Denise Phua Lay Peng
Singapore
“Sir, as Singapore ages, disability and ageing will increasingly overlap. The line between disability services and elder care services will blur. Many adults with disabilities face similar challenges as seniors in varying degrees, but at a younger age.”
“But the SPED schools are run by a lot of the other professionals as well such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, coaches and so forth. And I ask for MOE, as it always looks at SPED educators, to also focus on this other very important group; because retention is capacity.”
“Are there other strategies that the Prime Minister will consider, like easier adoption procedures to have more people adopt, more of us Singaporeans adopting? The second is, in terms of immigration as well, to bring in people who are of the right profile and suitable profile to grow our Singaporean population?”
“Enterprise grants should include accessibility compliance requirements. Inclusion cannot rely on goodwill alone. It must be systemically built-in. And finally, move five: on strengthening intermediaries and social service agencies (SSAs). Sir, if AI is to be whole-of-society, then SSAs cannot be left behind.”
“When SSAs become AI-enabled, the most vulnerable of us benefit. In conclusion Sir, Budget 2026 sets an ambitious direction: AI ecosystems, SkillsFuture strengthening, innovation hubs such as Lorong AI and the future AI Park at one-north. Ambition is necessary, but it is execution that determines whether progress is shared.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her assurance, assuring the House that there are indeed alternative identification methods available for those who are unable to use facial recognition. Just a couple of supplementary questions. Number one, are these measures systemic and applicable for all fully digital or not fully digital banks?”
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“It is a balanced and sensible Budget that will play a large part in securing the future of our country and our people. Madam, I support the Budget. 12.46 pm”
“There is also a worry that if we are not careful, the BIPS would cannibalise what charities are currently receiving in much-needed cash donations. Those who used to donate in cash may now decide that service or volunteering is more pocket-friendly. To this end, I would recommend a more targeted approach to direct corporations and donors to the known pain areas or the growth areas in the social service sector, areas such as: (a) Redesigning jobs for the elderly, the lower-skilled or even the unskilled. (b) Helping children with rare diseases and their families. I have seen many of them. Try visiting some of the families. Some of the young parents are really under a lot of stress and need a lot of help. (c) Others old and young who are severely disabled. (d) The homeless. (e) Those who are isolated elderly residents in many of our estates. (f) Need for pro bono accounting, audit and legal services. (g) Fundraising and marketing and even e-learning modules or curricular development for these special schools. Do not limit the BIPS donations to only $50,000 for each VWO. For outfits that serve the very severely disabled, their needs are way beyond $50,000. So, in summary, my suggestions are, first, on the triple "A" − the need to identify those with the ability, attitude and altitude − and help these potential trailblazers to trailblaze and soar; second, to make SkillsFuture a more pervasive phenomenon to the man-in-the-street; and third, for more enlightened partnerships. In conclusion, Madam, I would like to thank the Minister for Finance, Mr Heng, for his inaugural Budget. This is a considered Budget that I know is the outcome of much of the Minister's style of listening to the ground.”
“There are two things I would like to highlight. First is the application of the enlightened form of partnership in the business arena. Whilst it makes sense to engage Trade or Clan Associations to take the lead in selected industries, we must not be overly rigid with this strategy. Trade associations, like other organisations, comprise of us mortals who may not all share the same vision or agree on the same tactics, and may be distracted by politics and personalities. It would be useful, as we pour more resources into industry-led transformations, to also set some targets that are co-shared by all the partners. We must allow space for SMEs with the ability, attitude and altitude to charter their paths – without insisting that they must toe the line of their industry associations. Public officers who are supposed to be sent to assist the industries should preferably be senior enough to impact policy making. We should invite or even pay for successful global industry leaders to sit as advisors to industry panels which comprise the trade associations and the other member players. In the Social Service sector, where Minister Heng has kindly created the Business and IPC Partnership Scheme (BIPS) to incentivise businesses to donate services in kind to IPCs and charities, I would caution against behaviour that may be counterproductive. Volunteering is, after all, about giving something back and not getting something back. Already, business consultants have started to issue advice to businesses to start reviewing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies or plans, so that they can enjoy greater tax deductions under this new scheme.”
