Parents turn to smartwatches for their children amid global phone screen-time pushback (22 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Ms Shirley Ng’s eldest daughter received her first mobile phone when she turned nine, but her second daughter, Alysandra, now the same age, is not getting the same privilege.
Instead, she was given a children’s smartwatch, allowing her parents to track her whereabouts and exchange quick messages via its built-in Sim card without the need for a phone.
Unlike with a smartphone, Ms Ng, 45, can set aside worries about addictive and harmful online content Alysandra might be exposed to, since features on the watch are limited."
‘Gentle parenting’ is spoiling my granddaughter. What should I do? (23 March 2025)
"Q: My stepdaughter has been a single mother for about five years. She is 45 and I recognise that it is tough raising a 10-year-old girl while holding a full-time job and routinely jousting with an uncooperative ex-husband. I try my hardest to take everything into account.
At issue is my stepdaughter’s unwavering adherence to this “gentle parenting” concept of child-rearing that is currently in fashion.
In my opinion, the child is developing into a brat who knows her mother will rarely issue meaningful discipline. Instead, her mother “reasons” with her until the next time her actions merit more “reasoning”."
Minor Issues: The great AI job disruption has started, here is how we can respond (23 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – I recently witnessed three back-to-back job disappointments.
A former student, who aced her reference check, did not receive a job offer from the company interested in hiring her because its headquarters cut the job requisition at the last minute."
Teenage use of AI: What parents should be aware of (23 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – When Caleb Teo, 16, uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools, it is always related to school, he says.
The Year 1 student at a junior college (JC) says: “Usually, I’ll try and think of the response first, but when I’m tired or frustrated, I’ll turn to ChatGPT. Sometimes, I forget a concept and it triggers my memory enough so that I can answer the question myself.”
Fun With Kids: Storytelling by Meryl Streep, Dog Man books adapted to film, Zooom theatre show (23 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.
Storytelling by Meryl Streep
Sit your kids down for a special online storytelling session by Hollywood icon Meryl Streep, who will regale them with the tale of The Three Questions (2002)."
New pre-schools, primary school and sheltered linkway to Sembawang MRT in the works: Ong Ye Kung (23 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Residents in Sembawang GRC can expect new developments such as more pre-schools, a high sheltered linkway to Sembawang MRT station and a new primary school in East Canberra by 2029.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced these upcoming initiatives on March 23 at the opening of two new facilities in the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub."
20,000 ‘positivity pizzas’ to be given out to youth in Punggol to promote mental wellness (23 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Young people lined up at Punggol 21 Community Club on March 23, eager to collect a crocheted keychain in the shape of a smiling pizza.
Some 20,000 keychains were handmade by volunteers over the past 18 months for the Positivity Pizza Initiative, which aims to encourage youth to seek help when they are bullied.
The “positivity pizza” keychains serve as a reminder for children and teenagers to speak up when they face bullying, said MP Yeo Wan Ling on March 23 at the launch of the mental wellness initiative."
Art, music, nature: How they boost mental health (24 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Mental health support and resources extend far beyond the traditional realms of mental health professionals and medication.
Many aspects of daily life can play a significant role in improving mental health and well-being, including creative activities such as art, music and dance movement.
At the National University of Singapore and National University Health System’s Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre, its director, Associate Professor John Wong, said that non-drug approaches can help people cope with stress and despair as well as aid them in their mental health recovery."
NUS researchers develop use of microneedles to treat diabetic wounds (24 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE - Each day, about four people face having their lower limbs amputated because of non-healing diabetic wounds in Singapore, where some 400,000 people live with the disease.
To tackle this problem, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed two technologies which have shown to be effective in accelerating diabetic wound healing, thus reducing the risk of amputation."
SUSS to open new social work school with refreshed curriculum and more specialisations (25 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will open a new social work school, building on its existing programmes and introducing a revamped curriculum to address workforce shortfalls, attrition and burnout in the social work sector.
Promising opportunities for more pathways after graduation and career development, the School of Social Work and Social Development will open its doors in the third quarter of 2025, said SUSS provost Robbie Goh.
The school, which will be located in the SUSS campus in Clementi, will be the university’s sixth and newest school. The dean will be Dr Vincent Ng, chief executive of non-profit organisation Allkin Singapore."
Jail, caning for ex-NTU student who took photos of girls in lingerie, molested one of them (25 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE - While he was studying part-time at Nanyang Technological University, a man used his dormitory room to host photo shoots of girls, including one who was just 13, posing in lingerie.
On March 25, Tnee Chin Kiat, 32, was sentenced to 27 months’ jail and five strokes of the cane."
Ex-cop who worked as school ops manager charged with taking bribes from company director (26 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE - An operations manager who was working at St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School (SACSS) when she allegedly took bribes from the director of a company specialising in LED displays was charged in court on March 26.
Goh Jong Lih, 61, who The Straits Times understands was a former police officer, was handed a total of 23 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act."
New online guide to help parents plan for their autistic kids’ future to be launched end 2025 (27 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – What will happen to my child when I die?
This question nags at Ms Sun Meilan, 51, constantly. But the mother of an 18-year-old son with autism has her arms full with daily duties as a full-time caregiver, and rarely has the time to make plans for the future.
Many caregivers such as herself face this problem, she said. “The uncertainty of where and whom to entrust our child to, amid inadequate adult services and limited support, leaves families stuck.”
Jail for former Islamic religious teacher who committed indecent acts on boy in mosque (27 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – A mosque officer, whose job scope included leading prayers, was at his workplace when he touched a boy’s private parts on two separate occasions in 2014.
The boy, who was a minor of around 15 years old at the time, had been sexually abused multiple times by another person – an older male family member – when he was between nine and 14 years old."
Get tips at forum to help your child improve in PSLE maths (27 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – To improve in mathematics, your Primary 6 child may find it helpful to redo old questions rather than attempt new ones, says a maths expert.
Dr Cynthia Seto, a principal consultant for mathematics at Marshall Cavendish Education, suggests pupils go through their maths workbooks and worksheets, taking note of the questions they were unable to solve.
“Is there a concept or skill that is lacking? Refer to the textbook, discuss with classmates or consult your maths teacher,” she said."
Children’s Aid Society hopes to move into new home for abused kids by end-2027 (27 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – The Children’s Aid Society held its ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Melrose Village on March 27.
The facility, which will be built on the site of the charity’s old Melrose Home premises at 503 Clementi Road, is a residential care service and counselling centre for children and young people who have been through abuse or neglect.
