Pick up strategies to manage PSLE stress (10 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Even if a child has prepared well for his exam, his performance can be affected if he is unable to manage stress well.
High levels of stress can overload children’s brains, reducing their ability to focus and make it harder to recall information during the exam.
Sometimes it results in physiological symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches or difficulty sleeping, which can affect a child’s ability to show up in the classroom, said family life specialist and counselling associate June Yong from Focus on the Family Singapore."
Teen pleads guilty over sharing nude photos, forgery and extorting money from schoolmate (10 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Between 2024 and 2025, an 18-year-old went on a “sustained campaign of exploitation and violence”, including sharing a girl’s nude photos and helping his friend forge an NRIC.
The teen pleaded guilty to five charges on Jan 9, including distributing intimate images, voluntarily causing hurt and theft in dwelling. He was 17 when he committed some of the offences and cannot be named as he is protected under the Children and Young Persons Act."
Why did my polytechnic diploma disappear? (10 January 2026)
"In 1973, when the mobile phone was not yet a thing and computers were still rare and blocky curiosities, Mr Lee Voon Phaw decided to study to become an electrical engineer at Ngee Ann Technical College, the predecessor of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Today, his diploma programme no longer exists, a relic of an earlier time in Singapore’s industrial development, when engineers were kings of the job market.
Mr Lee, now 70, is one of seven polytechnic graduates The Straits Times spoke to who went through polytechnic diploma programmes that have since been discontinued.
These courses – spanning applied drama, informatics, digital media design, outdoor and adventure learning, and more – trained Singapore’s first wave of theatre educators, semiconductor makers and IT workers."
Banker-turned-author tells forgotten story of Indian prisoners in Singapore during World War II (10 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Most histories of Indian soldiers during World War II start and end with the vexed anti-colonial nationalist hero Subhas Chandra Bose. But a new book by Singapore-based banker-turned-author Gautam Hazarika turns to the fate of forgotten leaders and prisoners of war (POWs) in Singapore to paint a fuller picture.
In The Forgotten Indian Prisoners Of World War II: Surrender, Loyalty, Betrayal And Hell (2025), Hazarika makes the case for unearthing this buried history. Despite there being 67,000 Indian troops who defended Singapore and Malaya at the start of WWII – amounting to about half of the Allied army – little is known about their agency and fate under the Japanese Occupation."
More Singapore schools install mobile phone lockers for students to keep their devices away (10 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Nearly 10 secondary schools in Singapore are installing mobile phone lockers in 2026 to store students’ devices during school hours.
Unlike general lockers which are managed by the students and can hold items such as files and textbooks, these lockers are specifically for mobile devices and are typically handled by school teachers.
This follows new guidelines announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in November 2025, banning the use of smartphones during the entire school day."
UOL commits $150,000 to ComLink+ programmes for children from lower-income families (10 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Lower-income families in Bukit Merah will benefit from enrichment activities and learning support, with the expansion of a community support initiative to help children from such backgrounds.
Property developer UOL and its hotel subsidiary Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) announced on Jan 10 that it would donate $50,000 towards the scheme.
The amount is part of a wider $150,000 donation to fund the UOL-PPHG Community Uplift Programme, which was launched in Jurong West in 2023 to support children from lower-income families."
Matching Chinese New Year outfits for the family; Year of the Horse watch for kids (11 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.
Sheila Sim teams up with Le Petit Society
Actress-model Sheila Sim has partnered local fashion label Le Petit Society to introduce matching Chinese New Year outfits for the entire family, with designs for babies, children, mums and dads.
Among the collection is the Lotus series, her first design contribution to the collaboration."
JC or poly: How I guided my daughter to make a choice (11 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – With the O-level results due to be released on Jan 14, some parents and students will soon be grappling with the junior college (JC) or polytechnic dilemma.
When I mentioned to a friend that my 16-year-old daughter, who took her O-level exams in 2025, was considering the polytechnic route over the JC one, I was asked: “Why? She is doing okay in school.”
Happy from still playing on swings like pre-digital-era kid (11 January 2026)
"If you spot an adult on one of those traditional, squeaky, metal double-sided garden swings rocking away in various parts of Singapore, that person might just be me. I like swings so much that I wanted them at home (since the ones in playgrounds are meant for children), so a few months ago, I finally installed aerial yoga slings which I use only as swings.
When I think about how else I have fun today, I am tickled that a fair bit of it is similar to how I played as a child from the pre-digital era – from doodling, and playing with toys as I watch cartoons, to looking at flowers, trees, clouds and wildlife, and just plain daydreaming through it all."
For three hours, my hands were busy. No spreadsheet was involved (11 January 2026)
"As someone born way before Google and ChatGPT were created, I distinctly remember the days when we actually had to use something called a library.
It was a building filled with dead trees bound in covers, and if I wanted to know the capital of Paraguay, I had to ask a person, a librarian, who generally seems to know everything. Occasionally, friends half my age will ask me about this Paleolithic period of information retrieval."
PSLE bootcamps: What are they, and are they necessary? (11 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Many schoolchildren, especially those in Primary 6, and their parents may be aware of PSLE bootcamps as a feature of Singapore’s tuition landscape.
But what exactly are PSLE bootcamps, and how useful are they?"
PSLE bootcamps: How to decide if your child should sign up for one (11 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Parents who wish to enrol their child in a PSLE bootcamp – a short, intensive preparatory course for the national examination – should bear in mind their offspring’s needs, temperament and routines. Here are some factors to consider.
Dr Anthony Fok, chief executive of education consultancy CPD Singapore Education Services, says parental anxiety that the child might be missing out on extra preparation, as well as peer influence, are key factors for the demand for such bootcamps."
Catfished teen made to perform lewd acts; offender gets 21 months’ probation (12 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Catfished by a 15-year-old boy posing as a woman, a teenager was made to perform a sexual act in front of a camera, subject his private parts to humiliating acts, cut and burn his hair with a lighter and play football naked.
The offender, who is now 18 and had posed as the woman, was sentenced to 21 months’ probation on Jan 12 after he pleaded guilty to one count each of cheating and extortion. He cannot be named because of a gag order to protect the victim’s identity.
As part of his sentence, he has to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am every day, and perform 110 hours of community service.
His parents were also bonded for $5,000 to ensure his good behaviour."
Soft meals, big impact: SUSS pilot makes dining out easier for those with swallowing difficulties (12 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – For about two years since her diet changed to soft meals, Madam Chin Chieu Hoye, who turns 100 in 2026, had not visited a restaurant due to the limited options available.
On Jan 12, she was treated to a seven-course meal – with dishes like steamed cod fish fillet with minced ginger and stewed beancurd with minced beef – at Imperial Treasure restaurant at Great World. These classic dishes were adapted into soft meals for diners with swallowing and chewing difficulties.
Madam Chin was joined by about 40 guests, including four others with dysphagia – a medical condition that affects swallowing.
Giving a thumbs up, she said: “I enjoyed the food... It’s soft and better than what I have at home.”
The event was part of an inclusive pop-up dining programme led by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), designed to introduce dysphagia-friendly meals in restaurants without compromising on taste and presentation."
Lego should be simple, not smart (12 January 2026)
"Frank Lloyd Wright famously claimed that playing with Froebel kindergarten blocks kindled his fascination for form-making. Le Corbusier, Buckminster Fuller and Charles Eames started with the brightly coloured geometric wooden pieces too. Then came Meccano: look at Norman Foster’s HSBC Tower in Hong Kong or Richard Rogers’ Lloyd’s of London, the lineage is clear.
So what about Lego? The world’s best-selling constructional toy last week launched its Smart Bricks but perhaps it is looking the wrong way. Lego’s legacy resides in its inherent simplicity."
Take a cue from online shopping when picking your next school (12 January 2026)
“I ended up going to a good JC but now I wake up every day asking myself why I didn’t choose Poly…”
So wrote a Singapore student on Reddit in r/SGExams."
Food trails for kids, protein for seniors: How S’poreans are learning to live well and eat better (13 January 2026)
"A cluster of preschoolers hovered in the drinks aisle of a FairPrice supermarket – not to grab their favourite beverages, but to scan bottles for Healthier Choice Symbols and Nutri-Grade ratings, peering closely as they compared sugar levels.
A few aisles away, curiosity was sparked again: Why are wholegrains healthier than white rice? At the fresh produce section, little hands reached out to touch and compare fruits and vegetables, turning the grocery run into a multi-sensory lesson on food and nutrition.
Some even spotted the Marine Stewardship Council’s Blue Fish Tick – an ecolabel for sustainably sourced seafood – a detail that did not go unnoticed by their teachers."
Students need not own or use mobile phones, parents can call schools during emergencies: Jasmin Lau (13 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – There is no need for students to own or use mobile phones for the purpose of urgent communication with their parents, Minister of State for Education and Digital Development Jasmin Lau said on Jan 13.
“Should parents have an urgent message to relay to their children, they can contact the school’s general office,” she said, adding that students can also call their parents using phones in the general office.
Ms Lau was responding to a parliamentary question from Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) on how parents can contact their children in cases of emergency, with stricter phone use guidelines in schools that took effect in January."
Don’t let AI change what it means to teach (13 January 2026)
"Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping classrooms worldwide. It drafts lesson plans, suggests learning activities and tracks student progress, among many other capabilities. Once an optional assistant, AI is now positioned by tech companies as an active agent in teaching and learning.
In Singapore, this shift is especially pronounced. The latest Teaching and Learning International Survey(TALIS) found that three in four teachers here adopt AI to teach or facilitate student learning, more than double the global average of 36 per cent."
Adoption agencies that knowingly bring in children of suspect origin will be taken to task: Goh Pei Ming (14 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Adoption agencies have to do due diligence on the children that they bring into Singapore, and those that knowingly bring in children of suspicious origin will be dealt with, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming in Parliament on Jan 14.
He was responding to recent reports about an alleged Indonesian trafficking ring which sent babies to Singapore."
Education vs. AI - Can schools balance ChatGPT and character-building? (14 January 2026)
"Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore’s social issues of the day with guests.
Education is one of the few institutions almost every Singaporean passes through - and one of the most contested. From debates about declining attention spans to rising anxiety, we now wonder about the role of artificial intelligence in classrooms. Questions about standards, equity, excellence and inclusion continue to surface."
Bill to formally recognise chess, e-sports and others as sports passed in Parliament (14 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Mind sports such as chess and bridge, along with e-sports, will be formally recognised as sports after a Bill was passed in Parliament on Jan 14.
The Singapore Sports Council (Amendment) Bill was first introduced in Parliament on Nov 4 for its first reading by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo, and it aims to update the roles and functions of Sport Singapore (SportSG) to better support Singaporeans’ diverse sporting aspirations.
Mr Neo noted that it “is an important enabler in driving Singapore’s sporting culture, and for our national sport ecosystem to be inclusive, dynamic and future-ready”."
Over 10,000 jobs to be offered with launch of year-long job fair initiative in East Coast (14 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Former marketing executive Gerraine Lin, who stopped working for two years to pursue a degree full-time, hopes to rejoin the workforce after she graduates in May.
She studied sports science at Edith Cowan University but is keen to join the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a marketing role.
The 35-year-old is also open to other opportunities offered at East Side Best Careers, a year-long initiative launched on Jan 14 by the East Coast GRC team to bring employers, career pathways and skills support directly into the community."
Pilot programme brings SG Culture Pass offerings to nursing homes (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Some 15 seniors from the Sree Narayana Mission (Singapore) Nursing Home in Yishun will join a blow painting workshop on Jan 21, using their SG Culture Pass credits.
The art programme is a pilot by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to engage nursing homes so that those who face mobility challenges can use their Culture Pass credits to enjoy local arts events.
MCCY and AIC will continue to bring more such programmes to nursing homes, an MCCY spokesperson said in response to queries from The Straits Times."
Full-time employment rate stable for fresh poly graduates in 2025, with starting pay on the rise (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Full-time permanent employment for fresh polytechnic graduates stayed stable in 2025, while starting pay continued to rise.
Results of the latest Graduate Employment Survey by the five polytechnics released on Jan 15 show that 54.2 per cent of them were in full-time permanent jobs in 2025, a slight dip from 54.6 per cent in 2024.
The median gross monthly salary of graduates in such jobs continued to grow, from $2,900 in 2024 to $3,000 in 2025."
Now that we have AI, what are the arts for? (15 January 2026)
"It is 9am on a rainy Tuesday on campus and I am trying to buy a coffee. Term has officially ended so I am the only one in line.
After a while, the sole barista on duty notices me, points to the QR code on the wall, and says: “Scan to order.”
Why do our school meals increasingly feel like bad ‘army cookhouse’ food? (15 January 2026)
"We’ve all seen those turquoise bento boxes.
The photos – of set meals prepared by airline caterer SATS for students at Hwa Chong Institution – have been circulating on social media and dominating headlines, along with photos of other schools’ similarly packaged offerings."
Hwa Chong working with SATS to improve meal presentation and recipes for students (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) is working with food caterer SATS to refine its bento meals based on feedback, said principal Lee Peck Ping.
Speaking to the media at the school on Jan 15, Mr Lee said that SATS is reviewing its recipes and food presentation, and refining its menus based on student preferences.
The school is also looking at setting up an on-site kitchen to prepare bento meals on campus.
Meals provided by airline caterer SATS for HCI students had drawn criticism, after images of bento sets were posted online on Jan 3, with some likening the meals to army cookhouse food."
No plans to publicly display carcass of euthanised Himalayan vulture: Lee Kong Chian museum (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – The carcass of a rare Himalayan vulture euthanised in Singapore will not be publicly displayed in order to retain its scientific value.
Preparing it for public display would compromise this, said the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, which has assumed care of the carcass.
The vulture was rescued by the National Parks Board from Neo Tiew Crescent in the Kranji area on Jan 3, and euthanised on Jan 7 after its health worsened.
The carcass was then moved to the natural history museum for education and research."
How one central kitchen in Tuas feeds 3,000 Singapore school kids a day (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE - Before dawn, a central kitchen in Tuas hums to life, preparing between 1,000 and 1,400 bento meals for four schools.
Cooking begins at 4.45am and wraps up by 5.30am, after which the meals are packed into insulated boxes, loaded onto four lorries and sent off by about 6.45am.
Kept warm in the stalls, the food is ready when the first Primary 1 and 2 pupils at Northoaks Primary School in Sembawang stream in during recess time at 9am."
NUSS website briefly offline after security irregularities, no data breach found (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE - The website of the graduate club National University of Singapore Society was temporarily taken down for less than 24 hours from Jan 11 midday due to a security issue, The Straits Times has learnt.
In an e-mail sent to members of the society on the same day, NUSS said that there was no indication of any impact on members’ data.
The NUSS website primarily serves as an information and engagement platform, providing access to society updates, events, facilities, dining offerings, and publications.
In response to queries from ST, an NUSS spokesperson added that checks had been completed and there were no signs of any data breach or unauthorised access to members’ information."
Catholic Junior College to move to new site near Punggol Digital District in 2034 (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE - Come 2034, Catholic Junior College (CJC) will move from its Whitley Road campus to the vicinity of Punggol Digital District.
The new campus, which will be built near the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), is tentatively slated for operation in 2034."
Many use SkillsFuture like a ‘voucher shop’. It’s time to refresh it (16 January 2026)
"In his 2025 National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said; “Jobs, jobs, jobs – that’s our No. 1 priority.” So it should be. Because by now it is clear that jobs will be repeatedly re-shaped or displaced by trade wars, supply chain shifts, digitalisation, robots and artificial intelligence (AI).
Few professions are disruption-proof; it is not just the lower-paid, but even well-remunerated white-collar jobs that are at risk. Workers in advanced open economies such as Singapore are among the most vulnerable. For instance, an International Monetary Fund study in 2024 found that about 77 per cent of Singapore’s employed resident workers are “highly exposed” to AI”, one of the highest shares globally, because the workforce is so concentrated in high- and semi-skilled occupations whose tasks are amenable to AI substitution or augmentation."
Resuming work when the kids sleep is a norm after starting a family (16 January 2026)
“Family time is a priority. If I need to resume work, I do it after the kids sleep,” said influencer Andrea Chong, who is expecting her third child in January.
For many dual-income households, this is not an exception but a regular rhythm of daily life. Parents carve out late afternoons to pick up children, settle dinner and bedtime routines then log back on after dark to finish what could not be done earlier. Alongside formal job demands runs an invisible second shift of caregiving and mental load."
TCM can be part of a country’s toolkit against rising heat: NUS study (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – For decades, Singapore’s Chinese community has turned to acupuncture treatments, barley water and herbal remedies not only to boost healing and wellness, but also to cope with the hot weather.
These traditional approaches should not be overlooked as Singapore builds a suite of solutions to strengthen resilience against rising temperatures, said heat experts and historians from the National University of Singapore.
This was the conclusion of the team from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), who traced how people have navigated daily heat and humidity since the early 20th century using Western remedies and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)."
NUH opens digestive health centre to fight rising tide of gastrointestinal diseases (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – National University Hospital (NUH) has officially inaugurated the National University Centre for Digestive Health (NUCD), set up to combat the rising tide of gastrointestinal diseases in Singapore.
According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers account for about 31 per cent of cancers in men and 18 per cent in women.
Based on combined data of men and women, colorectal cancer is the most common cancer, and liver cancer is the fourth-most common cancer among men, said the centre’s director, Adjunct Associate Professor Lee Guan Huei, at the opening on Jan 16."
60 pupils from River Valley Primary School down with suspected food poisoning (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Sixty pupils from River Valley Primary School were reported to have gastroenteritis symptoms after having lunch provided by the school’s central kitchen meal model operator.
The pupils felt unwell after lunch break on Jan 14 and reported having symptoms of gastroenteritis the following day.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said in a joint statement that most of the affected children were back in school on Jan 16, except for four pupils still recovering at home.
None of them was hospitalised, the agencies added.
The school is monitoring the well-being of the pupils, and is working with SFA and CDA to investigate the matter and determine the cause of the incident."
Catholic JC campus could house other schools undergoing revamps or be returned to the state (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Catholic Junior College’s (CJC) campus in Whitley Road could be used by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a holding site for other schools undergoing renovation after the school relocates to Punggol.
Shortly after the school’s planned move in 2034 was announced, the ministry said on Jan 16 that it will assess the need to keep the school’s buildings for other uses, such as a holding site for schools undergoing upgrading.
If the ministry has no plans for the 5.6ha site, it will be returned to the state.
“The future plans for the site will be studied by agencies, taking into consideration the site context, including surrounding developments, traffic conditions and other infrastructure requirements,” MOE said."
‘Bittersweet’: CJC alumni share Whitley Road memories, worries over move to Punggol (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – The Jan 16 announcement that Catholic Junior College (CJC) will move from its Whitley Road campus to the vicinity of Punggol Digital District in 2034 has drawn mixed reactions from alumni of the school.
