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Education Minister again rejects WP’s proposal for smaller class sizes to enhance student potential

Despite the government’s efforts to revamp the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), Education Minister Chan Chun Sing rejected the Workers’ Party MPs’ proposal for smaller class sizes. MPs Jamus Lim and Louis Chua argued that smaller classes would help develop students’ potential more effectively. Minister Chan explained that class sizes vary based on student needs and emphasized that teacher quality and support are more crucial for educational outcomes.

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SINGAPORE: Despite the government’s commitment to revamping the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) to improve access to quality education for all students, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing once again rejected the proposal for smaller class sizes put forward by Workers’ Party Members of Parliament.

During the parliamentary sitting on 10 September, Associate Professor Jamus Lim and Mr. Louis Chua, both WP MPs for Sengkang GRC, argued that smaller class sizes, particularly in specialized programs like the GEP, would enable teachers to better develop students’ potential.

Mr Chua highlighted feedback from both former and current GEP students, parents, and educators, who noted that smaller class sizes in the GEP had been a key benefit.

Assoc Prof Lim sought clarification from Minister Chan on whether he agreed that smaller class sizes could better cater to students with mid-range abilities, rather than focusing only on the lower and higher ends of the spectrum.

He suggested that tailoring teaching for students in the middle could benefit from reduced class sizes.

In response, Minister Chan explained that while average class sizes in Singapore range from 30 to 40 students, the actual size varies significantly based on the needs of students.

For example, students with higher needs, on both ends of the spectrum, often have smaller class sizes, and in some cases, classes can consist of only a few students, or even operate on a one-on-one or one-to-two basis. He emphasized that there is no “one-size-fits-all” class size in Singapore’s education system.

Minister Chan also clarified that while class size is an important factor, the most significant determinant of educational outcomes is the quality of teachers and the support they receive.

Given the finite resources and the need to maintain teacher quality, the government prioritizes “tilting the curve,” meaning that smaller class sizes are allocated for students with higher needs, while leveraging technology to support learning for students in larger classes.

He introduced the concept of the “trilemma” in public education, which refers to the challenge of balancing quality, scale, and affordability. According to Minister Chan, leveraging technology, such as adaptive learning systems and gamification, offers a way to break this trilemma by allowing mass customization of education.

Later, Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency MP from Progress Singapore Party (PSP), also raised concerns about the Singapore education system’s emphasis on sorting and labeling students, which he believes increases examination pressure on children and parents. He questioned whether the Ministry of Education plans to reduce this sorting and alleviate exam-related stress.

Minister Chan responded by explaining that grouping students by ability aims to provide a suitable learning environment, not to stigmatize them. He emphasized that exams should be seen as a tool for self-improvement, not competition. Chan also highlighted the need for societal mindset shifts, particularly around labeling students.

He reiterated that the Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB) system is designed to move away from categorizing students as uniformly “gifted” or “average” and instead focuses on recognizing individual strengths across different subjects, fostering a more inclusive society based on diversity.

Gifted Education Programme to be replaced with new approach for high-ability learners

On 18 August, during his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that GEP will be phased out and replaced with a new framework aimed at supporting high-ability learners in all primary schools.

Mr Wong revealed that the GEP will be “discontinued in its current form” as part of a broader effort to make educational opportunities more inclusive and accessible to a larger group of students.

“We will equip the schools to identify their own high-ability learners – so this will benefit more students,” he stated. The new approach will allow students to remain in their current schools, avoiding the need to transfer to specific institutions that offer the GEP.

This change is intended to help students maintain existing relationships with their peers and teachers while receiving enhanced educational support.

The GEP, introduced in 1984, has been a selective programme, identifying around 1% of the student cohort through a rigorous two-stage exercise in Primary 3. Those selected typically join the programme in Primary 4, with nine primary schools currently offering the GEP, including Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Raffles Girls’ Primary School.

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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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1 week ago

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24 September 2024

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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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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.

Published

2 weeks ago

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16 September 2024

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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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