Singapore Maths Tuition - University and JC

04 August 2021

Recently, 162 students received a Singapore-Industry Scholarship (SgIS). These scholarships are given in a partnership between the Government and corporations in Singapore’s key industries.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who started the scholarship in 2012 when he was Education Minister, was the guest of honour at an online ceremony attended by the scholarship recipients.

Mr Heng said that more than 1,100 scholarships have been given out over the years, and there are now 73 sponsoring organisations taking part.

Mr Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, said: “SgIS is an important partnership between the Government and industries, to collectively develop a stronger Singaporean core of industry leaders.”

04 August 2021

Students generally prefer to speak to a familiar teacher about what is troubling them, rather than a counsellor they have little contact with.

This view was enunciated at a forum – titled It’s Okay Not To Be Okay – organised by The Straits Times on Friday (July 30). During the forum, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that the lingering stigma of seeing a counsellor, and its associations with misbehaviour, hold students back from seeking professional help.

Tampines Meridian Junior College student El’Yez Mu’Arif said teens might not feel comfortable sharing private details with counsellors. He said that perhaps the Ministry of Education could train more teachers in this field.

Mr Chan, in response to El’Yez’s suggestion, said: “We want to equip more teachers, reduce their workload a bit and have them take on some of these (counselling) duties because I think most of you are much more comfortable with your teachers because you know them much more intimately.”

03 August 2021

It is known that expectations to perform well at school cause stress amongst young students in Singapore.

Recently, students also told Education Minister Chan Chun Sing at a dialogue on Friday (July 30) night that other sources of stress include the social anxiety of missing out on the experiences of others. They said that scrolling through social media often breeds the fear of missing out, otherwise known as Fomo.

Acknowledging that social media adds a new layer of stress, Mr Chan said: “I think learning how to cope with this is also very important because, otherwise, you would be beholden to the entire social media feed and your whole psychology will be driven by this, and that’s unhealthy.”

The stress arising from parental expectations of academic achievement has come under scrutiny in the past, most recently in the last two weeks, and many parents, including Mr Chan, have reflected on how success is defined. Students said pressure also comes from within in the quest for excellence.

03 August 2021

There were 59 students who received the Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship last year as well as 2021.

On Wednesday (July 28), Education Minister Chan Chun Sing presented the awards to recipients at a virtual closed-door ceremony. In his speech, Mr Chan announced a new mid-career leaders track bringing in talent from the people and private sectors, to boost recruitment in the public sector.

The scholarship recipients this year came from a variety of junior colleges, Integrated Programme or International Baccalaureate schools, and polytechnics. They will be studying at both local and overseas universities.

In his opening address, PSC chairman Lee Tzu Yang emphasised the need for stronger and more resilient future public service leaders from diverse backgrounds. He said the PSC will support those who have decided to go overseas, and has engaged professional services such as counselling to enhance their well-being.

27 July 2021

One effective study technique is to tackle a topic for 25 to 35 minutes with no distractions, before taking a five- to 10-minute break to do something enjoyable like playing computer games. The process can be repeated throughout the study period.

Splitting a subject into smaller topics can make it feel less intimidating. Such an approach builds confidence and allows students to grasp the subject in bite-sized chunks.

Regular revision of a few hours each week also goes a long way to reducing the exam preparation stress, and allows for better retention of material learnt. Problem areas are also identified early.

Institute of Mental Health psychologist Chan Hui Yu suggests that parents develop a “growth mindset” in their children – or a belief that a person’s capabilities and talents can be improved over time with practice. Strategies include praising children specifically for their efforts instead of results.

27 July 2021

Institute of Technical Education students now have the option of taking on a lighter study load and giving themselves more time to complete their courses.

ITE will also identify students who need more support early based on their class participation, engagement levels and assessment performance.

Earlier in April, the Ministry of Education said that ITE students will have their route to advanced certification cut from four years to three starting next year, with 16 courses.

MOE also said 80 per cent of all courses offered by ITE are expected to shift to the new three-year Higher Nitec framework by 2024, and all courses will shift by 2026.