyond the classroom?
Indeed, Mother Tongue learning should not just be confined to the walls of the classroom. Our children’s interest in Chinese, Malay and Tamil language learning can be further enhanced at home.
An easy first step to take is to introduce simple MTL terms during your daily activities. For example, when having a meal, parents could say the names of the dishes in their MTL. They could also use their MTL as they discuss and plan for family activities."
She believes in teaching R-R-IGHT from the start (30 August 2024)
"Ms Chua is Head of Department, Character and Citizenship Education at Opera Estate Primary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Ms Chua belongs to a rare group of educators who have taught at not one, not two but three education levels – junior college, secondary school, and now primary school.
It started with her growing belief that children can never be too young to be given skills to navigate their world. “Social and emotional competencies, and a sense of identity and belonging, are some of the soft skills that could prepare them for life,” she says.
Belief led to conviction during her attachment to the Ministry of Education’s Guidance Branch, which oversees a part of the national Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum that addresses these areas of learning. So in 2021, she applied to teach at primary school, to “catch them young”.
Inspiration: Cultivating a sense of identity and belonging
School provided Ms Chua Jin Xun with a sense of stability when she was growing up. Her family moved house often, and she found it hard to make connections with her environment and lay down roots.
However, when a teacher started assigning her roles in school, first by tapping on her drawing skills for class decorations, and later recommending her to the prefectorial board, everything started to click for her. She had responsibilities to fulfil, and she was happy. These early experiences would shape her purpose later as a teacher."
P stands for possibilities for this PE teacher (30 August 2024)
"Mr Shang Thian Huat believes in enabling all students to learn important life skills such as critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration through sports. His child-centric approach permeates his programmes, including an innovative house system that incorporates academic and peer support – it empowers even non-teaching staff to guide students.
Mr Shang Thian Huat is Head of Department, Physical Education and Co-Curricular Activities, at Blangah Rise Primary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
The school was looking for a way to engage a small group of students who had not been attending lessons for a while. “What if the solution could benefit the rest of the student population too?” Mr Shang thought.
It took just one strategic move. The school simply made co-curricular activities (CCA) the first lesson on Mondays, so everyone starts the week playing a sport, learning new skills in a uniformed group or participating in a club activity they enjoyed. It worked like a charm – attendance among the absentees shot up. It’s moments like these across his 22 years as an educator that Mr Shang finds inexplicably rewarding.
Inspiration: Inspiring the young to embrace active living and community service
Mr Shang, once an overweight student, defied expectations by becoming a PE teacher. His teaching journey is driven by a passion to inspire in his students a love of physical education (PE) and sports and to lead an active, healthy lifestyle on their own. He also believes in the importance of inculcating in the young a desire to serve the community.
Mr Shang started his teaching career in a secondary school but is now heading the PE department in a primary school. To make it easier for students to taste success in PE, he breaks lessons up into bite-sized, age-appropriate tasks to suit the different skill levels. As students start to find that they are perform basic skills, such as dribbling or passing, they become more confident to progress to more advanced concepts like attacking and defending; honing their abilities in small groups before engaging in modified games within larger teams."
She places character before the Chinese Language (30 August 2024)
"For Mdm Nan Zhonghua, teaching the Chinese Language presents golden opportunities to seed values and social-emotional competencies in her students. She sees herself as a gardener, nurturing character as she grows their love for the language.
Mdm Nan Zhonghua is a Senior Teacher, Chinese Language, at Yuan Ching Secondary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
A currency system has captured the students’ enthusiasm in Mdm Nan Zhonghua’s Chinese Language classroom. No money is involved. Instead, students earn points for active participation or providing correct answers. These points can be traded for rewards such as books, snacks and cute stationery items that appeal to the tastes of teens.
To Mdm Nan’s delight, students often spend their hard-earned points on their classmates, generously sharing their rewards with their peers. This aligns with Mdm Nan’s strategy to inculcate a spirit of care and fun in the process of learning the Chinese Language.
Inspiration: From inspired student to inspiring teacher
Growing up, Mdm Nan saw her teachers as role models who not only imparted knowledge but also demonstrated genuine care and affection, inspiring her to emulate their kindness. Her teachers inspired her to be a teacher. Mdm Nan now strives to be a role model to others around her, particularly for students who may lack stable adult figures in their lives.
14 years on, Mdm Nan is the warm, friendly face students gravitate towards. “I try to engage my students as people first, connecting with them before encouraging them to love the subject. And this is something I believe I can continue to do better and better at.”
He seeds good habits that could save the world (30 August 2024)
"For Mr Mohan S/O Krishnamoorthy, kickstarting sustainability projects is a walk in the park, which is something he also enjoys. He brings his passion for Science to life in and out of the classroom, allowing nature to transform his students.
Mr Mohan is Level Head, Science, at Greendale Primary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Drenched in sweat and out of breath, students of Greendale Primary School’s Environmental Club CCA are resting after carting soil and transplanting seedlings. But ask them about the green spaces they are building around the school, and they jump up to answer.
Mr Mohan Krishnamoorthy, their teacher in charge, sees their hard and heart work, when his students display ownership, curiosity, and care for the environment. The Science principles they learn and apply to their studies are icing on the cake.
Inspiration: Not all classrooms have walls
25 years of teaching primary school students has not dimmed Mr Mohan’s enthusiasm for finding new ways to excite them.
“Why show a photo of a stick insect when you can bring a live one to class? Want to see a Plain Tiger Butterfly? Let’s grow the plants that attract them,” he says.