Ex-students told The Straits Times that the current campus holds many memories for them, and they will be sad to see it go."
Singaporeans should upgrade themselves in the midst of an uncertain world: SM Lee (17 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE – Although Singapore did well in 2025, the world is still in flux, and Singaporeans should continue to upgrade themselves to stay useful and valued, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Jan 17.
Besides individuals, companies also have to adapt to the uncertain world by transforming and reinventing themselves to stay competitive and to keep on offering good jobs to Singaporeans.
SM Lee, who is an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, was speaking at the Teck Ghee Edusave Awards and the Teck Ghee Citizens’ Consultative Committee Bursary presentation ceremony at Teck Ghee Primary School."
Dyslexia a test of Singapore’s commitment to equal educational opportunity (17 January 2026)
"Iris is nine years old. While she may come across as being more assertive than her peers in answering questions, by and large, she carries herself like any other girl of her age.
But just three years ago, she was withdrawn. Her reading skills were very poor. In class, she was always tilting her head side to side, trying to make sense of letters on the blackboard. Her teacher mistook this for misbehaviour. She suffered from low self-esteem."
How do MOE Kindergartens support children’s emotional and mental well-being? (18 September 2025)
"Learning to understand and manage emotions is a crucial part of every child’s development. At MOE Kindergarten (MK), we create safe spaces where children are encouraged to express themselves and learn that all feelings are valid. Here’s how our MK educators are helping our little ones build the social-emotional skills they need to form meaningful connections with others.
MK@Dazhong “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” Programme
Teachers introduced the Emotional Cups and Self-Help Kits to help children learn skills such as managing disagreements, navigating misunderstandings, or taking turns between peers.
These simple tools give children a healthy outlet to express their feelings, reflect, and resolve them.
For example, they doodle how they feel on pieces of paper, which are then ‘stored and secured’ in their personalised cups, after which, they explore what they can do using the picture cards in the self-help kit.
“As a teacher, it’s incredibly rewarding to witness how these small tools are making such a big difference. Seeing our children respond with such enthusiasm, kindness and confidence is the most joyful outcome of all.” - Ms Vaeshanavi Manoharan, MK Level Head at MK@Dazhong
MK@Tampines Social and Emotional Check-in CornerHere, children are given the time and space to pause and reflect on their emotions.
Resources such as emotion charts empower them to recognise, name and navigate their feelings. The space helps little ones develop self-regulation skills through calming strategies like deep breathing, sensory tools and fidgets.
“Teaching values can be an abstract concept for children. As teachers, we break down what each value looks like in real-life situations and make it as concrete as possible to the children.” - Ms Sasha Leung, MK Level Head at MK@Tampines"
The Real Life of Teachers: The Good and the Gritty (23 September 2025)
"Beyond the lesson plans and CCAs lies the true story of what it means to teach. 18 educators open up about the moments that build them, challenge them, and remind them why they chose this calling.
These 18 teachers know that real teaching can happen anytime.
During classes? Sure.
But also in the unscripted, unexpected moments between lesson plans.
Far from an Instagrammable moment, it’s…
The professional expertise that turns chaos into learning.
The emotional intelligence that reads invisible struggles.
The canteen chats that changes lives.
Meet 2025’s President’s Award for Teachers (PAT) recipients and finalists
Welcome to the real life of teachers.
The good, the gritty, and everything in between."
Our Schools, Our Stories 2025 (25 September 2025)
"Our Schools, Our Stories is an annual photo and video contest organised by the Ministry of Education that celebrates the unique stories of everyday school life, as seen through the eyes of students, staff, and the wider school community.
Discover the winning entries of this year’s contest. More than just photographs or videos, these are stories that celebrate the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that make school a place of growth and inspiration."
Our School Community: Junior Category (25 September 2025)
"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.
BEST PHOTO STORY
School Life in a Snap
By Hsu Audrianna Ii-Zanne, Lyha Medina Binte Kamzaruddin and Kieran Tan Ze Xu
Fuhua Primary School
Teacher Facilitator: Ms Najuma Banu
We love capturing the fun and exciting moments that happen across the different CCAs in our school.
From friends dancing, training on the field, and playing the guzheng, to learning how to start a fire with dried leaves, every moment is a memory worth snapping.
In our Infocomm CCA, we learn how to take clear and creative photos, using techniques like framing, lighting, and timing. Sometimes we capture action, other times we focus on happy faces and teamwork.
Each photo tells its own story. We’re proud to be behind the lens, turning everyday school life into lasting memories."
Our School Community: Youth Category (25 September 2025)
"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.
BEST PHOTO STORY
More Than a Teacher: A Mentor , A Friend , An Inspiration
By Png Yi Qi, Tay Xin Ying, Rachael and Zhang Haoran
Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Yip Seng Yiam Gerald
My Chinese teacher, Madam Chi King Kiok, has devoted over 50 years to education.
She’s now in her 80s. After retiring in 2008, she continued as a flexi-adjunct teacher, finding joy and meaning in guiding the next generation.
With patience and empathy, she formed close bonds with us and became someone we could trust. Embracing the spirit of lifelong learning, she overcame challenges in adapting to new technology, learning from her younger colleagues and students along the way.Her advice to the younger generation is to manage time well, use mobile devices wisely, and always stay in control of emotions. Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire many."
Our School Community: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)
"School is more than just a place of learning — it is where the extended school family grow, support, and inspire one another. Witness shared moments and meaningful collaborations, where everyone plays a part in making a difference.
BEST PHOTO STORY
A Journey of Kindness: K1 Children Touch Hearts in the Neighbourhood
By Mr Prakash Ezekiel
MOE Kindergarten @ Bendemeer Primary School
Our K1 children embarked on a learning journey to appreciate the unsung heroes in our neighbourhood.
From packing care packs to making heartfelt crafts, they personally thanked shopkeepers, construction workers, and MRT staff for their hard work.
Through these simple acts, our young learners discovered empathy and gratitude, interacting with confidence and kindness.
This outreach built awareness, self-confidence, and a deeper sense of community — a reminder that even young hearts can uplift and inspire."
World of Possibilities: Junior Category (25 September 2025)
"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.
BEST PHOTO STORY
Ready to Dream, Ready to Try
By Lionell Ho Yao Zu and Danise Jacob
Woodlands Ring Primary School
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Muhammad Bin Amir Said Alkatiri
School is where we discover endless possibilities. Whether it is leaping for the sky, scoring a basket, kicking a ball, or walking with friends, every moment sparks adventure.
Here, we are encouraged to explore, challenge ourselves, and grow in confidence. School is not just lessons, but where we find talents, push limits, and believe anything is possible. And through it all, we live our motto — We Do Our Best. With effort and courage, the possibilities are endless."
World of Possibilities: Youth Category (25 September 2025)
"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.
BEST PHOTO STORY
Different Pathways, Endless Possibilities
By Ngui Shisi, Joie Nio Yu Tong and Goh Zi Riz Tiffanys
Nanyang Junior College
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Chan Guang Hui
Our school offers many co-curricular activities, from drama to dance, giving students chances to shine. These experiences deliver a newfound and refreshed meaning to school life, as they open doors beyond academics.
Whether on stage or on the sports court, every movement is a brushstroke in each student’s book. It is more than a moment; it is a door to endless possibilities and pathways yet to be discovered."
World of Possibilities: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)
"Discover how school opens up a world of possibilities for both students and staff, whether through innovative learning, new experiences, or opportunities that inspire growth and discovery.
BEST PHOTO STORY
Chasing Curiosity in China
By Ms Chua Zheng Yi Jane
Kheng Cheng School
These photos show how my students stepped out of their classrooms and into a world of wonder.
In Shanghai and Suzhou, every street, museum and garden became a place to learn. From observing koi in a garden pond in Suzhou’s Museum to posing under lanterns in an alley, each snapshot reflects their growth and joy.
Whether laughing at new discoveries or learning to navigate cultural differences, they show how learning comes live in unexpected ways. This was more than a trip; it was a journey of hearts, minds and friendships."
Priceless Moments: Junior Category (25 September 2025)
"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.
BEST PHOTO STORY
Hi! I’m Sheldon!
By Ridwan Bin Razali
Fernvale Primary School
Teacher Facilitator: Ms Siti Erliasari Binte Haroon
I want to share my priceless journey since transferring to Fernvale Primary School. On my first day, I met Calvin, who became my first friend. He’s very kind, and introduced me to classmates who would shape my school experience.
My love for soccer helped me bond with them. I’ll never forget the moment they cheered for me and celebrated with me during our PE lesson. They made me feel truly accepted.
Exploring Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden opened my eyes to new adventures, but my most treasured moment was building a LEGO model of our school stage with my friends. As we clicked the pieces together, I knew I had found my place here."
Priceless Moments: Youth Category (25 September 2025)
"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.
BEST PHOTO STORY
In The Spaces We Shared
By Yee Yi Hui and Edelia Binte Muhamad Nizam
Nanyang Junior College
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Chan Guang Hui
The most priceless moments aren’t always the big events or loud celebrations. It’s the little moments, the quiet laughs and simple joys, that stay with us forever — snapshots of joy, friendship, and togetherness that we hold close.
We chose moments that reflect our journey: the thrill of learning something new together, the burst of colour and collaboration in creating a shared canvas, and the gentle exchange of ideas when guidance becomes inspiration. Each moment reveals the bonds we’ve forged, the creativity we’ve sparked and the memories that bring warmth to our hearts.
These are the moments that unite us."
Priceless Moments: MOE Staff Category (25 September 2025)
"What makes your school experience memorable? What moments make you smile, learn, or grow? See the special moments in school that we cherish.
BEST PHOTO STORY
A Teacher’s Campsite Reflection
By Mr Ng Chin Yong Ivan
South View Primary School
Watching my students at the P5 camp is one of the most rewarding moments of the year. I saw them overcome fears — scaling rock walls, abseiling with trembling hands — and many succeeded. Their faces beamed, flushed with excitement at what they’ve managed to accomplish.
Through team challenges, they learned to communicate, to listen, and to encourage. The raucous cheers, the happy chatter, and the tired groans after a long hot day all reminded me of the bonds they were building.
What touched me most was witnessing the quieter students shine — going further than most, gamely trying new experiences while others hesitated, surprising even their friends.
Camp isn’t just about adventure, it’s about growth. As their teacher, it fills me with pride to see how they’ve grown, not just as students, but as young individuals finding their footing."
What I Go To School For (25 September 2025)
"What makes school so meaningful? Explore these winning video entries by students, teachers, and school staff from the Our Schools, Our Stories Photo & Video Contest 2025. Here, they show us the moments, people, and passions that shape school life.
BEST VIDEO: JUNIOR
The Heartbeat of Our School
By Tai Cen Qian Adelle, Lau Ying Xi and Yeo Ling
Commonwealth Secondary School
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Christopher Sim
HONOURABLE MENTION: JUNIOR
Hey Wait!
By Zoya Gulam Moinuddin Rehman
First Toa Payoh Primary School
Teacher Facilitator: Ms Ho Chi Chia Brenda
Why I Go to School – Magical Moments
By Muhammad Zufayri Bin Mohd Faridon, Chia Yuan Kai Zac and Teow Kai Jie Jay
Pathlight School
Teacher Facilitator: Mr Benedict Song Jin Huey"
The Concert Hall Classroom (26 September 2025)
"A core learning experience in the lower-secondary Music curriculum, the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) curates bespoke live music performances to connect classroom to stage, celebrate local talent, and deepen musical appreciation.
Mention live music performances and it’s understandable that concerts by international acts such as Taylor Swift and Coldplay come to mind. But beyond these large-scale, buzzy events, Singapore has no shortage of homegrown talents and music events in our own professional arts scene.
To spark students’ interest in these local acts, and forge in them a deeper sense of identity, community, and connection with Singapore’s arts and cultural heritage, MOE and the National Arts Council (NAC) initiated the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) experience to bring bespoke live music performances to them. In its inception year in 2024, more than 12,000 students from 48 schools attended such specially curated music performance as part of PABL. This year, the numbers have almost doubled, with over 23,000 students from 85 schools participating in the programme.
“MOE and NAC work closely with local cultural institutions and performing arts groups to put together each PABL programme, which takes place at Singapore’s professional arts venues. We also strive to feature Singaporean artists, arts groups and local works in each programme, including those by Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award recipients, to help students develop an appreciation for them,” elaborates MOE’s Arts Education Branch (AEB). For instance, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra (MFO) engaged 2023 Young Artist Award recipient Julian Wong to specially curate and rearrange Our Singapore Songbook’s programme since last year.
Making meaningful connections between classroom learning and the local professional arts scene
Unity Secondary School is one of the schools which participated in the PABL for the first time this year. Its Secondary 1 students attended Songsmith: Singapore Songs and Songwriting, presented by The Esplanade Co. Ltd. and Inch Chua with Metronome Collective. During the programme, students were invited to create songs with the performers.
“We simply suggested words to the singers on stage, and they turned them into a full song right there and then! I was honestly stunned by their talent. It was so cool how they could come up with melodies and lyrics so quickly. It made the performance feel super interactive and fun, and I’ll definitely remember that moment for a long time,” says Roselin Manoj, a Secondary 1 student from Unity Secondary School.
For Ms Christine Tang, Senior Teacher (Music) at Unity Secondary School, having her students on the PABL programme is a great way to include learning experiences outside the classroom, with live performances in a professional setting. “They are enriching and bring to life students’ music learning, such as the musical elements of texture, dynamics, and more,” she adds."
Four ways to improve our child’s Executive Functioning skills (26 September 2025)
"What are these skills which help with everyday tasks and challenges and how can we cultivate them? Here are some tips from MK@Punggol Cove educator Ms Khoo Lin Xiu.
Let’s learn A B C … E F! That’s EF for Executive Functioning skills. They’re important for getting through the day, even for adults. Here are 4 ways to strengthen EF skills in our preschool kids.
What are Executive Functioning skills?
EF skills include:
• paying attention
• remembering and following rules
• regulating emotions
• taking turns
• self-control
• flexible thinking"
PE teachers turn writers for SG60 e-book (24 October 2025)
"Dive into 60 stories celebrating sporting excellence, inspiring teachers and lifelong lessons in the e-book by MOE’s Physical Education and Sports Teacher Academy.
For People and Country. Majulah!
That’s the tile of an e-book released in September by MOE’s Physical Education and Sports Teacher Academy (Pesta) as Singapore marks 60 years of independence.
Fittingly, the book is made up of 60 stories contributed by 60 teachers from across the PE fraternity.
“They are all unique and inspirational,” says Mr Hanif Abdul Rahman, Principal Master Teacher at Pesta and editor of the book on how he would describe the stories within.
If he had to choose his favourite stories, which would they be?
“If I really have to zoom in on something, it has to be the stories where the authors fondly talk about the influence of their own PE teachers or sports coaches when they were students, or the influence of their colleagues on them when they are now PE teachers.”
Read the e-book here: https://pesta.moe.edu.sg/pesta-sg60-book-for-people-and-country-majulah/"
How this English teacher went from noob to AI champ (3 November 2025)
"Mr Ghazali bin Abdul Wahab was afraid his students would be left behind if he didn’t up his tech game. How did the Lead Teacher at Canberra Secondary School springboard to the front of the class in the latest tools, and how has it changed the way he teaches?
Mr Ghazali bin Abdul Wahab stands before a room of teachers, demonstrating AI tools with emissarial zeal.
The Lead Teacher of English Language and Literature at Canberra Secondary School deploys AI to customise his lessons, mark papers and – most importantly to him – to keep students excited and engaged.
It’s quite a transformation for the educator of over 25 years who, just a few years ago, was struggling with basic digital tools during the shift to online learning.
“Suddenly, we were thrust into online learning,” he recounts of the Covid-19 lockdown period in 2020.
“I watched my colleagues who were tech-savvy adapt quickly while I struggled.”
If AI is as useful and powerful as it sounds, how helpful and relevant will teachers be in time to come? Schoolbag puts this and other tough questions to Mr Ghazali, who takes them on gamely – with no help from his AI friends."
This JC subject opens doors to the world stage (6 November 2025)
"Curious about what students learn in China Studies in English? Two students and an alumnus talk about their love for the subject and how a deeper understanding of China spills over to their appreciation of the Humanities and beyond.
For students at selected junior colleges in Singapore, the subject China Studies in English (CSE) offers a unique gateway to explore one of the world’s most influential countries whilst developing critical thinking skills that extend beyond the classroom.
“The idea of learning about another country appealed to me,” explains JC2 student Acacia Tan Hui Wen from Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), on why she picked CSE as one of her A-Level subjects.
Her initial curiosity has blossomed into deeper contemplation about global issues. She draws “similarities between social issues faced in China and Singapore, but how they’re tackled in different ways”; to support their ageing population, for example, China tends to focus on financial assistance while Singapore emphasises community-building, she says.
“CSE also reminded me of Social Studies in secondary school because both subjects involve critical thinking skills and comparison of different perspectives. It’s interesting to see the parallels between those two subjects.”
Cuts across various disciplines
In general, students of CSE find that the subject offers more than they expected. The curriculum is multi-disciplinary. Students explore a range of issues from economic policies and political stability, to social changes and foreign policy. Students could analyse China’s Belt and Road Initiative from multiple lenses by examining its economic and geopolitical implications.
Nicholas Wan, a JC2 student from Yishun Innova Junior College, is also drawn to how the subject makes connections across the humanities and social sciences. “It has allowed me to explore and get a taste of university subjects that interest me, such as History, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy and Global Affairs,” he explains.
“Given that China wields significant global influence, understanding its political structure, economic development, societal construct and international relations gives me a strategic advantage in comprehending China,” he says. “CSE has allowed me to understand better how China has risen on the global stage, in areas such as climate change. It also helps me connect the dots between China’s growing economic influence and US’ responses, and how these manifest in economic competition.”
What a change in my child! Families share how working closely with teachers made a difference (7 November 2025)
"Children develop best when parents and teachers work together to have consistent strategies at home and in school. As these three families show, better partnerships between home and their children’s special education schools can help them to speak, eat, or simply feel braver in the world.
They gained independence at home and in public
At APSN Katong School, which serves students with mild intellectual disability or ASD with intellectual impairment, 12-year-old twin brothers Sim Kai Hang and Sim Kai Xiang, who have autism, have each found their own path to independence.
For Kai Hang (pictured above), a fear of public toilets restricted his daily activities and routines. Due to this, the family’s activities and routines were also affected. His teacher, Ms Sindhu Bramya D/O Kumar, worked with his mother to uncover the root of the fear, discovering that he disliked the sound of hand dryers. Together, they designed a reward system: each attempt to use a public toilet earned him stars, which could be exchanged for balloons.
This proved to be the right motivator for Kai Hang. Ms Sindhu adapted the reward chart for home use, while also providing visual communication cards.
