‘Give a positive review’: Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – An academic paper submitted by a team of NUS researchers has been removed from the peer review process after it was found to contain a hidden artificial intelligence (AI) prompt that would generate only positive reviews.
The prompt, embedded at the end of the paper in white print, is invisible to the naked eye, but can be picked up by AI systems like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.
The paper, titled Meta-Reasoner: Dynamic Guidance For Optimised Inference-time Reasoning In Large Language Models, was published on Feb 27 on academic research platform Arxiv, hosted by Cornell University."
Are you AI fluent? Here are 4 tips on getting the most out of chatbots (10 July 2025)
“And do you work well with AI?”
As tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems become part of everyday workflows, more companies are looking for employees who can answer “yes” to this question; in other words, people who can prompt effectively, think with AI and use it to boost productivity.
In fact, in a growing number of roles, being “AI fluent” is quickly becoming as important as being proficient in office software once was."
ECDA issues warning to Little Paddington Preschool for sudden closure of Bishan branch (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has issued a formal warning to Little Paddington Preschool following its breach of regulatory requirements.
The pre-school in Bishan, which eventually ceased operations on June 13, gave parents of enrolled children only a week’s notice that it would be closing."
Fresh grads should ‘stay calm’ in job search; uptick in hiring seen: Tan See Leng (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Fresh graduates should press on with their job search, even if the future appears uncertain, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng.
The employment rate for the 2025 university graduating cohort was 51.9 per cent in June, he said, which is 4 percentage points higher than the June 2024 rate.
“I would really appeal to graduates and parents to stay calm. We have taken a more granular and careful look at the data on jobs and graduate employment this year. While it is still early days... we do see some silver lining in the data,” Dr Tan told a Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce press conference on July 10."
What ‘skills first’ really means: Panellists at SkillsFuture Forum talk culture, systems, mindsets (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Every six months, the employees of Singapore’s tech giant Grab receive feedback from their peers, not just on what they have accomplished, but also on the areas where they truly shine.
This helps managers to identify desired behaviours and strengths, further aiding them in assessing each employee’s skills and proficiency.
It is also part of the ride-hailing giant’s ongoing journey to build a skills-first culture, said Grab chief people officer Ong Chin Yin."
Nuclear safety research gets boost with new institute, $66m funding as S’pore weighs energy viability (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE - The Republic’s research initiative on nuclear safety is progressing further with a new institute, additional $66 million in funding and an expanded research scope that will help Singapore better evaluate nuclear power’s viability for the city-state.
Such research areas include studying nuclear waste, conducting accident simulations of advanced reactors, expanding on nuclear policy studies and studying the deployment of underground reactors.
The Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) in the National University of Singapore was officially launched on July 11 by National Research Foundation chairman Heng Swee Keat."
New institute will engage and educate the public on nuclear energy, dispel common misconceptions (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Public outreach and education will be a part of a new nuclear safety and research institute, which will have facilities for exhibitions and tours for the public.
Such programmes will help teach people about radiation and nuclear technologies, and dispel common misconceptions.
Launched on July 11, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) at NUS will have its ground floor dedicated to outreach events, posters and exhibits related to radiation, nuclear energy and their safety."
‘Don’t know how to be human anymore’: Why some young adults need a course on how to talk (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Ms Faith Tay adjusted her posture, took a deep breath, and stared into the camera on her laptop. Her team had been discussing a new project for nearly an hour over Zoom, and it was finally her turn to speak. All eyes were on the 31-year-old IT professional.
She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
Her heart pounded, her chest tightened and the silence stretched on."
ITE musical celebrates success of Fandi, two other notable alumni (12 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Back in the 1970s, when playing football overseas seemed far-fetched, Fandi Ahmad became the first Singaporean to play professionally in the Netherlands.
This was possible because of the support of his teachers at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), formerly known as the Vocational and Industrial Training Board.
His story continues to be an inspiration for ITE students today."
40% more sign-ups to programmes for adult learners at institutes of higher learning in last 5 years (12 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – More adult learners have been signing up for programmes at institutes of higher learning (IHLs), driven by the introduction of bite-size stackable micro-credentials, which have made educational opportunities more accessible.
Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary on July 12 said there has been a 40 per cent increase in the last five years."
Hear Me Out: What I wish my parents knew before I was diagnosed with ADHD (12 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Is ADHD a death sentence? This was the morbid question posed to me by a parent whose child had recently been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Since sharing my story about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in May 2025, I have received e-mails and messages from parents who described feeling disappointed, confused or heartbroken by their child’s learning difference."
Prison school to NUS: At 36, former drug abuser finds it’s never too late to get a degree (13 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – In mid-2017, Mr Mason Lim woke up disoriented to find himself strapped down in the psychiatric ward of Changi Prison, subdued in a three-way restraint where only one hand was free to move.
He was then 28 years old, going through drug withdrawal symptoms, and facing the start of his four years and four months’ prison stay and 10 strokes of the cane for drug-related charges.
For nearly three weeks, he lay confined on a plastic bed, never imagining how his life would eventually turn out."
Minor Issues: Why you should get someone else to teach your kids to swim (13 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A swim coach once told me: If your child lives on an island, she ought to learn to swim.
Before you nod approvingly at how this piece of seemingly sagely aphorism deserves a place on an inspirational Instagram post, preferably with a sunset silhouette of father-and-daughter duo frolicking at the beach, let me explain why it makes no sense at all."
Fun With Kids: SG60 Changi Airport charity walk, The Smurfs books, Lego sets for girls (13 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.
SG60 Changi Airport Charity Walk
Walk for a cause at the SG60 Changi Airport Charity Walk on July 27. This 2km family-friendly evening stroll begins at Terminal 2’s Race Village, winds along the Changi Airport Connector and concludes at the Finisher Carnival at Terminal 4."
From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys (13 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – After scoring 110 for his PSLE, Mr David Hoe found himself in the Normal (Technical) stream at Beatty Secondary School.
He describes himself as “a problematic kid who was academically not strong at all in primary school”."
NUS team records historic first title for Singapore at Australasian debate competition (13 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has been crowned the champions of the South China Australasian Intervarsity Debate Championships (Australs) – a first for Singapore in the tournament’s 50-year history.
On July 12, the NUS TTY team comprising Cavan Tay, Justin Tay (no relation), and Rei Ya Yeo defeated a team from the Australian National University in the grand final of the Australs to emerge champions of the 50-team tournament."
Where are the men in boys’ lives? (13 July 2025)
"NEW YORK – The importance of role models for girls seems irrefutable. Efforts since the 1990s to provide female role models have had great success opening doors for girls and young women, who now outpace boys in education, outnumber men in law and medical schools, and excel in male-dominated fields like tech and politics.
At the same time, boys have many fewer male role models in their daily lives. While men still fill most positions of power across American society, the people who interact with children are largely women.
Occupations like paediatrics have switched to mostly being done by women, while those that were always female-dominated, such as teaching, have become more so."
Art by Pathlight students to be displayed along Singapore River (14 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A construction hoarding in Kim Seng Linear Park – which runs alongside the Singapore River – will soon be turned into a community art canvas, showcasing 30 works by neurodivergent students from Pathlight School.
The works, inspired by the Singapore River, represent the students’ interpretations of the river’s history, community and culture. They will be exhibited on the hoarding for three years throughout the construction of the River Green development, a 524-unit riverfront condominium consisting of a single 36-storey tower.
The project is a collaboration between real estate developer Wing Tai Group and Pathlight School."
Veteran diplomats and tech pioneer receive honorary degrees from NUS (14 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Veteran diplomats Chan Heng Chee and Noeleen Heyzer, as well as tech pioneer Wong Ngit Liong, received honorary degrees from the National University of Singapore (NUS) on July 14.
The honorary Doctor of Letters degrees were presented by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the commencement ceremony for 99 graduates from NUS Business School, held at the University Cultural Centre.
The honorary degrees are the university’s highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals whose service has had an impact in Singapore and globally."
On Lego, love and friendship (14 July 2025)
"There is a locked room in Lego’s corporate museum, in Billund, Denmark, which is called the Vault. It is a large space, filled with shelves that are arranged in chronological order, starting in 1958 and stretching towards the present day. Between them, the shelves contain around 10,000 sets of Lego.
The Vault is used by the toymaker’s designers as a source of inspiration, but its effect on first-time visitors is what makes the room remarkable. It’s impossible not to seek out sets from your own childhood, not to be drawn back to an earlier version of yourself and, for lots of people, not to well up. We thought about having Kleenex as a sponsor, says Ms Signe Wiese, an in-house historian."
Your S’pore Story: ‘We would climb up and down Bukit Timah Hill about six times’ (15 July 2025)
"While other children his age are attending preschool and learning to play musical instruments, Abyan Imtiaz Irkiz is busy setting national records.
And not just any record either. Last year, at just five years old, Abyan became the youngest Singaporean to reach Everest Base Camp – the gateway to the highest mountain in the world."
SJI International resumes overseas trips amid ongoing probe into student’s death in Maldives in 2024 (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) International has resumed its outdoor education expeditions, about a year after its 15-year-old Singaporean student Jenna Chan died on one of these trips in the Maldives.
This comes as investigations into the incident on Nov 8, 2024 are ongoing. An internal review of the school’s overseas trip protocols and safety processes, commissioned soon after the tragedy, is still underway."
Tracing headlines through time: Pupils explore journalism at ST’s 180th anniversary exhibition (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Three times a week, Arshita Kaur’s mother picks out interesting headlines from The Straits Times and reads the articles to the nine-year-old as bedtime stories.
“Reading the news lets me know more because sometimes people do good things that we can learn from,” said Arshita, who found an article about a foster mum taking care of nine children in her home particularly meaningful and is excited to learn more about journalism.
She was one of the 45 pupils from Radin Mas Primary School who visited ST’s 180th anniversary exhibition at Jewel Changi Airport on July 15."
‘Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children’: Woman on husband’s vape addiction (16 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The first sign that something was amiss was when Mary’s (not her real name) husband shut himself inside the bedroom, ignoring his wife and two young sons.
The once loving husband and father turned violent, wrecking things at home, kicking doors in the middle of the night. One day, he collapsed in the living room, his body slouched against the wall, with a vape in hand."
Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A (16 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Children hoping to secure spots at 38 primary schools will be facing a ballot during the second phase of the Primary 1 registration exercise in 2025.
After Phase 2A of the exercise took place from July 10 to July 11, the most oversubscribed school is Gongshang Primary School in Tampines, with 203 applicants vying for 67 spots.
It is followed by South View Primary School in Choa Chu Kang with 66 vacancies for 191 applicants, and Princess Elizabeth Primary School in Bukit Batok with 52 vacancies for 145 applicants."
HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning (17 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE - The anti-vaping blitz has extended to areas near schools, with enforcement officers conducting checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on July 14.
In total, 27 people were caught and fined for vaping in enforcement operations conducted at several community hot spots, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) told The Straits Times."
Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it’s time to raise the alarm (17 July 2025)
"Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week, with The Straits Times launching an anti-vape campaign on July 13.
Recently, videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online – in particular, of younger people – turning into “zombies” and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes.
Etomidate is an anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, and is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act, which strictly restricts its use to licensed medical professionals."
AI and education: We need to know where this sudden marriage is heading (17 July 2025)
"What does “happily ever after” look like for artificial intelligence (AI) and education? No one seems entirely sure.
We’ve moved past the question of whether they should be together. Largely because AI didn’t wait for an answer. But making the relationship work, on terms that actually serve human development, is proving to be a Gordian knot."
5 perks of being in polytechnic I was not ready for (11 April 2025)
"No uniforms. Four-hour breaks. These were just some of the perks that I was looking forward to when I entered Polytechnic. Turns out, freedom does take some getting used to.
It’s a rite of passage for those who are sitting their O Levels to talk about where they want to go after secondary school. I was at the same crossroads three years ago, together with a lot of my friends, deciding between enrolling in a junior college and polytechnic. My friends and I spoke to everyone – from older siblings to teachers to tuition teachers – just to find out which choice was better for us.
In my case, ultimately, I chose to go to polytechnic as I felt that its hands-on curriculum suited me better, as I was more of a “need to experience to learn” person than a “read and memorise” student. Besides, there were many perks that polytechnic life offered that sounded great – until I experienced it for myself. Here are five freedoms that took me a while to get used to.
1. No uniforms = more freedom or more thinking?
Having the freedom to wear whatever I wanted to school sounded amazing. But as it turned out, I wasn’t ready to think about what I had to wear to school every single day. There were days when it felt nice and was a no-brainer to wear my new clothes or shoes, but oftentimes, I found myself staring at my closet for more than 10 minutes and saying to myself, “I have nothing to wear!”
As the school year progressed, I realised no one really cares about what we wear; I’ve even seen people going to school in shark slippers. After three weeks, I then started to warm up to this relaxed and casual lifestyle, and threw on whatever I felt like wearing that day, be it a new top or an overworn oversized shirt. This taught me it does not matter what I wear to school, as long as I feel comfortable and confident in it."
Watch: Plant a bookmark? Discover cool sustainability projects in schools (17 April 2025)
"These winning projects at this year’s School Green Awards prove that sustainability education can be hands-on, creative, and downright fun.
By Sabrina Lee
A garden bursting with vegetables, colourful student-authored books on food waste, and handcrafted seed paper bookmarks – these creative initiatives from our schools demonstrate that environmental education can be both rewarding and engaging.
Schoolbag explores how schools are weaving sustainability into everyday learning, inspiring students to become environmentally conscious citizens through hands-on experiences.
At Fengshan Primary School, students create paper that bloom
For students at Fengshan Primary School’s Environmental Science Club, paper recycling takes on a cool twist as they learn to make paper that can later sprout into plants.
The process begins with collection. Students gather old, used papers from various points around the school including the General Office, Staff room (with teachers’ assistance), recycling bins, and directly from their peers.
“We shred these papers before turning them into pulp by blending the paper with water,” explains Primary 5 student Ishaan Kaustubh. “Then we collect fallen leaves and flowers from the school’s garden, tear them into small pieces, and mix them with seeds and water.”
Meet the transformers (17 April 2025)
"What do a marketer, broadcast journalist and a train engineer have in common? All of them made a mid-career switch to teaching and not only found a different sense of purpose, but also that the skills they honed in their previous jobs now help them in the classroom.
Former marketer Mohamed Zubir Osman unpacks the art of the sell in the classroom
Five years into his sales and marketing job, Mr Mohamed Zubir Osman was doing well – the money was good, he enjoyed his work, and he felt a sense of achievement. At that point, he was also about to become a father for the first time. But it was right then that he decided to switch careers to become a teacher. “I realised something was missing,” he remembers.
As a secondary school student, he had fallen in love with History thanks to his teacher’s engaging style of teaching this subject. That same teacher’s motto of “connection before correction” also inspired him. “That means getting the teacher-student relationship right is paramount,” he explains. That was when Mr Zubir first thought about becoming a teacher. He ultimately decided to try out the private sector first. By the late 2000s though, he realised that his earlier dream was still alive.
“I wanted to make a direct impact on students, and build that connection with them,” he says. He also felt that his experience in sales and marketing would be helpful in teaching. “I had learnt a lot of problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, which I thought would be transferable to the classroom setting.” With the support of his wife, he decided to take the plunge."
From shooting bullseyes at the pasar malam to winning gold at the National School Games (24 April 2025)
"West Spring Secondary’s Teo Wee Woon was just eight years old when she started playing shooting games at the pasar malam. Now in Secondary 4, the Captain of the school’s Shooting CCA is gunning to pursue the sport further at the junior college level.
Secondary 4 student Teo Wee Woon looks the picture of calm and composure at West Spring Secondary’s shooting range. As Captain of the school’s Shooting CCA, she is currently soaring at the sport, though the story of how she got into shooting is a rather humble one.
Trading her toy guns for an air pistol
Wee Woon was around eight years old when she began playing shooting games at the pasar malam, or night bazaars, around her neighbourhood. It started out as a fun and casual hobby, but she quickly became good at it.
When it was time to select a secondary school, her parents encouraged her to pick one nearby that offered the Shooting CCA since she enjoyed shooting games so much.
She ended up choosing West Spring Secondary, and went through several selection trials before joining the CCA. Even though she didn’t know anyone else in the CCA initially, she settled into it easily and quickly got the hang of shooting with an air pistol. Her shots were often on target, and her seniors would jokingly ask if she was shooting using auto-aim, a feature in video games that helps players aim.
Wee Woon became the only Secondary 1 student selected to represent the C Division women’s air pistol school team at the NSG – alongside three Secondary 2 students. Even though her individual score was the lowest out of her teammates, the team still came in first at the national level."
How a PE Teacher went from sepak takraw newbie to coach of the sport (29 April 2025)
"When Yuying Secondary School needed someone to take charge of the sepak takraw Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), Mr Iskhandar Abdul Talib had to figure out how to teach a game he had never played before.
By Sabrina Lee
How does someone coach a sport they’ve never played? For Mr Iskhandar Abdul Talib of Yuying Secondary School, the answer was to lean on the fundamentals he already knew as a PE teacher – then learn alongside his team.
To build skills quickly, he first turned to the Game Concept Approach, which teaches core tactics through modified games rather than repetitive drills.
“When students need to improve their sideline shots (a serve, kick, or spike that lands just inside the side line, making any return a tough sideways reach), I create a simple incentive – three points instead of one for scoring there,” he explains. The extra reward nudges them to attempt tougher plays and think strategically about positioning.
Beyond game design, Mr Iskhandar also relies on Differentiated Instruction, matching challenges to each player’s ability. “Beginners focus on five consecutive juggles, while more experienced players aim for 20 or more. This way, nobody’s bored or overwhelmed,” he says.
These methods proved vital when the school suddenly had no sepak takraw coach just before a major competition. Mr Iskhandar stepped up. “As one of the teachers-in-charge of the CCA, I was already handling court bookings, jersey orders as well as training supervision then. I couldn’t let these students enter unprepared,” he recalls."
Hospitality meets career guidance in this partnership programme (29 April 2025)
"Beyond picking up industry skills, students from Boon Lay Secondary School learnt to chart their career path and build healthy friendships through a meaningful mentorship initiative between their school and the Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
“It took some convincing to get some of the students on board, because they were reluctant about the almost-year-long commitment to participate in the mentorship programme,” says recalls Ms Bhavaniswari D/O Batumalia. “But once they saw the value in it, we saw a visible increase in their commitment through the effort they put into their tasks and how they looked forward to meetings with their mentors. This engagement spread to other aspects of school too.”
The Head of Department for Partnerships and Engagement in Boon Lay Secondary School (BLS) was responding to a question about the changes she observed in her students after undergoing the mentorship programme. Acronymised as FLEX (Fulfilling Lives through Experience), it is born out of a partnership between BLS and the Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG).
“We wanted to better engage our students outside of school,” explains Ms Bhavani. “And we thought of tapping on PPHG’s expertise in hospitality to give our students exposure to the industry and get to know what a career in the hospitality industry might be like.”
Learning out of the classrooms, in the hotels
The FLEX mentorship programme with PPHG, which has been running since 2022, comprises a four-day externship where students shadow their mentors. The mentors show them the ropes of working in a hotel, followed by three months of fortnightly mentoring sessions. Every year, over a dozen students are paired with mentors who are industry veterans. The teenagers gain career insights and newfound confidence from the mentorship, among other skills.
Anson Ho, who graduated from BLS in 2023 and is an alumnus of FLEX 2023, says that the programme was “a transformative and eye-opening experience”. He chose to pursue a post-secondary course in Tourism Management, and he secured a part-time role as a concierge at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, a hotel under the Pan Pacific Hotels Group, where he further deepened his knowledge of the industry.
“I gained better clarity of what I want to do when I graduate. And it also instilled in me a sense of purpose and responsibility, encouraging me to become a positive influence in my community,” adds Anson.
Open House for Primary Schools 2025 (5 May 2025)
"What do you need to know before visiting open houses with your child? Read on for more details on how you can support your child in choosing a primary school that’s suitable for them!
Getting a peek into the school grounds, meeting the teachers and students, experiencing each school’s culture – open houses provide opportunities for you and your child to choose a primary school most suitable for them. Here are some points to keep in mind as your child embarks on this exciting new chapter.
While attending the virtual/physical open houses for primary schools, consider the following pointers:
1. Your child’s strengths and interests
Observe and discuss with your child bout what they enjoy doing, including their hobbies, be it playing sports, making music, creating art, or even gaming. Have conversations about their kindergarten experiences to understand which subjects and activities they like or dislike. As there will be many new learning opportunities during primary school years, ask them what else they would like to learn and try. Then, read up on and find out more about the primary schools that can provide your child with the opportunities to nurture their existing strengths and interests or explore new areas of interest.
2. Distance between home and school
The daily journey to and from school is an important consideration. Consider the means of transport your child will be using. Regardless of the mode of transport, be it by car, school bus, or public transport, what is the fastest and safest way for them to commute to and from school? A long commute can affect your child’s energy level and readiness to learn and participate in school activities, which can impact their overall school experience.
3. School Environment and Culture
Each school has its distinctive culture, which you can experience firsthand at their open houses. You can get a preview of what each school has to offer in terms of its programmes, Co-Curricular Activites (CCAs), facilities, school staff, values, and school culture. Before going for open houses, browse through the schools’ websites to learn more about them.
Open House for Secondary Schools (5 May 2025)
"What do you need to know before visiting open houses with your child? Read on for more details on how you can support your child in choosing a secondary school that’s suitable for them!