His own passion for nature may have something to do with how his father and grandfather were both avid gardeners. Combined with his love for science, the Ministry of Education’s Eco Stewardship Programme, and initiatives such as National Parks Board’s (NParks) Greening Schools for Biodiversity, Mr Mohan is inspired to help students play their role in sustaining the environment."
Using data to set up a classroom for one (30 August 2024)
"Research and data enthusiast, Ms Clarice Sim, harnesses digital tools and data insights to customise learning experiences. The curricula that she has developed cater to diverse levels of readiness, enabling bite-sized and meaningful progress.
Ms Clarice Sim is a Teaching and Learning Mentor at Singapore Polytechnic’s Media, Arts and Design School, and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Ms Sim calls herself a “misfit” in Singapore Polytechnic’s Media, Arts & Design (MAD) School. While most professionals in the creative fields tend to dwell on artistry, she sees the synergy between artistry and data, and leads a signature pedagogy that leverages data to further artistic ventures.
Inspiration: She used to know only one way to solve problems – to walk away
Ms Sim did not set out to be an educator. Her heart was set on law school, till her applications were rejected. She felt lost, and unsure of the next step. She soon realised that she did not know how to overcome setbacks.
“I resorted to changing fields, companies, and interests, several times in the early part of my career whenever I hit a roadblock, as that seemed to be the only problem-solving method I knew,” she says.
When she eventually landed on what she felt passionate for – communications research – she found the courage to carve out a career as an educator in the discipline. In her new role, she knew exactly what she wanted to equip her students with – the skills and confidence to tackle whatever life brings."
This super-charged alumnus gives back in Chemistry and more (30 August 2024)
"With his PhD in Organic Chemistry opening doors to numerous careers, Dr Bryan Tan Yong Hao chose the path he found most rewarding: returning to his secondary school as a teacher. He attributes this passion to his many good teachers who had helped him out of a rocky start in life. Now, Dr Tan strives to do the same, focusing on people development in both his students and colleagues.
Dr Tan is the School Staff Developer at Temasek Secondary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Dr Bryan Tan puts on two distinct hats in school – one that nurtures and develops staff, and another that sparks his students’ interest in scientific research. His infectious passion in both areas create a domino effect, influencing colleagues and students to go the extra mile for themselves, each other, and the community.
Inspiration: Clear vision guided by life experiences
Dr Tan’s father fell ill when he was in Secondary 2, and his mother became the sole breadwinner. Amid the family woes, he lost focus in school. Noticing his unusual behaviour, his teachers stepped in. They helped him apply for scholarships and bursaries, so that finances could become less of a worry. They also constantly encouraged him to put in his best effort and re-assured him that he can still succeed despite his difficult situation. With the support given, Dr Tan went on to do well consistently, at secondary school, junior college and in his university studies.
When Dr Tan became a teacher, he wanted to give back to the very place that made a difference to him; Temasek Secondary. For him, secondary school “is where students start to grow up and find their way, but are also the most malleable”."
Preparing learners for jobs not yet created (30 August 2024)
"Lecturer Ms Eunice Chia is keenly aware of the rapidly changing landscape of work – which is why she doubles down on tightening the nexus between academia and industry. With her insights into industry demands, and core teaching philosophy of nurturing independent thought, she prepares learners for real-world innovation.
Ms Eunice Chia is Lecturer, School of Engineering at Nanyang Polytechnic and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Computer Numerical Control Turning (CNC Turning) is a manufacturing method that automates the control, movement and precision of machine tools through the use of pre-programmed computer software. Using a computer-controlled machine that cuts to ultra-fine specifications, those skilled in CNC Turning can create prototypes from technical designs, to aid the manufacturing of machining metal and plastic parts.
This may sound foreign to many of us, but is music to Ms Chia’s ears. She was the first Singaporean female to have competed in this category at the international WorldSkills competition in 2013 and had placed as one of the top ten finalists.
Inspiration: Precision-engineered for her role
Even in her early days, a career in engineering was on the cards for Ms Chia, given her passion for STEM subjects including Mathematics, Physics and Design and Technology in school. After joining Nanyang Polytechnic’s (NYP) Diploma in Digital and Precision Engineering, she was selected to represent the polytechnic at the local WorldSkills trials. “I was elated and overwhelmed at that time, as only the best performing learner from the local trials could compete internationally.”
In the lead-up to both the local and international WorldSkills competitions, Ms Chia was moved by her lecturers’ unwavering support, which gave her courage to persevere in what has traditionally been a male-dominated domain.
Inspired by their efforts, Ms Chia decided to pay it forward to future generations, and joined NYP as a lecturer. Coming full circle, she is currently training Singapore’s third female contestant for the same international WorldSkills competition, leveraging her own experience as a competitor, and skills that she had painstakingly perfected over the years."
He reinvents the game of teaching and instilling values (30 August 2024)
"Mr Kevin Joseph Francis transitioned from teaching in a mainstream secondary school to a specialised secondary school and finally, to a primary school, because he believes that he can make a greater impact in his students’ lives with a better understanding of the educational landscape. This purpose has led to initiatives that include his latest development of an innovative values-based card game that is CATCH!ing on.
Mr Kevin Francis is a Year Head (Middle Primary) & HOD CCE(Covering) at Chongzheng Primary School and a recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Mr Kevin Joseph Francis’ philosophy in life and education is that success hinges on choices guided by good values. “Who you are will decide what you do,” says the educator of 14 years.