What began as simple gestures evolved into verbal requests. Kai Hang now confidently asks, “I want to go to the toilet, please.” This breakthrough in communication has transformed not only his independence but also his family’s daily life. With his mother no longer worrying about communication challenges, the family can now venture out to shopping centres and public spaces. They can enjoy activities they previously avoided, creating new opportunities for family bonding through shared experiences and community participation.
Meanwhile, his twin Kai Xiang thrived in movement and hands-on tasks. His teacher, Mr Alex Teo Poh Seng, tapped into his love for cooking to strengthen both motor and cognitive skills.
“When working on counting and motor skills, we use meal preparation activities that he enjoys,” he explains. To ensure consistency at home, Mr Teo recorded short demonstration videos and suggested simple recipes that Ms Lin Chau Yin, the twins’ mother, could try with her sons.
Cooking soon became a family routine. Kai Xiang took pride in measuring ingredients, stirring pots, and proudly presenting their home-cooked meals. Each session boosted his confidence and sparked conversations. “I want to make pancakes! Or fry eggs or noodles,” he often said, eager for the time he could prepare a meal with his mum.
For Ms Lin, these moments were more than practice – they were signs of her son growing in both skill and voice."
Spaces of Support - Mental Wellness (10 November 2025)
"A cute crochet monster in the school field. A colourful mailbox in the canteen. Fun comic strips in classrooms. And even exciting arcade games in designated hangout spaces.
These are just some of the unexpected touchpoints in our schools that cocoon our students and help support their well-being at different levels.
Come along on this interactive journey to discover all of them, as well as the teachers and peer supporters who are helping to uplift everyone’s spirits."
A student-led idea that got Singapore talking at the Istana (13 November 2025)
"An original card game designed by Nan Hua High School students gets generations talking, proving that heritage isn’t just something to preserve, but something to live and share.
By Sabrina Lee
More than 70 Nan Hua High School students introduced “Heritage Hearts”, a deck of conversation cards, to an estimated 30,000 visitors at the Istana Open House – a one-day event celebrating Singapore’s 60th birthday.
The cards were designed by the students to encourage visitors to swop stories of food, family and kampong life. Each card featured illustrations of local food, kampong scenes, or familiar landmarks, paired with questions like “What was your favourite childhood game?” or “What family recipe reminds you of home?”
The idea began with ten Secondary 1 and 3 student leaders who had noticed that many peers felt shy approaching strangers during Values in Action (VIA) activities. “We wanted a simple activity to break the ice,” explained Lorraine Fong, Secondary 3, one of the project leaders.
The students secured seed funding from Young ChangeMakers (YCM), a programme that supports youth in applying grands from the government for passion projects, and the National Heritage Board (NHB).
After submitting their applications online, shortlisted teams pitch their ideas to NHB’s evaluation panel at an “Open Mic” session as part of the grant application process. Nan Hua High School became the youngest team ever shortlisted, and one of the panel members – a representative from the Prime Minister’s Office – was so impressed that he invited the students to showcase their project at the Istana Open House event."
What to consider when advising youths on choosing their university course (17 November 2025)
"A junior college teacher offers ideas that worked for her, with insights gleaned from her conversations with students as an Education and Career Guidance (ECG) coordinator.
By He Jia Wen
Having taught in a junior college (JC) for 16 years and spending half that time as the Education and Career Guidance (ECG) coordinator, I have had countless conversations with graduating students on higher education and career options.
What struck me about such talks were the anxiety and stress that students faced having to make a choice on their next steps. Many of them believed the endpoint of JC is to figure out the one right path for their future, and that the decision they make now will affect them for the rest of their lives.
And often, inspirational maxims fuel the distress. Find your passion. Do what you love, and you do not have a work a single day in your life. But what if the student did not have a singular passion, or their interests did not precisely map to a course or career?
In these cases, how can they decide where to go or what to do? Here are three ideas I find to be helpful for parents and teachers to keep in mind when speaking to young people who are at the higher-ed crossroads:
1. Look in first, then look out
Most students I spoke with try to determine their path by collecting information. They think about their parents’ expectations, talk to their friends, take personality tests, read a flood of information ranging from official websites to informal forums. And the more they analyse, the more they feel paralysed. Psychologist Barry Schwartz called this the paradox of choice – while having some choice is good, having too many options tends to make choosing one more difficult and leads to less satisfaction with the final decision.
In a situation of info-overload, the maxim “know thyself” is useful. Before considering what’s out there, students can start by first “looking in”. A lot happens in the short two years at JC that can shed light on their preferences. What subjects interest them or put them off? Do they do well in large lecture settings or in small groups? Is learning easier when watching videos or discussing ideas? What is it about their CCA that they enjoy? What type of CCA work excites them or drains their energy?
When students embark on a self-searching conversation, I try to serve as a mirror to them. This means reflecting back some observations you made about them – it could be about their strengths, their interests, what they tend to spend time on, what they find meaningful. This helps them see themselves, and what is suitable (or not) for them, more clearly. With this knowledge, they will be able to consider their options with a sharper lens."
Am I prepping my preschooler … or over-prepping? (19 November 2025)
"Wondering if you’re doing just fine or too much when getting your little one ready for Primary 1? Our social media series titled Pace, Not Pressure answers the queries on parents’ minds when easing their child’s transition to primary school.
1. Numeracy
Must my child know addition and multiplication before Primary 1? Do they need to recite numbers at least up to 100?"
A community that enables growth and builds confidence (26 November 2025)
"It takes a village to raise a child. But to raise one who is confident, independent, kind, helpful, and more, you’ll need a whole community of supportive parents, teachers, and school staff, as these North Spring Primary School graduates prove.
Schoolbag checks in with three North Spring Primary School graduates and ask them what they’re looking forward to as they receive their PSLE results, and what are their best memories of primary school.
For Charvi Raghu, becoming a prefect helped her grow exponentially
“I was timid and shy in Primary 1, but I gained a lot of confidence after becoming a prefect in Primary 2. I’ve even had the chance to organise events, such as a mini Purple Parade in school,” says Charvi.
Mr Raghu Ram, Charvi’s father, agrees. “We saw the transformation in Charvi after she took on the responsibility of a prefect.” He remembers distinctly a time when Charvi was in P5, when her teacher told him that she was very helpful to one of her classmates who fell down in school. “I hope that she will continue to be kind and helpful in future.”
“With the support of the teachers, Charvi has really grown in confidence,” says Mdm Aghila Raghu. “She started speaking up and has also learnt to be more responsible. But for Charvi’s mother, the most memorable part of her daughter’s primary school days will be the day they performed on stage together, when she received the long-service award as part of the parent support group.
Charvi says her best memory of primary school is the school camp she attended when she was in Primary 4. “I will always remember how the entire cohort gathered around the campfire and danced and played games,” she says.
As Charvi moves on to the next stage of her education journey, she thinks that her biggest challenge in secondary school will probably be making new friends. “But I think the presentations and public speaking I’ve had to do as a prefect will come in handy.”
Primary 1, here we come! (8 December 2025)
"Schoolbag crashes the K2 Celebrates event at MOE Kindergarten @ First Toa Payoh, where these four K2 children are excited about their school years ahead. Here’s why they and their parents say they’ll be doing just fine at Primary 1.
By Gerbelle Eng
Looking at six-year-old Henry Ling hosting confidently on stage, his proud mother recalls how he was once too shy to come to school.
“He cried for three months,” says Ms Jenniffey Ling. “Now he’s the first to go and make friends!”
She was among the many parents attending year-end festivities in October at MOE Kindergarten @ First Toa Payoh (MK@First Toa Payoh). The event titled K2 Celebrates marks an important milestone for MK’s K2 children, showcasing what they’ve learnt in their two kindy years.
At MK@First Toa Payoh, the celebrations featured multilingual performances on Singapore’s history and culture that commemorate our nation’s 60th year of independence this year.
Children plan the programme, even the dance steps
“We encourage the children to plan and design what they want to do,” shares Ms Nurul’Ain Farhanah Abdul Halim, one of the MK teachers involved with the day’s events. “They recalled what they had learnt about our country and planned the stage performances together – even designing their own dance steps for the songs.”
By taking ownership of their performance, children develop confidence, creativity, and independence, she adds. Quieter children learn to express themselves, collaborate with their peers, and present in front of an audience – these will be important skills they’ll carry into Primary 1."
Does your preschooler really need to write and spell words perfectly to get ready for Primary 1? (8 December 2025)
"Handwriting drills and spelling tests seem like reasonable assignments to set your preschoolers to prepare for Primary 1. But do they do more harm than good? We ask an early childhood expert to break it down.
By Eveline Gan
When Ms Marie Angelie noticed that her student, a little boy fascinated with dinosaurs, had spelled T-rex (short for Tyrannosaurus rex) as “T-rks”, she did not see a spelling mistake. What she saw instead, was a budding writer taking his first brave steps towards mastering language.
Recalling the preschooler’s beaming face after proudly labelling his drawing of the apex predator, Ms Marie, a lead lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), says, “He spelled it as ‘t-rks’ because that was how the word sounded to him. I didn’t correct his spelling immediately but celebrated his effort for labelling his dinosaur drawing.”
Later, she read a story about dinosaurs to the class, and the boy discovered the conventional spelling. “His growth came not from drill and practice, but from genuine interest and a safe space to experiment with spelling and writing,” Ms Marie elaborates.
The myth of writing and spelling perfectly in preschool
A common concern of parents of preschoolers is whether their child’s spelling and penmanship skills are “good enough” for Primary 1. However, Ms Marie stresses that imperfections in writing and spelling are not only normal in young children, but they are also a key part of literacy development.
“One major misconception is that preschool children must master correct spelling and have perfectly neat handwriting that follow the lines printed on worksheets. Many parents equate these with Primary 1 readiness, so this often leads to children copying letters repeatedly, which destroys their love for writing,” Ms Marie explains.
Being overly zealous in correcting mistakes can also backfire, when it demotivates the child or fuels anxiety. “I’ve seen children who freeze every time they attempt writing or spelling words because they are told repeatedly that they are wrong. Over time, they lose their motivation and interest,” she adds.
At a preschool where she previously worked, Ms Marie observed a troubling trend where some children often reported feeling unwell or arrived late on Fridays – the day when spelling tests were held, requested by parents. “The stress they felt over the tests did more harm than good to their learning.”
Been there, scrolled that! This mum battled her teen’s device use and found what really works (19 December 2025)
"When Mrs Drishti Bhatia started getting worried about her daughter’s increasing screen time, she knew that confiscating her phone wasn’t the answer. Here’s how the AI Associate Trainer helped her teen build healthier digital habits while maintaining trust and connection.
By Eveline Gan
It started innocently enough, a simple way to make her 13-year-old daughter’s long commutes to and from school more bearable. Mrs Drishti Bhatia had relented and allowed her daughter Kaavya to listen to YouTube Music and watch pre-downloaded Netflix videos on her mobile phone.
Soon, Mrs Bhatia recalls how her daughter would sometimes continue watching videos even after reaching home, choosing screen time over her outdoor time or homework. “Over time, I became concerned about her screen use,” she says.
As an AI Associate Trainer who teaches AI fundamentals to students, she understands how digital platforms are designed to hook users. That’s why she grew increasingly uneasy. Even so, the tech-savvy mother knew that protecting her daughter wasn’t about banning devices.
“I don’t believe in confiscating her phone,” says Mrs Bhatia, an associate Trainer at AI Learning Lab. “For teenagers, the phone is a very important communication tool with family and friends – especially with all the major changes in Secondary 1. Taking away her device would cut her off from that social support.”
Instead, she found five ways that worked for her family and helped her teen learn to manage her own screen habits.
Tip #1: Set limits, but keep them realistic
To help her teen curb her increasing screen use, Mrs Bhatia took a balanced, collaborative approach. First, she started by setting a daily screen time limit of one and a half hours for her teen – the duration of her commute.
“I explained that I had no problem with her using her phone for entertainment, but to keep it to her travel time. That worked well, and after I noticed she was managing okay, I removed the restrictions,” Mrs Bhatia says.
Screen time limits can be set through parental control features on most mobile devices. These features also typically allow parents to approve additional screen time if say, their child needs extra time for schoolwork."
When you’re in secondary school, it’s very important that you… (19 December 2025)
"We asked three N-level graduates from Yio Chu Kang Secondary School to complete the sentence, and here’s what they said.
“Set your purpose and priorities, focus on what’s important to you, and ignore what other people think.”
Siti Syahana Elysha didn’t get into the secondary school she wanted to go to, but instead of moping, she set her mind on doing better. In Secondary 3, when choosing her subject combination, her friends advised her to drop Nutrition and Food Science because she didn’t do great in the subject. “But I like baking and cooking and decided to persevere. I managed to bump up my grades by a lot and did all my assignments on time,” she says.
This insistence on pursuing what she likes has made Siti a more independent learner and left her with zero regrets. Working towards her goal, she even managed to teach her family how to eat more healthily."
This is what happens when heart work is weaved into everything you learn in school (19 December 2025)
"From building “smart” walking aids for seniors to creating games to ease their younger peers into school, students at Park View Primary School are discovering that true success comes from using their strengths to uplift others.
By Eveline Gan
After countless tweaks and adjustments, Primary 5 student Mikhail Zheng Xi and his teammates finally heard what they had been hoping for. A sharp beep let out by the sensor on their walking stick prototype, about three meters away from a table. Around the classroom, cheers erupted.
For the Park View Primary School (PVPS) students, what began as a semester-long Applied Learning Programme (ALP), “One Love, Many Lives”, had become a lesson in empathy, teamwork and perseverance.
Their initial task, as part of their ALP, was simple: identify a real-world problem and create a tech-based solution. Then, a chat with an elderly cleaner in school had sparked their motivation to develop a solution to make life easier for seniors.
“We found out that some elderly people are visually impaired, and require a walking stick to move around. The uncle we spoke to also said it was sometimes difficult for him to move around, especially when going up the stairs,” Mikhail recalled. “That’s when my group got the idea to build a sensor stick that could help detect and alert the user of obstacles.”
Over several weeks, the students worked tirelessly to refine their Microbit sensor stick for its intended use. When their prototype finally worked, Mikhail said they felt really proud. “It was nice to see someone benefit from what we made. It helped us understand the struggles that elderly people go through.”
Fun everyday activities that can build stronger Maths skills than worksheets (30 December 2025)
"Sitting your child down to do Maths worksheets and recite the times table is one way to teach numeracy, but Ms Samantha See, an early childhood expert from the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, says there are other methods that promote better mastery of Maths concepts.
By Eveline Gan
In the race to give our children a head start in Primary 1 Maths, it is all too tempting to reach for worksheets, make them recite repetitively the multiplication tables, and practise counting way beyond 10. But what if the key to building a solid foundation in numeracy can be found in everyday routines and conversations, in the kitchen and even when doing laundry?
Ms Samantha See Xueyi, a lecturer specialising in early numeracy at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), says overpreparing kids by making them do worksheets and memorise multiplication table is not early numeracy. “What we should be doing is to help them develop a deeper understanding of the concepts and skills in a developmentally appropriate manner,” she clarifies.
What are pre-number concepts
Recognising relationships through matching, sorting, comparing, ordering and patterning, as well as understanding basic shapes and spatial concepts, are known as pre-number concepts. These help children build the foundational logical thinking to support more complex mathematical thinking in Primary school, explains Ms See.
For example, a child learns to match two coloured objects. Then, they use their understanding of matching to pair a numeral card to a corresponding quantity of items when they are developmentally ready.
Subsequently, they will go beyond these pre-number concepts as preschool teachers introduce number relationships, exploring ideas like “more than” or “fewer than”when comparing quantities.
“There is also an important concept – part-whole relationships – which helps children see the relationship between the whole and its parts. For example, understanding that 10 can be represented as eight and two helps prepare children for future addition and subtraction sums,” explains Ms See. “Many people don’t realise that the ability to make 10 very quickly mentally helps later on when they work with bigger numbers.”
Looking back: Past issues of Contact magazine (31 December 2025)
"Looking for insightful stories about teachers and their experiences? While “Contact: The Teachers’ Digest” is no longer being published, you can still explore a rich collection of articles in its archived editions here, which highlight the voices and journeys of educators."
The first day of primary school: What parents hope for most (13 January 2026)
"The first day of Primary One isn’t just about lessons and routines. For many parents, it’s about trust, reassurance, and the small moments that matter.
By Sabrina Lee
The first day of Primary One is a milestone that brings excitement, nerves, and hope for what lies ahead. At Sembawang Primary School, we spoke to three parents about what went through their mind, seeing their children enter a new environment. We also asked a teacher how the school staff help students settle in and reassures parents on the first day.
Mum celebrates small steps to independence
“As Vihaan starts Primary One, my hope is for him to learn to adapt, enjoy learning, and grow in confidence as he finds his way.
Today really brought those hopes to life. I stood next to him during recess as he carefully put his plate away after eating. It was a small thing, but it meant a lot to me. I could see that he was nervous and unsure, so I told him it was okay and gave him a bit of encouragement. Watching him find the courage to do it on his own was both comforting and emotional.
What’s been reassuring, from the school briefings and today’s experience, is seeing the school’s focus on students’ well-being and character, alongside learning. The nurturing environment, clear support, and attention to social and emotional growth give me confidence that Vihaan will be well supported as he settles in, becomes more independent, and finds his footing at this important stage of his life.”
Leading with heart: How three principals shape lives with care and clarity (14 January 2026)
"Good leadership keeps the heart of our schools beating strongly every day. Three principals — Mr Michael de Silva, Mr Kevin Pang and Mdm Goh Meei Yunn — share how they draw the best from various leadership approaches to create sustainable excellence in schools.
Innovation that comes through trust and collaboration
Among educators, it is common lingo to say that teaching and running schools take a lot of hard work AND heart work.
Everything that happens to their students – from grazed knees and friendship hurts, to academic strides, family relationships, and triumphs big and small – are all in a day’s work for principals and their staff. This can also make schools more complex to lead than the average organisation.
In his nearly 40 years of service at the Ministry of Education, Mr Michael de Silva had taken on various leadership positions at HQ and schools, the latest being Principal of Yishun Innova Junior College before his retirement last year.
School principals are appointed through discerning selection and advancement processes, and well-trained and mentored for the task, he says. Added to that is how well the teaching fraternity looks after its own.
“It is simply practical,” he says. “If we want good outcomes for students, the people doing the work – our teachers – need to be supported, respected, and well.”
As care and trust is established, innovation and collaboration come more easily.
“I try to bring out the best in my staff by creating sustainable systems, structures, and a culture that allow them to do their best work.” When forming teams, for example, he creates what he calls “collaborative leadership” where educators support one another’s growth while serving students more effectively."
7 leadership tips from the Principal’s Office: On forging culture (14 January 2026)
"School culture acts like an invisible force that brings teachers and students together, and shapes good values and habits. Schoolbag speaks to Mr Kevin Pang, who takes over as Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) this year, on how he forges a strong culture – starting with how it’s defined.