When completed, it will feature a home-like environment for children and young people who have experienced trauma, with conducive spaces for studying and recreation, as well as easy access to professional therapy, said Mr Alvin Goh, executive director of the Children’s Aid Society."
Shape Singapore’s future and earn rewards: Make your voice count on education, mental health, sustainability (28 March 2025)
"Ready to help shape Singapore’s future? It’s now as simple as answering a few questions.
The National Youth Council has rolled out a series of quick online surveys to get Singaporeans to share their views and ideas on issues that matter to youth, such as sustainability, community engagement and the diverse pathways to success."
Why talking to strangers is a skill we can’t afford to lose (28 March 2025)
"I gave my Singaporean students a new assignment recently: Come up with ideas for a new bubble tea shop on campus. But there was a catch. They had to walk around campus, talk to strangers, and come back with insights about what people their age think about bubble tea. To my surprise, many students didn’t rush out to do this timed exercise.
Instead, they opened their laptops and started making PowerPoint slides. I had to gently nudge them towards the exit and encourage them to talk to strangers."
Teaching and tech professionals in high demand in 2024 as Singapore’s job market remains tight (28 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Singapore’s labour market remained tight in 2024, with new roles making up nearly half of all job vacancies, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in its annual Job Vacancies Report.
The most sought-after professionals were those in teaching and training, software development and marketing sales, among other fields."
Pre-schools can engage relief teachers from centralised staff pool set up by ECDA (29 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE – Pre-schools in need of relief teachers can tap a centralised pool of staff from two service providers appointed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
The two recruitment agencies – Cultivar and RecruitFirst – have a combined pool of more than 800 staff, along with over 1,600 leads that ECDA has given. These include former early childhood educators and programme staff who have consented to being contacted."
Kinokuniya’s downsizing could write a new chapter in bookstore retail (29 March 2025)
"While wandering through Ngee Ann City last week, I momentarily forgot which floor Kinokuniya was on and asked a mall employee for directions.
“Oh, the stationery shop?” she replied. “That’s one floor 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”."
‘Oops! I meddled with my child’s CCA choices’ (23 January 2025)
"With CCA season upon us, writer Linda Lee shares her look-back-and-laugh misadventures in trying to get her son to pick activities that had, well, no kick.
Throwback to 2020: “But mum, I don’t want to play ping pong. I want to join the drama club,” my then primary-school child pleaded tearfully.
“Thou shall listen to your mum and join a sport!” I hissed, staring daggers at him. “There’s a higher chance to enter a secondary school through DSA if you become good at it, you know?”
This was the level of drama in my home when I tried to steer my son in his choice of Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) back in primary school.
Looking back, I wish I had made better decisions and supported him more positively. In my defence, I interfered with the best of intentions.
Thankfully, he seems to be enjoying his Symphonic Band CCA now as a Sec 2 boy. But it took a while for him to get there. Let me share my blow-by-blow trilogy of how I butted in with regret, so that you may avoid the same pitfalls when it’s your child’s turn to pick a CCA."
Principals share insights on nurturing community and change (24 January 2025)
“Heart is what drives you,” says one principal. And this simple philosophy, which three other principals also subscribe to, has helped shape their communities – whether it’s turning school gardens into calming spaces, cultivating inclusivity through sports, or giving teachers space to innovate.
By Lim Jun Kang/ Sabrina Lee
“We aim high while staying humble.” – Mdm Yvonne Teo, Principal
Joining Bedok View Secondary School at the height of COVID-19, Mdm Teo found her greatest joy in guiding and growing with her staff. “What was most rewarding was that we didn’t just overcome challenges – we reached new heights.”
Under her leadership, the team charted new paths.
“We strengthened our partnership with APSN Katong School, extending our shared ‘fence’, joining sporting events as one team, and even taking the stage at the National Day Parade 2023 together,” she says.
Known for her genuine way of connecting with people and helping both staff and students shine, she believes every school has its own unique qualities waiting to be nurtured. Her approach starts with understanding what makes each school community special, then working alongside students, staff, and alumni to build on these strengths together.
Mdm Teo’s leadership style centres on balance. She believes that success comes from blending achievement with joy. For her, nurturing great teachers starts with genuine appreciation. “Sometimes the smallest, most sincere gestures make the biggest impact in helping teachers feel valued.”
As Catholic High School’s new Principal, Mdm Teo begins by getting to know what makes her school community special, partnering with students, staff, and alumni to grow these strengths together."
Green lessons from a teacher work attachment (31 January 2025)
"The Teacher Work Attachment Plus (TWA+) programme took this teacher from Xinmin Primary School on a journey of discovery, from the classroom to the garden. Now, she’s bringing her urban farming experience back to school to inspire her students.
When Ms Geraldine Tng embarked on a work attachment programme in 2024, little did she know it would deepen her passion for environmental education and her career as a teacher.
For 10 weeks, the Head of Department of Science at Xinmin Primary School went behind the scenes at Gardens by the Bay and local urban farm City Sprouts to learn how these local companies integrate environmental sustainability into their operations.
Under the Teacher Work Attachment Plus (TWA+) programme, Xinmin Primary partnered these companies to offer work attachment opportunities for its teachers.
Ms Tng, who also serves as advisor for the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) for Environmental Education at Xinmin Primary, shares, “The school’s vision is to prepare the students for the future, but to do that, we teachers need to have a better understanding of the world. I’ve been teaching for 31 years. It’s a good time for me to explore new ways to get students excited about learning.”
Can students engineer a high-tech school transformation? A school and an industrial automation company say yes (3 February 2025)
"Rockwell Automation employees mentored students from Beatty Secondary School over six months, guiding them in applying technology to solve school-based challenges. Read on about how this partnership has brought students, teachers and mentors alike on a journey of growth, while preparing the next generation for the future of work.
A school library overhaul enabled by cybersecurity, analytics and digital twin software. This might sound like a job for the professionals, but it might surprise you to know that it’s none other than students themselves who are at the helm of the transformation.
The reason why this exciting initiative is possible: a partnership between Beatty Secondary School and Rockwell Automation. Through a mentorship programme that ran from May 2024 to January 2025, 15 Secondary 3 students were paired with seven mentors from Rockwell Automation. Every fortnight, the students and mentors met to work on school-based challenges.
For a start, the students chose from one of three projects based on their interests. One group opted to utilise three digital twin software to optimise the library’s layout, analyse borrowing patterns and create a book location system. Another group looked into automating the borrowing system and ensuring that information is secure in the process, picking up technical tools such as encryption and hashing. Meanwhile, the third group delved into sustainability and waste management technology."