Mr Kevin Francis’ life experiences taught him to see education as a vital tool in gaining access to information and opportunities. “Education is a way to empower others, to help them navigate their paths,” he says. He believes a sound set of values helps one make ethical decisions. Through infusing values in his students’ education, Mr Kevin Francis strives to equip students with the tools they need to succeed and give back to their communities.
Inspiration: Understanding what makes younger children tick
Mr Kevin Francis started his teaching career in secondary schools and has now gone “upstream” to a primary school. “The only way I can better serve my profession is if I am able to understand the educational landscape across the various levels. That was the whole reason why I chose to move to different schools across various levels.”
His journey wasn’t without challenges. In his first week in a primary school, he learned that his usual ways of getting the attention of teens had no effect on the younger children. Gone were the times where he could just stand silently still with his arms crossed, waiting for the students to fall silent. Mr Kevin Francis fondly recalls the encouragement he received from his Vice-Principal, who also provided valuable tips on how to better engage younger learners.
Something he could apply from his experience was the power of experiential learning, which he adapted to suit primary school learners. For example, to teach the topic on shapes in Mathematics, he would ask his students to draw their favourite characters and identify shapes such as squares and rectangles in them. Mr Kevin Francis can often be found with his students on the basketball court or hockey pitch. He uses these settings to introduce mathematical concepts such as area and perimeter to his students."
A surprise gift for Teachers’ Day: What Makes A ’Cher (30 August 2024)
"What’s the surprise? Schoolbag goes behind the scenes in the making of MOE’s 2024 Teachers’ Day video.
By Joanne Tay
I have celebrated seven Teachers’ Days as an educator in two different schools. What’s my highlight each year? The thought of the week-long break ahead to recharge.
That aside, I treasure each and every little handmade gift or card my students have given me.
It’s not just that I enjoy having that extra cookie when I’m hungry in the middle of work, or seeing their writing on their notes that tell me their penmanship has improved with practice; it’s that each gift from a student is an affirmation that I have helped them in some way, or at the very least, that they enjoyed my lessons. It’s nice to know that I have made a difference. I’m sure any teacher would tell you the same.
This year, I had the opportunity to do something different: to contribute to the production of the Ministry of Education’s annual Teachers’ Day campaign video.
Last year, it was about what teachers wish for their students, while the year before, we celebrated the heart of our teaching and non-teaching staff.
For this year’s video, we wanted to capture the different ways teachers make an impact on the lives of their students. After all, we bring different skillsets, expertise, and approaches to nurturing our students, while guided by core beliefs and values that anchor the teaching profession.
In the video titled ‘What Makes a ’Cher’, we tapped on the popular photo booth trend to capture how students feel about their teachers and highlight their heartwarming relationships in a fun way. We thought it would be nice to give the teachers a “surprise gift” (we’ll share more later) through this concept, and everyone would get to take photos in the booth as a keepsake too."
Celebrating 10 Years with MOE Kindergarten: A mum shares the impact of MK on her child (5 September 2024)
"Ten years ago, Ms Koe Lay Chin was looking for a preschool for her third child. The first five MOE Kindergartens had just opened, and Ms Koe enrolled her daughter in one near their home. Find out why she calls it one of the best decisions for the girl, who is now in secondary school.
As a new resident at Farrer Park, Ms Koe Lay Chin had several considerations in selecting a suitable preschool for her daughter Yann Wen: proximity to home, teaching of values, curriculum, and cost.
“During my daughter’s preschool years, I believed it was crucial for children to explore the world with curiosity and develop good learning habits,” says Ms Koe. “Hence, I was looking for a nearby and affordable preschool that could provide her with the opportunities to interact with her peers and teachers, put in place good routines and cultivate a positive learning attitude in my child.”
That was 10 years ago. Ms Koe was scouting around for a preschool in the area. Despite the fact that MOE Kindergarten (MK) was new to the preschool scene at the time, Ms Koe was confident about MK’s quality given that MK is operated by MOE. This was coupled with the affordability and how close one centre was to their home. Hence, she decided to enroll Yann Wen at MK@Farrer Park.
There were no regrets. Five years later, as Ms Koe had a good experience with MK’s curriculum and programmes, she did not hesitate to enrol her youngest child Yann Jie in the same MK."
Lifelong learning confessions: I never thought I could enjoy coding (6 September 2024)
"Lecturer Ian Tan has gone from Computer Club dropout to generative AI coach 30 years on. What changed, and how does he inspire his children and students to revisit something they weren’t good at?
For over 30 years, I believed that I was not good at coding. In 2022, I found out how mistaken I was.
This erroneous mindset took root when I was in Primary Three and was a member of my school’s Computer Club.
The club was one of the most popular extra-curricular activities because computers were not household items then, and being kids, we could not wait to play PC games on the school machines.
However, before we could fire up the games, the teacher-in-charge said we had to first learn software programming (the old-school term for coding).
The programming lessons started off easy enough – we were introduced to the programming language called LOGO.
Using it involved typing simple commands to get a small triangular “turtle” on the screen to move in different directions. The turtle’s movements then created simple line drawings or patterns that we could print out on primitive dot-matrix printers.
After a few LOGO lessons, we moved on to the more advanced language called BASIC (yes, the irony). The difficulty ramped up from there, and I could not keep up, so I dropped out of the Computer Club.
