How one expert is helping preserve the great H2O molecule for the blue planet (13 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Being on the losing team turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Professor Joan B. Rose.
Hers was the team that lost when two groups vied for the Newater project in 1998."
‘Death walks beside you every single day’: Forensic scientist Sue Black (13 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Dame Sue Black, a world-renowned forensic scientist, has spent her life immersed in the mysteries of death, a relationship that she first began to understand through the wisdom of her late grandmother.
“It was my (paternal) grandmother who talked to me from a young age about death. She would always say to me, ‘Death walks beside you every single day of your life, and at some point or another, your paths are going to cross, and if death is going to walk alongside you, best to make her your friend, because you do not want to walk every day with an enemy,’” said 63-year-old Professor Black."
Global Young Scientists Summit: What drives some of the world’s brightest minds? (13 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Some of the world’s brightest minds gathered in the Republic from Jan 6 to 10, to mingle with and inspire more than 340 younger counterparts at the annual Global Young Scientists Summit.
The Straits Times spoke to these prominent scientists about their work and what drives them."
Global Young Scientists Summit: Transcending borders with science and research (13 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – It is not often that young scientists get the chance to schmooze with Nobel Prize winners, but more than 340 young scientists did just that recently.
They spent the past week, starting from Jan 6, engaging leading experts in science and technology from around the world at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2025, held at the National University of Singapore (NUS) from Jan 6 to 10."
Fewer fresh poly grads secure full-time jobs in 2024, but take home higher pay (13 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Fewer fresh polytechnic graduates have landed full-time permanent jobs in 2024, although more of them received high salaries.
Results from the latest Graduate Employment Survey by the five polytechnics released on Jan 13 show that 54.6 per cent of them were in full-time permanent jobs in 2024. This is compared with 60 per cent in 2023 and about 59 per cent in 2022."
Building a social life post-secondary school (14 January 2025)
"1. Now that there are no longer fixed classes, is it still important to form meaningful connections? How should one do so?
Mr Dominic Chan, 19, from ITE College Central, admitted that making friends in secondary school was “much easier”.
Upon starting at ITE, the Higher Nitec accounting student did not plan on making new friends. But during his first year, Mr Chan realised the importance of taking the initiative to socialise with his peers.
For a business ethics module, he was grouped with others who were unable to find a group. “We were allowed to choose (our teammates) but, unfortunately, at that time I was not familiar with anyone and ended up with strangers,” he said."
NUS trains 74 students to guide tours; restricts peak-hour access to manage tourist traffic (15 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Some 74 students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have been trained to conduct tours around University Town, as part of efforts to manage high tourist traffic in the university.
These students, comprising ambassadors or docents, will guide visitors through the campus’ University Town, said NUS on Jan 14, in response to queries from The Straits Times."
‘Human-AI interaction’ drives SUTD’s $50m push for new specialisation in design and AI (15 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), more prominently known as a design university, is shifting its focus to both artificial intelligence and design with a $50 million investment.
A bulk of the funds, which will be invested over the next three to five years, will go to a new AI platform that will be developed in-house, said SUTD."
Children with traumatic experiences have a higher risk of obesity (15 January 2025)
"Children with traumatic experiences in their early lives have a higher risk of obesity. But as our new research shows, this risk can be reduced through positive experiences.
Childhood traumatic experiences are alarmingly common. Our analysis of data from nearly 5,000 children in the Growing Up In New Zealand study revealed almost nine out of 10 faced at least one significant source of trauma by the time they were eight years old. Multiple adverse experiences were also prevalent, with one in three children experiencing at least three traumatic events."
Why elite MBA graduates are struggling to find jobs (15 January 2025)
"In business, there is no surer sign of distress than when a firm delays its financial results. That also appears to be true of business schools.
Around Christmas – and in many cases behind their usual schedules – America’s top business schools published their equivalent of annual reports, which include data on the new jobs of graduates from their Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes, typically two-year courses for students with professional experience."
App stores to screen age of Singapore users to block kids from accessing apps for adults (15 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - From March 31, app stores must block young users below 18 years old from downloading apps not meant for their age group, including dating app Tinder and adult video games like Grand Theft Auto.
Under the new Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services, app stores targeting users in Singapore must also block children below 12 from downloading apps like Instagram and TikTok, which are rated for ages 12 and above."
From understanding nature’s systems to green action: How aquaculture degree sparked his vision for sustainability (17 January 2025)
"Through the gentle touch of soft rabbit fur, Mr John Chua saw the tough exterior of a troubled teen melt away. He remembers how the teen from a boys’ home flinched from the gentle creature, but by the end of the one-hour activity session, he was cradling the rabbit and calling it his “best friend”.
“Watching that transformation from fear to friendship unfold was incredible,” recalls Mr Chua, 25. “It showed me how much education and meaningful interaction can change perspectives.”
“It’s my happy place”: Why these children look forward to kindergarten every day (17 January 2025)
"Six-year-old Josh Tan cannot wait to get to his kindergarten every day.
MOE Kindergarten @ Punggol View, where he has spent two fulfilling years, is his happy place. It is where he can role-play as a brave firefighter commanding a cardboard fire truck, or perhaps a shopkeeper making a list of things they want to sell and carefully sorting and arranging the objects for sale."