How does one build a culture where people feel they truly belong? How does one lead culture change without losing trust? How do we turn shared values from wall posters into daily practice? These are enduring questions for both new and seasoned leaders.
Mr Kevin Pang successfully guided Yuhua Secondary School through its post-merger transition towards a renewed culture and identity. He has also led across a wide spectrum of school settings, from junior college, to special needs institution, and now ACS (Independent), a specialised independent school with a long and storied heritage.
He offers strategies to forge a stronger culture that resonates.
1. Define culture as lived experience, not stated aspiration.
“To me, school culture is the daily lived expression of what we believe, value, and practise together,” says Mr Pang. “It is reflected not just in policies but in the ‘soft culture’ of everyday interactions between students, staff and stakeholders — how decisions are made, how we treat one another, and most tellingly, how we respond to difficulties.”
At Yuhua Secondary, the mission “Care, Connect, Contribute” shaped decisions large and small – from looking after every student and staff’s well-being (caring), why Town Halls with students and dialogues sessions with staff mattered (connecting), to making courageous actions to transform school programmes and infrastructure (contributing).
When the culture is strong, he says, “people sense alignment, belonging and meaning — they know why what we do matters and how they can contribute to it”.
Leaders need to translate aspirations and purpose into lived practices. Vision and mission statements must come alive and be lived out as identity.
“Each school should have something proud and distinctive that defines itself,” says Mr Pang. That identity becomes the invisible force that guides behaviour even when no one is watching."
7 leadership tips from the Principals’ Office: On navigating change (14 January 2026)
"With change as a constant, the steady hand of leadership keeps schools running and students learning every day. Schoolbag asks Mdm Goh Meei Yunn, a seasoned principal who takes over the reins of School of the Arts (SOTA) this year, how she steers staff, students and parents through various education phases and tough situations too.
How do we lead when the ground beneath us is shifting? How do we stay true to our values while adapting to new realities? How do we guide our team through change when we’re still grappling with it myself?
These are some questions that leaders grapple with especially in an era where unpredictability is promised and social media is there to amplify every misstep.
Mdm Goh Meei Yunn has navigated schools through different phases of Singapore’s education landscape for the past 25 years.
Before SOTA, she assumed leadership appointments including Principalship at two primary schools and stints at the MOE Schools Division’s former Educational Leadership Development Centre. Mdm Goh, who has a degree in Music, started her career as a teacher in the Music Elective Programme at Dunman High School.
She shares some practical strategies from her experience that’s useful for navigating change in any group or organisation.
1. Work on the personal impact before leading others through change
When dealing with change, Mdm Goh typically doesn’t start with strategy or policy. She starts with herself.
When Singapore’s education system was evolving in the 2000s towards more holistic education and a reduced emphasis on grades, she felt unsettled.
“I grew up in the older system,” she explains. “So as a beginning teacher in the 1980s and 90s, I prided myself on improving on my students’ academic performance every year. But as our education philosophy shifted away from celebrating straight As, I was caught between two worlds.”
Then a young parent of two, it was doubly hard for Mdm Goh to imbibe the shift in approach to teaching and learning – she could understand why parents would continue to prioritise good grades or preferred schools for their children, as that was the benchmark they were brought up on; “I believe all parents of my generation went through that,” she says.
After working on her inner conflicts, she found it easier to lead empathetic conversations with her colleagues and students’ parents facing similar struggles. As a parent herself, she found it easier to connect with other parents, as she was able to articulate their inner parenting insecurities."
7 leadership tips from the Principal’s Office: On people management (14 January 2026)
"Strong leadership can bring out the best in us – what more in schools where our students are being nurtured and cared for every day? Schoolbag speaks to Mr Michael de Silva, a veteran educator who led schools and shaped leaders across nearly four decades. He talks about how to build sustainable teams, navigate complexity, and keep care and performance working hand in hand.
How do I manage a diverse team of colleagues? How can I get consensus rather than compliance? What makes teams and performance sustainable? These are questions even experienced leaders revisit from time to time.
People management is about developing individuals into their best selves at work or in school — something Mr Michael de Silva practised with commitment and distinction across almost four decades as an educator and leader.
Beyond his roles at MOE HQ as a cluster superintendent and head of the Educational Leadership Development Centre, he served as Principal of Innova Junior College from 2013 until its merger with Yishun Junior College. He then helmed the newly formed Yishun Innova Junior College from 2019 until his retirement last year.
“In schools, many of us spend more time with our colleagues than with our own families. Because so much of our lives is lived in the workplace, people management isn’t a separate leadership function — it is the work. As we teach and support students, we also grow as individuals, and we grow the people around us.”
Drawing on decades of leadership while delivering measurable outcomes for students, he offers field-tested practices that strengthen teams in schools and workplaces alike.
1. Care is the work
On balancing leading with care and with efficiency, Mr de Silva makes a simple assertion: the two are not separate. “They are actually the same work,” he says. If we want good outcomes for students, the people doing the work — our teachers — must be supported, respected, and well. This is not a soft idea. It is simply practical.
“Even if someone takes a very instrumental view and sees teachers as a means to an end, the conclusion is the same: if you rely on a tool to get good results, you make sure that tool is in good condition and sharpened. People are obviously not tools, but the principle still applies.” When teachers feel valued and supported, they do better work. Care is not a distraction from performance; it is what makes performance sustainable.
Leading with heart begins with acknowledging what is already felt. At the start of a new term, he might tell his staff that he, too, wished the holidays were longer — “you know what’s in their hearts, because that’s in your heart too,” he explains. Such small acts of honesty build connection, trust, and emotional safety.
Care does not mean lowering expectations. “In practice, I try to understand the real pressures teachers face and give support or clarity where needed, while still holding clear expectations and timelines.”
Pro-tech-ting kids in the age of AI (16 January 2026)
"Artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm, and parents must start thinking about what it means to raise children in an era of humanlike chatbots and capable image generators. A parent working in tech shares her take on this.
By Rafidah A Razak
AI. LLMs. These acronyms are so commonplace one would have to be living under a rock to not know what they stand for: artificial intelligence and Large Language Models. They are also touted to be technologies we need to learn and use to thrive in future. So, it would make sense for parents to expose their kids to these tech tools as soon as possible, right?
Ms T, who prefers to stay anonymous, begs to differ. The mum of two boys aged five and seven wants to teach them the art of slow living – a mindset that focuses on doing things mindfully and with intention. And it includes life without AI and generative AI (GenAI) in their early years.
As an AI consultant and UX (user experience) designer, Ms T’s day-to-day job is to recognise and keep up with worldwide technological developments, such as how China’s Cyberspace Administration has recently released regulations around the use of AI. These directives are intended to protect their children and elderly as the government has recognised how quickly human-like AI technologies are being integrated into society.
“AI and technology are going to be everywhere around them as they grow up. Learning how to use AI is so easy, because the outputs are just there for them to consume,” she says. The hard part, she reckons, will be teaching children how to be more human. How to think critically, be creative and authentic, and understand the invisible processes that underlie the fast outputs that we have come to expect from technology."
Seven Young Educators Receive National Award for Dedication in Nurturing Students (9 July 2025)
"In recognition of their unwavering dedication and impact in nurturing their students, seven teachers received the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA) from Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Teachers' Investiture Ceremony held on Wednesday, 9 July 2025."
Racial Harmony Day 2025: Our People, Our Tapestry (18 July 2025)
"Racial Harmony Day (RHD), which falls on 21 July, is commemorated annually by schools to enable students to gain a deeper appreciation of racial harmony and social cohesion. The theme 'Our People, Our Tapestry' reflects how Singapore's diverse cultures interweave to form our unique social fabric, through mutual understanding and respect of our ethnic and religious communities."
Annual Chinese Text Recital Competition Draws Record 2,500 Students (26 July 2025)
"A record number of 2,525 students from 272 primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute submitted more than 1,400 video entries for the 8th National Text Recital Competition. 107 students emerged winners and were recognised for their vocal articulation, fluency and stage presence at the award ceremony today. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a speech and presented awards to the winners."
196 Students Awarded Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) (29 July 2025)
"196 students received the Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS) at the 2025 SgIS Award Ceremony. Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, gave out the scholarships at the ceremony."
School Terms and Holidays for 2026 (30 July 2025)
"The school year for 2026 for all MOE primary schools (including MOE Kindergartens) and secondary schools will start on Friday, 2 January 2026 and end on Friday, 20 November 2026."
Opening Address by Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the MOE Scholarship Ceremony (1 August 2025)
"SMS David Neo
Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of the Public Service Commission
Colleagues, Friends
Scholarship and Award Recipients and family members
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good afternoon. Let me begin today's event by congratulating all our scholarship and award recipients and your invited guests.
This is the first MOE Scholarship Ceremony where we bring together recipients of the MOE Teaching Scholarships, the MOE Teaching Award and the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (or START) Scholarships and Awards."
167 Individuals Awarded Teaching Scholarships and Grants at MOE Scholarship Ceremony (1 August 2025)
"167 individuals received scholarships and grants from Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee at the Ministry of Education (MOE) Scholarship Ceremony held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre today. For the first time, the Scholarship ceremony brought together recipients of the MOE Teaching Scholarships, MOE Teaching Award, and the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (START) Awards."
Students Showcase Vocal and Composition Skills at Annual Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition (2 August 2025)
"42 students were recognised for their vocal and composition skills at this year's "Xin Kong Xia" 《新空下》Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition Grand Finals. A record number of close to 100 students from 23 schools participated in the Singing (Group) Category, which continues to garner interests from inter-school team participation, with the team from Nan Hua High School and Tanjong Katong Girls' School emerging as finalists to compete for the top three prizes at the grand finals. Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Ms Jasmin Lau, graced the event and delivered an opening speech."
Students Showcase Creativity and Vocal Skills in Inaugural Malay Choral Recitation Competition (11 August 2025)
"More than 190 primary and secondary students advanced to the finals of Katapella 2025, Singapore's first national-level Malay choral recitation competition, where students showcased their linguistic talents and creative expressions in the Malay language."
More Than 180 Students Showcase Public Speaking and Critical Thinking Skills at Inaugural National Debate Competition (16 August 2025)
"185 students from 28 secondary schools and pre-university institutions participated in the inaugural National Schools Chinese Debate Competition, and 24 finalists were recognised at the awards ceremony held today. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a pre-recorded speech at the event."
Preschool Teachers Recognised for Nurturing Love for Chinese Language Through Storytelling (16 August 2025)
"28 preschool teachers emerged winners at this year's Storytelling Aids Competition for Preschool Chinese Language Teachers (2025年学前华文教师故事教具制作比赛). With over 270 entries, this year's competition saw one of the highest participations in the past three years. The annual competition aims to inspire preschool Chinese Language teachers to engage children and nurture their interest in learning Chinese Language through creative storytelling."
Opera Estate Primary School and Yusof Ishak Secondary School Emerge as Champions of Katapella 2025 (22 August 2025)
"Opera Estate Primary School and Yusof Ishak Secondary School have emerged as the champions of Katapella 2025, Singapore's first national-level Malay choral recitation competition, in the primary school and secondary school categories respectively. Each winning team received a trophy and book vouchers worth $3,200."
Inaugural National Chinese Reading Competition Draws Over 2,500 Student Participants (23 August 2025)
"A total of 2,541 students from 239 primary and secondary schools participated in the inaugural National Chinese Reading Competition. Among them, 135 students across the primary and secondary school categories advanced to the competition finals today. Guest-of-Honour Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), delivered a speech and presented awards to 50 student winners at the award ceremony."
Relocation of Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre to 1 Victoria Lane from January 2027 (23 August 2025)
"New Campus Will Provide UPTLC with Larger Learning Spaces and Upgraded Facilities to Support Teaching and Learning
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will be relocating the Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre (UPTLC), currently located at 2 Beatty Road, to the former Stamford Primary School Site at 1 Victoria Lane with effect from January 2027, following the expiry of its tenancy at 2 Beatty Road in December 2026."
195 Students Recognised for Diverse Achievements at Annual Special Awards Ceremony (26 August 2025)
"This year, 206 Special Awards were given out to 195 students from 91 educational institutions to recognise their diverse achievements in both academic and non-academic domains. Minister for Education Mr Desmond Lee presented the awards at the Special Awards Presentation Ceremony on 26 August 2025 at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre."
Singapore Students Win 18 Gold Medals, 17 Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals and 1 Team Championship in this Year's International Olympiads and International Young Physicists' Tournament (27 August 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) congratulates all students for their outstanding performance in the International Olympiads for Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, Nuclear Science, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Informatics, and the International Young Physicists' Tournament, which were held overseas from June to August 2025. Outside of the competitions, our students gained valuable experience through interactions with like-minded peers from all around the world."
Four Teachers Recognised at Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' Award Ceremony 2025 (30 August 2025)
"Four teachers received the Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' (MITT) Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions in the teaching and learning of the Tamil Language. In addition to the MITT Award, one teacher was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award while another received the Best National Institute of Education (NIE) Tamil Trainee Teacher Award."
Eight Teachers Receive Top Honours for Dedication and Excellence in Education (4 September 2025)
"Eight outstanding educators received this year's President's Award for Teachers from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the annual Teachers' Day Reception on 4 September 2025."
Addendum to the President's Address (17 September 2025)
"MR DESMOND LEE
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
The Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to enhance our education system so that Singaporeans can flourish at every stage of their lives and reach their fullest potential, regardless of starting point. We will equip and empower Singaporeans to learn for life and thrive in an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-transformed future."
Close to 10,000 Student Athletes Recognised for Sporting Achievements at Colours Award 2025 (26 September 2025)
"This year, a total of 9,963 student athletes received recognition for their sporting achievements and display of good sporting character through the Singapore Schools Sports Council (SSSC) Colours Award. The Award is presented to students from secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute."
Singapore Teachers Embrace Digital Technologies and Benefit from Strong Professional Development: OECD TALIS 2024 Study (7 October 2025)
"Based on the findings of the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024, Singapore teachers have been quick to adopt digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to teach their students more effectively. They have benefited from strong pre-service teacher preparation and continual professional development throughout their careers. Our teachers also felt valued by society, and view teaching as an attractive first-choice career option."
41 Schools to Welcome New Principals in 2026 (8 October 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will appoint 41 Principals at the annual Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals on 30 December 2025. Of these, 25 are newly appointed Principals."
MOE Financial Assistance Schemes to Benefit an Additional 31,000 Students (16 October 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) will revise the income eligibility criteria and raise the quanta of several of its financial assistance schemes for Singaporean students in schools and Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs).
These enhancements can benefit 31,000 more students from lower- and middle-income households, by helping them cope with education-related costs and access school and post-secondary programmes. This brings the total number of students who would benefit from MOE's financial assistance schemes annually to about 133,000."
Open for Nominations: President's Award for Teachers and Outstanding Youth in Education Award (21 October 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) invites members of the public to nominate educators who have made outstanding contributions in moulding the future of our nation. Nominations for the national awards below are now open.
President's Award for Teachers 2026
The President's Award for Teachers (PAT) recognises experienced educators who are role models for the teaching profession. These educators adopt innovative approaches in their lessons, are lifelong learners and are mentors to their peers. They embody deep passion for teaching, and inspire their students and peers through their words and deeds.
The award is open to teachers from primary schools, secondary schools, Junior Colleges (JC) / Millennia Institute (MI), as well as educators from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC). Since 1998, PAT has recognised over 140 educators for their teaching excellence, dedication and hard work."
Close to 400 Students Explore Singapore's Multicultural Heritage Through 8th Cultural Heritage Walk 2025年 "走出校园，走进文化" (25 October 2025)
"398 students from 16 secondary schools embarked on an immersive journey through Singapore's historic Bukit Pasoh and Chinatown districts on 25 October 2025, as part of the annual Cultural Heritage Walk. Students explored culturally significant landmarks such as the Kong Chow Wui Koon, Masjid Jamae, and Sri Mariamman Temple, as well as two newly-added sites, the Chinatown Heritage Centre and Harmony in Diversity Gallery."
Three Teachers Lauded for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning of Malay Language (1 November 2025)
"Three Malay Language teachers were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the teaching and learning of the Malay Language at this year's Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award Ceremony on Saturday, 1 November 2025. Guest-of-Honour Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development, presented the awards to the recipients."
Singapore Student Athletes Gear Up for ASEAN Schools Games 2025 in Brunei Darussalam (14 November 2025)
"This year, 130 student-athletes from 39 schools will be representing Singapore at the 14th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) in Brunei Darussalam from 20 to 29 November. The Singapore School Sports Team (SSST) contingent will compete in seven sports, namely Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Netball, Sepaktakraw, Swimming and Wushu."
Release of 2025 PSLE Results and Secondary 1 Posting Exercise (18 November 2025)
"The Results of the 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Will Be Released on 25 November 2025 at 11.00am. Arrangements Have Been Made for School Candidates to Receive Their Results from Their Respective Primary Schools."
Release of 2025 PSLE Results (25 November 2025)
"Students who sat for the 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) received their results today. Arrangements were made for students to receive their results in their respective primary schools.
Performance of 2025 Primary 6 Cohort
Eligibility for Secondary School
A total of 37,926 Primary 6 students sat for the PSLE this year, of which 98.5% are assessed suitable for secondary school."
Closing of the 14th Asean Schools Games: Singapore Student-Athletes Showcased Grit and Sportsmanship (29 November 2025)
"At the 14th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) in Brunei Darussalam, the Singapore Schools Sports Team (SSST) contingent showcased resilience, tenacity and sportsmanship, and bagged a total of 33 medals comprising 8 Golds, 13 Silvers, and 12 Bronzes across Athletics, Netball, Swimming, and Wushu."
MOE to Introduce Enhanced Measures to Promote Healthier Screen Use in Students (30 November 2025)
"As part of Grow Well SG launched in January 2025, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will introduce enhanced measures in secondary schools to help students cultivate healthier screen use habits and better support student well-being in the digital age.
Tightened Guidelines for Use of Smartphones/smartwatches in Secondary Schools
Screen use among students has been shown to displace important activities such as sleep, physical activity and social interactions with friends and family, and is linked to poorer holistic well-being. Earlier this year, MOE had provided guidelines on managing students' use of smartphones and smartwatches in primary and secondary schools, with school rules tailored according to school profile, context and curriculum needs.
Under current guidelines, secondary school students should not use smartphones/smartwatches during lesson time. As part of the enhanced measures starting from January 2026, these guidelines will be broadened to include non-lesson time. This means that the use of smartphones/smartwatches will not be allowed during school hours, including recess, co-curricular activities, supplementary/enrichment/remedial lessons, etc. The students' devices will be kept in designated storage areas (e.g. lockers) or school bags during school hours. Where necessary, schools may allow students to use smartphones by exception."
Release of 2025 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(A)- & N(T)-Level Examination Results on 18 December 2025 (11 December 2025)
"The results of the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal (Academic)-[N(A)] and Normal (Technical)-[N(T)] Level Examinations will be released on 18 December 2025, 2pm."