A few months later, I gave computer programming another go. I attended a BASIC programming course at the community centre and once again, I was confused by the software jargon. At the end of each lesson, the teacher would end up typing in the correct code to help me complete the class exercise. I felt stupid and told myself that I was no good at coding.
As I grew up, I would ignore the growing popularity of programming careers as I felt I was not cut out for it. Later, in my different job roles, I got to work with several coders. Their introverted characters were quite different from my extroverted personality, thus, I came to believe that coding required a certain personality.
I love technology but my core beliefs around coding had solidified: Coding is difficult. Coders are born, not trained. Coding is not for me."
The sky’s the limit? Then she’s their trusted pilot (9 September 2024)
"Ms Adelene Guo conquers with kindness. Putting as much care into explaining a tough concept as building bonds with her students, she cultivates mutual trust, respect and a motivation to do well.
Ms Guo is a teacher at Anderson Primary School and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Ms Adelene Guo had an unexpected visitor one day; a former student who shared her childhood dream of being a pilot. This student of hers was too afraid to ask the librarian for a book on aeroplanes, until Ms Guo stepped in to help.
The boy, now older, dropped by to tell Ms Guo that he had enrolled in the Singapore Youth Flying Club, and that she had a big part to play in it.
“It is incredibly empowering for children to be able to envision the possibilities of their future. That is why I encourage them to explore and pursue their dreams,” says Ms Guo. “For them to return and share their progress means so much to me – it’s their way of showing their gratitude.”
This is but one of many meaningful connections that Ms Guo has fostered throughout her 17-year career, testament to the teacher she was born to be.
Inspiration: Making students feel at home
Her sense of adventure made her dream of a life in the skies, but when the time came, Ms Guo decided to embrace the heart of service that came from her parents, who were teachers. From them, she learned to always respect and be patient with others – values that she lavishes on her students today.
Her classes bear hallmarks of a tightly knit family; she creates safe spaces where students can feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them together. She role models good habits such as tackling difficult tasks with resilience. A ringing achievement to her Primary 6 students was how she led them to finish top of their level in a schoolwide Maths challenge for four consecutive terms."
He multiplies curiosity in young learners (9 September 2024)
"The search for answers is often more important than the answers themselves, according to Mr Chan Zi Xian. He devises ways to help students visualise Maths problems and figure concepts out, and creates memorable lessons and independent thinkers.
Mr Chan is Head of Department, Mathematics, at Yio Chu Kang Primary School and a 2024 President’s Award for Teachers finalist.
In the classroom, some tables were lined with frisbees and compact discs while others had other round objects rolling off them. Students were on a quest to calculate the length of the table, armed only with a single circular object and its known diameter. This is one of many such tasks that Mr Chan Zi Xian designs to encourage students to think critically and creatively when solving problems.
Inspiration: Finding new angles to teaching
As a student, Mr Chan discovered he had an aptitude for simplifying complex concepts when explaining Maths problems to his classmates in junior college.
It helped that he really loved Maths, had excellent teachers guiding him, and along the way, developed a hope to inspire future generations of mathematicians. Teaching became his natural calling.
“We want to build in students the ability to think critically and apply what they’ve learned in class to solve a challenging task, something they have not seen before or something that is novel to them,” says Mr Chan of what drives him.
After nine years teaching at JC level, he found himself intrigued about how basic concepts like addition and subtraction were being taught to younger students. Many conversations later with his wife, a primary school educator, provided him with the impetus to join her by teaching at primary school level."
Her secret sauce: Knowledge through interaction and lots of joy (9 September 2024)
"Mdm Toh Ji Rong strives to help students reach their potential using Differentiated Instruction. It’s not always easy to strike a balance between lesson plans, curriculum objectives and what works for each student, but she finds a way.
Mdm Toh is a Lead Teacher, English Language, at Beatty Secondary School and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
As the class returned from recess, one student had a stack of papers that he proceeded to distribute. It was a nomination form for an award. “Nominate Mdm Toh ah!” commanded the boy with each form he gave out.
Amused, Mdm Toh Ji Rong brushed it off; she didn’t think the students would actually follow through on the nomination. But they did. Sometime later, she received news that she was a potential recipient of the award. What’s her secret sauce? “It’s a lot about the joy of learning, making language-learning fun and engaging for them,” she shares.
Inspiration: ‘Experiencing an idea is better than talking about it’
Balancing fun and learning is a skill Mdm Toh has honed over her 17 years in teaching.
A firm believer in social constructivism, where knowledge is constructed through interaction with others, Mdm Toh prefers to let her students experience an idea rather than simply hearing about it from her. For a writing assignment on disability, for example, she used props to simulate physical impairments, like getting bespectacled students to write without their glasses. Or she would use the four corners of a classroom, from which students present different perspectives of an argument.
She had doubts about her approach at the start. “Did I compromise on the quality of the thinking?” and “Could they have learnt a bit more if I had tried other approaches?” were questions she would ask herself constantly to make sure that cognitive and behavioural objectives were not compromised. “Ultimately, we are preparing them for life beyond the years they spend in school,” she explains.
Mdm Toh’s own school journey shaped some of her philosophy towards teaching. When learning Mathematics, she had wondered about its application in real life. Her teacher back then explained that it was not about drills or grades, but about the thinking and problem-solving skills behind them. It showed her what the higher purpose of learning could be.
She cites how when teaching English, students also learn communication skills and how to look deeper into the topic at hand. A discussion on food connects to talk about culture and heritage, while writing about everyday life in the garden city of Singapore could invoke wider conversations about establishing a harmonious relationship with wildlife."