“Second, from the thousands of choices in the SkillsFuture galore of courses, we need to be able to appoint coordinators, SkillsFuture Ambassadors who can identify, help curate and communicate the list of competencies that will enhance the Future-Readiness Quotient of businesses and especially people on the streets. Third, we need to encourage and incentivise as many Singaporeans as possible from young to each own their personal Individual Future-Proof Development Plan with a Future-Ready Toolkit. Fourth, we must make pervasive, freely accessible Future-Readiness Self-Assessment Toolkit and bite-sized tasters at convenient neighbourhood sites, the community centres or online, with courses such as: (a) Using video and voice applications such as Skype; (b) Taking great digital photos; (c) Setting up online stores from scratch; (d) Construct our own website; (e) Learn to Code; (f) Create simple Apps on the smartphone; (g) Make objects through customised 3-D printing; (h) Write for the Internet. There is no end to what one can learn, regardless of age and language. We need to spread the message of the new economy more urgently to the man in the streets. And, finally, let me move on to the subject of partnership. Typical of Minister Heng Swee Keat's style to listen and engage the ground, the theme of the Budget is termed "Partnership for the Future". And indeed, in a landscape that is featured by structural changes, disruptive technologies that can displace jobs easily and manpower constraints, the former top-down problem-solving approach by the Government can no longer suffice. While I truly appreciate the importance of partnership, I fear that unless we move towards a more enlightened form of partnership, the outcomes of the Budget may not be as effective as desired.”
“Whilst the $500 SkillsFuture credit to every Singaporean is a great welcome, it serves as a nudge at best, and is no guarantee that it will lead to an innate desire to learn or to learn lifelong. The SkillsFuture must be more than active ageing training programmes. It must be more than meeting only the current sectoral manpower needs of businesses, although that is important. While the Council works on the bigger pieces such as the Sectoral Manpower Plans, we need to convince the man in the street that Singapore's future jobs and the funding of our social safety nets depends on how future-proof each one of us is. We need to transform the mindsets and skillsets of as many Singaporeans as possible before it is too late. Here are some suggestions. First, beyond intellectual rationalisation, we need to develop a SkillsFuture Communication Matrix for communication strategies to reach Singaporeans from different backgrounds. We need to outreach with more everyday applications to show the importance and impact of SkillsFuture. A Hokkien-speaking aunty running a fashion accessory shop in one of the markets in my division, told me recently when we were discussing about re-modelling and reducing the cost of business, she said "MP, we are already buying stock from the Internet" in Hokkien. This morning, I heard Love 97.2 radio deejay, Chen Jianbin, sharing that he now has to find ways for the audience to not just listen to his jokes, or 听他的笑话 , but also "see him making jokes" or 看他的笑话. So, these are applications, our SkillsFuture is already happening and we need to get the message out to the streets.”
“They may be trailblazers. They could be the Ubers in their own industry, disrupting current business models. We need to find a way to identity them so they could reach their peak. Link them up with research and development (R&D) resources, angel investors or even global mentors; remove the barriers to performance which are within Government's circle of influence; create more Block 71 clusters to reduce the cost of business in rental and other shared corporate services such as in finance, legal and audit; develop even more mini Innovative Parks beyond the mega Jurong Innovation Park. If they do not wish to be led by their trade associations, give them the creative licence and space to soar on their own. Invite them to join industry panels. The second group – those with the Attitude and Ability but lack the vision at the moment and are at risk of being displaced, quickly guide and direct them to schemes and grants that can help them land firm and scale. As for those with a willing Attitude, but lack the Ability, then, training comes into play. For those who have the Ability but lack the willingness to change the Attitude, invest in counselling them, nudge them into action before giving up on them. And then for those who have neither the Ability, Attitude nor the potential for Altitude, help them develop an exit strategy. They should not have been in the business in the first place. Madam, my next suggestion is to make SkillsFuture the mantra for every Singaporean. I believe SkillsFuture is one of the best answers to prepare our businesses and people for our future. There is, however, an urgency to move the whole nation more quickly into the SkillsFuture mindset and action.”
“Do we tell them go digital, or go home, although we all know that there is nowhere else to go for many of them because this is where home is? Madam, I have a few suggestions for consideration in this Budget. First, on segmentation by ability, attitude and altitude. The first suggestion I have has to do with segmentation or adopting a less of a cookie-cutter approach when working with the groups of vulnerable SMEs, partners and individuals. Madam, I fully understand the perspective that in the realm of business, the Government should meddle less and not interfere with the free market mechanism – shape up or ship out. My colleague, Assoc Prof Randolph Tan, said in Parliament yesterday that this is a matter of the head, and not the heart. However, because so many of our enterprises and people are involved, I would urge that one more layer of intervention be considered. Other than industry segmentation and partnering with trade associations, another dimension of segmentation must be considered. We must be even less cookie-cutter in our approach. Profile the SMEs, PMETs, the lower-skilled workers and even the volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs) by three "A"s: one, the ability – current and potential ability, knowledge, skills and tools; two, their attitude – their willingness to update, upgrade; and three, their altitude – the vision, the ability to rise above themselves in the industry in the current terrain. For the stars who possess all three "A"s – ability, attitude and altitude – the Government's key engagement strategy should be to facilitate and to open doors, so they can scale and soar. These stars may or may not be leading trade associations. They could be outliers. They may not toe the line or fall in place nicely with the rest of the industry.”