The five Cs of arts education (11 February 2025)
"What are they and how do they prepare students for the rapid changes of the 21st Century? Mr Clifford Chua, the Academy Principal of the Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts (STAR), breaks it down.
Since ChatGPT and Midjourney were launched in 2022, the ways generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) might transform the world has been one of the hottest topics across industries all over the world. But for Mr Clifford Chua, the Academy Principal of the Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts (STAR), the potential of GenAI is not that unfamiliar – at least from the perspective of arts education.
“AI will affect arts education just as any other technology has,” he acknowledges. “But it’s just a tool you can play with. One of the things students learn in art class is the potentialities of different materials, and their limitations. Take clay, for example. There are things clay can and cannot do.” Similarly, AI has its affordances and constraints. “So, if we give students this tool, they will experiment with it. They will learn to exploit what it can do to create fantastic things. And what it cannot do, they will have to find other ways of doing those things.”
For that reason, AI did not drive the changes in the refreshed and revised art syllabuses that were rolled out to primary, secondary and pre-university students in 2024 and 2025. Rather, art teachers are being trained by STAR to bring out students’ voices more during their classes, by encouraging them to express and clarify their perspectives during their art-making. Experimentation and exploration are now a greater focus, and process is emphasised as being more important than final product.
The goal of these changes is to hone skills and mindsets – or more snappily, the five Cs – that will better prepare students for the volatile and complex world they will face after leaving school. Mr Chua shares what exactly these five Cs are and why arts education is uniquely equipped to impart them.
1. Creativity
Over the years, the Singapore education system has helped hone certain traits, such as efficiency and diligence. These have definitely been valuable assets to students as they enter the workforce. “But there have been some observations that Singaporeans are not so independent when it comes to solving problems,” Mr Chua points out. With an overfocus on academic results, many students also lack time to pursue interests outside of their schoolwork.
While a single-minded pursuit of good grades might once have been perceived as a virtue, it can become a liability as the world evolves. Top universities increasingly look out for applicants with distinct passions, pursuits, and perspectives. “And that’s because they have found that the people who succeed later in life have a variety of interests. The key to their success is the ability to connect the dots between different disciplines,” Mr Chua elaborates.
An arts education helps foster creative thinking through experimentation and exploration. “That whole process of developing your own way of thinking, looking and listening, then interpreting and responding, instils a more creative disposition,” he says."
‘We don’t always need words to understand each other’ (13 February 2025)
"When these students from Fernvale Primary School meet their pals with special needs from MINDS Fernvale Gardens School for art sessions, they create their own language of friendship.
When two art teachers discovered they had a common love for sock puppets, they hit it off.
The result? Joint lessons between the students of their two schools, culminating in a pop-up exhibition.
Mdm Angela Lau, Acting Head of Department for Arts at MINDS Fernvale Gardens School (FGS), and Mdm Julia Bte Mohd Rahim, Subject Head of Aesthetics at Fernvale Primary School (FVPS), first got together when their schools held a networking session in 2023 to share expertise.
FVPS is a mainstream primary school while students from FGS have moderate-to-severe intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); some of them also have limited verbal communication skills.
When Mdm Julia and Mdm Lau discussed their respective art programmes, they found much common ground and ample opportunities for mutual learning.
Sharing a keen interest in soft sculptures, they planned joint art sessions for their students featuring everyday materials and sock puppets as a creative medium."
Why Junior College was a good choice for these students (3 March 2025)
"Schoolbag caught up with three A-Level grads from Catholic Junior College (CJC) to find out more about their JC experience. From the school’s wide-ranging programmes and activities, to the tight support network of teachers and friends – find out why the JC route was the right choice for them.
By Arielene Wee/ Jacquelyn Ng
“In just two years, I was involved in over 40 activities and programmes! It was an amazing range – from attending Arts Fest and STEM conferences, to organising CJC’s Open House as a student councillor.” – Galen Ang
When choosing between JC and poly, Galen Ang chose the former because he was unsure of a specific poly course to pick. He shares that at CJC, “The huge number of school programmes helped me discover my interests, and more importantly, myself.”
As a student councillor, Galen planned orientation programmes for his juniors, and leadership dialogues on how to improve the school. One of the suggestions from this dialogue – to introduce a flame mascot as part of CJC’s identity – was implemented last year. “This was a core JC memory because we made a difference. We see the mascot at school events now! I am thankful for these moments of making likeminded friends, being study buddies, and navigating school life together.”
Stronger together: Student well-being gets a boost with parental support (4 March 2025)
"From “monster hunts” to art jam sessions, here’s how Parent Support Groups are teaming up with schools to boost students’ mental health.
Therapeutic art jam sessions. Cute crochet toys. These are just a couple of the many things parents are doing for stressed students, as they actively involve themselves in their children’s school communities. And many of them are discovering that volunteering their time and effort at the Parents Support Group (PSG) goes a long way to ensure that students’ mental well-being needs are supported.
Schoolbag dives deeper into three PSG-led programmes that are making a tangible difference in students’ lives.
At Chung Cheng High Yishun, parents are supporting students’ well-being one crochet stitch at a time
As the school year enters its busiest stretch and stress levels peak before the exam period, a whimsical initiative by the PSG at Chung Cheng High Yishun (CCHY) has brought much-needed joy to students. The initiative mentioned: Rainbow Monsters – handcrafted crochet creatures, each tagged with a note of encouragement.
First started in September 2024, the project saw PSG members partnering Peer Support Leaders (PSLs) to host a school-wide “monster hunt” during recess, where students eagerly searched for 260 crochet monsters hidden around the school campus. The aim was to add some fun to the hectic term, but it managed to spark important conversations about mental well-being.
Mdm Betsy Toh, one of the parents who initiated the PSG Crochet Club, shares that attached to each crochet monster was a heartfelt message reminding students to reach out to peers if they need extra support.
“This initiative was also about creating a sense of togetherness,” says Mdm Toh, whose daughter is a PSL. “We didn’t set out with an intentional message about mental health; instead, we simply shared something we enjoyed and loved doing, and in doing so, spread joy to the rest of the school.”
More than just grades: 21st century students share their skills for success (7 March 2025)
"As the definition of success evolves through generations, so do the skills and competencies required to achieve it. We speak to a Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Accountancy undergraduate and former thrift shop owner to find out how they’ve enriched themselves through their experiences outside of school.
