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Clear guidelines on reporting racism in schools and IHLs in place and regularly reviewed: Maliki Osman

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Students and staff at schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) who experience any form of discrimination should not hesitate to flag such instances to their institution immediately, said Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman in Parliament on Monday (5 July).

Responding to Parliamentary questions on the procedures and avenues available for addressing racism and discrimination within these institutions, Mr Osman stressed: “Our institutions have clear guidelines against unprofessional and discriminatory conduct.”

Parliamentary Questions

Ms Raeesah Khan: To ask the Minister for Education (a) what are the procedures that schools and institutes of higher learning adopt to address concerns from students about racial, religious, and gender discrimination arising from individuals such as staff or lecturers, curricula, or policies; (b) what are the principles guiding these procedures; (c) what steps are taken to review, update and improve on these procedures; and (d) what are the obstacles to making the public more aware of the above and how can they be overcome.

Dr Shahira Abdullah: To ask the Minister for Education (a) what avenues are available in educational institutions to ensure that educators with racist views will be flagged up at the earliest possible opportunity; and (b) whether safeguards are available to ensure that persons giving feedback do not fear victimisation or being disadvantaged especially if they choose not to do it anonymously so that they can be informed of the outcome of their feedback.

Stressing that respect is an integral part of the code of conduct for both students and staff in IHLs, Mr Osman said that there are feedback channels and processed for those who experience racial discrimination in such institutions.

Such channels include either approaching senior staff or a faculty member in person, via emails, or using a formal feedback mechanism.

“In schools, students are informed that they can raise any issues to their teachers or any staff member,” asserted Mr Osman.

“In IHLs, information on feedback channels are broadcasted on various platforms including institutions, websites student handbook, and portal. Students are also informed about these feedback channels during enrolment and orientation briefings.”

He explained that all students and staff can choose to remain anonymous when providing feedback or reporting any incident, though added that they are still encouraged to identify themselves to allow for a thorough investigation to be conducted.

“Students and staff have the assurance that they will be supported and protected and that their feedback will be handled sensitively and in strict confidence,” he assured.

Additionally, Mr Osman outlined certain measures institutions may implement to maintain campus safety and the safety of those involved in an incident.

Such measures include issuing a no-contact order between the complainant and the perpetrator, or temporarily suspending the perpetrator from campus while an investigation is carried out.

Mr Osman added that counselling would also be provided to affected persons, while those who have been found to breach the code of conduct would be disciplined and counselled accordingly.

The Second Minister went on to assert that institutions will continue to strengthen their feedback processes and encourage students to speak up on any incidents of discrimination.

“Their curriculum policies in MOE, schools, and IHLs are also regularly reviewed taking into consideration feedback from educators, students, and parents through regular engagement sessions,” he added.

“Beyond efforts in schools and IHLs, parents and community groups also play a crucial role in supporting students to stand up against acts of discrimination and not be afraid to raise any issues to their respective institutions,” concluded Mr Osman.

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Police investigate assault on Qihua Primary School student after video surfaces online

The police are investigating an assault on a Qihua Primary School student after a video showing the attack emerged online. A teenager is seen repeatedly hitting the boy, prompting concerns about student safety. This is the second bullying video to surface within a week, with a similar incident involving Bukit View Secondary School reported earlier.

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SINGAPORE: The police are investigating a case involving a student from Qihua Primary School, who was repeatedly attacked by a teenager.

The investigation was launched after a video of the incident emerged online, the authorities confirmed on 23 September.

According to a report by CNA, a formal complaint has been lodged with the police, and the investigation is ongoing.

The video, which lasts approximately 43 seconds, has been circulating on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

It shows a teenager, dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, physically assaulting a smaller boy wearing a school uniform from Qihua Primary, located in Woodlands.

In the video, the victim is cornered in a stairwell, where the teenager punches, kicks, and hurls him to the ground.

The aggressor orders the boy to put his hands behind his back before delivering punches to his stomach.

At several points, the boy is grabbed by the neck and thrown to the floor, where he continues to endure kicks and punches.

Throughout the attack, the boy repeatedly says, “Sorry, sorry, I won’t do it again,” while being taunted by the teenager and another individual, who may have been filming the incident.

At one point, the teenager can be heard asking, “You want to fight? You sure?” as the victim, now in tears, continues apologizing and insisting he will not repeat his actions.

The exact timing of the incident remains unclear.