Getting a peek into the school grounds, meeting the teachers and students, experiencing each school’s culture – open houses provide opportunities for you and your child to choose a secondary school most suitable for him/her. Here are some points to keep in mind as your child embarks on this exciting new chapter.
1. Have a conversation with your child about their strengths and interests
Find out from your child about what they look forward to in secondary school and what worries them most about their secondary school life. Have them share their favourite lessons and activities in primary school and what they think their strengths and interests are.
In your conversations with them, you can also have them list what they enjoy about their school experiences in order of preference. This could range from the learning environment to academic programmes to CCAs and even the canteen food! Their insights will give you a better understanding of what matters to them and identify schools that align with their strengths and interests, ensuring a more meaningful secondary school experience.
2. Think of different aspects of the school experience
When discussing possible secondary school options with your child, consider the school’s distinctive electives and programmes, culture and ethos, subjects and CCAs offered, as well as the distance from home. These will all impact your child’s school experience.
3. Shortlist a range of schools
After having a conversation with your child, use the checklist on SchoolFinder to explore and shortlist the options together. Find out what each school can offer your child and whether it seems to be a good fit for your child’s strengths, interests, and abilities. This exploration can better inform the 6 choices that you and your child indicate after the release of the PSLE results. If you need help navigating SchoolFinder, read this article for tips."
It takes a village (5 May 2025)
"Who can kids turn to when they’re feeling blue? Here’s how schools are supporting student well-being.
In the early hours at Greendale Primary School, students, teachers and the school leaders gather in the canteen over a simple breakfast. Laughter and light-hearted chatter fill the space. This is a get-together of the Breakfast Club, which takes place once or twice per term.
“The Breakfast Club was started last year as part of our efforts to promote social interaction in school, nurture social bonds and peer support,” shares Mdm Siti Zulaikha Bte Zainal Abidin, Head of Department (HOD) for Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) of the school. “We want every student to feel that we care about them, beyond their academic performance.”
This casual meal is just one of the various layers of support woven into schools today to boost students’ mental well-being. Behind the scenes, a circle of care works together – the peer support leaders, teachers, Year Heads and school counsellors – to ensure that students who need help don’t fall through the cracks.
Strengthening the student-teacher bond
As teachers are often one of the first to notice when something is not right with a student, they are key figures in supporting students’ well-being. At CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, for example, it is common to see form teachers or school leaders having one-on-one morning chats with students to check in on how they are doing.
Mrs Amanda Tan, HOD of CCE of the school, shares, “We might take a walk around the school, go to the canteen or simply sit on a bench around the school compound and strike up conversations with students. These chats give us a glimpse into the child’s life, how she is doing and help us understand the kind of support she may need.”
EdTech can be a gamechanger for more engaged learning (8 May 2025)
"While EdTech tools can support more engaging lessons for more diverse students, learning how to use these tools effectively can be challenging. Here’s how three educators are doing it.
Using tech to dispel the fear of learning
Forgotten how to calculate the area of a trapezium? Fret not. Because Senior Teacher Mr Charles Yip at Tampines Secondary School has a simple and catchy melody to which he sings, “Half the sum of the parallel sides, and times the height between them.”
Using music to help students remember mathematical formulas is something Mr Yip, who has been teaching for 20 years, has been doing for a while. He used to make up these tunes himself, and also used songs found on YouTube. More recently, however, he’s been tapping on Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically, the Generative AI (Gen AI) tool Suno, to craft these jingles. And that’s just one way technology is helping him make his Mathematics lessons more engaging.
“I always question myself: why can’t the students remember or understand the concepts?” he says. Very often, he realised, it was simply because these concepts were not presented in ways that were interesting and accessible to them. For some, there is also the very real obstacle of fear.
Take algebra, for example. “Some students approach this topic with an unfounded fear, maybe because it’s a more abstract concept. If I tell them the next topic I am teaching is algebra, they will say ‘it’s so difficult’, even though they have not encountered it before.”
To dispel this fear, he decided this year to use the framework of an adventure story to introduce students to algebraic expressions. He used Gen AI tools, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude to come up with the plot of students getting lost in a jungle while trying to reach a mysterious city. To get directions to their destination, they had to tap on their understanding of algebra to answer questions.
Mr Yip used Adobe’s Firefly AI tool to generate the accompanying illustrations for this story. To craft the questions, he drew from lessons that other teachers had shared on the Community Gallery in the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS), MOE’s online teaching and learning platform for students and teachers."
Designing a platform to stretch imaginations and build communities (13 May 2025)
"For Mrs Judy Swee, teaching is a calling. And when her interest in Design Thinking was sparked, it kindled in her a desire to bring like-minded students and teachers together.
“Educators are designers too. When I encounter a problem, I define it, scope it, then brainstorm solutions and test them one by one,” says Mrs Judy Swee, drawing the link between her passion for teaching and enthusiasm for Design Thinking. And it is this connection that led the Head of Department of Discipline at Bedok Green Primary School (BGPS) to initiate and organise the inaugural Design Thinking Conference for primary schools in the East Zone.
The event, which took place on 3 April this year, was attended by 170 teachers and students from 18 schools – a resounding turnout that far exceeded Mrs Swee’s expectations.
A casual chat that ignited a passionate cause
Despite its success, the conference’s origin was humble. It all started from a chat between Mrs Swee, who also heads the Student Leadership committee, and her fellow teacher Miss Chin Ching Shia.
Mrs Swee recalls the two of them being at the Design For Change Challenge last year. This is an annual competition where students meet and engage with industry and community partners to come up with impactful solutions to solve real-world problems. “I asked if she would mind hearing me out on this idea that I had, and since she was my captive audience, she couldn’t say no,” jokes Mrs Swee with a hearty laugh.
Mrs Swee’s “Instead of sending students out for competitions, why don’t we organise it ourselves?” pitch captured Miss Chin’s imagination, and by the end of the conversation, the both of them had brainstormed a bunch of ways to make this happen. The major objective: fun."
Crossing levels, gaining perspectives (26 May 2025)
"These three teachers made the deliberate move to teach at a different level – from junior college to secondary to primary – driven by a passion to better understand and support student development. They share with Schoolbag the insights and skills they have gained on their journeys to become more masterful educators.
Ms Nicole Law leapt from academic-driven excellence into applied education to support a different student profile
It is a given that academically inclined students often enter schools with a strong academic focus. But what Ms Nicole Law observed at Hwa Chong Institution (College), where she taught Economics for four years, was that some studious students may thrive even better in environments that emphasise practical hands-on application of classroom knowledge and skills to real-world settings.
“I’ve had students who transferred to polytechnics and were much happier for it. That really opened up my thought process about the applied education pathway and I wanted to learn more about it,” she explains of her decision to apply to teach at NorthLight School, which has a non-mainstream curriculum. The school has an experiential approach to teaching and learning, as well as an added emphasis on students’ social-emotional development.
“I was drawn to the school’s mission. It’s not about chasing a particular grade, but rather giving students back the confidence to continue to develop themselves,” she elaborates.
She was also keen to make a direct impact on a group of students whom she had encountered while working at MOE HQ, where she had to reply to appeal letters from parents whose children had not met the entry requirements for polytechnics and ITEs. Ms Law shares that the letters often shed light on the personal family circumstances, such as the home environment, that had impacted a child’s studies. And she also saw first-hand the effect policies had on people’s lives.
In her current role as the Subject Head for Info-Comm Technology at NorthLight School, Ms Law has learnt to build strong teacher-student relationships by scheduling one-on-one time with each of her students. Like other form teachers at NorthLight, she also makes periodic home visits to engage her students’ parents."
A school and a tech start-up gamify the learning experience to bring sustainability lessons to life for students (27 May 2025)
"Gan Eng Seng Primary School and Move Technologies teamed up to enhance students’ learning experience within the school’s Applied Learning Programme through a Virtual Reality game. Read about how this partnership has benefitted students, the school and the company alike.
Imagine a game where you explore your surroundings, encounter a talking cat, and solve puzzles to search for an elusive treasure.
This is how Primary 5 students at Gan Eng Seng Primary School (GESPS) are deepening their understanding about sustainability, thanks to their school’s partnership with Move Technologies, a social enterprise that aims to tackle real-world problems with virtual products.
Enhancing the existing Applied Learning Programme
The immersive gamified experience, where students learn about food packaging while exploring a simulation of their neighbourhood, is a recent addition to the suite of learning experiences within GESPS’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP) on food sustainability, From Farm to Table. According to Ms Brina Tan, the Head of Department of Science at GESPS and the school’s ALP coordinator, the ALP aims to develop “confident communicators, critical and creative thinkers, as well as students who are more curious about their learning.”
For Primary 5 students, the programme focuses on the topic of food packaging – understanding properties of materials suitable for use as food packaging, distinguishing between biodegradable and non-biodegradable options, as well as exploring ways to reduce food packaging waste.
“Students at this age may be starting to pack food to bring to school or from hawker centres to bring home to their family,” Ms Tan explains. “We want them to be role models and positive influences on those around them by making more sustainable choices in food packaging.”
While existing learning experiences within the ALP enabled students to learn the content, the initial rollout of the programme – Move Technologies hadn’t come into the picture then – didn’t quite get the response intended. “Students had in-class discussions and projects, and went on a learning journey on upcycling,” says Ms Tan. “Some of our students, being very hands-on and kinaesthetic in nature, found the classroom portions a bit dry.”
While considering how to make the programme more engaging for all students, the teachers in the ALP team wondered: what if students could learn through a self-paced game with puzzles to keep them motivated and actively involved? This way, their understanding of the content could be assessed too."
Wayfinding through the secondary school years (28 May 2025)
"The teenage years can be some of the most tumultuous ones. Three resilient teens give us a glimpse into their lives and how they navigate the pressures of their growing-up years.
Secondary school represents the beginning of teenage years and an important stage of growth, where students are exposed to new experiences and academic, social and personal stresses. The challenges faced during this time can be significant for teens, so we speak to three secondary school students to learn about how they are overcoming these hurdles by understanding their needs and finding support in the people around them.
Ruth Kan unwinds with books and art, and says managing the boundaries between school responsibilities and play is a delicate balancing act
Like many students, the things that dampen Ruth’s everyday mood revolve around studies, such as seemingly endless piles of homework or lagging behind in revision. The Secondary 4 student at Kent Ridge Secondary School admits that managing the increased academic difficulty at the Secondary 4 level, while juggling her Student Council and floorball CCA commitments, is no small feat.
To unwind from the pressures of school, Ruth reads and sketches at home. “Since young, I have always been interested in drawing animals.” For four years now, she has allocated consistent time to practise drawing, resulting in the highly realistic animal art she produces today.
Ruth manages to juggle her hobbies alongside all her other responsibilities thanks to a keen sense of how to delineate time. While she has Student Council duties before or after school hours, “I try not to let that affect my studies,” she explains. By completing her homework and studying in school, she keeps her time at home free for recreational activities.