2025 Secondary 1 Posting Results (12 December 2025)
"The Secondary 1 (S1) Posting results will be released on 19 December 2025, at 9am."
Release of 2025 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(A)- & N(T)-Level Examination Results (30 December 2025)
"Candidates who sat for the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) Normal (Academic) [N(A)] and Normal (Technical) [N(T)] Level examinations received their results today.
8,987 candidates from the Secondary 4 N(A) course and 4,479 candidates from the Secondary 4 N(T) course sat for the examinations. 8,934 (or 99.4%) candidates from the N(A) course have achieved Grade 5 or better in at least one N(A) subject, while 4,375 (or 97.7%) candidates from the N(T) course have achieved Grade D or better in at least one N(T) subject.
This year, 56.3% of the school candidates from the N(A) course sat for subjects in the GCE Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examinations. Schools will take their combined GCE N(A)-Level and school-based GCE O-Level preliminary examination results into consideration when determining their eligibility for progression to Secondary 5 N(A) or post-secondary pathways."
Supporting Teachers' Well-Being and Recalibrating Their Work (5 January 2026)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) values our teachers and the unique nature of their work in stewarding young lives. We recognise the demands placed on our teachers and are taking a multi-pronged approach to strengthen the profession, support their well-being and manage their workload. This includes recalibrating what teachers do and rethinking how teachers work."
Release of 2025 Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level Examination Results and 2026 Joint Admissions Exercise (7 January 2026)
"The results of the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination will be released on 14 January 2026, 2.00pm."
Release of 2025 Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level Examination Results (14 January 2026)
"Candidates who sat for the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) Examination collected their results from their secondary schools today.
A total of 22,468 candidates sat for the 2025 GCE O-Level Examination. 22,430 (99.8%) of these candidates have achieved Grade C6 or better in at least one O-Level subject2. 21,740 (96.8%) and 19,522 (86.9%) of the candidates have achieved Grade C6 or better in at least 3 or more, and 5 or more O-Level subjects respectively. This is comparable to the performance of candidates for the GCE O-Level Examination in previous years."
Catholic Junior College to Be Relocated to Punggol Under Junior College Rejuvenation Programme (16 January 2026)
"Catholic Junior College (CJC) will be relocating to a new campus near Punggol Digital District. CJC's move, which is part of Phase 2 of the Junior College (JC) Rejuvenation Programme, will facilitate collaborative and interactive learning to support future educational needs and allow for greater synergies with neighbouring institutions."
Learning Chinese has become too difficult for kids today, and that’s not okay (24 October 2025)
"Recently, while revising for her end-of-year exams, my 15-year-old daughter came to me with a list of Chinese words, asking me to test her on them.
It had been a while since she'd asked for help. Ever since starting secondary school, she has mostly managed her studies on her own. But when she handed me the list, I wasn't surprised by the request. Rather, I was caught off-guard by what was on it.
Now, I consider myself fairly proficient in my mother tongue. Not only did I grow up in a Chinese-speaking family, I consistently scored As in Chinese throughout my schooling years.
The list of words my daughter handed me was meant for her Secondary 3 cohort (she's in the International Baccalaureate programme, but the Chinese textbook they use is the same as the O-Level track). But I found myself unable to read a number of them, let alone understand them.
Even my husband, who had studied Higher Mother Tongue (HMT) back in school, found some of the words unfamiliar and difficult."
Voices: Young adults are job-hopping faster than ever. Here's why mentorship could change that (25 October 2025)
"For many pop culture fans of my generation, what comes to mind when we think of "mentorship" is Mr Miyagi – the seemingly stern and aloof, but caring and compassionate sensei, played by Pat Morita in the 1984 film The Karate Kid.
I always loved that his mode of instruction for 17-year-old Daniel was not through hyped-up, motivational speeches but through the calm, mundane, endless repetition of "wax on, wax off". What seems like a tedious chore of waxing a car becomes muscle memory, and later, mastery.
More than four decades on, the original film stands as a reminder of a somewhat unpopular lesson in an increasingly fast-paced world: True growth can't be fast-tracked. It can be earned only through multiple cycles of effort, correction and patience.
When I started out in my career 20 years ago, I had the privilege of having a boss who was generous with her time and patient instruction.
She took me to client meetings, where I saw firsthand the challenges of managing conflicting expectations and difficult conversations. Eventually, she trusted me to lead pitches independently, coaching me silently from the sidelines and giving pointers behind the scenes.
Much of what I learnt under her tutelage I adopted when I started my own agency years later, and for those lessons, I am forever grateful."
Former preschool cook molested toddlers regularly during naptime; prosecution seeks 10 years' jail (27 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: In what the prosecution described as one of the most horrendous acts of sexual abuse in a preschool, a cook molested toddlers regularly during naptime while other teachers were present.
Teo Guan Huat, a 61-year-old Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident, pleaded guilty on Monday (Oct 27) to three counts of molestation of minors. Another five charges will be considered in sentencing.
The name of the preschool cannot be published due to a gag order protecting the identities of the victims, who were between one and two years old at the time of the offences, which took place over seven months in 2023.
The court heard that Teo worked for the school for about a year before he resigned in late 2023 after being discovered."
Commentary: Conversations on kids’ screen time focus too much on quantity (27 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: More than half of children aged two to six are exceeding recommended daily screen time limits, according to a recent survey by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).
For many parents, this finding strikes uncomfortably close to home and heightens anxieties about the excessive dependence young people have on their devices.
But while it is easy to wag a finger at parents, the truth is more complicated. For many, devices are not simply a “lazy option” but a necessity – a way to keep children occupied when adults are juggling long hours, household demands and the rising pressures of modern life.
Parents of older children also find it a struggle to manage screen time when their kids need to access apps and devices for schoolwork, blurring the line between leisure and educational use. Such situations make imposing strict guidelines and “policing” device use a fraught exercise."
Social workers say Megan Khung review panel set record straight, call for greater support instead of more procedures (27 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Following Megan Khung’s fatal abuse case, professionals in the social work sector welcomed the review panel’s recommendations but stressed that the sector still needs more support.
With more agencies who were involved in the case acknowledging their part in the lapses that occurred, those who spoke to CNA said they felt relieved that the full facts were released, and also made several suggestions that could prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Megan died in February 2020. She was abused for months by her mother Foo Li Ping and the woman's then-boyfriend Brian Wong, before the latter inflicted a fatal punch on the girl.
In April, Foo was sentenced to 19 years' jail for abusing her daughter and helping to burn her corpse. Wong was jailed for 30 years and given 17 strokes of the cane for his role in Megan’s death, along with other drug crimes.
Social work professionals told CNA they felt “a sense of relief” after the report’s release on Oct 23 that the inadequate response to Megan’s case was no longer attributed solely to community agencies, and that there was more “accountability” across the board."
Social workers say Megan Khung review panel set record straight, call for greater support instead of more procedures (27 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A new hotel will open on the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Kent Ridge campus in the first half of 2026.
The Ridge, which has 185 rooms, is a “campus hotel” designed for students, visiting academics and professionals, its website said.
The hotel, which is not open to the public or tourists, will be located along Computing Drive, which is near NUS’ School of Computing and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences."
Commentary: Young workers aren’t chasing flexible work anymore – they want job security (28 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: For years, conversations about youth employment in Singapore have circled around the same buzzwords: flexible work, career advancement and work-life balance. These ideas appear in corporate brochures, HR seminars and even government dialogues.
But the reality is more layered. Young workers value flexibility and progression, but they prize financial security and job stability above all. And this is where employers often get them wrong.
A new study by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), involving more than 1,000 youths and 250 employers, found that across life stages, youths consistently rank financial gain and job stability higher than flexible work or career advancement. Rather than flexibility, they are a generation seeking stability in uncertain times."
Commentary: Megan Khung's story must end in enduring change of the child protection system (29 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The fatal abuse of four-year-old Megan Khung exposes a painful truth about how we can fail the most vulnerable among us.
Too often, protection becomes procedural. We risk reducing children’s lives to fragments of case notes and forms, escalated somewhere but going nowhere.
Megan died in February 2020 after months of beatings, starvation and acts of emotional abuse by her mother and the woman’s then boyfriend. Her ordeal was all the more tragic, for how she fell through the cracks and the multiple lapses by agencies which were laid out in an independent review panel’s report on Thursday (Oct 23)."
Preschool in molest case fined; three of its employees barred from working in sector: ECDA (29 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The preschool that employed a man who went on to molest three toddlers on its premises was fined S$26,200 (US$20,230) by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
The fine was meted out in May 2024 after ECDA's investigations uncovered multiple breaches of the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Act and Regulations at the preschool that had compromised the safety of the children in its care, an agency spokesperson said on Wednesday (Oct 29) in response to queries from CNA.
ECDA had been informed of one of the man's offences against one of the children by the preschool on Dec 5, 2023, and later learned from the police and the preschool of further offences he committed against the two other children.
The agency later commenced investigations into the safety procedures and child-safe policies at the preschool and completed these in February 2024.
In addition to the fine, new enrolments were also restricted at the preschool, and its licence tenure was shortened from 36 months to six months, the spokesperson said."
Educators question why preschool cook who molested toddlers had so much contact with children (30 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former preschool cook who molested three toddlers should never have been assigned childcare duties in the first place, early childhood educators said, raising concerns about staffing practices across the preschool sector.
Teo Guan Huat, 61, pleaded guilty on Monday (Oct 27) to three counts of molesting girls aged two or younger. Between May and November 2023, he molested the victims two to three times a week during naptime, under the guise of patting them to sleep.
His regular duties went beyond typical kitchen responsibilities. Teo escorted children to another teacher for showers, laid out mattresses at naptime, and helped put children to sleep – tasks that educators said should have raised immediate concerns.
A former preschool principal who gave her name as Ms Lin, 37, said she was “really disgusted” to learn of this case.
“Cooks and cleaners do not have ‘children’ cast in their JD (job description) at all,” she said, adding that it is a “red flag” for the cook to be helping with toilet and naptime duties in the first place."
Former St Joseph's Institution facilities manager who received at least S$67,000 in bribes jailed (30 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: An ex-facilities manager at St Joseph's Institution (SJI) was jailed for 15 months and four weeks' on Thursday (Oct 30) for receiving bribes of at least S$67,000 (US$51,600) from vendors contracted to carry out projects at the school.
For more than four years, Ng Cher Him, 58, would ask vendors to mark up their quotation submitted to SJI, with the markup to be paid to him as gratification.
He pleaded guilty to four charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with another five charges of a similar nature taken into consideration for sentencing. Apart from the jail term, Ng was ordered to pay a penalty of S$7,500. If he cannot pay the penalty, he will have to serve four additional weeks in jail."
49 more preschools to offer lower fee caps starting Jan 1, 2026 (31 October 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A total of 49 preschools will be added to a scheme offering lower fees from next year, taking the total number of centres under the scheme to 380, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) announced on Friday (Oct 31).
These centres have been appointed under the new five-year term of the Partner Operator Scheme, which will start on Jan 1, 2026 and end on Dec 31, 2030. The current term ends in December.
The scheme supports appointed centres to “improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of childcare and infant care services” for Singaporean families, ECDA said."
In a cashless society, parents must do more to help kids understand money's value (1 November 2025)
"When I was a child, I often saw my mum at the dining table with a stack of bills, carefully working out our household's monthly budget.
Most of her shopping for clothes or bags took place during the Great Singapore Sale, and I never once saw her opening her wallet for branded goods.
Whenever she handed over the cash for my tuition teacher’s fees, she would sigh and say that it meant no taxi rides for the rest of the month.
Watching her, I developed the habit of conscious and deliberate spending, which later shaped me into a financially literate adult."
Her first day as an autism coach was tough but she stayed on for 11 years: 'This is where I want to be' (3 November 2025)
"On her first day at work at St. Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC), a client unintentionally hit Chloe Phua. Within the first month, the senior coach had some bruises and bumps from working with her clients.
Most would have quit at these early challenges but not her.
Over her 11 years at SAAC's Day Activity Centre, the 37-year-old has occasionally been slapped, hit, and even bitten, but Phua continues to serve her clients, mostly adults with moderate to severe autism, with love and dedication.
“Serving people is what I like to do and look forward to doing each day,” she said."
Son obtains personal protection order against father who was violent to him over his 'living habits' (3 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Increasingly frustrated and irritated with his son's living habits, a man resorted to physical violence by slapping his son, pulling his hair, pouring water on him and shooting him in the face with a rubber band.
The son, who is above the age of 18 and two years away from graduating, applied for a personal protection order (PPO) against his father and was granted one by the family court.
In a judgment made available on Saturday (Nov 1), District Judge Soh Kian Peng found it necessary to order a PPO for the son's personal safety or protection."
The last days of Megan Khung (4 November 2025)
"Megan Khung was four when she died from abuse. The perpetrators? Her mother Foo Liping and her boyfriend, Wong Shi Xiang. They later burnt her corpse to avoid detection.
At that point, more than 300 days had passed from the time her bruises were first spotted by her preschool teacher.
A review panel was convened in April 2025 to look into how the various agencies in Singapore acted in Megan’s case. Its findings shed light on the lapses and shortcomings of these agencies that played a part in the tragedy.
Our timeline looks at the moments when one or more agencies could have done more to intervene."
MOE takes holistic approach to teacher well-being; total work hours stable over the years: Desmond Lee (4 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) takes a holistic approach to monitoring teachers’ well-being rather than tracking singular metrics such as work hours, said Education Minister Desmond Lee in parliament on Tuesday (Nov 4).
Speaking in response to parliamentary questions about the results of an OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey, he said MOE tracks indicators including job satisfaction, retention rates and stress levels.
The ministry also engages with MOE teachers’ unions to “get feedback and suggestions”, he added."
Government apologised to social service agencies for perceived 'finger-pointing' in initial statement on Megan Khung case (5 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The government has apologised to Beyond Social Services and other agencies for the misunderstanding over "finger-pointing" when the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) made its initial statement on Megan Khung's case in April, Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee said on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Mr Lee, who is also Education Minister, said this in parliament while responding to questions on the fatal child abuse case.
Four-year-old Megan died in 2020 after being abused by her mother and her mother's boyfriend for several months. The couple was sentenced in April.
In April, MSF said that social service agency Beyond Social Services, which operated the preschool where Megan was enrolled, did not fully describe the severity of her injuries in its report to the Early Childhood Development Agency. MSF said this resulted in "inadequate interventions".
A subsequent report by a review panel, published in October, found lapses by multiple stakeholders, including MSF's Child Protective Service and the police, as well as social workers."
Megan Khung fatal abuse case: MSF to set up social services coordination centre, strengthen oversight (5 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will establish a social services coordination centre, as well as improve protocols and coordination with the police for missing children following a review of the Megan Khung fatal abuse case.
Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee also pledged in parliament on Tuesday (Oct 5) to improve the “frontline capability” of child protection and strengthen systems and oversight over the sector.
The death of the four-year-old in February 2020 after suffering months of abuse had earlier led to a review panel that found multiple lapses and shortcomings in the agencies involved in her case.
Mr Lee, who is also the Education Minister, said: “There were opportunities to pick up on the abuse, which might have prevented Megan’s death. Our responses clearly fell short.”
Police officers in Megan Khung case were 'under pressure', leading to 'serious breach': Goh Pei Ming (5 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The lapse in the police's handling of four-year-old Megan Khung’s fatal abuse case occurred as a result of two officers being "under pressure" and not following "established operating procedure", said Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Speaking in parliament, Mr Goh said this "serious breach" resulted in a "tragic outcome".
"Our frontline police officers bear a heavy responsibility to protect ... lives. They take this responsibility seriously, and perform their duties with commitment and professionalism," he added.
"The demands on our police officers continue to increase. They often have to make difficult judgment calls every day in the course of their duties. When under pressure, mistakes can happen."
The police will learn from this, and reinforce procedures as well as training for their officers, added Mr Goh."
Commentary: Singlish is so much more than ‘broken English’ (6 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: My primary school teacher once scolded me for using “broken English” and ending a sentence with “lah”. That same afternoon, I watched my sister order chicken rice at the hawker centre in a mix of Mandarin, Teochew and English: “Uncle, wo yao kueh png, no bone. Dowan chilli.”
Nobody batted an eyelid. It was just how we spoke. That contrast between what’s acceptable in class and what’s normal everywhere else has puzzled me ever since. Why was the way we spoke treated as a flaw?
Singapore’s bilingual education policy is often told as a success story. Since the 1960s, English has been promoted as the language of economic progress, and Mother Tongue languages for cultural grounding. In 2020, 74.3 per cent of literate residents surveyed in the population census were at least bilingual, up from 70.5 per cent a decade prior.
But we don’t compartmentalise English or our mother tongue in our daily lives. We live in the spaces between and beyond them."
NUS student fined for putting green beans into car tyre valves to deflate them (6 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A National University of Singapore (NUS) student inserted green beans into the tyre valves of seven cars to deflate them, as he wanted to make ownership of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) unattractive.
Benjamin Chia Yit Loong, a 24-year-old Singaporean, was fined S$3,000 (US$2,300) by a court on Thursday (Nov 6) for one count of mischief.
The court heard that Chia was interested in climate change and environmental issues, and wished to make SUV ownership unattractive.
He decided to deflate the tyres of cars parked near his house, and to leave on the cars flyers about the environmental damage caused by SUVs."
SG Culture Pass credits can be used to buy SingLit books from March 2026 (7 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singaporeans will be able to use their SG Culture Pass credits to purchase Singapore literature (SingLit) books at particpating bookstores from Mar 1, 2026, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on Friday (Nov 7).
Such credits can already be used on over 600 arts and heritage programmes, with local literary works and films to be progressively introduced into the scheme.
This will give Singaporeans more ways to explore new experiences, while supporting local practitioners in the arts and heritage sector, MCCY said."
How her Singapore education inspires this Palestinian's mission to create jobs amid conflict (7 November 2025)
"RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: When Palestinian Sireen Sabi had the chance to further her studies in Singapore, she encountered “a new perspective and a new way of thinking" about how to build her homeland.
Speaking to CNA from Ramallah in the Palestinian Territories, the 36-year-old said that her stint at Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Master’s programme in International Political Economy in 2017 and 2018 showed her the importance of planning, and how “you can actually create jobs while you don't have any (natural) resources”.
She joined the programme after meeting Singapore’s non-resident representative to the Palestinian Territories, Hawazi Daipi, in 2017. He introduced her to scholarships available in Singapore, and she applied for one at NTU – and was accepted."
AI is not wiping out all entry-level jobs, but it's changing the game and fresh jobseekers need to level up (7 November 2025)
"When her six-month internship in public relations abruptly ended at the halfway mark, communications graduate K Sudhiksha, 23, wasn't entirely surprised.
Officially, she was told it was due to a company restructuring, but she suspected that it had something to do with how her job could be done by artificial intelligence (AI).
"I was spending most of my time running prompts on ChatGPT," she told CNA TODAY, referring to the popular AI chatbot.