She guides students to be a North Star (9 September 2024)
"Mdm Ang Sing Yee, better known as Mrs Lee to her students, makes sure students have meaningful interactions with their teachers. More peer support? There’re activities for students to show care. Every child deserves a champion, says Mrs Lee, who rolls out schoolwide programmes to bring out the best in students.
Mrs Lee is Year Head, Geography teacher at Compassvale Secondary School and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
In her 22-year teaching journey at Compassvale Secondary School, Mrs Lee has been developing systems for students to be heard and supported. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions but calibrated to suit different needs.
There are days when she finds herself focusing more on the needs of the individual student. After Sue* had to move into a girls’ home due to some family issues, Mrs Lee created a schoolwide network of care around her, seeing to her social, emotional, financial and academic needs. “This community push rekindled her hope in her future,” Mrs Lee notes with gladness. The girl eventually graduated and found a place in her dream polytechnic course.
Inspiration: The power to overturn perspectives
When Mrs Lee was young, she was one of those students who would trail behind their teachers, hoping not to be noticed. It remains a mystery to her how her secondary school Chinese teacher could see her leadership potential through her veil of timidity; she even made her a student councillor. It was an appointment that would change the way she viewed herself.
Today, the Geography teacher strives to give her students opportunities and affirmations to grow their confidence and unlock any biases that could hold them back. She says, “I think that was what made a difference for me, and that’s what I try to do for my students.”
Cultivating virtue and hope is her winning formula (9 September 2024)
"Her gift for making Mathematics easy to grasp didn’t stop Ms Judy Ng Suan Khee from doing more for her students. She also develops CCE frameworks that encourage constructive dialogue, decision-making and other social-emotional competencies.
Ms Ng, a Lead Teacher for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) at Hougang Secondary School, is a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Ms Judy Ng shared how heartbroken she was when she caught her student cheating during an examination. She wasn’t so much as disappointed in him, as she was in herself. She felt she had let him down.
How did her conviction not reach him, that the first and most important lesson anyone should learn is how to “zuò rén”? The Chinese term refers idiomatically to how a person should live an upright life for himself and the community. Ms Ng seeks to embody how to “zuò rén” as a teacher too. “A life changed, a life that is grateful, a life that reciprocates” is what she aims for, adding, “That’s why teaching is meaningful.”
Inspiration: She creates a safe learning environment
When Ms Ng started out as a Maths teacher 15 years ago, she saw that the greater impact of her teaching lay not in grades but in less tangible results such as building students’ confidence and self-esteem. About seven years ago, she began teaching Character and Citizenship Education (CCE), motivated by the conviction that every teacher should be a CCE teacher at heart, who nurtures values and self-knowledge along with book knowledge.
Ms Ng is heartened when students progress after giving them a nudge or a word in the right direction. One day, she might be speaking up for a student whose classmates laughed at for aspiring to attend a junior college, which seemed out of reach. On another day, she might be at a parent-teacher meeting, listening to a tearful father seeking help for his son’s addiction to online games. After Ms Ng spent some time speaking with the student, he handed his laptop over to his parents, determined to focus on his studies for his upcoming exams.
“The classroom environment is very important,” says Ms Ng. “If teachers are there to give them hope, they will dare to dream. And our students are at the age where they dream.”
‘Teach what you love, love who you teach’ (9 September 2024)
"Mrs Yogeswari Balasubramanian switched to teaching Tamil when she felt she could pour more of herself into her lessons. She deploys team management and tech skills to better immerse students in the sights, sounds and flavour of the language.
Mrs Balasubramanian is Tamil Language Coordinator of the Mother Tongue Department at Punggol Secondary School and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Mrs Yogeswari Balasubramanian didn’t start off as a language teacher. She was tutoring a student with special needs in Maths, when the student’s mother noticed that she had exceptional patience with her child, always trying out new ways to help him understand concepts. The parent suggested that she should take up teaching as a career. 25 years later, having taught English, Maths, Science and now teaching Tamil Language in school, Mrs Bala (which is how her students address her) still feels the passion for her profession like she did years ago.
Inspiration: Language and culture come hand in hand
When Mrs Bala started teaching the Tamil language in 2007, she saw greater meaning in her work than before. She was drawing from her Tamil heritage, collaborating with the local Tamil community, and presenting students with a welcoming environment where Tamil language and culture is nurtured. To Mrs Bala, language should not be separated from culture, and social and emotional experiences.
“This is what the Tamil language means to me,” she says. “It’s not just about writing an essay or giving an answer. No, you must feel it. Feel the richness. Then use the language.”
Success comes in different forms for his students (9 September 2024)
"Former art director, Timothy Leong Kim Soon, prepares his students for work by introducing them to aspects of creative agency life and high-energy competitions. His goal is to unlock their strengths, one creative endeavour at a time.
Mr Leong is Section Head, School of Design & Media at ITE College Central and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
When ITE design lecturer, Mr Leong, first started an informal club to build miniature models, he and a handful of student enthusiasts would gather at a table outside a classroom. The club is now a full-fledged co-curricular activity (CCA) with about 40 members who take part in regional competitions.
Besides bringing together students who liked manga, movies and modelling, the CCA trains them in patience and focus. Members also learn useful skills for running businesses and events, such as product pricing, stock management and public engagement.
The dedication that Mr Leong invests in sculpting mini models also applies to his finetuning of teaching programmes and strategies. His purpose? To uncover the strengths of his students.