Besides that, Ruth also dexterously adjusts the amount of time she spends on recreation during busier seasons. For example, she allows herself time to do one piece of art before going back to her studies. This way, she effectively sets boundaries between work and play to keep a good balance between the two. “When I study, I study very hard. When I’m not, I don’t touch my textbooks at all.”
Ruth also credits her school’s Character and Citizenship Education programme with helping her cope with the challenging teenage years. She gives the example of how teachers have offered advice on time management to help students revise effectively and feel less overwhelmed. “In this way, we are able to learn how to navigate through our feelings and problems,” she says."
Where sports meets syntax (3 June 2025)
“The football field and the classroom aren’t as different as they appear,” says this English Teacher who applies the same winning techniques in coaching and crafting lessons.
By Sabrina Lee
In Bartley Secondary School, Mr Lee Guo Sheng moves seamlessly between two seemingly different worlds: the football field and the classroom. His systematic and measurable approach to both coaching the sport and teaching English relies on the same principle – breaking complex skills into measurable steps. Here’s how this educator scaffolds learning on and off the field.
Breaking down success on the field
In Mr Lee’s Football Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), he uses a goal setting approach where he establishes clear, measurable targets for players: “This week, focus on making 10 successful passes to teammates. Next week, we’ll aim for 15.” For shooting practice, it’s equally concrete: “Today, try to score once within the penalty area. By month’s end, let’s work toward scoring two times from the same position.”
Alumnus Kendrick Hiang, who is currently pursuing coaching qualifications through the Singapore Coach Excellence (SG-Coach) Programme, is proof of just how well this approach works.
Mr Lee recalls, “When Kendrick first joined the CCA, he would kick the ball as hard as he could and hope for the best.” So, he started working with Kendrick one-on-one at the start and end of every practice session, repeating the basics to build confidence."
Why choosing the JC Arts stream was the best decision for me (17 June 2025)
"I was torn between passion and pragmatism when I entered Catholic Junior College, but I decided to go with my heart and am glad to say that I have no regrets.
By Yee En Xue
Like many of my junior college schoolmates, I wrestled with the idea of choosing the Arts stream over the Science stream when I entered Catholic Junior College (CJC). Society often champions STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) pathways for their perceived stability, which leaves students like us, who gravitate toward the humanities, questioning whether following our interests is practical. Eventually, I gave in to my love for literature and writing, and after a year of studying the Arts, I can confidently say it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.
A surprisingly pragmatic journey of passion
While there is a prevailing perception that choosing the Science stream is more pragmatic, embarking on an education pathway that does not align with one’s passion can be demoralising too. Many of my humanities-inclined friends who opted for the Science stream tell me that they look back at their decision with regret and now wonder if they would feel more fulfilled had they chosen to follow their interests instead.
Now that I’m in JC2, I can surprisingly say that the Arts stream, besides being a path of self-expression, is also one that is practical and filled with opportunities. From Day One in JC, I have been exposed to a rich tapestry of learning experiences that goes beyond textbooks. And that has led me to discovering that my passions have real-world examples and applications.
For example, “language change” is not only a linguistic concept I learnt in English Language and Linguistics (ELL), but also a reality that underpins the global linguistic landscape as proven by the famous evolution of the word “Google” from a proper noun to a verb. We see it in social media too, with the coinage of new words like “doomscrolling”, and the broadening of the meaning of the word “story” beyond simply being a narrative or account of events."
All in a night’s work: How sleep shapes tomorrow’s learning (19 June 2025)
"From bedtime battles to moody mornings, two local researchers help unpack what parents need to know about their children’s sleep health. They also debunk adult myths about sleep that may be keeping our young ones from restful slumber.
As part of the Grow Well SG movement, families are encouraged to build strong daily habits that help children thrive. Research shows that children need more rest than adults often realise; it supports brain development, emotion regulation and the ability to focus in school.
But as children grow more independent, sleep can slip down the priority list. That’s why it’s important for parents to help build healthy routines early. To support parents in doing that, we asked two experts – Associate Professor Joshua J Gooley, a sleep scientist at Duke-NUS Medical School, and Professor John Wang Chee Keng, a chartered sport and exercise psychologist and physical activity and sedentary behavioural researcher at the National Institute of Education – to tackle some common sleep myths and share research-backed advice for families.
1. “My child seems okay on just 6 hours of sleep.”
Children might power through the day, but that doesn’t mean they are thriving. “Just one night of inadequate sleep will result in a drop in attention performance the next day,” says Assoc Prof Gooley.
Lack of sleep also shows up in different ways for kids. For example, they could struggle to focus or manage their impulses and become more irritable. When sleep deprivation becomes chronic, it takes a toll on their mental well-being. “It’s a vicious circle,” says Prof Wang. “In the long term, moodiness may kick in. If you’re not in a good mood chronically, then it’s also hard to have positive relationships with others. On top of that, their academic performance may drop. Then they’ll feel anxious trying to improve their grades, but they can’t, because their cognitive functions are hindered.”
Biologically, children need more sleep, notes Assoc Prof Gooley. “Their brain just needs more sleep to grow, recover and retain new information,” he explains. “We know that when you’re well-rested, your attention is much better. And attention is the starting point for everything else that follows.”
As a father of two children, he knows it isn’t so straightforward, of course. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a sleep researcher. My kids also want to go to bed later than they should,” he muses. “So, there is a struggle sometimes. But we try to get them into a routine from an early age: that going to bed late is not what we do as a family.”
Levelling up students’ resilience with CCE lessons (23 June 2025)
"From mending broken pottery with gold to engaging in bonding activities, students share how CCE lessons have shaped them.
By Eveline Gan
What do you do when confronted by setbacks, failure and disagreements? For students at Crest Secondary School, Deyi Secondary School and St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School, these challenges aren’t seen as obstacles – they are opportunities to grow stronger, more resilient or become a better friend.
Schoolbag chats with teachers and students to learn how Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons help students level up their social-emotional skills and tackle life’s ups and downs.
Seeing the value and beauty in failing at Crest Secondary School
Failure is often seen as something to be avoided, but for a group of 14-year-old students at Crest Secondary School, a Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lesson inspired by Kintsugi has reshaped the way they view and respond to failure.
Kintsugi is a traditional art form originating from Japan, where broken pottery is repaired with lacquer dusted with gold. To simulate this process in class, the students were tasked with creating art out of torn pieces of paper. Mr Ooi Heng, who led the CCE lesson with his form class, explains that the goal was to show students how broken things can become something even more valuable and beautiful.
“Just as pottery becomes stronger and more beautiful with its gold-filled cracks, failure is an opportunity for the students to grow into more resilient individuals,” says Mr Ooi, who is also the Subject Head for Science and Environmental Education."
‘I can read a whole paragraph now!’ (25 June 2025)
"In this second instalment on the School-based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) programme, let us find out how SDR has been making a difference in the students’ literacy journey, and how some of the techniques can be applied at home.
“Last time I couldn’t read any words, but now I can read a whole paragraph!” exclaims Keira Lim. The Primary 3 student at Singapore’s Xishan Primary School is not just celebrating a personal victory; she is articulating quiet breakthroughs happening in mainstream classrooms across the island.
During the thrice-weekly hour-long sessions after school, teachers trained in the School-based Dyslexia Remediation (SDR) programme patiently guide small groups of 4 to 5 students, systematically build reading skills through phonics, sight words, and reading comprehension strategies.
“The challenges are as diverse as the students themselves,” reflects Ms H’ng Hwee Shi, Senior Teacher, Learning Needs. She explains that some students struggle to read individual words but still grasp the overall meaning, while others read fluently yet have difficulty understanding what they have read.
Teachers tailor their approach for each student by turning their learning challenges into stepping stones for success. For Keira, who once struggled with reading materials meant for her age, the strategies she learnt during SDR sessions not only helped her progress but also enabled her to help her classmates.
“In regular classes, they’re the silent ones,” Ms H’ng says, describing her students with dyslexia. “But in these small SDR groups, they come alive.” She observes how the intimate setting transforms her students’ willingness to take risks, to stumble through difficult words, and to raise their hands. “When they stop fearing mistakes,” she adds, “they start believing in themselves.”
“Watching a child go from struggling to read to being able to read to learn – it makes every challenge worth it,” says Ms H’ng. “With three lessons a week, each lasting about 45 minutes, the SDR is rigorous and demanding for the teachers to implement, but it is rewarding to witness students grow in confidence as they progress in their literacy skills.”
‘Ma, I’m not JUST a goalkeeper’ – how my child taught me a parenting lesson (25 June 2025)
"Sports can bring out the competitive spirit in our children, but who is the one in the spotlight? This writer weighs in on how she learned a thing or two about supporting her child’s strengths and interests.
By Linda Lee
When it comes to team sports, the goal is simple: win as a team. But there’s always an MVP or two, right?
Which is why, in football, the spotlight usually lands on the strikers. Not the goalkeeper. The goalie rarely gets cheers for doing his job. But if he dives the wrong way or misses a penalty? Cue the groans.
So, my son has been playing football for a while. He’s tried out various positions but recently chose to settle on goalkeeping.
Being the involved (read: slightly meddling) mum I am, I gently suggested he consider a position with more visibility—and more running. Not going to lie, I thought it might help him shed some baby fats.
But more than that, I didn’t want him to feel like a spare part while his teammates dashed around. With his naturally “chillax” nature, I worried he might have just accepted a role no one else wanted. I nudged him to speak to his coach. “Or I could talk to him, if you prefer,” I offered.
He hemmed and hawed, and I silently wished he’d just speak up for what he wanted.
Then one day, he did.
“I want to be a goalkeeper because I don’t think I can outrun my friends,” he said, in a very demure, very thoughtful manner. “And I enjoy the wind in my hair when I dive for the ball. So, I think this position works for the team and me.”
That was my moment of clarity: It’s not about what I want. It’s about what he wants."
13 and ready for social media… or not? (26 June 2025)
"Ever wondered why social media apps are rated as 12+ on the Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store? Is 13 the ‘magic age’ when children can be on social media? Aside from age, what else should parents be looking out for in terms of whether their children are social-media ready? Ministry of Education’s Senior Guidance Specialist Hendriawan Selamat shares more in this article.
Your child has been telling you that they want to sign up for a social media account. Their 13th birthday has recently passed and that’s the minimum age social media platforms require users to be. So, it should be ok, right?
Hold on.
13 – the magic number?
Are 13-year-olds really mature enough and ready for social media? And why is the age restriction up to 13 years of age?
The minimum age of 13 for social media accounts comes from the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a 1998 law protecting children’s privacy. When users sign up for social media accounts, they must declare that they are 13 or older, allowing platforms to collect their information. However, this age requirement is based on privacy law rather than whether teens are actually ready for social media.