"We were all encouraged to do it. I could do my tasks faster, but it also made me feel creatively stunted."
Singapore launches first anti-scam roadshow to raise public awareness (8 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The first national anti-scam roadshow was launched on Saturday (Nov 8), bringing together various government agencies and community partners to raise public awareness of scams.
It aims to encourage the public to be vigilant against scams, by verifying suspicious phone calls or messages, and to inform the authorities as well as people around them when they spot a scam, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) jointly said on Saturday.
Members of the public can visit the inaugural National Anti-Scam Roadshow, which runs from Saturday to Sunday between 10am and 8pm, at the HDB Hub Atrium in Toa Payoh."
My kids are obsessed with '6-7'. Should I be worried about internet brain rot? (8 November 2025)
"If the mere mention of the two seemingly innocuous numbers, "6-7", causes involuntary eye-twitching, bubbles of annoyance, and the strong desire to cover your ears, you’re part of the unfortunate band of tween and teen parents who are in the know.
Coupled with the up-and-down hand motion that accompanies the lazy drawl of "six seven", this is peak brain rot content that's permeated the vernacular of children all over the world – Singapore included.
The online dictionary Dictionary.com has even named "6-7" as its word of the year for 2025."
Former preschool cook who regularly molested 3 toddlers during naptime gets over 9 years' jail (10 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former preschool cook who regularly molested three toddlers during naptime was sentenced to more than nine years' jail on Monday (Nov 10).
Teo Guan Huat, a 61-year-old Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident, had pleaded guilty last month to three counts of molestation of minors. Another five charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.
In total, he was given a jail sentence of nine years, four months and seven weeks. This includes nine months' jail in lieu of caning, as Teo is above 50 and cannot be caned."
New centralised training centre for Singapore’s esports athletes set to launch next month (10 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Plans are underway to establish a centralised training centre in Singapore next month, with the aim of nurturing local gaming talent and potentially grooming them into professional esports athletes.
Collaborations will also be struck with regional partners to establish qualification pathways for major regional competitions, according to the Singapore Esports Association.
These efforts are part of the association's push to strengthen the local ecosystem, as Singapore proposes legislative changes to formally recognise gaming as a sport."
Content creator Simonboy unfazed by online criticism over initiative named after late daughter Megan Khung (11 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Local content creator Simon Khung Wei Nan could have picked any other name for his new social initiative, but he ultimately decided to call it the Forever Megan Charity to honour the memory of his late daughter.
“My main motive is to honour my daughter, and I don’t think anything should stop me,” said the 38-year-old, better known by his online moniker Simonboy.
“It’s just the love, be it of her and for her.”
This was despite knowing that naming it after his daughter would invite “social media repercussions” and attract “unnecessary” comments online, he said."
Consumer watchdog flags safety risks in several baby cots, strollers, children’s accessories sold online (13 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore’s consumer watchdog has flagged several baby cots, strollers and children's accessories sold online as unsafe.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) said on Thursday (Nov 13) that it purchased and tested 22 products, offered mainly by suppliers on Shopee or Lazada, this year.
“Of the 22 higher-risk products sampled, 17 were found to be unsafe as they did not meet applicable product safety standards,” it said in a press release."
Woman gets jail for lying about address to enrol daughter into popular primary school (13 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old woman was on Thursday (Nov 13) sentenced to one week's jail for lying about her address to enrol her daughter in a popular primary school.
The prosecution had sought a fine, but the judge found that a jail term was warranted due to the aggravating nature of this case, including her calculated deception and "selfish motives".
After hearing of her jail sentence, the woman asked the judge to give her another chance, saying she could not go to jail and that her daughter needed her.
The woman cannot be named as the court imposed a gag order protecting the identity of her daughter, who is a minor. The gag order extends to the name of the school, which has since transferred the girl elsewhere."
Jail sentence for P1 kid’s mum who lied about address could deter such behaviour but unlikely to eradicate it, say parents (14 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The week-long jail sentence handed out to the mother who lied about her address to enrol her daughter in a popular primary school could increase awareness of the consequences of such behaviour, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Friday (Nov 14).
Parents whom CNA spoke to also said the case may discourage those tempted to game the system, although it may not completely eliminate such behaviour.
On Thursday, the 42-year-old woman was sentenced to one week's jail for lying about her address during the 2023 Primary 1 registration exercise.
The prosecution had sought a fine, but the judge found that a jail term was warranted due to the aggravating nature of this case, including her calculated deception and "selfish motives"."
From parkour for seniors to stylish adult diapers, Singapore youths are revitalising the business of eldercare (14 November 2025)
"When Mr Javier Chan's friends and peers first heard about his plans to start a medical transport service for seniors and patients in 2021, they praised it as a smart move.
After all, given Singapore's rapidly ageing population, the silver economy was booming. He would definitely be in the "correct industry", they declared.
But once Mr Chan, then 23 and fresh out of national service, began running Shalom Medcare, he quickly discovered that eldercare was far more complex than the average business."
The struggles of single parenthood (14 November 2025)
"When Sarah went through her first divorce in 2014, the challenges of raising two babies on her own and becoming the sole breadwinner hit her hard.
Despite the availability of childcare, she struggled to earn the income her family needed.
"Our work hours are limited by the childcare centre hours," said the 38-year-old mother of two teens, who declined to be identified by her real name as her ex-husband is incarcerated.
"And when your child is sick at childcare, they will call you and you have to drop your work and bring them home. It also impacts our work performance."
Why Singapore's kids are no longer playing at void decks and corridors, and what's lost as a result (15 November 2025)
"Twelve-year-old Geralyn Gui gets one precious hour each weekday, between school and her evening wushu lessons, to play with her friends.
Usually, they spend this time at a nearby playground playing tag or hide-and-seek, or visiting the library.
However, there is always an adult present to supervise – either Geralyn's mother, 49-year-old Selena Tay, who works as a flexi-adjunct teacher, or one of her friends' parents.
Once the hour is up, Geralyn has to head home and get ready for her two-hour wushu class, then it's back home for dinner, homework and bedtime before the routine starts all over again."
Commentary: Young adults are growing increasingly economically dislocated (16 November 2025)
"LONDON: People’s early interactions with the labour market are so critically important for shaping their futures that in the 1990s British researchers came up with the acronym “NEET” – standing for young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training – to capture the group of adolescents and 20-somethings struggling to make the transition from compulsory schooling to the world of skills and work.
The concept rightly went on to become a staple of international economic statistics, with research consistently finding that NEETs are at risk of life-long socio-economic scarring, remaining at significantly elevated risk for worklessness and health problems for decades.
But the way NEETs are defined no longer makes sense in modern societies, and risks downplaying the situation that is unfolding across much of the developed world. Look at conventional NEET rates today and you will generally see flat or slightly descending lines over the past decade."
Woman hires lawyer for appeal against jail term for lying to enrol daughter in popular school (17 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old woman who was given one week's jail for lying about her address to get her daughter into a popular primary school has hired a lawyer for her appeal.
CNA understands that the Singaporean woman has hired Mr Deepak Natverlal from Crown Juris Law. He is a director at the boutique law firm, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The woman was unrepresented before this and previously said she could not afford a lawyer.
Court records show that the woman, whose name cannot be published due to a gag order protecting her child, lodged an appeal against her sentence on Nov 13.
The appeal will be heard at a later date in the High Court."
PSLE results to be released on Nov 25 (18 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The results of the 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be released on Nov 25 at 11am.
Arrangements have been made for school candidates to receive their results from their respective primary schools, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said on Tuesday (Nov 18).
School candidates who are unable to return to school to collect their results may appoint a proxy to do so on their behalf by Nov 27, they said."
Two Singapore primary schoolers invent robot to help kids keep a safe distance from screens (19 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Two primary school students have designed a robot that encourages healthier screen habits, and their creation will soon compete on the global stage.
Nine-year-old Elon Chan from New Town Primary School and 11-year-old Skylar Chua from Nanyang Primary School will be representing Singapore at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) finals, held here from Nov 26 to 28.
Their project, entered under the Future Innovators (Elementary) category, is one of three Singapore teams among more than 500 competing globally."
Gen Z school canteen vendor who went viral is closing his stall (19 November 2025)
"Rayner Tan, 27, who runs a vegetarian food stall at Mee Toh School, took to Instagram on Tuesday (Nov 18) to share some bittersweet news – he’ll be closing his stall at the end of the year.
The young hawker, known online as @veg.eng, has been running the stall for nearly half a year and is beloved for his wholesome online content documenting his daily life as a canteen vendor. His videos often show his friendly and funny interactions with students – clips that have earned him a loyal following for his down-to-earth charm.
Tan also appeared on the YouTube series Gen Z Crash Course, where he spoke candidly about the challenges of running a school canteen stall – including low profit margins and the lack of income during school holidays. Still, his love for cooking and eagerness to gain hands-on experience in F&B kept him going.
Unfortunately, it looks like his time at the school has come to an end."
Viral Gen Z school canteen vendor who closed stall sells matcha from HDB bedroom window (20 November 2025)
"We first discovered 27-year-old Rayner Tan several months ago on TikTok, where clips of him toasting prata and plating vegetarian meals at Hearty Green, a vegetarian canteen stall in Mee Toh School in Punggol, caught our eye. Before long, we dove down a rabbit hole of comforting videos showing different parts of his life.
One moment, he’s cycling to school before dawn; the next, he’s chatting with students who recognise him from social media. And in another, he’s highlighting his home-based business hustle after wrapping up a day at the canteen.
More recently, a now-deleted clip of him "educating" primary school kids (their faces are always blurred for privacy) on basic manners became viral online. On the final day (Nov 18) of school before the holidays, Tan revealed that he would not be renewing his contract with the school.
Seeing a Gen Z vendor behind the canteen counter is rare and refreshing."
Preschool teacher charged with abusing 3 babies including force-feeding child until she vomited (20 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A preschool teacher allegedly ill-treated three babies in her care, including force-feeding a child until she vomited and stuffing a bib into a baby's mouth.
The 36-year-old Singaporean woman, whose name was redacted from charge sheets, was on Thursday (Nov 20) handed three counts of ill-treating children under her care.
A gag order was issued to protect the identities of the victims. It covers the incident location as the accused is a preschool teacher, court records state."
Yvonne Lim considering taking acting break next year to support son for PSLE (21 November 2025)
"The PSLE can be stressful for students and maybe even more so for their parents.
Although her son AJ is only in Primary 5, Yvonne Lim is already thinking ahead to how she can best support him when he sits for his Primary School Leaving Examination next year.
During a recent set visit for her upcoming Mediacorp drama No Other Way, the 49-year-old actress told Chinese media 8world vibes that she has even considered taking a break from work next year to help AJ “gear up for” his biggest exam yet."
185 people hit by gastroenteritis symptoms at 6 E-Bridge preschools (21 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating 185 reported cases of gastroenteritis following an outbreak at six E-Bridge preschools.
The incidents occurred at the following E-Bridge locations: Bukit Panjang, Canberra, Montreal, Woodlands Drive, 471B Yishun and 504 Yishun, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) in a joint statement on Friday (Nov 21).
A total of 173 students and 12 staff members fell sick after consuming food supplied by Middleton International School."
Woman accused of abusing 3 babies barred from working in preschools, action taken against staff: ECDA (21 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has barred a woman accused of abusing three babies from working in any preschool, as well as taken action against the preschool's principal and two other staff members.
The alleged abuser, a 36-year-old Singaporean, was charged on Thursday with three counts of ill-treating babies aged between eight and 12 months at the time.
The former preschool teacher is accused of force-feeding a 12-month-old girl until she vomited, stuffing a bib in an eight-month-old child's mouth and putting a blanket over the child's face, as well as dropping a bumper chair that a 10-month-old child was sitting in.
A gag order, which also covers the incident location, was issued by the court to protect the identities of the victims."
No link between E-Bridge preschool gastroenteritis cases and central kitchen so far, says meal provider (24 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Investigations into a gastroenteritis outbreak at six E-Bridge preschools have found no link between the central kitchen and the reported cases so far, said the meal provider on Monday (Nov 24).
Authorities said last Friday that they were investigating 185 reported cases of gastroenteritis at the preschools located at Bukit Panjang, Canberra, Montreal, Woodlands Drive, 471B Yishun and 504 Yishun.
A total of 173 students and 12 staff members had became ill after consuming food supplied by Middleton International School's food business operations, said the Communicable Diseases Agency, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Early Childhood Development Agency in a joint statement.
"We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they conduct detailed checks to ascertain the cause of the cases. No conclusions have been made at this point," said the central kitchen in a statement attributed to its executive chef on Monday."
PSLE results: 98.5% of students can progress to secondary school (25 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results released at 11am on Tuesday (Nov 25) showed that 98.5 per cent of Primary 6 students who sat for it made it to secondary school.
A total of 37,926 Primary 6 students sat for the PSLE this year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said in a joint press release on Tuesday.
Under Full Subject-Based Banding, students who are eligible for Posting Groups 1 and 2 may take the English language, mother tongue languages, mathematics, and science subjects at a more demanding level from Secondary 1 based on their Achievement Level (AL) scores for the respective subject.
Students who scored AL 5 or better for a PSLE Standard subject can take the subject at G3 or G2.
Those who scored AL 6 for a PSLE Standard subject or AL A for a PSLE Foundation subject can take the subject at G2.
About 65 per cent of the 2025 Primary 6 cohort eligible for Posting Groups 1 and 2 can take at least one subject at a more demanding level."
Commentary: Killer PSLE questions can haunt students long after primary school (25 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Thousands of anxious Primary 6 students will be collecting their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results on Tuesday (Nov 25). While waiting, some students may be wondering whether the killer questions that stumped them affected their scores.
The Ministry of Education has stated that about 15 per cent of PSLE questions are intentionally challenging so that higher-ability students can be assessed correctly. On paper, that may seem modest. In practice, these questions can shape a child’s entire emotional experience of PSLE and of examinations in general.
As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen clients who’ve been affected by the long tail of PSLE stress. An undergraduate I spoke with could vividly recount a single question on the PSLE Mathematics paper. “I still remember Jess and the ribbons,” she said, referencing the 2017 “ribbon” question where Jess needed 200 ribbons of 110cm each, and the rolls came in 25m tapes."
Probation, reformative training reports called for teen who walked onto MRT tracks, scaled HDB block roof (25 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A teenager who trespassed onto the train tracks between Simei MRT station and Tanah Merah MRT station earlier this year had climbed up scaffolding structures to access the prohibited area.
The teen, who cannot be named as his identity is protected under the Children and Young Persons Act, loitered at the train tracks for up to 10 minutes and later uploaded a video of a passing train on social media.
The youth, now aged 17, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Nov 25) to one count under the Rapid Transit Systems Act of wilfully endangering safety, and one count of trespass."
Meet the 16-year-old gymnast who made sporting history for Singapore while taking her O-Levels (28 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: For most 16-year-olds, sitting for one of the biggest examinations of their lives would be stressful enough.
But Amanda Yap was juggling two life-defining moments at once: her O-Levels and the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, she found balance in the chaos itself.
"Having two things at once – my major exams and the competition – was quite beneficial because I didn't have to focus on one thing," she told CNA. "I wouldn't stress so much on one thing because I had other things to think about as well."
Her strategy worked. In Jakarta last month, Amanda made history as the first Singaporean gymnast to qualify for a world championships final, eventually placing sixth in the balance beam event."
The Singapore gymnast who competed in a world final while taking her O-Levels (28 November 2025)
"16-year-old Amanda Yap became the first Singaporean gymnast to qualify for a World Championships final — all while flying back and forth to sit for her O-Level exams.
Between flights to Jakarta for the competition, exam papers and a world-stage performance on the balance beam, Amanda pushed through exhaustion, pressure and self-doubt to make sporting history for Singapore at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships."
‘An unprecedented close-up’: New exhibition on Singapore’s independence to feature declassified documents (28 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: “Now I am going to let you into what has been a state secret up to now. This is a file which I call Albatross.”
Printed in black against a stark white wall, these are the words that will greet visitors at a new exhibition set to open from Dec 8 at the National Library Building.
Spoken by Dr Goh Keng Swee, one of Singapore’s founding fathers, in a 1996 interview, it is an apt introduction to what lies ahead."
I joined academia to stop chasing achievements. It took me 7 years to realise that I'd never stopped (28 November 2025)
"On Jan 21, 2025, student feedback from my July 2024 graduating cohort arrived by email.
I opened it routinely and scanned its contents with a perfunctory eye. Halfway down, one anonymous line stopped me:
"I have a request please. Do retain Mr Ben Chester. His dedication and effort are second to none, especially in his comments and the energy and time he spent for us to achieve our best."
From rental flats to community leaders: Meet the tweens on patrol and the youths playing sepak takraw and performing 'getai' (28 November 2025)
"It is 2.30pm after school on a Monday, and 11-year-old Rafieq Sahin Rafizal is busy briefing a gaggle of primary schoolers – not for a neighbourhood game of tag or futsal, but for their daily patrol.
Rafieq is the commander of the "emergency response team", a patrol group he started with friends in his Lengkok Bahru neighbourhood. The members, aged 10 to 13, all live in one- and two-room public rental flats in the area.
Seven days a week, the children meet up to don green hats and matching vests before fanning out across six blocks in pairs. They patrol the blocks from top to bottom, inspecting void decks and corridors.
"We look out for (things like) personal mobility devices blocking the corridors, fire hazards and sharp objects," said Rafieq. Any potential hazards are reported to each other via walkie talkies clipped to their vests."
Why many parents still obsess over popular primary schools (29 November 2025)
"Ask any Singaporean adult about their primary school experience and they would probably have some fond reminiscences about recess games, their first best friends or favourite canteen snacks.
But for 35-year-old Nanyang Primary School alumnus Jovin Loh, when asked what his primary school life was like, his immediate answer was: "Life-changing."
He said that before he entered primary school, he mostly hung out with neighbourhood friends near his home in Choa Chu Kang, and few of them dreamt big. Some did not have aims of furthering their education to university level.
His parents, who did not go to university, did not place any expectations on him to further his studies too.
But his older brother was transferred to Nanyang Primary School after qualifying for the Gifted Education Programme, which meant that he, too, could enrol there when it was his turn to start primary school.
And that was when his world suddenly expanded."
My wife and I nearly passed our PSLE trauma on to our kids. Here's how we realised something had to change (29 November 2025)
"I've experienced a lot of firsts as a parent of three. This week gave me yet another: my first Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results day.
On Tuesday (Nov 25), we gathered in our eldest child's school hall along with hundreds of other concerned parents. From behind a plastic barricade, dads and mums craned their necks to catch a glimpse of kids in their clusters, eager to catch any and all reactions.
My wife was already gripping my hand tight, gritting her teeth in anticipation. The tension in the air was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife – or do as our two younger children did and ignore it completely in favour of arguing over whose turn it was on the mobile phone."