“Study hard, get good grades, get a good job” is an often-heard mantra in Singapore. However, it is increasingly evident that academic accolades are not the only way to achieve fulfilment in life – especially in today’s fast-changing world.
Just as important in today’s world are practical and soft skills. Hou Hui Qing, a 24-year-old SIT Accountancy undergraduate tells us how she has grown to be a motivated and compassionate leader from her internship at Ah Hua Kelong, a fish farm. Also, Enif bin Omar, a 20-year-old who built his own thrift and vintage business, shares how he has developed a great sense of social awareness through it.
Changing the world starts with knowing yourself
For both Enif and Hui Qing, being self-aware kickstarted their journey. By understanding and following what mattered to them, they accomplished things they could be proud of. The seed of Enif’s business, Cappo’s Garage, for instance, was planted in 2018 when he was just 14. He had an interest in vintage fashion, and when he visited his parents’ retirement house in Malaysia, he found a thriving vintage fashion scene “way bigger than I’ve ever seen in my life”.
Enif then brought home vintage clothes for his friends and sold some of the garments on Carousell, a Singaporean online marketplace for second-hand items. His online sales took off and he ventured into setting up physical pop-up stores before eventually opening a permanent store in Far East Plaza. “It started as a hobby, but I grew to realise the opportunities available as I kept an open mind,” shares Enif, whose earnings from the business has allowed him to support himself through his studies in the past few years."
JC admission changes, mid-career level-up, Special Education support, and more (10 March 2025)
Check out these and other MOE COS 2025 highlights.
How to break the vicious screentime cycle (14 March 2025)
"Screens are a lifeline for busy parents. But too much screen use can disrupt sleep and affect children’s health. The Health Plan under Grow Well SG offers small, practical steps to help families unplug. Four parents who have tested these strategies share their struggles, successes and lessons learned.
A video buys you some peace while you wash up after dinner, but bedtime becomes another battle.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. For these four families, managing screen use was a challenge – until they took small steps to make a change.
Mr Seah’s Story: Breaking the Screentime Cycle
Getting kids to settle down can feel like herding kittens. Mr Seah Kok Yong admits that the screen saved him – and his three boys – much grief at mealtime. “We would give them the screen when we needed them to stop running around,” he says.
He thought it was harmless. Feeding time was more fuss-free, and they were picking up vocabulary too.“The nursery rhyme videos taught them English better than I thought I could,” he adds.
But over time, his sons – 12-year-old twins and a 9-year-old – became increasingly hooked. “They would always demand for more. Once the screen was in their hands, it’s very hard to take it back,” he recalls. His boys became engrossed in YouTube videos and Roblox, sometimes staying up past midnight.
The turning point came when his youngest son, Kaydus, received a Health Plan booklet at school under the Grow Well SG initiative. The booklet provided structured guidance on healthy habits – including the importance of at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep."
DSA Leadership: For students who can seek consensus and build connections (18 March 2025)
"Primary 6 students can try for direct entry to certain secondary schools based on their talent in leadership. Here are the different ways three schools develop these students’ potential.
Leadership can be a tricky quality to identify. Students applying for the DSA Leadership programme typically already have a track record of serving as a prefect or Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) leader in primary school, or some sort of similar experience.
Naval Base Secondary School goes a step further to ask applicants to elaborate on their experiences. This is to find out if they embody specific leadership dispositions such as being self-reflective and collaborative, having a heart to serve, and more. “We also want to see if they have clarity of thought as they communicate, and align with our RECIPE values – which stands for respect, excellence, compassion, integrity, perseverance, and enthusiasm,” explains Mr Shawn Neo, the Subject Head for Student Leadership at this school.
On top of that, Naval Base also sets a group challenge to observe how the students behave when they have to work together on a task. This is to gain insights on how students navigate differences, approach problem-solving and contribute to group goals – qualities that Mr Neo says are essential for future leaders.
Bukit View Secondary School sets a group task and interviews students as a group as well. “We want to see how well they listen to one another and build on their peers’ answers,” says Mr Norafiq Ismail, one of the teachers in charge of this school’s Leadership Development. “An outstanding candidate will be someone who can really synthesise the thoughts in the room.”
At New Town Secondary School, teachers also keep in mind that leadership styles are diverse while conversing with applicants. “Not every leader is someone who is rah-rah and boisterous. We also appreciate students who may be quieter, but show maturity in thought,” says Ms Adora Tan, one of the teachers in charge of Student Leadership at the school. “Sincerity and a disposition of wanting to serve also form a good starting point.”
Here’s a closer look at how these three schools nurture students’ leadership skills."
Open House for Primary Schools (25 March 2025)
"What do you need to know before visiting open houses with your child? Read on for more details on how you can support your child in choosing a primary school that’s suitable for them!
Getting a peek into the school grounds, meeting the teachers and students, experiencing each school’s culture – open houses provide opportunities for you and your child to choose a primary school most suitable for them. Here are some points to keep in mind as your child embarks on this exciting new chapter.
While attending the open houses for primary schools, consider the following pointers:
1. Your child’s strengths and interests
Talk to your child about what they like to do. Ask them to share about their preferred hobbies, be it playing sports, making music, creating art, or even gaming. Ask them what else they would like to try because primary school years offer new learning opportunities. Discuss what they like and dislike about their lessons and activities in kindergarten. Then, read up on and find out more about the primary schools that can provide your child with the opportunities to deepen their existing interests or explore new areas.
2. Distance between home and school
The daily journey to and from school is an important consideration. Think of the means of transport your child will be using. Regardless of the mode of transport, be it by car, school bus, or public transport, what is the fastest and safest way for them to commute to and from school? A long commute to and from school can have an impact of your child’s energy level and readiness for school experiences.
3. Culture of the school
Each school has its distinctive culture. By attending the open houses, you get a preview of what each school has to offer in terms of its programmes, facilities, values, teachers, and school culture. Take the opportunity to browse through the schools’ websites to learn more about them before you go.
When you are there, guide your child to participate in the activities to feel the pulse and energy of the school. Encourage your child to ask the students questions about what they enjoy most about their school life and observe if your child enjoys the interaction with the students there."
Open House for Secondary Schools (25 March 2025)
"What do you need to know before visiting open houses with your child? Read on for more details on how you can support your child in choosing a secondary school that’s suitable for them!
Getting a peek into the school grounds, meeting the teachers and students, experiencing each school’s culture – open houses provide opportunities for you and your child to choose a secondary school most suitable for him/her. Here are some points to keep in mind as your child embarks on this exciting new chapter.