To ensure that children are protected by the safety features that have been built into the various platforms, it is important that the age provided when setting up the account is accurate. For example, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram automatically make accounts for users 13- to 16-year-olds private by default and prevent strangers from direct messaging them. Parents need to be aware that lying about children’s age when signing up for social media accounts bypasses important safety and privacy features designed to protect young users.
Sensitive content that may be considered upsetting, offensive or sensitive are often restricted for younger users. Hence by not providing their actual age, children have higher risks of exposure to inappropriate and sensitive content."
Reaching out with regular check-ins and heartfelt chats (26 June 2025)
"Educators across three schools share how they help students who are facing challenges feel seen, supported and understood.
Can you recall a time when a reassuring pat on the shoulder or a few encouraging words from a teacher lifted your spirits? In school, besides close friends, teachers are often the first to notice when something’s not quite right.
Mr Rajiv Jude Illesinghe, Subject Head of Student Well-being at Northland Primary School, believes that educators play a crucial role in supporting student well-being. “Times have changed, and with everything being online, the adversaries students now face are not as visible. That’s why it’s so important for students to see teachers as people who care about them, who want to hear their voices and say, ‘I’m here for you’,” he says.
From casual chats to insights drawn from tools such as check-in surveys, teachers from three schools share the ways in which they connect with and reach out to their students.
Northland Primary School
When one of his students began acting out in class, Mr Jude sensed that something was wrong. But the student clammed up and insisted that everything was fine when the concerned teacher checked in with him. Undeterred, Mr Jude turned to the Termly Check-in survey data that the student had completed earlier. Combing through the responses, his worry deepened.
“For questions such as ‘Are you excited about school holidays?’ and ‘Do you have friends in class?’, my student answered ‘No’. The responses unravelled a bigger picture of what the student was going through,” Mr Jude shares.
Mr Jude then reached out to the student’s parents, who were unaware of the impact certain changes in the family were having on their child. “The child’s father was moving overseas, but the parents did not realise that it was affecting their child. I advised the parents to have an open conversation with their child.”
Mr Jude shares that the student has since returned to his cheerful self. “He has moved on to secondary school but came to visit me on Teacher’s Day. He looks really joyful again,” says Mr Jude."
Beyond drawing and painting: How art teachers inspire our children and help them see the full picture (27 June 2025)
"Three Master Teachers with decades of experience in teaching art share their perspectives on how art education and art teachers, in a rapidly evolving world, are now more crucial than ever to help us thrive in future.
Ms Chun Wee San’s approach to teaching art is informed by neuroscience. She purposefully uses anecdotes to spark conversations and curiosity in her students, so that they learn and remember better. She shares three ways in which she fosters this curiosity in students, and helps them grow comfortable with uncertainty – a key trait of the world today."
Lighting Up Classrooms with the Joy of Teaching (9 July 2025)
"From quiet breakthroughs to class-wide celebrations, 12 teachers share the moments that bring a smile to their face at work.
We ask our Outstanding Youth in Education Award finalists and recipients: What brings you joy?
Mr Lim Yang Jun (Fuhua Primary School)
Teacher Recipient, OYEA 2025
Mr Lim champions inclusivity, transforming spaces to cater to students of different needs.
With his team, he introduced calming corners in every classroom, signalling that any student may experience negative emotions, and ready support is available to all, regardless of their challenges or backgrounds.
In this way, the physical environment itself becomes a powerful tool for fostering a welcoming and inclusive school community."
Thriving Together: Maximising the Potential of Education (6 March 2025)
"At the 2025 Committee of Supply Debate, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced initiatives to strengthen students' holistic development and maximise their potential, extend greater support to working adults to upskill and learn for life, as well as deepen partnerships across the education ecosystem to enhance teaching and learning. These initiatives will further advance our Forward Singapore agenda, to develop multiple pathways to success, and embrace learning beyond grades."
Infosheet 1: Revised Junior College (JC) Admission Criteria (6 March 2025)
"As part of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) efforts to broaden definitions of success beyond academic achievements and encourage holistic development in our students, MOE will revise the JC admission criteria from the 2028 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE), by reducing the number of subjects required for JC admission. With this change, students will have more scope to recalibrate their curriculum load by offering one fewer subject, and to use the freed-up time from offering one fewer subject to strengthen their development of 21st Century Competencies and pursue other interests."
Infosheet 2: Enhancing Support for Mid-career Individuals under the SkillsFuture Level-up Programme (6 March 2025)
"The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (SFLP), jointly introduced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) in 2024, is a significant commitment by the Government to make SkillsFuture as a key pillar of our social compact. It supports Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above, who are at higher risk of skills obsolescence, to pursue upskilling and reskilling to stay relevant and competitive amidst a rapidly changing economy."
New "Xin Kong Xia 2024" Album Showcases Students' Musical Talent Through Chinese Songs (14 March 2025)
"The Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) has released an album featuring 13 original songs composed by student winners from the 2024 National Schools Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition. Titled "Xin Kong Xia 2024", the album was launched today by Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, Ms Gan Siow Huang, at the National Schools Xinyao festival. The annual festival aims to promote xinyao as a vital part of our cultural heritage, and deepen students' understanding and appreciation of the Chinese language and culture."
Singapore Youth Festival 2025: Students to Showcase Aspirations for Our Nation's Future Through Diverse Art Forms (21 March 2025)
"In celebration of Singapore's 60th year of independence, the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) 2025 will showcase youth artistic talents through performances and artworks from March to July. As part of the celebration, students will express their interpretations of our nation's cultural heritage and their aspirations for building our shared future together."
Second Minister for Education Dr Maliki Osman to Attend the 15th International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Reykjavik, Iceland (23 March 2025)
"Second Minister for Education, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, will attend the 15th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) in Reykjavik, Iceland, from 24 to 26 March 2025."
World Book Day 2025 Opening Ceremony and Launch of New National Chinese Reading Contest to Cultivate Love for Reading (12 April 2025)
"More than 800 secondary and pre-university students participated in this year's World Book Day Opening Ceremony at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) on Saturday, 12 April 2025. Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), National Library Board (NLB) and HCI, the event aims to promote a culture of reading among youths."
MOE’s Statement on School Holiday and Designated Day Off-in-lieu on Monday, 5 May 2025 (16 April 2025)
"As Polling Day (3 May 2025) is a public holiday and falls on a Saturday, Monday, 5 May 2025 will be a school holiday and a designated day off-in-lieu for all staff in MOE Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary schools, as well as Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute. Classes will resume on Tuesday, 6 May 2025."
Start of 2025 Direct School Admission Exercises & ITE and Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise (6 May 2025)
"The Direct School Admission (DSA) Exercise for admission to secondary schools and junior colleges (JCs) in 2026 will open for application from 7 May 2025. Separately, applications for early admission to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnics based on course-specific aptitude and interests will start from 20 May and 2 June 2025 respectively."
2025 Primary One Registration Exercise to Start from 1 July 2025 (14 May 2025)
"New and Relocating Primary Schools to Meet Shifting Demand
The registration period for children's admission to Primary One (P1) in 2026 will be from 1 July 2025 to 31 October 2025."
Student Dancers Reimagine "Growth" Through Chinese Street Dance Competition 成长 -- 2025年第六届爱上华文街舞比赛 (17 May 2025)
"Over 200 students from 19 schools participated in the sixth edition of the Chinese Street Dance Competition. Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) and local media content company MCC, the competition aims to promote the learning of Chinese language and culture through music and dance. The Finals and Awards Ceremony were held at Our Tampines Hub's Festive Plaza today."
180 Students Take Part in Chinese Riddle Competition that Showcases their Language and Problem-Solving Skills (17 May 2025)
"180 students from 24 secondary schools participated in the fourth National Chinese Riddle Competition (全国中学生灯谜比赛) on Saturday, 17 May 2025, at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Tung Ann District Guild, Riddle Association (Singapore) and HCI, the competition aims to engage students in the art of solving Chinese riddles and foster their appreciation of Chinese language and culture."
Singapore Students Clinch Record 11 Awards at International Science and Engineering Competition (29 May 2025)
"The Singapore student delegation clinched eleven awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025 – the highest number of awards won since Singapore's first participation in ISEF in 2001. The delegation of eight students competed against more than 1,700 students from over 60 countries, regions, and territories. In total, four individual projects and two team projects were submitted to ISEF, which was held in Columbus, Ohio, USA, from 10 to 16 May 2025."
More than 650 Students Showcase News Reporting and Language Skills at Annual Competition (30 May 2025)
"This year, 652 students from 60 secondary schools participated in the fourth edition of the Young Reporter News Challenge (《我来报新闻》挑战赛). Jointly organised by the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning, MediaCorp 8world and Speak Mandarin Campaign, with support from the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, the competition aims to develop students' interest and ability to communicate and present in Mandarin, as well as their media literacy skills."
MOE Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest 2025 (3 June 2025)
"The Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest (TCEF) is organised biennially by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for teachers to learn together as a fraternity. Held from 3 to 5 June 2025, TCEF2025 will welcome over 18,000 participants and presenters, including teachers from Special Education schools who will be sharing their insights and practices for the first time at TCEF."
Pre-University Seminar 2025 – Re-imagiNATION (5 June 2025)
"552 student participants from 30 pre-university institutions participated in the Pre-University Seminar 2025 Closing Ceremony held at Nanyang Technological University. Into its 56th edition, the annual seminar, which was co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Tampines Meridian Junior College this year, was themed 'Re-imagiNATION' to encourage students, as stewards of the future, to explore innovative and improved solutions to various challenges facing the nation. Through rich discussions and interactions with people of diverse backgrounds, students explored the future of Singapore across three sub-themes, "Thrive, Connect, Grow", and were given insights into a range of issues, policies, and perspectives to build a stronger Singapore."
Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary to Visit Malaysia for ASEAN Education Roundtables on 19 June 2025 (18 June 2025)
"Senior Minister of State for Education, Dr Janil Puthucheary, will attend the ASEAN Ministers of Education and Higher Education Roundtables in Langkawi, Malaysia, on 19 June 2025."
Minister for Education Desmond Lee to Attend the 53rd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Council Conference (30 June 2025)
"Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, will attend the 53rd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Council Conference in Brunei Darussalam, from 1 to 2 July 2025."
2025 School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans (1 July 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) welcomes Singaporean students who are overseas to join our primary and secondary schools, junior colleges (JC) and Millennia Institute (MI) upon their return."
Disbursement of Child LifeSG Credits and Top-Ups to Edusave Account or Post-Secondary Education Account in July 2025 (3 July 2025)
"In July 2025, families with eligible children will receive a one-off disbursement of the Child LifeSG Credits (CLC) and/or a one-off top-up of $500 to their children's Edusave Account or Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA). These are part of the suite of household support measures to support families with children in managing their child-raising costs, which were announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2025."