S’pore companies, education institutes to work with Odisha on skills development, green energy (17 January 2025)
"BHUBANESWAR, India – Singapore companies and institutes of higher learning will work with Odisha to bolster the eastern Indian state’s capabilities in skills development and green energy production, among other things.
This includes a joint training programme by Singapore’s ITE Education Services (ITEES) and Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Department (SD&TE), which will tap the Republic’s expertise in the semiconductor field and equip young Indians with skills tailored to their country’s growing semiconductor industry."
In Loving Memory: Undergraduates launch an exhibition about grief to help other youth cope with loss (18 January 2025)
"Ms Li Jike was in the middle of her junior college exams in 2019 when her parents suddenly booked tickets to fly back to her grandfather’s village in Hubei, China, and left in less than 24 hours.
Ms Li, 23, felt something was amiss when her grandfather, whom she was close to, growing up in China, failed to return her phone calls that week. Though she had a sense of foreboding, she did not probe further, afraid of what she might find out."
What Longhorn crazy ants can teach us about groupthink (18 January 2025)
"When scientists constructed a puzzle-solving task and pitted teams of people against teams of ants, the insects sometimes proved to be the smarter species. That is not to denigrate human intelligence – ants are smart, and their feats of coordinated activity are rare in nature.
Still, it is fair to say the results were humbling and that ants have something important to teach us. There is a lesson in why we sometimes fail to accomplish anything in staff meetings, and why committees sometimes settle on a less effective solution to a problem than individual people could have provided."
Minor Issues: My hope for my kids in 2025 – Don’t just be good, do good too (19 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A decade ago, when my children were of primary-school age, my yearly wish or exhortation for them might have been: Study hard and be good.
This year, I hope that they will not just be good, but also do good."
Fun With Kids: Free snake-themed red packets, Artbox Everyday, Singapore Art Week (19 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.
Fun vibes and charity at Artbox Everyday
Enjoy delicious bites, shopping and fun vibes at lifestyle pop-up event Artbox Everyday."
Essential routines to nurture at home for a good start to the primary school year (19 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – It has been a few weeks since school started, and after the initial adjustment period, parents may be wondering if they need a set routine for their child after school.
While it is not possible to have a standard timetable since children may have different care arrangements after school, experts suggest some non-negotiables that parents can schedule into an after-school routine, including reading and playtime."
Increased pre-school expenses contribute to higher education spending among S’pore families (19 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Families in Singapore are spending more on pre-school education, as more parents are placing their children in childcare at a younger age.
The latest Household Expenditure Survey found that annual spending on pre-primary education among resident families – Singaporeans and permanent residents – was $1.3 billion in 2023, up from $1 billion in 2018."
Spending by S’pore families on private tuition rises to $1.8 billion in 2023 (19 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Families in Singapore spent $1.8 billion on private tuition for their children in 2023, as expenditure on education services continues to grow.
According to the latest government survey on household expenditure, the uptick in educational expenses in 2023 was due to higher spending on private tuition and pre-school education."
From quicker learning to sharper thinking: How rhythm and song nurture your child’s potential (20 January 2025)
"Perfectly in sync with the beat, preschooler Gillian Tan marched along with the band while holding her flag up high. The then six-year-old was performing as a colour guard in a sports fiesta organised by Kinderland in 2023.
“It was a very touching moment to see how a kindergartener could do all of that,” says her mother, Ms Yeo Peiqin. “To march is not easy, let alone while holding the flag, moving with the music, and knowing where to go as a group.”
Ngee Ann Poly shuttle bus in accident with car in Clementi (20 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE - A bus marketed as “autonomous” was involved in an accident on Jan 20 in Clementi, although there was a driver behind the wheel at the time of the collision.
Launched in January 2023, the autonomous vehicles campus shuttle service connects Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s campus locations to King Albert Park and Clementi MRT stations, operating autonomously on campus and manually on public roads."
Lasalle’s 12-storey expansion plan delayed by Covid-19 pandemic (20 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Construction of a 12-storey block at Lasalle College of the Arts, previously slated to start in 2021 and be completed by 2025, has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new building, designed to house facilities such as a 300-seat lecture theatre and a music recital hall, as well as provide a connection to Rochor MRT station, was intended to help the school centralise its facilities and classes."
Lasalle launches new degree programme in music business for would-be agents and managers (20 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Want to have a career in the music industry but cannot sing or play an instrument? Well, now you can still have a shot at it.
Lasalle College of the Arts has launched the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Business programme, which it says is the first dedicated music business degree in Singapore focusing on nurturing the next generation of managers, agents and producers."
Closing the gap: UPLIFT efforts connect students from disadvantaged backgrounds to support that helps them flourish (27 November 2024)
"To facilitate social mobility, it is crucial to bridge the gap between the help that ministries and community organisations offer, and those who need it. Mr Lim Yu Kee, the outgoing Director of MOE’s Uplift and Educational Support Branch, explains how MOE’s coordinated UPLIFT efforts support our students to achieve their fullest potential.
In 2018, the Ministry of Education (MOE) launched UPLIFT, an inter-agency collaboration to strengthen support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. MOE reached out to educators, social workers, and community partners to better understand factors that were holding back these children. One key finding emerged from these conversations – for these students to benefit from community efforts and resources, better coordination was critical.