1. Have a conversation with your child about their strengths and interests
Find out what appeals to them and what worries them most about going to secondary school. Ask them about their favourite lessons and activities in primary school and let them share what they think are their strengths and interests.
You can also ask them to list what they enjoy about their school experiences in order of preference. This could range from the learning environment to academic programmes to CCAs and even the canteen food! This will give you a better understanding of what matters to them and what they would like to have in their secondary school life.
2. Think of different aspects of the school experience
When discussing possible secondary school options with your child, consider the school’s distinctive programmes, culture and ethos, subjects and CCAs offered, as well as the distance from home. These will all impact your child’s experience.
3. Shortlist a range of schools
After having a conversation with your child, use the checklist on SchoolFinder to explore and shortlist the options together. Find out what each school can offer your child and whether it seems to be a good fit for your child’s strengths, interests, and abilities. This exploration can better inform the 6 choices that you and your child indicate after the release of the PSLE results. If you need help navigating SchoolFinder, read this article for tips."
Where do teens hang out after school? The answer will surprise you (26 March 2025)
"Game consoles, drum sets, foosball tables – stuff you’d expect to find in a big tech company’s staff lounge – are appearing in designated hangout spaces in schools now. Schoolbag visits three schools to find out how letting students have fun engages them more meaningfully past lesson time.
You might think that school is a place that students can’t wait to leave at the end of the day. But now, through initiatives to turn designated spaces into hangout areas tailor-made for students to have fun, relax and bond, school has become more than just a place to study.
We visit three schools to get a glimpse of what draws students to stay back after school in these spaces, and how teachers say the spaces have made a world of difference in meaningfully engaging students. Across the board, students and teachers echo the same sentiments: these hangout spaces have done wonders in improving students’ mental well-being and school life. More than that, students are making fond memories, finding their communities, and gaining confidence while being supported to thrive both socially and emotionally.
In New Town Secondary School, the Oasis helps students build relationships and resilience
Walking into the Oasis, one enters a bright and cosy space replete with couches, plump beanbags, and a larger-than-life mural done by students. Here, New Town Secondary School (NTSS) students take their pick of activities, from billiards and board games to foosball and video games.
To students, the Oasis lives up to its namesake, offering a blissful retreat away from the stress of studies. “It’s like a different part of school,” says Secondary 4 student Ezanne Wong, one of the student crew who helps manage the space. “When you enter, it’s like being mentally away from school stresses and in a space where it’s just about making memories filled with laughter.”
The relaxed environment also facilitates “very organic” interactions, says Oasis teacher-in-charge Ms Nurul Aisyah Rosli, as students can freely and casually play games together even if they are unacquainted. As a result, the Oasis has helped bring together students across different backgrounds. This was most apparent when Tanglin Secondary School (TSS) merged with NTSS in 2023. The Oasis, as a common, safe and fun space, helped “build a stronger school culture by bringing a lot of people together”, says Ezanne, who was a former TSS student.
Students have also found communities here. Secondary 3 student Lee Chee Yat, who’s also a crew member, said the Oasis recalled the time when he had just entered secondary school. “I met a lot of people like me here, who were also not used to the school and to new people, so it helped me feel less lonely,” he says."
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."
Grow Well SG to Support Families in Building Healthy Habits in Children (21 January 2025)
"The Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have jointly launched Grow Well SG, a new national health promotion strategy to enhance preventive care and inculcate healthier lifestyles in children and adolescents. The multi-ministry strategy is aimed at holistically addressing children's health and well-being in the digital age."
More Than 66,000 Student Athletes to Participate at National School Games 2025 (22 January 2025)
"More than 66,000 student athletes will compete across 29 sports at the National School Games (NSG) 2025. Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing officiated the NSG Opening Ceremony at the Singapore Sports Hub OCBC Arena Hall today."
Posting Results for the 2025 Joint Admissions Exercise (27 January 2025)
"The posting results for the 2025 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) will be released on 4 February 2025, 9am. Applicants can obtain their posting results through the following modes:
a. Short Message Service to the Singapore mobile phone number provided by the applicant during application
b. JAE-IS, which is accessible through the JAE website (www.moe.gov.sg/jae)."
Open for Nominations: Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' Award 2025 (3 February 2025)
"From 3 February to 4 April 2025, students, educators, parents, and members of the public are invited to nominate Tamil Language (TL) teachers for the Most Inspiring Tamil Teachers' (MITT) Award 2025."
Nominations Open for Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award 2025 (3 February 2025)
"From 3 February to 4 April 2025, students, educators, parents, and members of the public are invited to nominate outstanding Malay Language teachers for the Arif Budiman Malay Language Teacher Award (AGAB) 2025."
Release of 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Results on 21 February 2025 (14 February 2025)
"The results of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) examination will be released on Friday, 21 February 2025, 2.30pm."
New Story Writing Competition for Students to Draw Inspiration from Late Composer's Songs (15 February 2025)
"The Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) launched a short story writing competition that seeks to provide an opportunity for students to appreciate the late local composer Zubir Said's songs, and translate the inspiration from his music into creative works. Dr Mohamed Maliki Osman, Second Minister of Education and Chairperson of the MLLPC was the Guest of Honour at the launch event at Woodlands Regional Library today."
Release of the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level Examination Results (21 February 2025)
"Candidates who sat for the 2024 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level) examination received their results from their schools today."
Thriving Together: Maximising the Potential of Education (6 March 2025)
"At the 2025 Committee of Supply Debate, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced initiatives to strengthen students' holistic development and maximise their potential, extend greater support to working adults to upskill and learn for life, as well as deepen partnerships across the education ecosystem to enhance teaching and learning. These initiatives will further advance our Forward Singapore agenda, to develop multiple pathways to success, and embrace learning beyond grades."
Infosheet 1: Revised Junior College (JC) Admission Criteria (6 March 2025)
"As part of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) efforts to broaden definitions of success beyond academic achievements and encourage holistic development in our students, MOE will revise the JC admission criteria from the 2028 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE), by reducing the number of subjects required for JC admission. With this change, students will have more scope to recalibrate their curriculum load by offering one fewer subject, and to use the freed-up time from offering one fewer subject to strengthen their development of 21st Century Competencies and pursue other interests."
Infosheet 2: Enhancing Support for Mid-career Individuals under the SkillsFuture Level-up Programme (6 March 2025)
"The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme (SFLP), jointly introduced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) in 2024, is a significant commitment by the Government to make SkillsFuture as a key pillar of our social compact. It supports Singapore Citizens aged 40 and above, who are at higher risk of skills obsolescence, to pursue upskilling and reskilling to stay relevant and competitive amidst a rapidly changing economy."