Record Student Participation as Chinese Radio Drama Scriptwriting Competition Opens to Primary Schools (4 July 2025)
"A record number of more than 850 students across 69 educational institutions participated in this year's "Script it Right" Chinese Radio Drama Competition ("与声剧来"中文广播剧创作比赛). Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL), Ms Jasmin Lau, was the Guest-of-Honour at the competition's award ceremony, which recognised student winners for their strong creative writing skills, storytelling abilities and Chinese language proficiency. The competition was jointly organised by CPCLL, UFM100.3 and Holy Innocents' High School to foster students' passion for Chinese language and storytelling."
Seven Young Educators Receive National Award for Dedication in Nurturing Students (9 July 2025)
"In recognition of their unwavering dedication and impact in nurturing their students, seven teachers received the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA) from Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Teachers' Investiture Ceremony held on Wednesday, 9 July 2025."
Did not 'feel right': Yale-NUS students say they were asked to destroy DVDs (28 May 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Yale-NUS students who worked as student associates at the college library said they were asked to render DVDs unusable by library staff in April - about a month before the final cohort graduated.
Two of them who spoke to CNA on condition of anonymity said they had not known beforehand that they were to scratch DVDs until they were assigned to do so during their respective shifts.
Both recalled using penknives to scratch the discs. One of them, Janet (not her real name), said a librarian had instructed her to make four cuts on the discs so they could no longer be read."
Josephine Teo unveils enhanced Singapore AI language model, encourages workers to boost basic AI skills (28 May 2025)
"SINGAPORE: An enhanced version of a locally developed large language model now understands more Southeast Asian languages and possesses code-switching and emotion recognition capabilities.
The updated version of the Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network (MERaLiON) is able to handle Malay, Tamil, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia and Vietnamese, on top of English, Mandarin and Singlish.
Developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the upgrades were announced by Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo at tech event ATxSummit."
'Anxious, uncertain': US study plans for Singaporeans derailed by halt on new student visas (29 May 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Music teacher Sharon had long dreamed of studying piano in the United States. With her children now grown, she finally pursued that goal – auditioning in person, enduring multiple screening rounds and securing offers from two American universities.
But on Tuesday (May 27), her plans were thrown into turmoil.
An internal cable obtained by Reuters revealed that US President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered consular offices worldwide to stop scheduling new visa interviews for students and exchange visitors. The move comes as the State Department prepares to expand its vetting of applicants' social media activity."
'Art should be for everyone': She started Senisini for youths to meet, create art and make new friends (30 May 2025)
"The lights in the room are dim, but the walls burst with bright, vibrant colours, vivid shadows, and beautiful patterns – a montage of batik, tie-dye, shadow puppetry and more. I was at an art jamming session, or an art club, as Senisini calls it, and I was floored.
Senisini means "art here" in Malay, and the ground-up organisation, founded by Iffah Syafiqah Yusof, provides a creative space for youths.
A commercial analyst by day but an artist at heart, the 26-year-old Singaporean told CNA Women that Senisini began as a passion project with a few friends in August 2024."
Commentary: Yale-NUS library outcry was never just about rehoming books (30 May 2025)
"SINGAPORE: It is an oddity in our world of fast fashion and disposables that we’re reluctant to dispose of books. While I’m unsentimental about discarding old clothes and furniture, books give me pause: Those that did not move out with me still form a disorderly pile in my parents' place, eliciting occasional mild distress.
I'm clearly not alone: The active Facebook group Books Don't Throw (Singapore) is 117,000-strong and growing. Community libraries have flourished, run out of Housing Board void decks or like the Casual Poet Library, where individual shelves are rented and curated by different owners. The outrage over the ill-considered and unceremonious disposal of books from the Yale-NUS College library is more evidence of how many of us feel strongly about books.
One of my most prized possessions is a second-hand copy of How the Hills Are Distant, a poetry collection by the late pioneering Malaysian poet Wong Phui Nam, published in 1968. Mr Wong was a beloved friend and mentor, a friendship that bridged our difference in years, before he passed in 2022."
An underreported problem? Survey finds 30% of Singapore secondary school students claim they have been bullied (30 May 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A survey by CNA's Talking Point programme has found that student bullying could be more pervasive than official figures suggest, with about 30 per cent of secondary school students in Singapore claiming they have been bullied.
Among these, almost half said the instances took place in the past year.
A total of 1,010 students aged 13 to 17 and spread across 149 secondary schools were surveyed on their experiences with bullying in 2024."
Having always struggled to make friends at school or work, this is how I started seeking out real connections on my own (30 May 2025)
"I had few friends while growing up. Throughout my schooling years, I felt like an outsider whenever my peers on campus talked animatedly about football or their favourite K-pop idols.
I didn’t particularly enjoy any of the same activities or interests, so I didn’t really know how to have extended conversations with them.
Watching my peers interact easily with each other, I always figured I was socially inept. “Something must be wrong with me,” I thought. For years, loneliness was a constant shadow looming over me."
'Too hot to think': Rising heat leaves Singapore students cranky and distracted (30 May 2025)
"With temperatures soaring during Singapore's hottest months of May and June, 43-year-old Clement Tan is concerned about how the heat is affecting his children in school.
“Their school is in an older building and I’ve been there for meet-the-parents sessions. The fans do not provide ventilation throughout the whole classroom and it can be really uncomfortable at certain parts of the classroom,” Mr Tan, a litigation lawyer, said. He has three children aged 10, seven and five.
He has equipped his two older children, who study at Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), with handheld fans to give them some reprieve from the weather. The school has also allowed students to wear their physical education (PE) attire throughout the day, which has helped keep them cool and complaint-free."
Final-year polytechnic student Georgina Dobson wins Mediacorp's 987 STAR competition (1 June 2025)
"A new voice may soon grace the airwaves: The winner of Mediacorp's 987 STAR 2025 competition, final-year psychology studies student from Temasek Polytechnic Georgina Pattarida Dobson.
Dobson on Saturday (May 31) beat out the other three finalists – Lex Whitlock, Nicolette Callie Wee and Shaniah Kiew – in a two-hour grand finale to win the S$5,000 cash prize, courtesy of Fisherman's Friend, and a contract with Mediacorp 987.
According to Dobson's LinkedIn profile, she is also president of her polytechnic's emcees club."
ECDA investigating potential breach over abrupt closure of Little Paddington Preschool's Bishan branch (3 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is investigating a preschool for giving parents just one day's notice of a branch closure.
Parents of children enrolled at Little Paddington Preschool's Bishan centre were only informed on May 30 that the school’s lease of its premises would be expiring on May 31.
The school later delayed the closure to Jun 10, and offered enrolment in another branch, and transport for affected children."
NIE's postgraduate teacher training programme to be shortened by four months: Desmond Lee (3 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The National Institute of Education's 16-month postgraduate programme for teachers-in-training will be shortened to a 12-month course, Minister for Education Desmond Lee announced on Tuesday (Jun 3).
Speaking at a teachers' conference on his ninth day at the ministry, Mr Lee said the refreshed programme will have a stronger focus on integrating theory and practical application.
After graduating from the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme, the new teachers will also have more support for professional learning, which will be grounded in authentic classroom experiences, he said."
Woman charged with giving false information during P1 registration to have daughter enrolled in school (5 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A 41-year-old woman was charged in court on Thursday (Jun 5) with giving false information in order to enrol her daughter in a school in the north of Singapore during the Primary 1 registration in 2023.
The Singaporean woman was handed one amalgamated charge of giving false information to a public servant and two counts under the National Registration Act and National Registration Regulations.
She cannot be named due to a gag order imposed by the court to protect her daughter's identity."
Quality of teacher training matters more than duration of NIE programme, aspiring educators say (5 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Reducing the duration of postgraduate teacher training in Singapore from 16 months to 12 could make a difference in attracting applicants, but won't be as important as making the programme both effective and efficient, aspiring educators said.
Earlier this week, Education Minister Desmond Lee announced that the training period for the National Institute of Education’s (NIE) Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) would be shortened by four months.
This is part of a regular review of teacher preparation programmes, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and NIE."
Singapore exploring 'worst-case scenario' solutions for its Harvard students: Vivian Balakrishnan (7 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore is trying to find solutions to deal with the "worst-case scenario" where Singaporean Harvard University students are not able to study in Boston, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said on Saturday (Jun 7).
His ministry will continue to seek clarification on international student visas with the US State Department and Department of Homeland Security, he told reporters, though he made no promises that the matter would be resolved in time.
Dr Balakrishnan on Saturday completed a four-day working visit to Washington DC. This was the first ministerial visit to the US since both countries elected new governments."
Mandatory measles immunity for maids working in households with young children who are not fully vaccinated (10 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From Sep 1, maids working in households with young children who are not fully vaccinated against measles must be immunised against the disease.
This mandatory immunisation is aimed at protecting "unvaccinated young children who are at higher risk of serious health complications from measles infections", said the Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday (Jun 10).
The measure also comes amid a recent jump in infections in the US. Ten cases have also been recorded in Singapore this year as of the week ending May 10, according to the Ministry of Health’s weekly infectious disease bulletin. That is just one short of the 11 cases logged throughout all of 2024."
School holiday enrichment classes see surge in demand, including for preschoolers (11 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Enrolments for holiday enrichment classes have more than doubled during the June school break, with education providers attributing the surge to tighter travel budgets and parents seeking meaningful ways to engage their young ones.
This rising demand is not limited to older children, with preschoolers now diving into programmes ranging from robotics to public speaking."
As a child, I thought my dad was ‘boring’. As a new parent, I’m learning that the boring stuff is often what matters most (13 June 2025)
"In March 2024, I became a father. Now, one year and three months on, I’m still figuring things out day by day. Curiously, I now find myself looking back more often than ever before – back to my own childhood with my own father.
In my secondary school years, I had a close friend who was both my classmate and teammate in our co-curricular activity, basketball. My friend’s father would come to watch all our basketball games and, afterwards, would talk extensively and openly about how he felt our team and my friend had performed.
Whenever father and son had differing opinions, they would have a healthy debate about it, and were comfortable doing so even in front of others. They shared a rapport that seemed so vibrant and dynamic."
Why I use Gen Z and Gen Alpha lingo with my kids, even when they roll their eyes (14 June 2025)
“Alright, I think I totally nailed that and aura farmed, am I right?” I said, beaming with pride at the back-cam wefie I’d just taken that had actually turned out well.
My 16-year-old daughter Kirsten, bless her, fought off every instinct to roll her eyes – an effort I appreciated deeply – and replied with a straight face: “No, actually. Just by saying that, you lost aura points.”
“Huh, so it wasn’t sigma?” I asked, grinning. “You didn’t like the rizz-sults?”
This time, her eye roll came not as a conscious decision but a gag reflex."
Preschool teacher admits to deliberately tripping toddler, who fell and bled from nose (16 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A preschool teacher who deliberately swept her legs under a toddler several times, causing her to fall flat twice, admitted to her charges on Monday (Jun 16).
As a result of her fall, the 20-month-old girl bled from her nose and bruised her face.