What does coordination have to do with levelling the playing field? Well, take for example, financial assistance. Schools, various ministries, and community organisations each offer different forms of assistance to students and families, but those in need may not know all their options. They may not realise that they qualify for certain schemes, or they could be daunted by the paperwork involved. “It’s one thing to have schemes and programmes, but it’s another to make sure these actually reach families in need,” explains Mr Lim Yu Kee, the outgoing Director of MOE’s Uplift and Educational Support Branch (UESB).
Bridging that gap to help disadvantaged students flourish is exactly what his team does. “Education has always been an important social leveller,” says Mr Lim. “How do we ensure this continues to be the case, and disadvantaged students can keep up and progress even as the world becomes more complex?”
Mr Lim’s passion for helping disadvantaged students stems largely from his own experience. He grew up in a rental flat for the first 10 years of his life, and remembers most of his lunches being rice, a fried egg and soya sauce. Despite money being tight, Mr Lim had a happy childhood. “Looking back, it’s quite amazing that I got to where I am now,” he acknowledges. “I didn’t speak a single word of English until I entered school. But thanks to education, I managed to get quite a lot of opportunities.”
When he became a teacher, and later a Principal, Mr Lim naturally gravitated towards student development. “I was very strongly motivated to put in place robust processes in school for student well-being. I remember spending much of my time working with Year Heads to identify students who needed help and counselling them,” he says. “It is the holistic student development that really makes a difference in how the child progresses in the future.”
Secrets to an award-winning school photo (4 December 2024)
"A school principal, MOE Kindergarten educator and a secondary school ICT manager sent the top staff entries to this year’s Our Schools, Our Stories (OSOS) Photo and Video Contest. What’s their creative process behind capturing the essence of school life?
By Lim Jun Kang
A principal’s fresh perspective
It has been a year of many ‘firsts’ for Ai Tong School Principal Wong Jia Wang. His first year as principal of the school, his first year participating in the OSOS contest, and his first year winning.
Mr Wong’s entry this year was inspired by his walkabouts as the new principal. “I really enjoy these moments, as I feel the school’s atmosphere and the energy of our students and staff,” he says.
The photographs were taken over a few days, capturing various PE lessons and classroom activities, like rehearsing for plays. “These photos remind me of how much effort our teachers put into their work, and I often share these images with my colleagues to uplift their spirits and affirm the good work they’re doing.”
Although he owns a DSLR camera, Mr Wong used his phone to capture the photographs – in the spirit of spontaneity. “The best camera is the one you have with you,” he muses. “It is less intrusive especially when I’m interacting with the students, and it makes processing and saving the photos much easier too.”
At this school, a STEM research programme paves the way to a poly diploma (4 December 2024)
"Instead of taking the O Levels, these students from the School of Science and Technology work with industry partners as part of an integrated diploma programme with Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Find out more about their capstone projects and why they signed up for this pathway.
By Arielene Wee
Research buffs rejoice! At the School of Science and Technology (SST), a through-train programme to Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) is offered to selected students at the Secondary 3 and 4 levels.
This allows them to bypass the O Levels and enter directly into one of the 21 STEM-related courses offered by NP. It is the first-of-its-kind STEM-related programme that provides students with direct entry to a polytechnic.
Known as the SST-NP Integrated Diploma Programme (IDP), students take on a wide range of STEM-related learning experiences which culminate in a capstone project – where they work, in groups, with industry mentors to get real-world industry experience.
Since its inception, there has consistently been a healthy interest in the IDP and only about 50 students per cohort are shortlisted.
Schoolbag speaks with three graduating IDP students to find out more about their experience."
Watch: What do these three Science teachers have in common? (5 December 2024)
"They break down the learning of scientific concepts using items like thread, balloons and dice, to make learning fun and accessible for their students.
By Arielene Wee
Creating light-up wristbands to learn about circuitry
At Queenstown Primary School, Mrs Chia Su Sze, Head of Department of Science, engages her students in an innovative lesson on electricity. Using LED bulbs, batteries, thread and fabric, her students apply electrical system concepts to design and create their own wearable soft circuitry that can light up.
Drawing inspiration from her personal interest in sewing, Mrs Chia developed this activity for her students as she wanted them to learn about science beyond their textbooks. By encouraging them to tinker and create their own soft circuitry, she ignites their curiosity and creativity for their learning to be enjoyable and relevant.
Blocked arteries? Let’s construct models to learn how to unclog them
Mrs Preeti Kulkarni, Subject Head of Biology at Compassvale Secondary School, excites her students to learn about coronary heart disease by involving them in designing and constructing a device that shows how blocked arteries can be unclogged through the use of materials such as balloons, plastic bottles, straws and plasticine.
Mrs Preeti highlighted that constructing these models are challenging for the students as it mirrors the complexity of a real coronary angioplasty, where there is no single, straightforward approach to unclog a blocked artery.
“Many of them use balloons to inflate the tubes and face difficulties doing that. There have been some mishaps, like when their balloons accidentally burst,” says Mrs Preeti. “By encountering these challenges, they understand the complexities that doctors face when removing plaque from a blocked artery.”
Through this activity, Mrs Preeti hopes to connect her students’ learning to real-world medical scenarios, making Science lessons more relatable to them."
Their kids have long left school so why are they still volunteering? (9 December 2024)
"Strong community spirit and a desire to sustain parental support for all students – these are just some reasons these two parents continue to serve in the Parent Support Groups of their children’s alma mater.