Singapore secondary schools to forbid smartphone use during recess, CCA hours (30 November 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From 2026, secondary school students will not be allowed to use smartphones or smartwatches during school hours, including outside of lesson time.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Sunday (Nov 30) enhanced measures to cultivate healthier screen use habits among students.
Under the current guidelines, secondary school students should not use smartphones or smartwatches during lesson time.
From January 2026, this will be broadened to include non-lesson time – recess, co-curricular activities, as well as supplementary, enrichment or remedial lessons, MOE said in a press release."
PhD student who attempted to rape ex-housemate gets jail and caning (1 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A PhD student who attempted to rape his former housemate after his repeated advances were rejected was sentenced to jail and caning on Monday (Dec 1).
Gao Xiong, a 31-year-old Chinese national, will be imprisoned for six years, six months and six weeks, and receive three strokes of the cane.
He pleaded guilty to four charges which include attempted rape and criminal trespass, with another three charges taken into consideration."
Exchange student who trespassed into F1 Singapore VIP areas gets jail (1 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: An exchange student who wanted to attend the F1 Singapore Grand Prix found tickets too pricey and decided to gain unauthorised access instead.
He snuck in without a ticket, broke into the Paddock Club where F1 drivers were present and entered the highly restricted pit lane area.
Swedish national Alkallas Karam, 23, was sentenced to four weeks' jail on Monday (Dec 1) after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal trespass, with a third charge taken into consideration."
Singapore must develop robotics, AI talent pipeline to stay competitive: National Robotics Programme (1 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore must cultivate a new generation of robotics and artificial intelligence talent to stay ahead in an increasingly automated world, said National Robotics Programme (NRP) executive director Tung Meng Fai.
This push comes as the country positions itself to secure a share of the global robotics landscape, where engineers, researchers and creators will play critical roles.
“There's a strong demand now for robotics expertise,” Mr Tung told CNA last Thursday (Nov 27)."
As secondary schools tighten smartphone use, parents say students can still outsmart the rules (3 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When his younger daughter began showing signs of smartphone addiction, Mr Aylwin Lam, 48, spent months attempting to wean her off her device.
It was not easy – the Primary 5 student would sometimes fly into a rage when asked to put her phone away. Her school had already raised concerns to Mr Lam about her experiencing issues with her classmates and displaying other behavioural problems.
But with persistent effort from Mr Lam and his wife, their daughter gradually reduced her smartphone usage, cutting her daily YouTube sessions from two to three hours down to just 15 minutes.
“It was quite scary because you don’t realise it until it’s too late … Since I personally experienced it, I hope that all parents should really ban handphone usage for their kids,” said Mr Lam, who also has a daughter in Secondary 1."
HDB to design playgrounds under new framework to support children’s ‘holistic development’ (3 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From next year, new playgrounds built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will follow a new framework to provide more engaging and diverse play experiences for children.
"New HDB playgrounds will be specifically designed to encourage physical, social, and creative play, to actively support the holistic development of children across different age groups," said HDB in a media release on Wednesday (Dec 3).
The framework will be introduced from January 2026 for playgrounds in newly tendered Build-To-Order (BTO) developments and new HDB parks. It was piloted at Mount Pleasant Crest, a BTO project launched in October 2025."
Meet the 12-year-old Singapore sailor chasing big winds at the SEA Games (5 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Anya Zahedi will make her Southeast Asian (SEA) Games debut in Thailand next week – but she stands out even among a sea of top athletes.
The 12-year-old Optimist class sailor is among the youngest athletes in Singapore's record 930-strong contingent.
"I feel nervous, but excited at the same time. Because it's my first (time) representing Singapore at a major Games,” the Primary 6 student told CNA.
“I really want to do well, but I know that the competition is really tough.”
Singapore's founding leaders could not be intimidated into compromising its interests, successors have not forgotten lesson: SM Lee (7 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore’s founding fathers won the right to govern the nation because Singaporeans were convinced that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his team could not be intimidated into compromising Singapore’s interests.
This was one important lesson from Singapore’s merger and eventual separation from Malaysia, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the Albatross File exhibition and publication on Sunday (Dec 7) at the National Library.
He noted that Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his team could not be cowed or suppressed by federal leaders, especially by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) radicals, also known as the "ultras".
"(Singaporeans) realised that he was prepared to risk all, including his life, to secure their future. It was through this experience of merger followed by separation that Mr Lee (Kuan Yew) and the PAP (People’s Action Party) solidified their support among our pioneer generation," said Mr Lee Hsien Loong.
He added that Mr Lee Kuan Yew's successors have not forgotten this lesson and that no Singapore prime minister "has ever allowed any force or power, whether foreign or domestic, to intimidate us into compromising our national interest or sovereignty"."
Commentary: The story of how Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 is one of many intriguing ifs (8 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: If at any one of at least half a dozen turning points during the tumultuous year leading to the breakup a different path had been chosen, the course of history might have changed forever.
That the fate of 8.6 million people including 1.8 million in Singapore hung so finely in the balance depending on the actions of a handful is both fascinating and sobering.
This was what struck me most after reading 488 pages of the book, The Albatross File: Separation Declassified, launched on Sunday (Dec 7), which contains documents in a secret file kept by Singapore’s then Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee and oral history interviews by the key players involved in the separation."
Myanmar teen first foreigner to lose Singapore long-term immigration pass for possessing Kpod (8 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 15-year-old girl from Myanmar is the first foreigner to have their Singapore long-term immigration status revoked for possessing an e-vaporiser pod containing etomidate, or a Kpod.
A vape pod containing the drug was found in her possession during a routine check by police officers on Nov 14, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint press release on Monday (Dec 8).
She has been issued a Special Pass to allow her to remain in Singapore to assist with investigations by the police for other offences.
"Following the conclusion of her case with the police, she will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore," the authorities said."
‘Rich human dimension’: How the Albatross File sheds further light on Singapore’s separation from Malaysia (9 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The public may be familiar with how Singapore gained independence 60 years ago, but newly declassified documents and handwritten notes by Dr Goh Keng Swee provide a firsthand view of how an “unexpected outcome” was reached.
“There are no dramatic new revelations … (Singapore’s founding prime minister) Mr Lee (Kuan Yew) told most of the story in his own memoirs,” said Mr Janadas Devan, senior adviser to the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
“But what you have here is the rich human dimension … their passion, their emotions and their disagreements,” added Singapore’s former chief of government communications."
Meet a Singaporean teen who runs a pickleball paddle business – that started as a homeschool project (9 December 2025)
"While most 13-year-olds are busy with homework or hanging out with friends, one Singaporean teen is juggling website updates, inventory checks and orders – all for her side hustle.
Meet Eleora Liang, the pint-sized boss of A Little Ripple, an online store for pickleball paddles that she runs out of her family’s home in Ipoh, Malaysia, where she’s homeschooled.
“Sometimes I use work as an excuse to skip homework,” Liang, who used to attend South View Primary School, admitted with a laugh.
“I’ll tell my mum, ‘I need to update the website.’ She usually says okay.”
Expanded study awards, tuition sponsorship to grow and develop social service workforce (9 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: New measures to grow Singapore's social service workforce were announced on Tuesday (Dec 9), including an expanded study award scheme and higher tuition sponsorship.
These come as Singapore gears up to tackle a rapidly ageing population, as well as evolving challenges such as mental health issues, social isolation and families with complex needs.
"These shifts will likely result in increasingly complex demands placed on the limited manpower in our sector," said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli as he announced the support measures.
From April 2026, the criteria for the Social Service Tribe Study Award will be expanded to cover people pursuing associate-level qualifications in universities, polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education (ITE).
This includes those pursuing an honours degree in psychology, diploma studies for social work at polytechnics and Higher Nitec CCSS at ITE."
High-risk child abuse cases rise by 14.5% to 2,303 in 2024: MSF report (10 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The number of new high-risk child abuse cases in 2024 rose by 14.5 per cent from the year before, according to a report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) published on Wednesday (Dec 10).
There were 2,303 new cases last year, compared with 2,011 cases reported in 2023.
A total of 3,292 low- to moderate-risk child abuse cases were reported in 2024, an 18 per cent increase from the 2,787 cases recorded the previous year. This was the biggest annual increase since 2022."
Tharman wins MIT prize for global financial leadership, warns over high debt levels in advanced economies (10 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been awarded the prestigious Miriam Pozen Prize in recognition of his leadership in international financial policy.
The prize, awarded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Golub Center for Finance and Policy (GCFP), is given out every two years.
It is named for the late mother of a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. The same award was previously given to the late American and Israeli economist Stanley Fischer in 2021 and former prime minister of Italy Mario Draghi in 2023."
N-Level results to be released on Dec 18 (11 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The results of the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge N-Level examinations will be released on Dec 18, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examination and Assessment Board (SEAB) said in a joint press release on Thursday (Dec 11).
Candidates can receive their results from their secondary schools from 2pm on Dec 18. Details on the collection arrangements will be shared by their respective schools.
“School candidates who are unable to collect their results in person can appoint a proxy to collect a physical copy of their results from the school,” said MOE and SEAB."
Secondary 1 posting results to be released on Dec 19 (12 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The results for the 2025 Secondary 1 posting exercise will be released on Dec 19 at 9am, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a press release on Friday (Dec 12)."
Myanmar teen who lost immigration pass over Kpod offence being investigated for possessing weapons (12 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A Myanmar teenager, who was the first foreigner to have their Singapore long-term immigration status revoked for possessing a Kpod, is also being investigated for various other criminal offences.
Kpods, or e-vaporiser pods containing etomidate, were classified as a Class C controlled drug on Sep 1.
In response to queries from CNA, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Friday (Dec 12) that the 15-year-old girl was issued a Special Pass to remain in Singapore to assist with investigations for the possession of scheduled and offensive weapons, affray and voluntarily causing hurt.
"Police investigations are ongoing. Following the conclusion of her case with the police, she will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore," MHA said."
Father admits to abusing two sons, reported himself to police for excessive force in discipline (16 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 47-year-old man pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Dec 16) to ill-treating his two sons, the older of whom has special needs.
He had lodged a police report against himself for use of excessive force when disciplining his older son, and his then-wife followed suit a few months later, saying her husband had committed family violence against her two boys for the five years prior with increasing intensity.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his sons, admitted to three counts of ill-treating a child under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA). Another five charges will be considered in sentencing."
'The stable path is no longer stable': How job uncertainty is nudging some fresh graduates to start businesses (16 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: After months of job applications that led nowhere, Mr Jeremy Lim, 27, became discouraged by the constant rejections and the notion that he needed an employer to give him “permission to work”.
With impending wedding bills and mortgage payments for an incoming Build-to-Order flat, the marketing and journalism graduate decided that it was time to act on a business idea that he had kept in mind for years.
He recalled a job interview in January in which a recruiter told him his past work experiences were merely internships and low-balled him with a S$1,900 monthly pay instead of the S$3,200 advertised salary.
That was the last straw for Mr Lim, who now runs Thirteen Employment Agency, which helps families hire domestic helpers."
4 in 10 lower-income families on ComLink+ lack regular jobs; more face family violence concerns: MSF report (16 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Almost 40 per cent of lower-income families on ComLink+ did not have any family members earning a regular wage at the end of 2024, according to a report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) published on Tuesday (Dec 16).
Last year, 4,025 families on ComLink+ had no family member in stable employment with regular income. This rose from 3,563 in 2023, data from the ministry showed.
Stable employment refers to being in employment for six consecutive months or more in a year. The data does not capture income from platform work before 2025, hence it may underestimate the number of families with members employed, said MSF."
Getting there is the hardest part: The perennial issue of preschool absenteeism among lower-income families (17 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Madam Sri glanced at her watch, which was set 15 minutes fast, as she hustled through her morning routine with her children in tow.
It was a school holiday, so the older primary school-aged kids were with her while she got her errands done.
Despite the frenetic rush, she called it a “good day” because her preschoolers made it in on time. Most days, just getting out the door of her rented Housing and Development Board flat is a test of endurance.
The 38-year-old unemployed mother suffers from a herniated disc and bone spurs. The pain can be so intense that even the 10-minute walk to school feels impossible.
“Every day I wake up in pain,” she told CNA. “Every day I ask myself — can I really send them to school today?”
IN FOCUS: Should social media be banned for teens in Singapore? (17 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: At first, it appeared to be an innocent livestream of someone chatting to viewers while eating.
But the scene quickly turned into one of horror when 13-year-old Shrihaan Thakar realised that the livestreamer he was watching had begun hitting his cat.
“I found it very disturbing and cruel,” said the Secondary 1 student, who immediately reported the video."
The Albatross File: Inside the secrecy behind the Singapore-Malaysia separation (17 December 2025)
"The road to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia was fraught with tension and emotions.
Step inside The Albatross File, where newly declassified documents and audio reveal what went through the minds of key protagonists - Malaysia leaders Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Razak as well as Singapore founding fathers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee - in the tense days leading up to Separation, when Singapore’s fate hung in the balance.
It also includes rare oral history from Mr Lee’s wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo."
Were their degrees ‘wasted’? From graduates to fishmonger, livestreamer, tyre mechanic (18 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When Tsuri Xie first began posting videos of her car-wrapping work on TikTok, she met with a stream of comments from drivers insisting that they would “never let a girl touch (their) car”.
It is a familiar refrain in an industry that has long had a masculine image.
Yet, this is where the 36-year-old is determined to stake her claim as a vinyl car wrapper. “How I manage a muscle ache (is to) just grind and work through it,” she said.
“If we accidentally poke ourselves with the penknife or scald ourselves with the heat gun, it’s just another day. … Spray some alcohol on it and then just get back to work.”
Former preschool teacher jailed for ill-treating 2-year-old girl (18 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 32-year-old former preschool teacher was sentenced to 10 months' jail on Thursday (Dec 18) for ill-treating a two-year-old girl in 2022.
Wu Jiaying had forcefully placed the girl down onto the floor and a chair, lifted her by the arm and pulled her across the classroom, and shaken her violently in the span of about an hour on May 11, 2022.
Wu fought the allegations in a trial but was convicted in October of one charge under the Children and Young Persons Act for causing "unnecessary physical pain and suffering" to the child.
The school where she worked cannot be named due to a gag order protecting the victim's identity."
Former members of preschool senior management admit to covering up offences of cook who molested toddlers (19 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Three former members of a preschool's senior management admitted on Friday (Dec 19) to covering up the offences of a cook who molested toddlers at the preschool where they all worked.
The cook, 61-year-old Teo Guan Huat, had molested three toddlers during naptime over seven months in 2023. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than nine years' jail last month.
The three members of senior management were the 59-year-old executive director, 61-year-old principal and 49-year-old vice-principal of the preschool.
All three failed to report Teo's acts and conspired to reformat a closed-circuit television camera that contained incriminating footage. The executive director and vice-principal also conspired to delete video evidence of the acts.
Their names and the name of the preschool where they worked cannot be published due to a gag order protecting the identities of the victims, who were between one and two years old at the time of the offences."
Two years on, my father's death has taught me that grief doesn't just take – it also gives (19 December 2025)
"There was a full moon on the night we sent our late father off for the last time.
That night in June 2023, after wrapping up and concluding the funeral, my siblings and I returned home, physically and emotionally drained. We had a quick debrief – not just going through logistics and our to-do lists for the next few weeks, but also to process the weight of the three-day funeral together.
Even as grief lingered, there was a quiet comfort in the space we shared together.
Heading to my car that night in preparation to drive home, I looked towards the sky. The moon was extra shiny, bright and round, impossible to miss against the pitch-black night sky.
I took a picture of it and sent it to the chat group I share with my siblings.
"It's a full moon night tonight," I wrote. "Seems to be comforting us that everything has come full circle, and that Dad's life has completed beautifully."
The reply from my brother caught me off guard.
He wrote: "Dad didn't leave us, instead (he) lives with us, in our hearts and memories that no one can take away. We must take good care of ourselves, our bodies, our health and this sibling unity given by both Dad and Mummy."
Am I giving my kids too much? Here's how I try to treat them without spoiling them (20 December 2025)
"The question came to me: "Mummy, can we take business class next time?"
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I've made it a point to travel as much as I can with my kids during the school holidays.
In the beginning, they were simply happy to pack their luggage and hop on a plane, even if it was just an economy flight to nearby cities such as Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Bangkok in Thailand.
Each time, we would walk past the business-class cabin on our way to our seats farther down the aisle.
Back then, they barely noticed the welcome drinks, the wider seats or the bigger screens that greeted those privileged enough to sit in front. To them, to travel at all was thrilling enough.
However, somewhere along the way, that changed. My kids started noticing what they didn't have, instead of what they did.
And soon, they started asking for more."
About 230 high-risk child abuse cases in 2024 reported by members of public (22 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: About 230 high-risk child abuse cases in 2024 were reported by members of the public, such as neighbours, family members and bystanders, as authorities urged people to look out for signs of child abuse during the school holidays.
This amounted to about 10 per cent of the 2,303 such cases reported last year, with another 30 per cent reported by the education sector, namely schools, preschools and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
The latest Domestic Violence Trends report released on Dec 10 showed that the number of high-risk child abuse cases – known as tier 2 cases – has increased by 14.5 per cent. About half of the cases were physical abuse cases."
SkillsFuture course sign-ups surge as Singaporeans rush to use expiring S$500 credit (23 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: SkillsFuture course sign-ups have surged over the past few months as Singaporeans race to use their one-off S$500 (US$390) SkillsFuture credit top-up before it expires on Dec 31.
Training providers say demand has jumped sharply – in some cases by as much as seven times – as learners rush to enrol in courses ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to dog grooming and drone piloting.
Many providers are also seeing a rise in repeat learners, with some already booking classes well into next year."
Commentary: No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI (26 December 2025)
"LONDON: It’s easy to spot when something was written by artificial intelligence, isn’t it? The text is so generically bland. Even if it seems superficially impressive it lacks edge. Plus there are the obvious tells – the em dashes, the “rule of three” examples and the constant use of words like “delve” and “underscore”. The writing, as one machine learning researcher put it, is “mid”.
Yet every single one of these apparently obvious giveaways can be applied to human writing.
Three consecutive examples are a common formulation in storytelling. Words like “underscore” are used in professional settings to add emphasis. Journalists really love em dashes. None of it is unique to AI.
Read the “how to spot undisclosed AI” guides from the likes of Wikipedia and you’ll receive a lot of contradictory advice. Both repetition and variation are supposed to be indicators.
Even AI detection tool providers acknowledge that, because AI models are evolving and “human writing varies widely”, they cannot guarantee accuracy. Not that this has stopped a cottage industry of online “experts” declaring that they can just tell when something apparently written by a person was really generated by AI."
Man jailed 12 weeks after refusing to return S$9,000 mistakenly transferred by NTU (26 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A man who refused to return more than S$9,000 (US$7,010) that was mistakenly transferred to him by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail on Friday (Dec 26).
Mohamed Basheer Hanif Mohamed, 27, instead spent the money on a hotel staycation and daily expenses.