Saiidah Kamarudin, 34, pleaded guilty to one out of two counts of ill treating the girl, causing her unnecessary pain and injury. Saiidah initially claimed trial but decided to plead guilty on the first day after some delay."
Rise in youth gaming addiction due to more enticing games and smart devices, say counsellors (17 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Therapists and counsellors said more enticing games developed in recent years and the prevalence of smart devices have led to a rise in gaming addiction cases.
Mr Chai Binhua, a counsellor at addiction recovery centre We Care Community Services, told CNA he has seen a 30 per cent increase in people seeking help for video game and device addictions since 2019.
He added that youths make up more than 80 per cent of the cases the centre is receiving."
Jail for private tutor who filmed himself in lewd acts as he stood behind young female students (17 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A man who tutored female students at his flat would commit sexual acts as he stood behind the teen girls, even touching them with his private parts.
The girls would be unaware of these acts as Michael Martin Lee Teck Heng, now aged 58, would place his hand on the back or shoulder of the girl to disguise the contact.
His offences came to light after the private tutor was caught exposing himself in public."
IN FOCUS: In Singapore's Scrabble scene, 'phenoms' and casuals unite on the quest for word domination (18 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: They sit across each other, staring intently at the tables in front of them. Some clutch their heads, frowning; others are relaxed. No one speaks.
The only sounds come from ticking clocks and small, plastic square tiles being sifted in small velvet bags before they take up positions on a board.
This was not quite the level of intensity I expected to observe at the Millennium Cup, an annual Scrabble tournament in Singapore.
Here at a multi-purpose hall in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), over 50 players young and old engaged in 16 rounds of hour-long matches over two days. The concentration was relentless; the effort total."
Boy, 17, accused of deceiving ex-schoolmate into degrading acts, such as drinking own urine (18 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Two 17-year-old boys were charged in court on Wednesday (Jun 18) for alleged crimes against their former schoolmate, with one accused of deceiving the male victim into soaking his genitals in chilli oil and consuming his own urine.
The two accused youths are also said to have extorted money from the alleged victim by threatening to distribute compromising videos of him.
The teenagers and the alleged victim cannot be named as their identities are protected under a gag order imposed by the court. The victim's age was not revealed in court documents."
Former teacher who molested 7-year-old student in classroom jailed for 9 months (20 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former Chinese language teacher who touched the inner thigh of his female student, then around seven years old, was given nine months' jail on Friday (Jun 20).
The molestation was in 2019 but left a mark on the young girl's mind until she reported it three years later.
The 38-year-old Malaysian national and Singapore permanent resident pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated molest of a victim under 14."
Jail for part-time tutor who filmed young students, own sisters in toilets over 10 years (20 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: In 2011, a man began illicitly filming females in their private moments, beginning with his sisters.
While he used his mobile phone initially, the man, now 31, started buying spy camera pens for the purpose and widened his net in the course of a decade to include scores of other victims, including his ex-girlfriend, cousin, and students and staff from an education centre he taught at part-time.
Investigators who went through his recordings established that they were filmed at the education centre, at the residences of relatives, friends and tutees, and in shopping centre toilets. No fewer than eight victims were identified in his videos."
‘Kids with no future?’ 3 teens in Singapore share why they quit school and how they’re rebuilding (20 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Two years ago, Mohd Sulaiman Mohd Lizam became a father and officially withdrew from secondary school to support his young family — taking on night shifts at warehouses and working as a delivery rider.
As he turned 17, he believed school dropouts like himself were seen as “kids with no future”.
But that outlook recently changed when he learnt that he had received S$4,187 in donations, far beyond the S$1,500 goal his social worker had set in a Give.Asia campaign."
US social media screening for visas: Should foreign students simply delete 'hostile' posts? (20 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The United States' move to tighten social media screening for visas has left some foreign students perplexed and contemplating deleting their online accounts.
Experts meanwhile have highlighted the challenges in scrubbing digital footprints, as well as the potential chilling effect of the new requirements.
President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday (Jun 18) ordered the resumption of scheduling appointments for international student visas after nearly a month-long pause. But all applicants will now be required to make their social media accounts public for review."
From troubled teen to caring teacher: How this 31-year-old educator found his calling helping children with special needs (20 June 2025)
"Physical education (PE) teacher Kumaran Arumugam described himself in his younger days as someone who was impatient, temperamental and often “gets into fights with just about anyone”.
“My younger self would not have imagined what I am doing right now,” the 31-year-old said. He has since spent a decade coaching sports to children with special needs.
For the past six years, he has been teaching PE at Lighthouse School in Toa Payoh and he is also the co-founder of Fitty Witty Sports, an organisation that teaches sports to underprivileged and special needs children."
Commentary: No bruises, no visible signs of distress - child abuse often hides in plain sight (24 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From Umaisyah and Megan Khung to the unnamed boy who was caged and scalded to death, several high-profile child abuse cases in recent years have captured public attention, not only for their severity, but for how long the harm went undetected. Each time, the same questions echo: How could so many eyes miss the signs? Why didn’t someone step in sooner?
The uncomfortable truth is that most abuse doesn’t look the way we expect.
It is rarely loud or dramatic. More often, it hides in silence, in carefully rehearsed responses, or in small changes in behaviour."
Former Pasir Panjang English School, NatSteel pavilion and 20 Turf City buildings to be conserved (25 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The former Pasir Panjang English School, the NatSteel pavilion in Jurong and 20 buildings at Bukit Timah's Turf City will be conserved under the country's latest land use master plan.
This expands on an earlier list of five sites announced in May – including the Singapore Badminton Hall and Jurong Hill Tower – that were earmarked for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
“We will continue to incorporate greenery and heritage considerations into our planning processes, and balance these carefully with developmental needs,” National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said at the launch of an exhibition for URA’s Draft Master Plan 2025 on Wednesday (Jun 25)."
From tutorbots at Harvard to talent strategies at Micron, AI is reshaping the future of work and learning (26 June 2025)
"At this year’s Adult Learning Xchange, educators and industry leaders explored the ways in which artificial intelligence is transforming learning and work by empowering employees to focus on their strengths.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into nearly every facet of modern life, the conversation has shifted from what AI can do to how people can thrive alongside it.
AI is no longer confined to automating processes or improving efficiency. Increasingly, it is reshaping how people learn, work and collaborate, which raises urgent questions about the future of human roles in an AI-powered world. In particular, how can AI be harnessed to amplify how people think critically, solve complex problems and create with purpose?
These questions took centre stage at this year’s Adult Learning Xchange (ALX2025), the Institute for Adult Learning’s (IAL) flagship biennial symposium, held on May 29 and 30 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The event brought together leaders in education, business and technology to explore how AI can be applied ethically and meaningfully to support lifelong learning and unlock human potential."
NTU to convene panel with AI experts to consider appeal of student accused of academic fraud (26 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will convene an appeal review panel that will include artificial intelligence experts following accusations that a student committed academic fraud by using generative AI tools.
A spokesperson from the university said on Thursday (Jun 26) that the school met two out of the three students who were accused of academic misconduct for face-to-face consultations this week. The objective of the consultation was to assess the grounds for appeal, and no conclusions were made.
One student’s appeal was processed following the consultation, while the other student’s was rejected, the spokesperson said."
2,000 children to take part in food allergy study as clinic cases rise in Singapore (26 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Ms Amanda Chan's son Corey was about four months old when she learnt that he had food allergies, setting off an "incredibly tough" first year of his life.
"Three meals a day became a bit of a traumatic experience, because at that point, he couldn't speak. So anything I put in his mouth, I didn't know whether I was going to be harming him," said Ms Chan.
Corey, now 10, has been allergic to eggs, dairy, peanuts and dust mites since infancy. In the early years, the lack of awareness and information on food allergies in the local context was a challenge for Ms Chan."
Arts groups boost offerings as NAC expands arts education programme to all preschools by 2027 (26 June 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The National Arts Council (NAC) plans to expand its Arts Education Programme (AEP) to include all preschools by 2027.
The AEP currently serves more than 500 government-assisted preschools.
It offers about 1,400 programmes led by 300 artists and arts groups, supported by about 2,000 registered arts educators."
In 2018, I lost my IT job and thought I’d never be in tech again. Now I teach AI to students and adult learners (27 June 2025)
"In late 2018, I was the head of IT in a firm I had dedicated many years of my life to. One afternoon, I was called into a meeting, handed an envelope, and told that my role had been made redundant. Just like that, 18 years of hard work, late nights and quiet sacrifices went up in smoke.
The first thing I did was call my wife. She didn’t say much, just “Come home first. We’ll figure it out.”
Her words grounded me in that moment. Because truthfully, my mind was completely blank – I had no idea what to do next."
'Affordable, safe and rigorous' – but are Singapore’s universities truly elite? (27 June 2025)
"When Mr Martin Ruzicka first applied to universities in 2022, Asia was not even on his radar. But after his first semester at University College London (UCL), he withdrew and transferred halfway around the world to continue his studies in Singapore.
The 20-year-old from the Czech Republic is now in his second year of business school at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Why the switch from UCL – widely considered as one of the best universities in the United Kingdom – to NTU?"
'A pioneering figure': Former NUS law school dean Thio Su Mien dies at 86 (30 June 2025)
"Singapore (NUS) law faculty and co-founder of TSMP Law Corporation, died on Monday (Jun 30) at the age of 86.
In a statement, TSMP called her a "pioneering figure" in Singapore’s legal landscape and lauded her "trailblazing role" in legal academia.
"The partners of TSMP Law Corporation are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our esteemed founder Dr Thio Su Mien. Dr Thio’s contributions to the profession and society have left an indelible mark," said the boutique law firm."
Driver who caused death of pillion rider not NUS student; police looking into his claim (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The police are looking into the claim by a driver who caused a pillion rider's death that he was a student of the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Singaporean Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat, 30, had been identified as an NUS student at the time of the incident, in reports on court proceedings based on official court documents.
However, after Tee's sentencing, NUS posted a statement on Facebook saying that Tee "has no affiliation with this university"."
New AMK Hub library will be more accessible but may be more crowded, library patrons say (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Retiree Betty Goh visits Ang Mo Kio Public Library every morning from Monday to Friday. She lives two bus stops away and visits the library to read the newspapers and books as part of her daily routine.
Come 2026, Ms Goh and other regular patrons of Ang Mo Kio Public Library will have to go to AMK Hub for their fix of books and a quiet, air-conditioned space. The National Library Board (NLB) confirmed on Jul 1 that the library branch will relocate next year.
The 67-year-old told CNA that she had already heard rumours about the move before it was officially announced, adding that other regulars at the library had discussed it, too."
Families with eligible children to get S$500 in Child LifeSG credits in July (2 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Families with eligible children will get S$500 (US$393) in Child LifeSG credits later this month, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) jointly said on Thursday (Jul 3).
Those with older children will also get S$500 in top-ups to their Edusave or Post-Secondary Education accounts in July, the ministries added. These one-off support measures were first announced in February's Budget speech by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to support families with children in managing their child-raising costs.