By Arielene Wee
‘The school feels like a second home
Mr Phua Wee Seng’s daughter was a shy and reserved child when she was much younger. When she entered Primary 1 at Kong Hwa School in 2012, Mr Phua decided to sign up for the school’s PSG, aptly named the “Very Supportive Parents”. He thought that by volunteering in her school, she would see him around more often and that would help to give her a little confidence boost.
Six years later, Mr Phua’s youngest son also enrolled in Kong Hwa. While both children have since graduated from the school, Mr Phua continues to serve as Honorary Advisor of the PSG, on the school and PSG Exco’s request.
“I wanted to be an active and involved parent,” he says. “Primary school was important for me because it was my children’s first time in a mainstream school, and it was a big transition from preschool to a much larger community. I wanted to be part of those formative years.”
By being part of the PSG and organising frequent events and activities in school, Mr Phua was able to appreciate his children’s school experiences and have more enriching conversations with them.
Aside from being able to deepen his relationship with his children, Mr Phua was also able to forge meaningful friendships with other PSG parents and even the school staff. “We grow together as a group, sharing topics from parenting tips to the challenges we face with our children,” he shares. “The school and the PSG have built strong partnerships over the years, and nurtured a school community that truly supports one another.”
DSA Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Nurturing students who have a knack for bringing new ideas to life (11 December 2024)
"Here’s how two schools design programmes to hone their students’ creative-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Secondary 2 student Kevin Chioh discovered his inclination toward entrepreneurship when he was in primary school. His first “venture”: little polymer spheres his Dad used in their garden to water plants when they go on vacation. Known as water babies, these colourful balls swell up when they soak up water, then shrink back down as they release that water slowly. They looked cute to Kevin, so he wondered if his classmates would be interested in buying them as toys rather than tools.
As it turned out, the answer was yes, and Kevin made a respectable $80 from this venture. He even paid back his Dad, who had initially gifted him his inventory. “I like seeing the potential in an idea and if it can meet a customer need,” Kevin says. Hoping to develop these skills more, he applied for Bowen Secondary School’s Direct School Admission (DSA) Entrepreneurship & Innovation programme, and talked about his experience selling water babies during his admissions interview.
His story made an impression on the interview panel because “we look beyond academic achievements and leadership skills to identify students who demonstrate passion and potential in their chosen areas of talent”, shares Mr Jason Yap, one of the teachers who steers this programme in the school.
Kevin’s sharing showed his sense of curiosity and initiative, which is what Bowen Secondary wants to see as the teachers recognise that younger students may not have extensive portfolios or prior experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. “People who have an entrepreneurial mindset tend to be resilient, adaptable and able to think out of the box, so we look out for these qualities in students’ applications,” he adds. “The ability to collaborate, persevere, and communicate confidently is also important.”
Edgefield Secondary School’s DSA Innovation programme first shortlists candidates who have participated in related competitions or demonstrated innovation potential with personal projects in their portfolios.
“We also conduct group interviews to see how they communicate in this setting,” says Ms Toh Si Qi, one of the teachers in charge of the programme at Edgefield Secondary. By directing questions to the whole group, Ms Toh says the interviewers can see their alertness to opportunity. “Are they the first to raise their hands to share, or are they a bit quieter?”
For these JC students, learning to thrive in school goes beyond just getting good grades (12 December 2024)
"Three JC students share how they have not only learnt new things in school, but also discovered more about themselves as they stepped into tertiary education.
School at the Junior College level can be tough. Having to acclimatise to a new environment, facing increased academic pressures and navigating newfound relationships can be stressful just as they can be exciting. But juggling these different aspects is not impossible, shares three students who have found their own way of managing such stresses, while learning from challenges to facilitate their personal growth.
1. Tanjim Rahman says the support from friends and teachers has been invaluable
A JC2 student at Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), Tanjim Rahman was initially drawn to the school’s strong community spirit. After entering ACJC, he has learnt to find his own equilibrium managing his studies, duties as the Debate and Oratorical Society president, and friendships.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his seniors from ACJC’s Debate and Oratorical Society who extended their friendship. They “never really let him feel alone”, says Tanjim, and he came to discover his own interests and found motivation through them. “I take physics, chemistry, maths and economics – all at the H2 level – and I really love the subjects. I quite enjoy seeing logical things play out, especially in the real world,” he shares.
He admits that school is not always easy, and that the schedule can get stressful. He recalls a period where he was part of the team for a major, international debate competition organised by his school. At the same time, he was also preparing for his exams and attending H3 physics lessons. After talking to his physics teacher and H3 physics tutor, and doing a good amount of self-reflection, he decided to step back from his H3 lessons. “I think I was quite fortunate to understand what I’m able to take off my plate,” he says."
‘I picked up parenting lessons from watching Kdrama’. Jinjja? (16 December 2024)
"Bingeing on a TV show need not be a totally mindless affair. While watching her favourite Korean drama and actor, this writer had an epiphany about how to better support her children’s learning needs.
By Linda Lee
Recently, I was forced to taking a hiatus from my jogging routine due to an ankle injury. Since I could not run, I decided to watch someone else run instead.
Enter Lovely Runner, whose story revolves around a time-slipping couple repeatedly running into each other in different multiverses. With a fascinating plot, I found myself stuck in Netflix’s wormhole as well.