Inspiration: Finding motivation from others
Mr Leong used to be an art director in a design agency. He chanced upon teaching when his colleague asked him to fill in for her at a kindergarten where she taught art part-time. After one session, he was hooked. He left that class as an official preschool art teacher, as the school offered him a job on the spot.
Mr Leong joined ITE upon completing his master’s degree in design, eager to put his skills to work. He overcame first-day jitters with the support of his fellow teachers and, to his surprise, the encouragement of his students.
They said, ‘don’t worry, don’t be nervous, it’s okay’,” he recalls. “It gave me a lot of motivation.”
She puts the 爱 (ài) in AI (9 September 2024)
"Ms Preethi Jebaraj fosters a human connection with technology by engaging students in real-world projects that demonstrate the tangible impact of their work. She emphasises the importance of qualities such as love (or 爱 “ài” in Mandarin) for the community, reminding her students of their potential to be changemakers.
Ms Jebaraj is Section Head, School of Electronics & Info-comm Technology at ITE College East and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its way into facets of all our daily lives, which makes what Ms Jebaraj teaches at ITE College East highly marketable. Covering areas such as AI coding, app development, and robotic process automation, her courses attract students who want to decode the technology they are keen to master. Technology, however, is not all she teaches.
She builds RI (for “real intelligence”, a term she coined) and “ài” (or “love” in Mandarin) in her lessons. With the rise of scams, deepfakes and half-truths, she also emphasises the learning of ethics and governance – stemming from love and respect for self and humankind – so students will apply their “real intelligence” to use technology responsibly.
Inspiration: Keeping up with technology and learning for life
When Ms Jebaraj became an educator, the dot-com bubble had just burst. Since then, mobile phones have evolved to smart phones, and now revolve around the use of apps. Social media changed how the world works and plays, and now everything is about to be transformed by AI.
“Whatever I teach today is content for the museum of tomorrow,” Ms Jebaraj says. What doesn’t change is the ability to learn for life – Ms Jebaraj teaches not just today’s technologies but the mindset to continually embrace future ones.
She leads by example. In her 20 years at ITE, Ms Jebaraj has actively networked, pursued industry certifications, and embraced training opportunities, ensuring that her teaching methods and partnerships benefit her students. “I see continuous learning as keeping me on my toes and keeping my lessons interesting,” she shares."
No roadblocks, just roadmaps for this engineer turned educator (9 September 2024)
"Mr Lim Boon Yang Vincent sparks his students’ curiosity about emerging technologies and prepares them for cutting-edge work with his Robotic Process Automation (RPA) roadmap.
Mr Lim is a Senior Lecturer from Republic Polytechnic (RP)’s School of Engineering, and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
When Mr Lim sets his mind on something, he dives right in. Like the time he tried to understand the intricacies of blockchain technology, because students were curious to understand how cryptocurrency worked. So, he put some skin in the game in order to experience the technology firsthand.
Although he had to pay a monetary price for this “lesson”, it provided him with a deeper understanding of blockchain technology. He used this knowledge to help students comprehend the potential risks and complexities of the technology and to develop courses on cryptocurrency.
Inspiration: From one adult learner to another
As an organisational transformation specialist in multinational companies, Mr Lim used to work on process improvement in overseas settings. He often wondered how he could tap on his experience to give back to Singapore. That desire led him to return to Singapore eight years ago and join RP as a lecturer in the School of Engineering, to nurture young minds and contribute to Singapore’s success.
He has a soft spot for older students enrolled in the RP’s Continuing Education and Training (CET) modules. After all, he was an adult learner himself when he moved into his teaching role. The profession had evolved from the time when he was a student, so he had to learn to lecture less, and engage his students more by making learning authentic.
“After that, I got into it quite happily,” he shared. “I enjoy working with students, linking up with industry and developing practical applications for our students to adopt.”
Making learning inclusive for all (9 September 2024)
"Dr Zhang Huiyu leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to customise lessons to suit a range of student needs. Her readily accessible chatbot builder – just one of the few examples of how she optimises technology for learning – has been adopted by other polytechnics as well.
Dr Zhang is a Senior Academic Mentor, and lecturer from the School of Informatics & IT at Temasek Polytechnic and a finalist of the 2024 President’s Award for Teachers.
Pick any moment and you would likely catch Dr Zhang in the midst of a brainstorm. The former research scientist at A*STAR enjoys cooking up new ideas to use AI to augment education. As a lecturer in Data Science subjects, she supports teachers in developing data-driven differentiated instruction and students in pursuing further education or employment in data-related fields.
Inspiration: Working towards equal opportunity through the use of technology
At A*STAR, Dr Zhang used to supervise students during their industry attachments. She noticed a trend: while they had knowledge in cutting-edge technologies or passion for research, what they lacked were workplace skills and confidence.
This prompted her to embark on her teaching career, and focus on polytechnic students, who are on the cusp of entering the workforce. Beyond young graduates, she also engages older students who are returning to school to complete their studies or upskilling themselves through Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses. This fits her belief that all students deserve an equal opportunity to excel.
In the Analytics in Education project implemented across the Polytechnics and ITE, Dr Zhang created predictive analytics tools that capture student interactions with AI tools, to anticipate their learning pathways and needs. This enables educators to customise lessons that target specific learning needs and allow students to learn at their own pace."