Basheer pleaded guilty to one charge of dishonest misappropriation.
According to court documents, an NTU finance officer said the university had mistakenly transferred S$9,087.04 to Basheer on Nov 10, 2023.
On the same day, Basheer noticed the sum in his POSB bank account, which previously had no money. He began withdrawing the money for his own use.
The finance officer and POSB attempted to contact Basheer numerous times but were unsuccessful. On Nov 21, 2023, the finance officer emailed Basheer about the erroneous transfer. Basheer replied that he was unaware of the money as he had stopped using the bank account."
I lost a sense of purpose when I became a stay-at-home dad. This is how I found it again (26 December 2025)
"In late 2017, my wife and I learnt that the younger of our two sons has autism.
We needed more support at home. So in 2018, I went from being a full-time polytechnic lecturer to part-time, and became a stay-at-home husband and dad.
Since that transformative year, my day-to-day routine has pivoted to mostly household chores, parenting and some teaching. It's a somewhat slower pace of life, one that can look leisurely.
Still, after some time, it can also feel purposeless.
Perhaps this isn't surprising, given that for so many of us, our identities are often pegged to our careers and other economic pursuits – promotions, profits and more.
At the same time, this tension is extra complicated for many fathers, who are still often expected to be the main breadwinners of the household rather than the main caregivers.
While I had more time to smell the proverbial roses than most of my overworked, nose-to-the-grindstone peers, I often struggled with loneliness. I didn't just lose economic status and a regular pay cheque – I lost an innate sense of purpose and meaning."
Singapore dance prodigy, 18, puts prestigious UK ballet plans on pause for National Service (29 December 2025)
"At just 18, Leo Cheng has been dancing for nearly his entire life. He began ballet at the age of three, following in the footsteps of his parents – former dancers with the Singapore Dance Theatre and founders of Bukit Timah-based Cheng Ballet Academy.
In the latest episode of 8world’s Real Talk No Filter, Cheng and his parents open up about his ballet journey and what lies ahead for the young dancer."
More Singapore teens take on part-time work during year-end holidays (30 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: More teenagers in Singapore are taking on part-time work, especially during the year-end holiday period, as they look to earn extra income and gain workplace experience.
One job portal said applications from those under 20 years old rose by nearly 40 per cent compared with the same period last year, driven largely by demand in retail, food and beverage and logistics roles."
Infant screen exposure linked to slower decision-making, teen anxiety: Singapore study (30 December 2025)
"A study has shown that young children exposed to screen time before the age of two showed changes in brain development linked later to slower decision-making and anxiety. This, according to new research by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore.
The report tracked about 170 children over more than a decade, with brain imaging done at different points. For those exposed to screen time too early, it was found that areas for visual processing and cognition developed faster than usual, before other parts of the brain responsible for complex thinking could catch up."
SkillsFuture portal fully operational again after disruption as S$500 credits near expiry (31 December 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The SkillsFuture portal resumed full operations on Wednesday (Dec 31), a day after experiencing disruption as a one-off S$500 credit top-up was set to expire.
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) said its SkillsFuture Credit system - where individuals submit SkillsFuture Credit claims for courses - experienced a technical issue at about 5pm on Tuesday.
"This disruption mainly affected the submissions of SkillsFuture Credit claims for online learning subscriptions from providers such as Coursera, edX, NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform, Gnowbe, and ZilLearn," said SSG in a statement.
It added that those providers were accepting sign-ups for subscriptions before Dec 31, and hence were eligible for the expiring SkillsFuture Credit top-up.
"During the system disruption, SSG worked with these training providers to assure affected individuals that they would be notified as soon as the system was back online," it said.
The technical issue was resolved on Wednesday at 7am, said SSG."
Commentary: Parents, don’t think about screen use for teenagers only in terms of limits (1 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Secondary school students will no longer be allowed to use smart devices during school hours, even outside of lesson time such as during recess or co-curricular activities. The Ministry of Education announced last year that these tighter guidelines take effect from January.
Parents trying their best to manage screen time at home may end up facing even more resistance from their teens.
Parents of younger children can still turn off the TV or take away shared devices. But many teens have their own phones, laptops and social media accounts.
The challenge shifts: It’s actually no longer about screen time, but about their teens' digital lives. It goes from imposing limits to learning to have better conversations."
Jail for father who ill-treated sons, reported himself to police for excessive force (2 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: A father who reported himself to the police for using excessive force in child discipline was sentenced to 15 months' jail on Friday (Jan 2).
The 47-year-old earlier admitted to ill-treating his two sons. He cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims.
He had pleaded guilty to three counts under the Children and Young Persons Act. Another five charges were considered in sentencing."
Teachers, software developers among most in-demand jobs as Singapore’s AI push gathers pace (2 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Teachers and software developers remained among the most sought-after professionals in Singapore in 2025, driven by growth sectors such as information and communications, as well as financial and insurance services.
Data from the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) job vacancy and labour market surveys, released on Tuesday (Dec 30), showed that teaching and training professionals and software, web and multimedia developers topped the list of professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) vacancies in 2025.
Overall PMET demand remained high compared with a decade ago, accounting for more than half of all job vacancies.
As Singapore moves to further embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools, demand for specialised skill sets – including AI governance and machine learning – is expected to grow."
Early screen exposure linked to slower decision-making, higher anxiety in children: Study (5 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: The side effects seen in children who were exposed to excessive screen time as infants can be reversed through measures like increased social and physical interactions, according to a recent study.
Early intervention and positive lifestyle changes can help rewire developing brains, said scientists who spearheaded the 10-year-long study that was released last week.
High screen exposure between birth and two years old is linked to slower decision-making and increased anxiety later in life, warned the researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
The researchers tracked about 170 children born in 2009 over more than a decade, beginning from birth."
'Don't think of it as counting money': Wang Laoshi on building her tuition business (5 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: At Wang Learning Centre, a Chinese proverb adorns the wall: it takes 10 years to grow a tree, but 100 years to cultivate people.
The saying, by ancient Chinese philosopher Guan Zhong, encapsulates founder Wang Jie's approach to education – that nurturing minds requires far more patience than growing a tree.
“It’s very important. One of my favourite sayings,” remarked Ms Wang Jie as she gestured to the poster during a tour of the centre.
It has taken her 18 years to grow Wang Learning Centre from a single 50 sqm outlet at the foot of a condominium to a 12-outlet chain attended by more than 10,000 preschool, primary and secondary school students today."
Boy fractures nose at Jewel walking net attraction; BCA and operator urge visitors to follow safety rules and supervise children (5 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: An outing during the year-end school holidays to Jewel Changi Airport ended in tears after a six-year-old boy at the Canopy Park’s Walking Net attraction fell and fractured his nose.
Responding to CNA’s queries on Monday (Jan 5), a Jewel Changi Airport spokesperson urged all visitors to adhere to safety guidelines while on the attraction.
“To ensure an enjoyable and safe experience, we urge all visitors to pay attention to and adhere to prescribed safety guidelines while using the attractions, and to assist to ensure their children do so as well,” said the spokesperson.
On Dec 10, 2025, the boy, who was accompanied by his mother Anna and his nine-year-old brother, had tripped after running on the net and ended up striking the wooden platform."
Teen who trespassed onto MRT tracks and climbed down HDB block gets probation (6 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: A teenager who was nabbed by the police after engaging in dangerous behaviour when he trespassed onto MRT train tracks was ordered by a court on Tuesday (Jan 6) to undergo probation for 18 months./font>
He will also have to perform 80 hours of community service, attend all psychiatric or psychological assessments and treatment, and comply with medication as necessary.
His parents furnished a bond of S$5,000 (US$3,905) to ensure his good behaviour during the probation period."
Hwa Chong says viral meal photos do not reflect standards, but students say images are accurate (7 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Hwa Chong Institution has defended its new canteen programme after photos of student meals sparked an online backlash, saying the images do not accurately reflect the food standards.
However, students CNA spoke to outside the school on Wednesday morning (Jan 7) confirmed the images showed what was being served.
The controversy erupted when photos posted on social media platform Reddit on Jan 3 showed meals in turquoise trays containing rice, vegetables and protein. They drew sharp criticism from netizens who questioned whether the food met adequate nutritional and quality standards."
E-Bridge preschool food supplier allowed to resume operations after suspension due to gastroenteritis outbreak (7 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) lifted the suspension of Middleton International School’s food business operations at 2 Tampines Street 92 on Tuesday (Jan 6).
The agency said in a media release on Wednesday that the company can resume its operations as it has implemented the required measures, after it was suspended due to a gastroenteritis outbreak that left over 200 people ill.
Last year, the Communicable Diseases Agency and SFA were informed of 263 people developing gastroenteritis symptoms after eating food supplied by the company at several E-Bridge preschools.
The cases happened between Nov 19 and Dec 10, with four people hospitalised, said SFA."
2025 GCE O-Level results to be released on Jan 14 (7 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: The results of the 2025 Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination will be released on Jan 14 at 2pm.
School candidates may receive their results from their secondary schools on that day, with details on collection arrangements to be shared by their respective schools, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) in a joint press release on Wednesday (Jan 7)."
'Sometimes I wonder how I did it': These Singapore Sports School students juggled IB exams and SEA Games (8 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: For most students, International Baccalaureate examinations are demanding enough. For three recently graduated Singapore Sports School (SSP) students, it came alongside the added pressure of preparing to compete at the SEA Games.
“Sometimes I also wonder how I did it,” said SSP student Reyes Loh, reflecting on a year that saw him juggling exam preparation and intense physical training."
Tech glitches, missing meals: Teething issues emerge as some schools shift to central kitchen model (8 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: A new central kitchen model at some schools has encountered teething problems, with parents reporting technical glitches that left some children without meals and expressing concerns about the system's trade-offs.
The initiative, being rolled out from this month at 13 schools across Singapore, is an expansion of a 2022 pilot programme to address a growing shortage of canteen operators while keeping school meals affordable.
Three operators – Gourmetz, Chang Cheng Mee Wah and Wilmar Distribution – were selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE) based on factors including meal price competitiveness, menu variety and track record.
Gourmetz operates five of the 13 school canteens – Blangah Rise Primary, CHIJ Kellock, Radin Mas Primary, River Valley Primary and Outram Secondary at its York Hill campus. Chang Cheng Mee Wah runs canteens at Dazhong Primary, Kranji Primary, Pioneer Primary, Qifa Primary and West View Primary, while Wilmar Distribution manages four at Casuarina Primary, Chongzheng Primary, Northoaks Primary and Outram Secondary’s new Anchorvale Crescent campus."
Hwa Chong says it did not reprimand or penalise students who spoke about controversial canteen meals (9 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Hwa Chong Institution has said it did not reprimand or penalise students who spoke to the media about the school's new canteen programme, and that a teacher's message warning students not to participate in the controversy was sent "out of concern" for their well-being.
The school issued a statement on Thursday (Jan 8) night after rumours spread on social media and parents' WhatsApp groups that nine students were issued demerit points for speaking out about meal quality concerns.
The controversy erupted when photos posted on social media platform Reddit on Jan 3 showed meals in turquoise trays containing rice, vegetables and protein. They drew sharp criticism from netizens who questioned whether the food met adequate nutritional and quality standards."
Undergrad opens home-based cafe selling Pizza Hut-inspired curry rice and Basque burnt cheesecake (9 January 2026)
"It’s no secret that home-based cafes in Singapore are part of a growing trend. Over in Loyang Rise, tucked inside a quiet landed estate, sits one of them. Room Cafe is a cosy, dog-friendly spot run by 26-year-old Bryan Kuah, who’s juggling being a Mass Communications student at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) while running a cafe from the porch of his parents’ terrace house.
Before Room Cafe, Kuah spent two years working as a floor manager at the now-defunct bar Stickies from 2022 to 2024. “After my experience working in nightlife, I realised I enjoy interacting with people. I did consider venturing into nightlife but it’s not a very sustainable industry right now, so the next best thing was a cafe,” Kuah shared.
Kuah opened Room Cafe in May 2025, fuelled by his love for cooking. “I like to cook for myself, especially Western food, and I usually cook for family and friends during Christmas, so that’s where my passion grew," he recalled."
Woman accused of abusing stepchildren by confining them in toilet for months set to plead guilty (9 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: The stepmother of two children who were abused by their father until one of them died is set to plead guilty to charges of joining her then-spouse in ill-treating the children.
The 35-year-old Singaporean woman, who cannot be named to protect the identities of the victims including the surviving boy, was given the date of Mar 13 to plead guilty after a pre-trial conference on Friday (Jan 9).
She faces six charges pertaining to the abuse of the children and to lying to the police about being abused by her then-spouse. She had testified during the man's trial that they were in the midst of divorce proceedings.
The girl was five when she died and her brother was a year younger than her."
The 18-year-old ballet dancer who put his dream on hold for National Service (10 January 2026)
"At 18, Leo Cheng earned a coveted contract with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. But before that came National Service, and he chose to serve first.
The Singaporean ballet told CNA about his journey through elite dance schools, what it means to pause his career at a critical moment, and why he’s proud to serve his country while holding on to his dream of returning to the stage after NS."
Taking children to festive gatherings is exhausting, but skipping them would be worse (10 January 2026)
"Festive seasons have always been occasions I truly look forward to attending.
Christmas and Chinese New Year, in particular, usually meant endless gatherings with friends and family that stretched late into the night, with unrestrained conversations and genuine laughter. No one would be concerned about work or school the following day, and enjoyment was the only thing on the agenda.
Now that I've become a parent, such festive seasons give me mixed feelings instead.
Celebrating these occasions with kids in tow has made it impossible to be completely unadulterated in my enjoyment of the gatherings."
Teen given 21 months' probation after deceiving peer into performing degrading acts (12 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: A teenager who made another teenager perform degrading acts, such as soaking his genitals in chilli oil and drinking his own urine, was given 21 months' probation on Monday (Jan 12).
The 18-year-old male pretended to be a female to deceive the male victim, also 18, into believing that they were in a romantic relationship.
Both the accused and the victim, who were around 16 at the time of the offences, cannot be named due to a gag order protecting their identities. The gag order also covers the nature of their relationship.
The teenager earlier pleaded guilty to a charge each of cheating and extortion, with two counts of a similar nature considered."
Indonesia baby trafficking ring: Singapore adoption agencies expected to do due diligence on origin of babies (14 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Adoption agencies in Singapore are expected to take the necessary steps and bring in children of "correct background and origin", Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Wednesday (Jan 14).
He was responding to questions from Ms Sylvia Lim (WP-Aljunied) in parliament about a suspected Indonesian trafficking ring transferring babies to Singapore."
Esports, chess and bridge formally recognised as sports after Bill passed in parliament (14 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Esports, along with mind sports such as chess and bridge, will be formally recognised as sports after a Bill was passed in parliament on Wednesday (Jan 14).
These amendments to the Singapore Sports Council Act are part of a move to “support Singaporeans’ diverse sporting aspirations”, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.
“The gameplay and disciplines of mind sports and esports will continue to evolve,” he said. “Therefore, the updated definition of sports in the Bill takes a balanced and future-ready approach to support newer and more varied forms of sporting participation and sporting excellence by Singaporeans.”
9 in 10 polytechnic graduates found work within 6 months of completing school or NS in 2025 (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Ninety per cent of polytechnic graduates in the labour force found employment within six months of completing school or National Service in 2025, according to the Polytechnic Graduate Employment Survey results released on Thursday (Jan 15).
This was a dip from the 90.4 per cent recorded in 2024 and 95.8 per cent recorded in 2023."
Hwa Chong Institution working with SATS to revise recipe, presentation of bento meals after feedback (15 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Hwa Chong Institution is working with food caterer SATS to revise recipes and the presentation of their meals after feedback about its new hybrid canteen model, principal Lee Peck Ping said on Thursday (Jan 15).
Mr Lee added that the school would introduce preordering options at live stalls from the next semester, and is establishing a kitchen on campus to produce bento meals.
“We want to address and identify some of the issues earlier, as well as to work together collaboratively to improve our canteen,” he said, adding that the school was “refining the menu”.
Mr Lee was speaking to reporters at the school, which invited members of the media to tour the new hybrid canteen and sample the bento meals."
Inside a central kitchen as some schools roll out new canteen model (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Hours before the first school bell rings, preparations for recess have already begun at an industrial building in Tuas.
Inside a kitchen as large as a football field, workers begin cooking the day’s dishes in industrial-sized vats. It is almost 5am and at least 1,000 meals must go out by 7am.
“Time is of the essence to keep the food fresh,” said Mr Ho Shau Foong, central kitchen director at Wilmar.
“Once the food is packed, it is sealed in an insulated container and sent to the dedicated truck, right to the school.”
Catholic Junior College to move to Punggol, operations tentatively targeted to start in 2034 (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Catholic Junior College (CJC) will move to a new campus near Punggol Digital District, with operations tentatively targeted to start in 2034, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Friday (Jan 16).
The new campus is about 20km away from its current site at Whitley Road.
MOE said in a press release that the move would serve the wider community and "provide quality pre-university education in the northeast region of Singapore".
It added that the relocation will also place CJC in close proximity to digital firms and institutions in the Punggol Digital District, including the Singapore Institute of Technology."
60 River Valley Primary School students develop gastroenteritis symptoms (16 January 2026)
"SINGAPORE: Authorities are investigating 60 reported cases of gastroenteritis involving River Valley Primary School students.
In response to queries from CNA on Friday (Jan 16), the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said in a joint statement that 60 students were reported to have had gastroenteritis symptoms since Wednesday.
"Most of the affected students were in school today, with the exception of four students who are still recovering at home," said the authorities, adding that none were hospitalised.
"The school has been in touch with affected students and their parents, and will continue to monitor the students’ well-being."
From secondhand books to curry puffs, can Singapore’s heritage businesses survive the next generation? (16 January 2026)
"You would be hard pressed to find a shop in Singapore that does not accept cashless payment or have an online presence, least of all in the upscale shopping belt that is Orchard Road.
Yet, in these respects and more, the 34-year-old ANA Book Store at Far East Plaza remains defiantly old school.
Its founder and owner, Mr Noorul Islam, even records all sales in a ledger book for accounting purposes.
"I'm a simple, old man," the 72-year-old said, when asked why he keeps it all analog."
After braving PSLEs and O-Levels with 2 kids, here's what I’m doing differently for my younger ones (16 January 2026)
"My first experience as a parent preparing a child for a major exam was in 2020, when my eldest sat for the dreaded Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
At the start of the year, my husband and I had planned to approach it as calm, supportive parents who would be unfazed by the pressure of this first, future-deciding exam for our son Truett.
Despite our best intentions, as the year wore on, the daily stress at home became more palpable. By the time we got to August, I started to worry that Truett would do poorly.
He wasn't putting in as much effort as we had hoped, and my motivational speeches seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Heartbreakingly, I could see my son growing increasingly stressed and sad as the days went by."