Apart from an intriguing storyline, lead actor Byeon Woo-Seok has a big part to play in the show’s skyrocketing popularity. Now dubbed South Korea’s “No.1 boyfriend”, Byeon stole the hearts of many as a goofy yet charming boyfriend. As it turns out, Byeon, in real life, has an inspiring backstory, from which I found myself drawing lessons in – of all things – parenting.
1. It pays to hone your passion
Although blessed with a commanding height and good looks, the model-turned actor did not just sit around and wait for lady luck to knock on his door to launch his career. Byeon took acting classes and started out by playing unmemorable roles. When Lovely Runner came along, he was ready to catapult to success.
I told myself that I too could support my children in their learning pathways by looking out for areas they may be good at and help them hone their passion.
Knowing that my elder son, who is 13, likes all things football since primary school, and is inspired by the legends and legacies of famous football clubs, I pointed out the many ways people can turn their passion for the sport into a profession or hobby beyond becoming a player per se.
Enrolling him into a football academy as a starting point gave him the exposure and agency to uncover other opportunities on his own. For instance, he could ask his coaches what it takes to become a manager like them. That’s when he discovered that there are post-secondary courses such as sports science where one may train to become an allied health practitioner in future. Football became something that offered much more."
What if my child has trouble adjusting to Primary One? (20 December 2024)
"Stepping into a new environment is not always easy – just ask a seven-year-old. For some Primary 1 students, the TRANSIT programme makes the move from pre-school smoother.
What happens if your child has trouble adjusting to Primary 1?
Stepping into a new environment might not always be easy. Challenges that some Primary 1 students face include difficulty recognising personal space, understanding the emotions of others, or remaining calm in challenging situations.
Enter the TRANSIT programme, which is designed to guide Primary 1 students through their new experiences. Short for TRANsition Support for InTegration, the TRANSIT programme helps students get acquainted with the new environment and routines of primary-school life. Launched in 2020, the programme will be progressively rolled out to all primary schools by 2026.
Here, Mdm Quek Ai Hseng, Head of Department at Yishun Primary School, answers some questions parents may have about the programme.
How will teachers know if my child needs help?
Teachers are trained to identify students who struggle with self-awareness and emotional regulation.
Students’ needs are tracked using a Skills Assessment Checklist (SAC), for example. They are assessed based on essential classroom work habits – such as retrieving learning materials, following simple instructions, getting organised, and preparing for class. With such tools and training, teachers aim to get a stronger sense of how students are adjusting to school life, especially in their first month at school and during orientation activities."
Why are my students so captivated by social media?’ (8 January 2025)
"These teachers decided it was time to dangle education content where their students like to hang out – online. Schoolbag speaks to three influencer teachers (we affectionately call them influen-chers) on Knowgets, an MOE social media channel, to understand what makes them TikTok and more.
By Lee Qing Ping
“Why are my students paying more attention to TikTok than to me?” Ms Ynez Lim, a secondary school English teacher, thought to herself.
“I felt like there’s some magic recipe about TikTok that engages teenagers,” she says. And she wanted in on it.
So, in 2020, she downloaded the app to see what made TikTok tick for her students.
Today, you could call Ms Lim a sort of ‘influen-cher’: An educator who creates curriculum-aligned content for social media to engage students.
And she’s not alone. There is a growing community of teachers cum content creators who are learning the social media game. Their goal? To interrupt students’ doom scroll with educational, curriculum-aligned content.
The following three ‘influen-chers’ are school teachers who create educational online content as part of their suite of learning resources and lesson preparation. They not only get nods of approval from their school leaders and colleagues, they are also part of an MOE initiative known as @Knowgets (short for “knowledge nuggets”), which runs a channel on education content on YouTube and Instagram. What unites them? A desire to adapt teaching methods to engage today’s digital natives, make learning accessible, and help students see the significance of their studies in their lives."
Alumni parents share their wishes for their Primary 1 child (9 January 2025)
"These Lianhua Primary parents are already familiar with the school, but they still feel the butterflies on the first day of primary school. What are their hopes and dreams for their children in this new chapter?
By Arielene Wee
"On the first day of school, Schoolbag visited Lianhua Primary School and spoke to parents of Primary 1 students about the day’s orientation programme, and what they hope their child would get out of school.
“My hope is that she enjoys learning and her teachers help her to grow”
As an alumna of Lianhua Primary School herself, Mdm Yuki Tay was excited about her daughter, Janelle, entering Primary 1. She says, “Our whole family is very excited for her. She’s been looking forward to entering primary school for a long time, because she finally gets to be in the same school as her older brother.
“My one hope for her is that she enjoys learning over the next six years, and that she has teachers around to help her grow in every area. I also hope that she’s happy in school, and will make good friends to grow up with.”
Influencer dad goes back to school – to understand teens better (10 January 2025)
"Parenting influencer Kelvin Ang is used to advising his three teens and his followers too. In this Q&A, he talks about what it’s like attending poly with his eldest child, and how his classes have changed the way he speaks to his children.
By Arielene Wee
"Not many parents can claim that they’re studying in the same school as their child, but 48-year-old dadfluencer Kelvin Ang, who goes by the social media moniker “Cheekiemonkies”, can.
He’s currently enrolled at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in a one-year Specialist Diploma in Youth Development & Mental Wellness, while his eldest of three children, Ashton, is studying for his Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management. They’ll both be graduating later this year.
Schoolbag speaks with Mr Ang to find out more about being an adult learner AND a schoolmate to your teen.