New "Xin Kong Xia 2024" Album Showcases Students' Musical Talent Through Chinese Songs (14 March 2025)
"The Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning (CPCLL) has released an album featuring 13 original songs composed by student winners from the 2024 National Schools Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition. Titled "Xin Kong Xia 2024", the album was launched today by Minister of State for Education and Chairperson of the CPCLL, Ms Gan Siow Huang, at the National Schools Xinyao festival. The annual festival aims to promote xinyao as a vital part of our cultural heritage, and deepen students' understanding and appreciation of the Chinese language and culture."
Singapore Youth Festival 2025: Students to Showcase Aspirations for Our Nation's Future Through Diverse Art Forms (21 March 2025)
"In celebration of Singapore's 60th year of independence, the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) 2025 will showcase youth artistic talents through performances and artworks from March to July. As part of the celebration, students will express their interpretations of our nation's cultural heritage and their aspirations for building our shared future together."
Second Minister for Education Dr Maliki Osman to Attend the 15th International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Reykjavik, Iceland (23 March 2025)
"Second Minister for Education, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, will attend the 15th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) in Reykjavik, Iceland, from 24 to 26 March 2025."
Montfort Secondary School disciplines students for tripping, kicking schoolmate (24 February 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Disciplinary action has been taken by Montfort Secondary School against its students after a boy was filmed being tripped and kicked by his schoolmates.
In the video, which was posted on Facebook on Saturday (Feb 22), a group of Montfort students can be seen approaching the boy from behind.
One student tripped and pushed him to the ground, while another kicked him twice. The victim then stood up and walked away, before a student came from behind and tripped him again."
Number of graduates who found work 6 months after leaving university in 2024 dips further, median salary hits S$4,500: Survey (24 February 2025)
"SINGAPORE: More graduates remained jobless six months after leaving school, though median salaries went up last year, especially for business jobs, a survey found.
Of the 12,500 fresh graduates in the labour force polled in the 2024 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey released on Monday (Feb 24), 87.1 per cent were employed within six months of completing their final exams, dropping from 89.6 per cent in 2023.
This continues a downward trend since 2022, according to results of the annual survey."
Empowering leaders to navigate change through learning that crosses boundaries (24 February 2025)
"As an associate seminar instructor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and a lecturer at the University at Buffalo, SIM Global Education, Dr Goh Boon Yeow devotes much of his efforts to teaching psychology. In 2022, however, he decided to broaden his horizons by stepping into another classroom – this time, as a student.
Eager to deepen his understanding of modern teaching practices and refine his methods, Dr Goh – who holds a doctorate in education and a master’s in mental health counselling – joined the inaugural cohort of the Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership (MBX) programme at the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), an autonomous institute under SUSS.
CROSSING BOUNDARIES TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES
Boundary crossing – the ability to innovate and learn across disciplines – has become essential as workplaces evolve and global challenges intensify. It encourages fresh perspectives and collaborative approaches that can propel meaningful transformation in education and other sectors."
Commentary: My children have rarely used cash in school – here’s how I ensure they have good money habits (27 February 2025)
"SINGAPORE: My daughters’ school was among the early adopters of the POSB Smart Buddy Programme in Singapore. And when this mode of e-payment was introduced, I must admit I was upset.
To me, using cash was as a valuable way for my children – Primary 1 and Primary 3 then – to understand the concept and value of money.
By this year, most students in Singapore schools will not need cash for their meals and bookshop purchases.
DBS and the Ministry of Education signed an agreement in 2022 to extend the POSB Smart Buddy programme to all primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, and Millennia Institute by 2025. Students will be able to make e-payments using their POSB Smart Buddy cards and watches, as well as other payment methods like the School Smart Card and EZ-Link cards, at tap-and-pay terminals."
6 months' jail for ex-NTU researcher who had obscene photos of children in his phone (28 February 2025)
"SINGAPORE: An ex-researcher at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who had obscene photos of children was sentenced to six months' jail on Friday (Feb 28).
Jason Scott Herrin, 50, had 90 photos of children being sexually abused in his phone, which was seized from his residential unit in 2020. Herrin, an American, was a principal research fellow at NTU but has since been fired.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child abuse material, with three other charges - including communicating with another person to offer 12-year-old girls money for sexual services, and having 31 obscene films - taken into consideration for his sentencing."
Singapore’s Youth Charter launched, new SG60 grant to fund youth-led community initiatives (1 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Youth Charter was launched by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (Mar 1).
The charter is an action plan for young people to play a more proactive role in the community. It was developed after a 15-month outreach effort by the People's Association Youth Movement.
A special SG60 PA Engagement Grant to fund youth-led community initiatives was also announced by Mr Wong at the launch event at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza."
A 5-year-old moves in with new foster parents. This is what happens in the first month (2 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: With a clatter and a thud, five-year-old *Isaac plopped down at his new foster parents’ doorstep and started strapping on an elbow pad.
“I want to go rollerblading!” he announced.
His enthusiasm left Natalie Ong, 34, and Matthew Chia, 37, both charmed and confounded. Having braced themselves for tears or shyness, the couple knelt to help him into his well-worn gear instead, surrounded by bags of clothes and toys."
My oldest child is 12, but I’m not giving him a smartphone anytime soon. Here’s why (2 March 2025)
"These are the kind of utterances I hear quite regularly: “Mum, can I play Pokemon Go please? I just want to catch all the Pokemon here.”
“Mum, I just want to see what I get from my Starr Drop today in my Brawl Stars game.”
“Mum, just one match on FC Mobile, it’ll only take 15 minutes, I promise.”
Children reported by their parents for vaping will not be fined: Rahayu (3 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Children who are reported by their parents for vaping will not be fined, Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said in parliament on Monday (Mar 3).
Madam Rahayu was answering a question from Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng (PAP-Jurong), who asked about the number of vaping cases that arise from parents referring their children to the police and the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) approach to such referrals.
She said that HSA received about 4,000 and 5,000 cases involving possession or usage of e-vaporisers from the police over the past two years. Only one of these cases was a parent referring his child to the police for vaping."
All three Montfort students in viral video 'share some responsibility' and will receive 'appropriate punishment' (3 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: All three Montfort Secondary School students in the viral video that made its rounds in February share some responsibility for the incident, and will receive “appropriate punishment”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Monday (Mar 3).
In the video, which was posted on Facebook on Feb 22, a group of Montfort students can be seen approaching the boy from behind.