“Remodel their business; fend off disruptive technology; move from value-adding to value-creation; use big data, use cloud computing, get into the Internet of Things – these are calls that are easier said than done for many of them. Many SMEs are still concerned about the here and now – rental and manpower challenges. While they bemoan, the shake-outs continue. In the retail industry, brick and mortar stores are fast and furiously replaced by online stores. In the travel industry, tour operators continue to fold as travellers make their bookings online. Shake-outs are inevitable, but how can we reduce the numbers and how do we support those who finally exit? The PMETS – at the individual level, there are still PMETs who are unsure of their place in the new economy. Many were not formerly exposed to the changes that are taking place. A The Straits Times article in March 2016 reported that the group that was hardest hit by layoffs last year was our highly skilled and middle-aged employees who were seen by firms as too costly for their previous firms to retain and supposedly too old for prospective employees to hire. The days when PMETs who lost their jobs turned easily to the real estate, financial planning, insurance and even taxi-driving, are over. Low-skilled and unskilled – it is a known fact that unskilled or low-skilled jobs will disappear. In my effort to find jobs for my low-skilled, lowly-paid elderly residents in the Central District as a Mayor, I was informed that even makers of the 手工包, or handmade buns, are replaced by machines in South China, for instance. Our SMEs, PMETs and lower-skilled Singaporeans are at risk of being left behind. Do we give up easily?”
“This loss is predicted to be only partially offset by about two million new jobs and mostly in the more specialised families such as Computer Engineering. In the logistics industry, for instance, both overseas and in Singapore, where large warehouses have been major employers of workers, robots now replace warehouse workers in jobs such as picking and packaging. Fully automated production processes from design to delivery, with very little manpower needs, is not far from reality. Even our radio journalists in the local radio stations have had their jobs re-scoped. I was working with a lady, Lu-Ann from 938LIVE, and she now video-records her interviews with us, Members of Parliament, and presents reports in voice, video and other online writings as well. Such is the change. Yes, as they say, embrace the digital economy or be left behind. Go digital or go home. Groups at risk – there is indeed cause for concern for businesses and people who are at risk of being left behind in the future economy. They include our small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), our Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) and the lesser-skilled and unskilled employees amongst us. They are, after all, our own and are here to stay. First up, is our SMEs which make up 99% of enterprises in Singapore and contributing more than 50% of our gross domestic product (GDP). By sheer size and presence, they cannot be ignored, and they have to drive our growth. Granted, many of them have moved up the league and are a lot more conscious and open to the need to upgrade, but even more of them are stuck.”
“Madam, I rise in support of Budget 2016. Budget 2016 has stayed on course to fulfil the Government's mission to build both a future-ready economy and a caring and resilient Singapore beyond SG50. Analysts have acknowledged that it is a far-sighted Budget, with resources committed to support businesses to scale up automation, create high-value jobs and internationalise. SkillsFuture, a big piece to secure Singapore's place in the new economy, is another key feature. Work is underway to develop more than 20 Sectoral Manpower Plans to identify the skills required in each sector and to develop a Singapore core. At the individual level, the first tranche of training dollars was already credited to Singaporeans to encourage lifelong learning. The people's voice through the Our Singapore Conversations can still be heard in this Budget. Anxieties over high healthcare and financial worries of the ageing are addressed with several key moves. Our national safety net is now visibly stronger by the additional pieces in the form of higher Public Assistance quantum – the Pioneer Generation package, Silver Support and MediShield Life for all. This is a significant task that not many Singaporeans fully appreciate but is nonetheless critical for their future. On concerns – as we confront the brave new world, I cannot help but still be alarmed at the speed and the disruption of change in the new economy. The 2016 World Economic Forum report on "The Future of Jobs" indicates that over the next five years, about seven million jobs could be lost through redundancy, automation or disintermediation, meaning the removal of the middleman in business processes.”