Schoolbag: Hi Mr Ang! Why did you decide to go back to school?
Mr Ang: It’s really out of interest. Twenty years ago, I started a blog to share with fellow parents on places to bring their kids. Over the years, the blog has snowballed into something bigger and more parents are coming to my social media platforms for ideas and recommendations on activities to do with their kids.
After my kids entered their teenage phase, parents started messaging me for advice on dealing with their teenagers – for example, how to get them to put their games down and spend more time with the family.
My experience is limited to my three kids, so I can only share what I’ve done with them. But I realised that a lot of parents want to better engage with their children, they just don’t know how or where to start. When I came across the Diploma on Youth Development & Mental Wellness, I thought that these were useful skills to pick up, to better engage with our youths. So I decided to sign up."
How teachers shaped these O-Level graduates’ futures (16 January 2025)
"When life threw curveballs at these O-Level graduates from Bartley Secondary School, they found strength beyond textbooks – in their teachers’ encouraging words and caring actions that gave them courage to push forward.
By Sabrina Lee
“I realised that we all have skills and values that are unique to ourselves.” – Marha Syuarah binte Muhsin
Marha, who is one of a set of triplets, felt a sense of loss and regret as she entered secondary school because her siblings went to independent and autonomous schools. “I was overwhelmed and felt a need to prove myself. But gradually, I realised that we all have skills and values that are unique to ourselves,” she says.
Marha, who found a passion for filmmaking and video-editing in school, says her teachers’ care has been invaluable to her growth.
“Mr Lee, my English teacher, guided me through my application for the Early Admissions Exercise to Temasek Polytechnic’s Digital Film & Television course. He taught me about video editing and even lent me his personal equipment for filming,” she elaborates. She secured her spot in the course, and will be joining the polytechnic soon.
She also cites her teachers’ support for helping her tide over a tough period in Secondary 3. “I was hospitalised for about a month because of a surgery, and it was near the end-of-year exams,” she says. Worried that she would fall behind in her studies, since she was missing classes, she confided in her teachers.
Marha recalls that it was what her Literature teacher, Ms Soh Cheng Wen, said that comforted her the most. “Ms Soh told me, ‘I cannot walk this journey for you, but I can walk it with you.’ It was when I realised that I have this support that has allowed me to discover my skills and walk my own path in life.”
These worked for my kids! Four language teachers share their favourite tips (16 January 2025)
"They won awards for inspiring their students in the learning of English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. What happens when they are teaching their own kids? They share the habits and tips that have been effective at home.
By Jacquelyn Ng
Some of us are good at languages, others less so. What if your parent were a language teacher? Is it like having a personal coach all the way?
We speak to teachers of English and three Mother Tongue Languages to find out what they do as parents when it comes to inculcating a love for the language at home. They share what works for them and their children!
1. We go café-hopping then library-hopping!”
Mdm Hairani Asir, Recipient of the Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award 2023
There are 26 public libraries in Singapore. Mdm Hairani Asir’s family has been to all of them.
The teacher from Punggol Primary School was looking for a way to entertain her children over the weekends, spend time together, and introduce them to the joy of reading. “We started a library-hopping tradition,” says the mother of two children aged 3 and 9, “inspired by our same love for café-hopping!”
During the library visits, she would let them explore the children’s section on their own. They always come back with stacks and stacks of books they find appealing.
“These could be books with colourful covers, comic series… Sometimes even books in Mandarin or Tamil,” she laughs. They would then sit as a family, and she would read aloud to them “if the book is in a language we understand”."
Release of 2024 PSLE Results and Secondary 1 Posting Exercise (13 November 2024)
"The results of the 2024 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be released on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 at 11.00am. Arrangements have been made for school candidates to receive their results from their respective primary schools."
Release of 2024 PSLE Results (20 November 2024)
"Students who sat for the 2024 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) received their results today. Arrangements were made for students to receive their results in their respective primary schools."
TIMSS 2023: Singapore Students Demonstrate Strong Foundations & Consistent Good Performance in Mathematics & Science (4 December 2024)
"Singapore's Primary 4 and Secondary 2 students continue to demonstrate strong Mathematics and Science competencies in foundational numeracy and scientific literacy, as well as problem-solving and scientific-inquiry skills, according to findings from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023, a study by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)."
Release of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(A)- & N(T)-Level Examination Results on 16 December 2024 (9 December 2024)
"The results of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal (Academic)-[N(A)] and Normal (Technical)-[N(T)] Level Examinations will be released on Monday, 16 December 2024, 2.00pm."
2024 Secondary 1 Posting Results (11 December 2024)
"The Secondary 1 (S1) Posting results will be released on Wednesday, 18 December 2024, at 9am."
Release of 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE N(A)- & N(T)-Level Examination Results (16 December 2024)
"Candidates who sat for the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) Normal (Academic) [N(A)] and Normal (Technical) [N(T)] Level Examinations received their results today."
Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals 2024 (27 December 2024)
"The Ministry of Education's (MOE) annual Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals (AACP) was held at Shangri-La Singapore today. The Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, welcomed the newly appointed and rotated Principals at the ceremony, while also acknowledging the contributions of retiring Principals, as well as retiring Senior Education Officers from MOE HQ who have formerly served as Principals."