One student tripped and pushed him to the ground, while another kicked him twice. The third boy then stood up and walked away, before a student came from behind and tripped him again."
187 gastroenteritis cases linked to Total Defence Day ready-to-eat meals (4 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: There were 187 gastroenteritis cases linked to ready-to-eat (RTE) meals distributed as part of Total Defence Day, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Tuesday (Mar 4).
Ms Fu was responding to parliamentary questions on food poisoning cases after some students from the School of the Arts (SOTA) ate the RTE meals and fell ill.
Authorities said on Feb 19 that 20 SOTA students had developed gastroenteritis symptoms and preliminary findings showed that it was an "isolated incident"."
Ex-teacher who force-fed children water in Kinderland preschool pleads guilty (5 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former Mandarin teacher from a Kinderland preschool admitted on Wednesday (Mar 5) to abusing four children under her care.
The court heard how Lin Min, 35, forced two of them to drink water and handled them roughly when they refused to.
Following the incidents, parents of these two toddlers observed that their children had nightmares where they would say "no" or "bye bye lao shi (teacher)"."
Junior college admission criteria to change from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028 (6 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six, the Education Ministry announced on Thursday (Mar 6).
Under the current L1R5 criteria, students must attain a score of 20 or better across six O-Level subjects to qualify for a junior college (JC).
The L1R5 aggregate includes one language subject, one humanities subject, one science or mathematics subject, one additional humanities, science or mathematics subject, and two other best-performing subjects."
Singapore University of Social Sciences to get new campus at former Rochor Centre site by mid-2030s (6 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will get a new campus at the former site and vicinity of Rochor Centre, which will be ready by the mid-2030s, the Education Ministry announced on Thursday (Mar 6).
The central location will increase the university’s accessibility for both full-time students pursuing their first degree and working adults seeking further education, the ministry said.
SUSS offers programmes that cater to different learners, including working adults, and many classes are run after working hours, said Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing in parliament while laying out his ministry’s spending plans for the year."
Montfort school fight: MOE may put out facts if 'one-sided story' posted online, says Maliki (7 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Schools prefer to handle fighting or bullying incidents sensitively but the Ministry of Education (MOE) may have to share facts of the case if a "one-sided story" is posted online, Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman said on Friday (Mar 7).
When any incident of fighting or bullying is shared online through a social media post or video, usually a one-sided story is presented from a "particular perspective", he added.
“While we would hope that members of the public can remember that what they see or read online may not present the full facts of the case, people often react emotively to what they see online, and form quick judgments on what had happened, or who was in the right or wrong in that incident,” said Dr Maliki in parliament."
Half of graduates still unemployed six months after university had job offers: Gan Siow Huang (7 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Half of the respondents in a university graduate employment poll who were unemployed six months after graduation had received job offers, Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang said on Friday (Mar 7).
In this group, two-thirds were going to start work "in due course", while the remaining one-third rejected the offers for various reasons.
She was responding to questions in parliament based on findings from the Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey published in February."
Six questioned by police over protest in NUS on Israel-Hamas war (7 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Six people suspected of being involved in a protest at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in January over the Israel-Hamas war have been questioned by the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
In response to media queries, SPF said on Friday (Mar 7) that they visited the residences of six individuals aged between 21 and 28 on Feb 27 to conduct investigations into their alleged involvement in the incident, which the police described in their statement as a "staged memorial".
Three of them, who were at home during the visit, preferred to have their statements recorded at their residences, said the police."
As the number of young drug abusers in Singapore continues to rise, youth advocates say it's time to fight back smarter (8 March 2025)
"About four times a week, 26-year-old Mohammed Narish Mohamed Noh can be found at sepak takraw courts in neighbourhoods such as Ghim Moh, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun and Jurong from 7pm to 9.30pm."
At the beginning of each session, the Institute of Technology (ITE) student is often surrounded by young people aged 13 to 24, as he takes attendance, offers snacks and chats with them."
These sessions are more than just a game; they are a subtle initiative to steer at-risk youths away from the use of illicit drugs. The programme, conceived by Mr Narish, is backed by Impart, a charity supporting youths facing adversities."
Singapore's sports institutions to be housed under new single entity (10 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sport Institute (SSI), National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) and Singapore Sports School (SSP) will be consolidated into a single entity to house all dedicated sports institutions under one umbrella.
Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong announced this in parliament on Monday (Mar 10) as he laid out the ministry's spending plans for the year.
SSI, Singapore's premier training centre for national athletes, and NYSI, a sporting organisation that aims to drive youth development, will be integrated next month. This new entity will then combine with SSP in "a few years' time", added Mr Tong.
He said that the SSP will remain as a school and retain its "brand and identity"."
This pre-school education group's AI planner cuts admin load, giving teachers more time for children (11 March 2025)
"EtonHouse International Education Group is shaking up the pre-school experience with artificial intelligence (AI) planning tools that help teachers work more efficiently. Group CEO Ng Yi-Xian joined in 2015 and took the reins in 2022, leading efforts to boost teaching efficiency while preserving a child‑centred, hands-on learning environment.
Under Mr Ng’s leadership, EtonHouse has embraced digital innovation to support teachers behind the scenes while preserving its inquiry-based approach. Support from the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s Digital Leaders Programme (DLP) proved pivotal. The DLP provided funding and resources to build an in-house tech team, which developed the proprietary AI planner. Meanwhile, Enterprise Singapore’s (EnterpriseSG) Scale-Up programme helped EtonHouse refine its business and technology strategies, positioning it for long-term success in the education sector.
This transformation did not happen overnight. It required building strong digital systems, hiring the right talent and experimenting with new tools – no small feat for any organisation. As Mr Ng put it: “Change is never easy, but it’s worth the effort.”
17 months, 2 weeks' jail for ex-Kinderland teacher who force-fed children water (13 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: A former Mandarin teacher from a Kinderland preschool was handed a jail term of 17 months and two weeks on Thursday (Mar 13) over the abuse of four children, including force-feeding two of them water.
Lin Min, 35, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of ill-treating a child, with three charges of a similar nature taken into consideration. The children in the charges were between one and three years old. Their names, along with the specific location of the offences cannot be revealed due to a gag order.
In passing the sentence, District Judge John Ng said that he could not accept the defence's argument that Lin had the welfare of the children in mind and that the offences had occurred as a result of overzealousness."