Video source: Telegram/sgfollowsall

Qihua Primary School has acknowledged the situation, confirming that it is under police investigation.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our priority. We have provided counselling to the affected students and are working closely with their parents to ensure the well-being of all involved,” the school stated.

They further emphasized the importance of students looking out for each other and reporting any incidents of bullying to their teachers.

Second Bullying Video Emerges Within a Week

This incident marks the second time a bullying video has surfaced online in a week.

A separate TikTok video, posted about a week ago, showed a student from Bukit View Secondary School being taunted and kicked to the ground by a group of teenagers.

Bukit View Secondary School’s principal, Jaswant Singh, told The Straits Times that the incident occurred in October 2023 outside of school premises and was not initially reported to the school. The parents of the victim have since lodged a police report.

Following the video’s circulation, the school immediately checked on the victim, who did not report any injuries.

Mr Singh emphasized the school’s serious stance on such behaviour, stating that the students involved would be counseled and face appropriate disciplinary actions.

The victim’s parents have since lodged a police report. The police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing regarding the bullying incident.

In response to a Parliamentary Question filed by Melvin Yong, Member of Parliament for Radin Mas SMC, in September 2022, the Education Minister noted that since 2013, the number of reported bullying incidents has remained consistent, with approximately two cases per 1,000 primary students and five cases per 1,000 secondary students each year.

He emphasised that the MOE takes a serious stance on bullying and collaborates with schools to send a clear message that hurtful behavior is unacceptable in any school environment.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in need of support, the following helplines are available:

  • Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
  • Institute of Mental Health (24 hours): 6389-2222
  • Tinkle Friend (for primary school-aged children): 1800-274-4788

You can discover a directory of global helplines on this page.

If someone you are aware of is facing an imminent threat, please dial 24-hour emergency services.

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Education

Singapore to expand Higher Mother Tongue access in secondary schools from 2026

Singapore will allow students who excel in their Mother Tongue Language at the PSLE to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary school starting in 2026, regardless of their overall PSLE score. The new policy is part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism and strengthen linguistic proficiency.

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SINGAPORE: From 2026, students who perform well in their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be eligible to study Higher Mother Tongue at Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score, announced Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing on 14 September.

Under the current system, only students with an overall PSLE score of 8 or better, or those with a score between 9 and 14 who also achieve an AL1 or AL2 in MTL, or at least a merit in Higher Mother Tongue (HMTL), can qualify to take HMTL in secondary school.

However, from 2026, eligibility will be based solely on their MTL performance.

Students will be able to study HMTL if they score AL1 or AL2 in MTL or attain a distinction or merit in HMTL at the PSLE, regardless of their overall score.

Mr Chan, speaking at the 2024 Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, emphasised the importance of supporting students with linguistic strengths.

“All of us have different strengths and talents. Some students may be strong in languages but not in other subjects,” he said.

“We will support more of these students to take Higher Mother Tongue, so they can learn their MTL to as high a level as possible.”

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism, which Mr Chan described as a “cornerstone of Singapore’s education system” and a key aspect of Singapore’s national identity.

He noted that bilingualism not only helps to strengthen the country’s social fabric but also enhances cognitive abilities, such as empathy and the understanding of different perspectives.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the launch of the MTL SOAR programme, which will begin in 2025 for Primary 1 and 2 students.

Under this programme, 30 minutes of the Mother Tongue curriculum will be allocated to reading and library activities, with the initiative to be extended to all primary levels by 2029.

The programme aims to support diverse learners by providing supplementary reading materials tailored to different proficiency levels.

Mr Chan highlighted the programme’s adaptability, explaining that “those who are stronger in mother tongue proficiency can read more books that are richer in content and be stretched in their learning, while those who need more support will have books that are more accessible for them.”

Additionally, as part of a pilot programme, MOE will extend the daily Mother Tongue curriculum at MOE Kindergartens from one hour to 1.5 hours, beginning with the 2025 Kindergarten 1 cohort at MK@Hougang and MK@Elias Park.

The pilot will be gradually expanded to more kindergartens.

The series of initiatives follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech in August, where he acknowledged concerns about declining standards in Mother Tongue proficiency and announced plans to enable more students to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary schools.

Mr Chan underscored the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism, stating, “The ability to speak two languages and understand two cultures enables us to maintain a strong link to our heritage and forge connections with people around the world.”

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