Release of 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level Examination Results and 2025 Joint Admissions Exercise (3 January 2025)
"The results of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination will be released on Friday, 10 January 2025, 2.30pm."
Release of 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level Examination Results (10 January 2025)
"Candidates who sat for the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) Examination collected their results from their secondary schools today."
2025 MOE Kindergarten Open House and Registration Exercise (16 January 2025)
"The Ministry of Education (MOE) would like to invite parents to register their child for Kindergarten 1 (K1) admission in 2026 during the upcoming MOE Kindergarten (MK) Registration Exercise that will be held from 7 to 17 February 2025. 56 MKs will be participating in this year's exercise, including one new MK, MK@Pioneer, which will be opening in 2026. Parents are invited to attend the open houses of individual MKs on 8 or 15 February 2025 to learn more about their programmes and facilities, prior to registration."
No more ‘noble’ parenting resolutions for new years. In 2025, I’m going for 'realistic' instead (21 December 2024)
"For as long as I can remember, I’ve been writing special entries in my diary to mark the end of each year and welcome the new one. Making these resolutions was always my attempt at trying to steer the direction my life would take for the next 12 months.
Among the resolutions I’d scribbled down in my diary as a 13-year-old girl in 2001: “I want to read at least 56 books this year”, “I want to catch all 150 Pokemon and complete my Pokedex” and “I want to get at least an A2 for Chinese”.
Once I became a mother, New Year resolutions took on a life of their own. Most of them started revolving around interactions with my children."
Singaporean parents shell out thousands of dollars to send preschoolers on Japan exchange programme (23 December 2024)
"SINGAPORE: Leanne Seng flew from Singapore to Tokyo for an exchange programme at a local school in Omori town in October this year.
There, she joined the Japanese curriculum, overcoming a language barrier to participate in the local culture and form new bonds with her foreign peers.
The catch? Leanne is just six years old."
These two mums are giving old Singapore school uniforms a second life as bags, toys and more (26 December 2024)
"If you have school-aged children, you may find yourself contemplating the challenge of what to do with pre-loved school uniforms once your child outgrows them or graduates.
Perhaps the school uniforms can be handed down to a younger sibling if they are of the same gender and go to the same school. Or you could pass them on to another child who needs them. You could also give them to The Circular Classroom, where they get a second, upcycled life.
More than 420,000 students are enrolled in primary and secondary schools, and junior colleges in Singapore each year, according to the Ministry of Education. Each year, about 90,000 students graduate."
Jail for SIM student who repeatedly filmed girlfriend naked while she slept or showered (26 December 2024)
"SINGAPORE: A 19-year-old repeatedly filmed compromising videos of his girlfriend without her consent while she was asleep or showering.
The man, now 23, was jailed for 20 months on Thursday (Dec 26) after pleading guilty to five charges of voyeurism and an amalgamated charge of distributing intimate images.
Five more charges of voyeurism were taken into consideration for sentencing."
Learning to let go of my parental guilt is an ongoing process, but I’m getting there (27 December 2024)
"When I first became a mum, I thought surviving those first couple years of sleepless nights and endless diaper changes would be the toughest part of the journey.
Little did I know that guilt would follow me like a constant companion all throughout my parenting journey, well beyond my child's newborn stage.
GUILT AS A WORKING MOTHER
In 2017, I was at the end of a work trip to Bangkok in Thailand, on my way to the airport for my flight home, when my husband called.
Our 18-month-old son was having seizures and my husband was rushing him to the hospital."
How a Boys' Town kid formed a bond with people with disabilities – with the help of ice cream (31 December 2024)
"SINGAPORE: Keith had tried his hand at making ice cream from scratch before. But his second time doing so was a rather different experience.
Instead of classmates, the Primary 5 student was making the dessert with individuals he had not interacted with before - people with disabilities.
Keith, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, was among 30 residents from Boys' Town who earlier this year participated in an ice cream making workshop with people with disabilities served by the SPD charity."
'My world came crashing down': Parents on finding out their children had dwarfism (1 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: When Ms Esther Xu heard the nurse exclaim “Oh!” at her 12-week gynaecological ultrasound scan, she held her breath and tried to have positive thoughts.
Up until that point, she would ask her gynaecologist the same question at every appointment: Would her baby look just like her?
No matter how much the 37-year-old had braced herself for the replies, she could not keep her tears back when she was eventually told that her son would “actually be like you”."
Commentary: Tuition is so last year (2 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The new school year has begun, and with that the pressure on students - and their parents.
In Singapore, private tuition has long been a norm for many in their pursuit of top grades, with households spending S$1.4 billion (US$1.03 billion) on such classes, according to the Household Expenditure Survey in 2017/18.
Suffice to say, that figure has likely only grown since then. In 2023, when mid-year examinations for all primary and secondary school levels were scrapped to reduce the overemphasis on grades, some students responded by turning to tuition centres to take mock mid-year papers."
O-Level results to be released on Jan 10 (3 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The results of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge Ordinary Level (O-Level) examinations will be released on Jan 10 at 2.30pm.
School candidates may receive their results from their secondary schools on that day, with details on collection arrangements to be shared by their respective schools, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said on Friday (Jan 3).
Those who are unable to collect their results in person can appoint a proxy to collect a physical copy of their results on their behalf from the school. Proxies must produce relevant documents for the school’s verification when collecting results."