Deep Dive Podcast - Changes to JC admission not meant to increase competition or stress: Chan Chun Sing (14 March 2025)
"From 2028, students who want to go to a junior college will only need a total of five subjects instead of six. The change is meant to ease academic load, but whether it reduces stress for students and parents remains to be seen.
Singapore Education Minister Chan Chun Sing sits down with Steven Chia and Crispina Robert to unpack the changes."
The 'underachieving' student who became a successful private banker and now gives back as a respite foster parent (15 March 2025)
"Growing up, Mr Leon Qiu lived in a home surrounded by stacks of scripts written by his father who had an unwavering dream: to create Singapore's first commercially successful film.
His father, filmmaker Tony Yeow, spent all his life searching for potential investors and writing scripts non-stop.
He created Singapore’s first gong fu film, Ring of Fury, in 1973 but it was not screened for over 30 years due to its depiction of gangsterism. The movie, one of his many films, was later restored and finally screened in 2017, two years after his death."
‘We saw her as our safe space’: Tributes pour in for ex-national runner Renuka Satianathan who died at 37 (18 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: She was a teacher who inspired her students far beyond their time in school, and an athlete who gave her all in training, while being gracious to her competitors.
These are among the tributes that have poured in from the running fraternity, friends, and former students after the death of ex-national runner Renuka Satianathan on Mar 12 at the age of 37.
Details of her wake began circulating last week over social media, leading to many such tributes and past photos of her."
S$200,000 raised for scholarships at Singapore universities for Palestinian students (18 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Members of the public have raised S$200,000 (US$150,100) in an effort to sponsor Palestinian students to study at Singapore universities.
The Palestinian Scholarship Initiative (PSI) was launched in October last year and the administration committee is co-chaired by former Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong and former minister Professor Yaacob Ibrahim.
PSI has set a fundraising target of S$400,000 for two Palestinian students – S$200,000 each – which will cover university fees, lodging and other expenses."
Singapore considering home-based learning in event of heatwave; indoor sports halls to act as 'cooling spaces' (19 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: Schools in Singapore may shift to partial or full home-based learning as part of heightened measures in the event of a heatwave.
Cooling spaces such as community centres and indoor sports halls with air conditioning will also be opened up for the public to seek respite from the heat.
These measures were announced by an interagency Mercury Task Force on Wednesday (Mar 19) as it laid out the government's heat response plans."
Commentary: If bookstores cease to exist in Singapore, would most of us care? (21 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: It’s pretty obvious – bookstores in Singapore are on the decline. Kinokuniya Singapore recently downsized its flagship store at Takashimaya shopping centre, after closing outlets at Jem in 2022 and Liang Court in 2019. Homegrown publisher Epigram Books shuttered its only physical store operations earlier this year. Times Bookstores closed its last outlet at Holland Road in 2024.
When news breaks of a bookstore's closure, social media often lights up with expressions of sadness and nostalgia. But how representative are these reactions of the broader Singapore public? Do most people genuinely care about the fate of bookstores or just a vocal minority of passionate readers?
Perhaps the issue lies deeper: Are we just not a nation of readers who can keep bookstores thriving?"
Losing my Teochew skills has eroded my relationship with my grandma. I’m trying to fix it, but it’s not easy (21 March 2025)
"During a meet-the-teachers session in primary school, my Chinese teacher told my mother: “You need to stop speaking Teochew at home and start speaking more Chinese.”
At nine years old, I was fluent in Teochew, having picked it up from my grandparents who took care of me. We spoke little Chinese at home and it showed in my Mother Tongue grades.
In response to my teacher’s concerns, I was swiftly enrolled in weekly Chinese tuition classes for the next seven years. At the O-Levels, I miraculously passed the subject with a C6 grade."
A Letter to Myself Podcast: The budding musician who made an academic deal with her parents to pursue her passion (22 March 2025)
"Renny Goh always dreamed of becoming a musician, but her parents had one condition — she had to earn a degree first. While she was in NUS, she continued playing in her band, singing covers on YouTube and getting gigs. But it was a cousin’s near-death which clarified her goals, and she decided to chase her ambition in Los Angeles.
In this episode of A Letter to Myself, Renny tells Joel Chua how she navigated an unusual path for a Singaporean."
My children were shown kindness and empathy in school. This was what happened after that (22 March 2025)
"When I first became a parent, I was determined to raise my children to be kind, considerate and empathetic.
“Why can’t I?” I thought. Kindness doesn’t have to come at the cost of success.
Five kids and 12 years later, I still often find myself grappling with this."
SUSS to launch school for social work in third quarter of 2025 (25 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) will launch its sixth school – for social work and social development – in the third quarter of 2025, it announced on Tuesday (Mar 25).
Currently, SUSS and the National University of Singapore are the only two universities in Singapore that offer undergraduate and graduate social work degree programmes.
Making the announcement, provost Professor Robbie Goh noted that there is a lot of attrition in the social work sector, with many suffering from burnout after some time."
Jail, caning for ex-NTU student who molested 18-year-old girl, got a 13-year-old to pose in lingerie in his dorm room (25 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: He molested an 18-year-old girl in his hostel room on Nanyang Technological University’s campus in 2018, while he was a part-time student.
That same year, he procured an indecent act from another girl, who was aged 13 at the time, by having her pose in lingerie for him in a photoshoot.
On Tuesday (Mar 25), Tnee Chin Kiat, 32, was sentenced to 27 months’ jail and five strokes of the cane, after he pleaded guilty to one count of outrage of modesty, one count of procuring the commission of an indecent act by a child, and one count of possessing child abuse material."
Secondary school operations manager, company director charged with corruption offences (26 March 2025)
"SINGAPORE: While working as an operations manager at St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School (SACSS), a woman allegedly accepted bribes from a company director on six occasions.
Goh Jong Lih, 61, was on Wednesday (Mar 26) charged with multiple offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The director, 45-year-old Loo Wei Kiat, was also handed multiple charges under the Act.
In a media release, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that Goh allegedly obtained bribes in the form of loans totalling S$9,500 (US$7,100) from Loo on six occasions between February 2020 and December 2021."
National Library Singapore exhibition in late 2026 to showcase 17th century rare artefacts from China (28 March 2025)
"The National Library Singapore will have a special exhibition in late 2026 featuring rare artefacts of the four great classic Chinese novels: Journey To The West, Water Margin, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms and Dream Of The Red Chamber.
These artefacts from as early as the 17th century will be on loan from the National Library of China and haven't been seen outside China, the National Library Board (NLB) said in a press release on Friday (Mar 28).
The exhibition follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NLB and the National Library of China on Friday afternoon."