CHILD LIFESG CREDITS
The Child LifeSG credits for children born between 2013 and 2024 are set to be disbursed during the week starting from Jul 7, while for those born this year, the expected disbursement is in April 2026.
More than 450,000 children are expected to benefit from the credits, said the ministries."
From rejection to reinvention: Some fresh graduates, retrenched workers find their way out despite sluggish job market (4 July 2025)
"For many fresh graduates today, landing a job right out of university may feel like a pipe dream given the tough labour market.
Mr Dylan Sim, 26, who graduated as a valedictorian from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a degree in Southeast Asian Studies in June last year, had expected to secure full-time employment within four months.
But nearly a year after graduation, he found himself still hunting for a job, having already encountered “countless rejections, failed interviews and even an offer being rescinded”."
The ex-scholar who took a risk and booked a one-way ticket to the US during COVID in search of a job (5 July 2025)
"When Debbie Soon arrived in Los Angeles at the start of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had brought the world to a standstill.
While family and friends were hunkering down in Singapore, Ms Soon had other plans.
Leaving behind a stable role at mixed martial arts organisation ONE Championship – where she worked after completing her scholarship bond and also at Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC – she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to the United States without a job waiting for her on the other side."
I don’t want to micro-manage my kids’ schoolwork. But as a PSLE parent, do I have any other choice? (5 July 2025)
"In October 2024, I declared that I would be easing up on pressuring my five kids to do well in school.
I wrote: “Sometimes our kids need to fall before they can decide to pick themselves up and keep walking. As parents, we can guide and support – but we can’t live their lives for them.”
I received mixed responses to that piece from friends and family, who largely fell into two camps: “Their Grades, Their Choices” and “I’ll Do Anything It Takes To Help My Child Succeed”."
Technical issue causes tank to collide into traffic light during National Day Parade education show (6 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A tank experienced a technical issue on Saturday (Jul 5) during a National Day Parade 2025 education show, causing it to come into contact with a traffic light.
In response to queries from CNA, a Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) spokesperson said the incident took place at about 7.20pm.
The Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank (L2SG) experienced a technical issue following the Mobile Column segment of the National Day Parade 2025 National Education (NE) Show 2.
“This resulted in an incident along North Bridge Road, where the tank came into contact with a traffic light,” said the spokesperson."
*SCAPE to reopen in November, offering more room for programmes aimed at youths (7 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Youth hangout spot *SCAPE, will fully reopen in November this year after three years of upgrading works, with an expected annual footfall of more than 2 million people.
The space, located in the heart of Orchard Road, will shift its focus from retail offerings to youth-led programmes such as career pathways and community building.
It plans to add 30 per cent more openings for such programmes. Through this, it hopes to reach more than 30,000 youths every year, said Mr Ethen Ong, deputy executive director of *SCAPE."
Trying to catch students using AI a 'lost cause', Singapore university professors say (8 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When Tim was tasked with a written assignment last semester, the third-year engineering student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) simply turned to ChatGPT.
Using his senior’s essay as a reference, he asked the generative artificial intelligence tool to construct a new essay. He then rewrote it into something he was “capable of” and submitted it as his own.
“It’s very hard to get caught,” said the 24-year-old, who requested that his real name not be published."
New SkillsFuture registry to boost quality of educators with regular training from next April (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is aiming to level up the quality of its educators through a new national registry.
The lifelong learning statutory board said these efforts are part of an initiative called the Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway (TAEPP).
The initiative is developed by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) with the support of SSG to improve the professionalism of the training and adult education sector.
Educators delivering SSG-supported training will be required to be on the new registry from Apr 1 next year. The registration process will commence from the fourth quarter this year."
Woman charged with sexually grooming her primary school student, stalking him (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A woman who allegedly committed sexual offences against a primary school student and stalked him was charged on Wednesday (Jul 9).
The court imposed an order preventing the 34-year-old Singaporean woman and the boy from being identified. Court records showed that the accused was the victim's primary school teacher at the time.
She faces four charges of causing sexual penetration of a minor, performing an indecent act with a child, sexual grooming and stalking."
MOE to hire more than 1,000 teachers annually: Desmond Lee (9 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to hire more than 1,000 teachers annually, said Minister for Education Desmond Lee on Wednesday (Jul 9).
Mr Lee, who was speaking at the annual Teachers’ Investiture Ceremony at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Nanyang Technological University, said the move was aimed at strengthening the teaching profession.
MOE previously said that it recruits up to 700 teachers annually, a figure that has remained consistent over time."
NUS researchers tried to influence AI-generated peer reviews by hiding prompt in paper (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A team of National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers attempted to sway peer reviews generated by artificial intelligence by hiding a prompt in a paper they submitted.
The research paper has since been withdrawn from peer review and the online version, published on academic research platform Arxiv, has been corrected, said NUS in a statement on Thursday (Jul 10).
Arxiv is hosted by Cornell University. The paper, titled Meta-Reasoner: Dynamic Guidance for Optimized Inference-time Reasoning in Large Language Models, was written by six researchers, five of them based at NUS and one at Yale University."
Career fairs, upskilling workshops: Government considers more support to boost fresh grads' employability (10 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Ms Nur Farisya Fahrurazi has been on the hunt for a marketing job since graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic two months ago.
The business studies diploma holder said she applied for 20 positions but only received two job offers.
“A lot of them required me to have a degree or at least three years of experience, which I currently do not have. (I don't even have) a portfolio,” said the 20-year-old, who has since settled for an administrative job."
Nuclear safety research in Singapore boosted with S$66 million grant, new radiation-proof facility in NUS (11 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A key institute on nuclear energy research was boosted with a S$66 million (US$52 million) grant as it unveiled its new premises at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Friday (Jul 11).
With the grant, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) will expand its research into nuclear safety, NUS and the National Environment Agency NEA) said in a joint media release.
The institute now has a 12,900 sqm building located at 16 Prince George's Park, which is part of NUS' campus."
Parent or pal: Why you should not try so hard to be your child’s 'friend' (11 July 2025)
"I have always been fascinated by how my aunt has a remarkably close relationship with her son.
Even when my cousin was overseas, she would call him almost every day. Across oceans, they shared updates on how life was going, celebrated milestones such as birthdays and even sent each other personalised care packages.
When I asked how she built this bond, her advice was: "Be like a friend."
'Drained all my savings': Some master's degree graduates wonder if sacrifice pays off (11 July 2025)
"A master's degree has long been seen as a significant qualification to help employees open doors to better job opportunities, higher pay or even a career change.
However, the reality can be less straightforward, given Singapore's sluggish job market of recent years, with some recent master's degree graduates reporting that they have not necessarily achieved the employment edge that they were hoping to get.
The return on investment on the cost of such a degree, as well as the opportunity cost of taking time out to complete it, were the other concerns raised."
From Singapore to Silicon Valley, this young woman now shapes ChatGPT's future (12 July 2025)
"TikTok's Chew Shou Zi is not the only Singaporean driving global technology.
You may not have heard of Ms Jerene Yang, but chances are, you have probably used the technology she is helping to develop.
The 35-year-old is head of OpenAI's Runtime, the massive computing engine behind ChatGPT. Ms Yang's team of 35 artificial intelligence (AI) engineers and experts help to enable new ChatGPT models to be trained and rolled out for use."
They look like regular vapes, but drug-laced 'Kpods' are more lethal and pernicious (12 July 2025)
"When David (not his real name) first tried an e-vaporiser offered by friends in January last year, he had no idea that the liquid inside it contained more than just nicotine.
It was only when he felt lightheaded after taking a few puffs that the teenager, now aged 20, suspected it was not a regular vape, which in itself is illegal in Singapore.
After he confronted them, they revealed it was a "Kpod" – a drug-laced vape that typically contains chemicals such as etomidate, a fast-acting anaesthetic used in medical procedures. However, he still continued using it."
'The more internships, the better': Why some secondary school students are starting the hustle early (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: While many teenagers spent their March school holidays catching up with friends, Secondary 4 student Aloysius Lim had a different plan.
Instead of hitting the badminton courts with his friends, the 16-year-old was busy interning – his first experience in the working world.
The Temasek Secondary School student, an ex-student council president and former captain of the school's softball team, spent two months interning at social enterprise Make the Change."
'The more internships, the better': Why some secondary school students are starting the hustle early (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: While many teenagers spent their March school holidays catching up with friends, Secondary 4 student Aloysius Lim had a different plan.
Instead of hitting the badminton courts with his friends, the 16-year-old was busy interning – his first experience in the working world.
The Temasek Secondary School student, an ex-student council president and former captain of the school's softball team, spent two months interning at social enterprise Make the Change."
MOE not investigating SJI International over student's death on Maldives trip (15 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Eight months after a student of St Joseph's Institution International (SJII) died during a school trip to the Maldives, the school said that its internal investigation is still ongoing, as the Maldivian authorities have yet to share their findings.
Separately, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Tuesday (Jul 15) it would not be investigating the school's management as it was satisfied that the safety processes were adhered to.
The student, 15-year-old Singaporean Jenna Chan, died during a National Youth Achievement Award overseas expedition in the Maldives, Dr Michael Johnston, the school's CEO, previously told CNA."
41 schools oversubscribed in Phase 2A of P1 registration exercise (16 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A total of 41 schools were oversubscribed in Phase 2A of the Primary 1 registration exercise this year, an increase from last year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday (Jul 16).
The most oversubscribed school in Phase 2A was Gongshang Primary School in Tampines, with 203 applicants for 67 spaces.
Applications under Phase 2A started at 9am on Jul 10 and concluded at 4.30pm the next day."
'There's no moving on': 8 months on, parents of teen who died in Maldives still searching for answers (17 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Eight months after their daughter's death on a school trip to the Maldives, the parents of 15-year-old Jenna Chan say they are still waiting for answers.
Jenna, a student at St Joseph's Institution International (SJII), died during a National Youth Achievement Award expedition on Nov 8. According to Maldivian news outlet the Edition, she was fatally struck by the propeller of a reversing boat while snorkelling near Dhigurah Island in the Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.
Her parents said they have heard little from either the Maldivian authorities or SJII. The school, however, maintained that it has made extensive efforts to piece together a full account of what happened."
Commentary: Lecturers need to give students clearer instructions about AI use (17 July 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Imagine you are a lecturer grading students’ essays about their research methods for the term project. You notice that three students mentioned using artificial intelligence in different ways.
Jane used an AI tool to help format citations in APA style. Don discussed topic ideas with ChatGPT to help narrow down his research focus. Beatrice ran her draft through an AI writing assistant to catch grammatical errors before final submission.
You realise that you did not explicitly address AI use in your course syllabus, and your university's policy broadly states that students must not use such tools without permission from the instructor.
The three students made good-faith attempts at disclosure, but you are uncertain whether their uses violate the spirit of academic integrity. How do you proceed?"