Want to know more about lesser-known DSA areas? Let us lead the way (11 September 2024)
"Did you know you may gain entry into a secondary school thanks to your sense of smell, by being adventurous, or by being kind? Schoolbag explores three lesser-known talent areas under the Direct School Admission exercise in various schools.
By Jacquelyn Ng
To gain direct entry into Bartley Secondary School, it may help to follow your nose. That’s because the school lists “Fragrance” as one of its Direct School Admission (DSA) areas of talent.
The DSA exercise allows all pupils to apply to a secondary school even before sitting for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). The early admission is based on an area of talent, which could include sports or performing arts.
‘Fragrance’ is just one of the more unusual areas offered by schools under the DSA scheme. Others include community and youth leadership, outdoor adventure, debating, photography, and environmental science.
Here, we uncover three of these unusual DSA talent areas; we sniff out what schools look out for in their prospective students, and what students can expect upon admission.
Can you smell your way to success?
We know of science labs in school, but a fragrance lab?
Bartley Secondary School is the only school in Singapore that specialises in fragrance, or in more technical terms, ‘Chemical and Applied Science in Fragrance’. This is done through its Applied Learning Programme (ALP), which helps students connect what they learn in class to what happens in the working world. So it makes scents, and sense, to welcome students through its DSA who show an inclination towards this area of science.
Unsurprisingly, it is the only school in Singapore that boasts a fragrance lab that allows students to discover the secret of scents."
Mobile Guardian Device Management Application to be Removed from Personal Learning Devices (5 August 2024)
"On 4 August 2024 late night, the Ministry of Education (MOE) was alerted by schools that some students who use iPads or Chromebooks as personal learning devices were unable to access their applications and information stored in their devices."
MOE immediately registered strong concerns with mobile device management company Mobile Guardian. Mobile Guardian’s investigations found that there had been a global cybersecurity incident involving unauthorised access to its platform that affected their customers globally, including those in Singapore. Based on preliminary checks, about 13,000 students in Singapore from 26 secondary schools had their devices wiped remotely by the perpetrator. There is currently no evidence that the perpetrator had accessed user files."
School Terms and Holidays for 2025 (12 August 2024)
"The school year for 2025 for all MOE primary schools (including MOE Kindergartens) and secondary schools will start on Thursday, 2 January 2025 and end on Friday, 21 November 2025."
Interactive Workshops, Sharing Sessions at Flagship Symposium to Promote Lifelong Interest in Mother Tongue Languages (14 August 2024)
"The Ministry of Education and the three Mother Tongue Language Learning and Promotion Committees will hold the flagship Mother Tongue Languages Symposium on Saturday, 14 September 2024, at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre."
28 Young Singaporeans Receive Awards to Pursue Careers in Academia and Research (14 August 2024)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) awarded scholarships and grants to 28 Singaporeans keen on pursuing an academic career at the 10th Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (START) Award Ceremony today."
Language Game Show Set to Spark Students' Interest in Malay Language and Culture (16 August 2024)
"More than 30 students from eight primary schools will participate in this year's Cepat Tepat where they will challenge their knowledge and understanding of the Malay language and culture through quizzes and activities, such as crossword puzzles. Organised by the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC), in collaboration with Mediacorp, Cepat Tepat aims to ignite and sustain students' interest in Malay language and culture beyond the classroom."
Strengthening Support for Higher-Ability Learners (19 August 2024)
"At this year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined how the Government has strengthened Singapore's education system over the decades to meet the changing needs of our population."
Enhancing School Infrastructure to Support the Future of Learning (19 August 2024)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will enhance school infrastructure progressively to meet evolving needs in teaching and learning, as well as growing environmental and operational challenges. Key enhancements are in the table, and further details will be provided when ready."
Close to 90 Students Recognised for Their Creativity and Oral Skills at 3rd National Vlog Competition (23 August 2024)
"Close to 90 students were recognised for their creativity and oral expression skills at the 3rd National Vlog Competition for Primary School Students ("我们是小网红"全国小学生短视频制作比赛). Guest-of-Honour Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a speech and presented awards to the winning teams at the Awards Ceremony."
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang to Visit Thailand for ASEAN Education Meetings (25 to 26 August 2024) (24 August 2024)
"Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Shawn Huang, will attend the 13th ASEAN, 7th ASEAN Plus Three, and 7th East Asia Summit Education Ministers' Meetings in Buriram, Thailand, from 25 to 26 August 2024."
Eight Teachers Receive Top Honours for Dedication and Excellence in Education (29 August 2024)
"Eight outstanding educators received this year's President's Award for Teachers from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the annual Teachers' Day Reception on 29 August 2024."
Strengthening Efforts for Students to Learn and Use Their Mother Tongue Language from Young (14 September 2024)
"At the 13th Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS) on 14 September 2024, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing announced the following initiatives to uphold bilingualism in the education system, and to help students learn and use their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) as a living language:
a. More opportunities for secondary school students to offer Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL) to nurture more students who are proficient in their MTL.
b. A new structured MTL reading programme in primary schools to cultivate positive reading habits in students from young.
c. Pilot the increase of MTL exposure in MOE Kindergartens (MK) to develop an interest in MTL in pre-school children."
How busy mothers can start investing: ‘I put every ang pow into investments for my kids’ (7 September 2024)
"What do you do with your child’s ang pow (red packet) haul? Put it in the bank? Let them spend it?
For Samantha Horton, who is the chief operating officer of investment platform Syfe, every cash gift her kids receive for Chinese New Year, birthdays and Christmas goes straight into a diversified investment portfolio with 1,500 stocks across global markets.
