05 December 2021

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently announced that around 13,000 at-risk students in Singapore will benefit from the expansion of a pilot scheme by the Ministry of Education to help them stay in school through after-school support and holiday activities.

The Uplift Enhanced School Resourcing programme, which has been piloted in 23 schools since 2019, will soon be expanded to about 100 primary and secondary schools.

As part of the programme, schools identify students from disadvantaged backgrounds who exhibit early signs of absenteeism and refer them to a designated Uplift coordinator in the town’s Social Service Office. The coordinator then links the students and their families to suitable resources, such as those on parenting skills, or activities like homework supervision, academic coaching, or arts and sports enrichment opportunities.

13 November 2021

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has said that there remains a gender gap in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) fields.

Singapore must make a concerted effort to empower women to pursue careers in these fields, he said.

Mr Heng also said that fewer women who graduate with Stem qualifications pursue a career in a related field, compared to the proportion of men.

Singapore has been doing more to encourage women to join these fields, including creating a supportive environment for female industry leaders in Stem, and introducing new bursaries that support women in these fields.

09 November 2021

At the opening of the ITE Industry Partnership Forum, the Institute of Technical Education announced improvements to its on-the-job training scheme.

ITE said it will now support companies in developing blueprints for their in-house training, providing a streamlined view of work processes and listing the tasks required for various roles.

ITE also said it will place more emphasis on equipping company trainers with teaching skills through its Train the Trainer programme.

ITE has also signed memorandums of understanding with six companies in the aerospace, logistics and energy sectors, in an effort at helping its students gain relevant skills, and keeping its staff and training up to date.

09 November 2021

Minister of State for Education Sun Xueling has said that the use of educational technology in schools aims to complement the role of teachers in helping students learn higher-level skills.

Ms Sun was responding in Parliament on to Dr Tan Wu Meng who asked what safeguards are in place to ensure the proposed artificial intelligence marking system for certain assignments does not undermine students’ ability to develop creativity.

Ms Sun said the immediate feedback that students receive through the automated system can encourage them to be more self-directed in their learning.

02 November 2021

Applications for the 2022 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship have opened.

Recipients of the bond-free scholarship may pursue postgraduate studies overseas or locally to develop their potential as leaders in their respective fields.

Applicants, who must be Singapore citizens, will be assessed based on their track record of leadership and service as well as academic and professional achievements.

While there is no bond associated with the scholarship, Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship recipients are expected to actively contribute towards the betterment of Singapore and the local community.

27 October 2021

Times Higher Education’s reputation survey has ranked National University of Singapore 24th in a list of the world’s top tertiary institutions.

Nanyang Technological University sharing the 61st to 70th place with nine other institutions, including the University of Sydney and University of Manchester.

A total of 202 universities were ranked in the survey this year.

In response to queries, a spokesman for NTU said the university, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, has come to be recognised as one of the world’s leading universities alongside institutions that are decades if not centuries older. It has done so, he added, in a “remarkably short space of time”.

23 October 2021

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing has said that not all students necessarily have conducive environments for home-based learning (HBL).

Hence, putting students on a prolonged HBL schedule can have a negative impact on their academic progress and socio-emotional well-being.

Mr Chan said in a Facebook post that he was aware of the dilemma facing parents and educators on having to choose between resuming in-person schooling and extending HBL.

He said that allowing pupils to return to the classroom will give them a chance to learn while reconnecting face to face with their peers.

20 October 2021

Some international schools operating in Singapore are offering scholarships worth up to six figures, but not enough students are applying for them.

Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) and St Joseph’s Institution International High School (SJIIHS) are privately funded international schools that are based in Singapore. They both offer means-tested scholarships. At SJIIHS, 14 Singapore citizens and permanent residents on average apply for its 10 International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma scholarships on offer. Eight on average get selected.

Unlike other international schools, HCIS and SJIIHS do not require Ministry of Education approval for Singaporeans to enrol. Applicants for the SJIIHS scholarships must also achieve at least 12 points or below in their Secondary 4 preliminary examinations. Applicants will need an L1R5 score of 10 or below to qualify for HCIS’ academic scholarships, which have been offered for over 10 years.