Singapore adults' ability to read or write in English is below OECD average. What's the problem? (5 January 2025)
"At work, Mr Ng Jing Feng has had to spend hours rewriting poorly worded reports produced by his colleagues.
As part of his role as a programme executive in the social services sector, Mr Ng edits many documents, such as incident reports and Standard Operating Procedure documents.
“Not using proper terms for incident reports resulted in confusion, causing staff to spend a lot of time clarifying things,” said the 41-year-old."
Former MOE teacher who was detained under ISA for terrorism offences released from detention (9 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former teacher with the Ministry of Education (MOE) who was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism offences has been released from detention.
Mohamed Khairul Riduan Mohamed Sarip, 40, was released on a restriction order in November 2024, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Thursday (Jan 9).
He was self-radicalised and arrested in October 2022 under the ISA as he had planned to travel to Gaza to join Hamas and its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades (AQB) to fight the Israel Defense Forces."
O-Level 2024 results: 87.7% score at least 5 passes, higher than previous year (10 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: About 87.7 per cent of students scored at least five passes at the 2024 GCE O-Level examinations, slightly above the previous year's mark of 86.8 per cent.
Of the 22,661 candidates who sat for the examinations last year, 19,884 had five or more O-Level passes, according to results released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on Friday (Jan 10).
Students collected their results from their secondary schools on Friday."
I spent my childhood hurt and confused by my parents’ many strict rules. Here’s how I’m healing now (10 January 2025)
"When I started therapy in 2020, the first thing I learnt is that we’re all wired for survival.
In my home, as is often the case in many Asian households, survival meant falling in line with the rules: Get good grades (Mum), never question authority (Dad), keep your mouth shut when being scolded (both).
My parents’ rules weren’t inherently wrong."
Singapore to require app stores to implement measures to protect children from inappropriate apps (15 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore will soon require app stores to implement measures to protect children from inappropriate apps, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Wednesday (Jan 15).
The requirement comes under a new code – the Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services – and will take effect from Mar 31.
Under the code, designated app stores with significant reach or impact – Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Huawei App Gallery, Microsoft Store and Samsung Galaxy Store – will have to put in place "system-level measures" to curtail the risk of exposure to harmful content for users, especially children."
Singapore to require app stores to implement measures to protect children from inappropriate apps (17 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Childminders offering infant care services have to go through at least two rounds of background checks and receive training on first aid and food safety before they are allowed to look after them.
These stringent requirements to ensure the well-being of the infants have been set out under a three-year childminding pilot launched by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
The pilot, rolled out last December for Singaporean infants aged between two months and 18 months old, is part of the government’s efforts to offer parents greater assurance during their child’s first stage of life, according to the agency."
Deep Dive Podcast: If banning social media for teens under 16 won't work, what else will? (17 January 2025)
"Australia passed a law last year banning children under 16 from accessing social media, a move seen as challenging to implement. Singapore is also considering ways to protect children from the harms of excessive use of social media apps But how realistic is this?
Steven Chia and Crispina Robert speak to Nikki Yeo, a Gen Z and CNA TODAY journalist, and Alvin Seng, an addictions counsellor at WE CARE Community Services."
She co-founded a programme for underprivileged boys to learn music: 'I want them to know they can dream’ (18 January 2025)
"For the past one-and-a-half years, the metallic tones of gamelan music can be heard at Pasir Ris East Community Club on some Saturday evenings. Every fortnight, boys aged eight to 16 gather for gamelan lessons, learning to play the gong ageng, bonang and saron.
The youngsters hail from Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, a non–profit shelter for boys from abused and underprivileged backgrounds. Teaching them are musicians from Djoko Mangkrengg, a local performing arts group that specialises in gamelan.
The collaboration was set up by ArtSee, a music and community mentorship programme co-founded by Nabillah Jalal."
No phones, no scoldings: How we keep daily family dinners sacred (18 January 2025)
"Every day at 6pm, the chorus of “Dinner time!” rings out in our house. Like clockwork, tiny and not-so-tiny feet patter over to the table. The younger of my five children clamber up to their preferred chairs, and my older kids help to hand out forks and spoons and fill cups of water for everyone, laughter and chatter permeating the air.
Food is laid out on the table: Fragrant white rice, stir-fried meats with an extra coating of sticky sauce, crunchy vegetables, fresh steamed fish, fluffy eggs, a huge pot of nourishing soup. Simple but comforting fare that can usually be whipped up in an hour or less.
By the time everyone is seated, we’re ready to listen and talk. No phones, no books, no screens, no distractions."
Q&A with Indranee Rajah on support for young families (20 January 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The government is stepping up support for young families this year with a new shared parental leave scheme, which will come into effect on Apr 1.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, who oversees the National Population and Talent Division, told CNA’s Dawn Tan in an interview that she believes the scheme could be a real turning point for working parents.
Q. Is money is the main consideration for couples to have children, and how has the government helped?
It’s about the money to some extent because the cost of raising a child weighs on a parent’s mind. But I think it (also) goes way beyond that. We have done quite a bit to enhance the support when a mother is having a child, as well as healthcare for the baby. We’ve been taking measures to make sure that there is greater accessibility to housing, because Singaporean couples are very pragmatic, they want a home of their own, even before they have a child. What we hope will be a game changer, is the new shared parental leave that was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally last year – that will be 10 weeks of shared parental leave, by default shared equally between mum and dad, but obviously they can adjust it."