Her two children, aged four and two, each have their own investment accounts. “If they get S$50 from an ang pow, I will transfer it in. They’re not going to touch it for the next 20 years so the money compounds over time,” she said."
The Big Read: 'Excuse me, are you gifted?' A deeper look at gifted education and its relevance to society (9 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: At work, Ms Neha Dharma is like any of her other colleagues. The 24-year-old Singaporean human resource consultant based in Sydney, Australia does not have all the answers, sometimes makes mistakes and even gets chided by her boss.
This was perhaps not what her 10-year-old self would have imagined when she was part of a small group of pupils specially selected from Singapore schools to attend the Gifted Education Programme (GEP).
“We were told (by our teachers) that we’re all gifted ... that we should be doing better. I started putting pressure on myself because I slowly started believing this idea that I should be gifted,” said Ms Dharma, noting how the “gifted” label came with unrealistic expectations set not only by teachers and parents but also herself."
Singapore's education ministry terminates contract with Mobile Guardian after cybersecurity breaches (9 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has terminated its contract with device management app Mobile Guardian, which suffered two major cybersecurity breaches earlier this year, a source within the ministry told CNA.
MOE is looking at other options, the source added.
In response to CNA's queries, MOE said the matter will be addressed this week. Mobile Guardian did not respond to queries."
S$250 million govt subsidy to cover deferred public transport fare hikes; 4-month extended concession for graduating students (9 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: To cover the cost of deferring further public transport fare hikes, the government will be pumping in an additional S$250 million (US$191 million) in subsidies to support public transport operators.
More lower-income households will also stand to benefit from a higher quantum of public transport vouchers to offset the impact of the transport fare hikes that kick in on Dec 28.
Graduating students, meanwhile, will enjoy an extended period of four months of concession benefits."
MOE takes legal action against contractors over Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken legal action against "relevant contractors" following a Mobile Guardian cyberattack that affected 13,000 users from 26 secondary schools.
About one in six of the affected users lost some data due to the cybersecurity breach suffered by the device management app, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing said in parliament on Tuesday (Sep 10).
Less than 5 per cent were unable to recover all their data as their devices had not been backed up before the Aug 4 breach, he added."
New high-ability programmes not designed to help students perform better in exams: Chan Chun Sing (10 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: The new school-based high-ability programmes are not designed to help students perform better in mainstream examinations, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Sep 10).
“Neither is the aim to introduce higher subject levels ahead of time, which would still be bounded by the core curriculum and examination requirements,” he added.
Responding to parliamentary questions about the recently announced overhaul of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), Mr Chan said the programmes aim to cultivate curiosity, creativity and a love for learning in students."
Commentary: What’s the allure of NUS and NTU to foreign tourists? (11 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: As the new academic year began in August, students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) saw an unusual number of foreign visitors on campus.
Tourists crowded shuttle buses and canteens, and milled about libraries, research labs and even accommodation facilities.
This was not the first time that Singapore universities had received an influx of tourists. They flocked to NUS and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in February. NTU responded by imposing a fee on tourists and requiring tour groups to seek approval prior to visiting."
Ground-up initiative proposes national suicide prevention strategy for Singapore (11 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: A community group has urged the Singapore government to set up a national office dedicated to suicide prevention in the country.
It is part of several recommendations under a national suicide prevention strategy laid out in a white paper by ground-up initiative Project Hayat and led by advocacy group SG Mental Health Matters.
The group’s 23 recommendations include a national public awareness campaign on suicide prevention, integrating suicide prevention education into school curriculum, more training on suicide prevention, and use of tech-based interventions."
Youths must have ‘courage’ to hold interreligious dialogues, take conversation to wider community: Pope Francis (13 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: Holding interreligious dialogues requires courage, as it means leaving oneself open to criticism, Pope Francis said on Friday (Sep 13).
“Do you have the courage to criticise, and at the same time allow yourself to be criticised?” asked the pontiff, during an interreligious meeting with youths at Catholic Junior College (CJC) on the final day of his Singapore visit.
Dialogue among young people will also lead to dialogue at a larger level among citizens in the wider community, said Pope Francis."
Commentary: Gifted students in focus, but what about those with learning difficulties? (14 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: Much has been discussed about the revamping of the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), which pulls out the top 1 per cent of primary school students and centralises them in nine GEP schools.
Under a new model, the top 10 per cent of students - or about 3,000 children across 180 primary schools - will be selected to join higher-ability programmes in their own schools instead, allowing for more customisation according to their strengths and interests.
There has been fervent debate about the pros and cons of the revamp - some have raised concerns over whether the same level of support will be available, others have said the new approach will foster greater inclusivity."
More students will be allowed to take up Higher Mother Tongue in secondary 1 from 2026 (14 September 2024)
"SINGAPORE: Students who do well in their Mother Tongue Language at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be given the chance to study Higher Mother Tongue at Secondary 1 from 2026, regardless of their PSLE overall score.
Currently, students must obtain either a PSLE overall score of 8 or better. They also qualify if they get an overall score of 9 to 14 with a Mother Tongue (MTL) score of AL1/AL2 or at least a merit in Higher Mother Tongue (HMTL).
But from 2026, they can take up Higher Mother Tongue as a subject in secondary school as long as they obtain AL1/AL2 in their Mother Tongue at the PSLE, or a distinction or merit in Higher Mother Tongue, said Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing on Saturday (Sep 14)."