“Lastly, on the proposed amendments that repeal the provision for the Public Guardian Board and remove the need to make an annual report on the discharge of the PG's functions, Madam, the OPG under Mr Richard Magnus had performed a commendable job. He and his team have built a strong network with the Law Society, College of Family Physicians, CPF Board, grassroots and social service agencies. The LPA form and processes were simplified. Free postage was negotiated with SingPost and the Ministry had waived the application fees for a period to encourage more sign-ups. The Board has also done an excellent job, no doubt due to its broad network and wisdom. I feel that it is still early days to dissolve the Board and retire the members. There is merit to have a Board that provides the external inputs and supervision. Our Asian culture is such that conversations regarding end-of-life matters are not common. There are mounting challenges in translating the policies of the OPG to the ground. The numbers will soar if we get it right, and we want it to be so and many lives will be positively helped as a result. I, therefore, urge that the Ministry reconsider this repeal and delay the decision to dissolve the Public Guardian Board. With that, in conclusion, I want to thank the Board and the OPG for running a good race in the last five years, and I look forward to more good years. I support the Bill, Madam. 5.28 pm”
“It is not true that only persons with intellectual disabilities need proxy decision-makers. One way is to engage and resource the special schools or the major disability organisations to be part of this application process and validate the need for deputyship. Two, appoint co-ordinating agencies, such as SG-Enable, the National Council of Social Services and/or the Agency for Integrated Care, to promote awareness, educate and provide the required legal and financial assistance for an application under the MCA. Finally, identify and train a pool of community-minded medical professionals and lawyers who can be the "go-to" list for MCA applicants for, especially, families with special needs children. Next, Madam, on more resources for administration, education and outreach work done by the OPG. The savings resulting from a proper management of affairs when one loses capacity far outweigh the initial cost. The current 17,000 LPAs registered are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more Singaporeans need to come on board this bus and, hence, the OPG has its work cut out for it. Related parties, such as property agents, HDB frontline officers and healthcare personnel, must be educated, too. The OPG needs to be future-ready and work on new digital services so that users can more easily access their services. The UK, for instance, already has its digital LPA services, which allow users to apply for LPAs online, anytime and anywhere. We need to cater to that group, too, and provide better, faster and cheaper services. For all these, additional resources are needed. Madam, I know this is not yet the Budget debate, but I wish to ask for additional resources for the OPG. On dissolving the Public Guardian Board.”
“This father could not comprehend why it would be so cumbersome and costly to have himself, as a father, continue to make decisions for his daughter. Many, like him, are lost and helpless. One more story. A family residing in my constituency came to ask for my help several times. The elder sister of a man with severe mental disability wanted me to help appeal for a rental flat from HDB for both of them. The HDB had considered the man to lack mental capacity to sign a tenancy agreement and, since he is without a deputy, the elder sister has to navigate through several agencies to solve their lodging issue. They are non-English-educated. Now, I am grateful to the Ministry for proactively piloting a project with MINDS to help parents of MINDS students obtain deputyship orders. However, the pace is a tad too slow, in my opinion, and does not include adults above the age of 21 for whom their parents could no longer act on their behalf. There are many of such families who continue to live in worry and anxiety. In cases where medical treatment is involved and deputies' consent needed, time is also not on their side and the person with special needs sometimes suffer their physical pain in silence. Although the law permits healthcare professionals to act in a patient's "best interest" and not requiring consent from a deputy if there is none, there appears to be a lack of awareness and fear of liability on the part of the medical fraternity to perform major procedures on this group. In this regard, I would strongly recommend that the Ministry take three actions. One, further simplify the process of application of deputyship for persons with special needs to cut down both costs and administration. Go beyond the MINDS pilot.”
“I wish to speak on behalf of the many concerned families with children, young and old, with special needs, being a parent myself and an activist in this community. There is a full continuum of special needs, with different persons manifesting varying degrees of mental capacity. Families with more severe needs find challenges as they navigate through the sea of uncertainty when their children become adults and many continue to need their families' supervision. Last year, a group of parents with special needs children wrote to me to share their fears and anxieties about their children who are past the age of 21 with no appointed deputies. A mother mentioned that her global-developmentally-delayed daughter needed a treatment that requires general anaesthesia (GA). The young lady could not sign the papers as she was deemed to be without full mental capacity. Neither could her parents sign on her behalf because they had not been appointed as her deputy. Closer to home, an adult with special needs whom I personally know was in need of a wisdom tooth surgery which requires GA as well. This was at a Government dental centre. Similarly, the parent was informed by the staff that for an operation that required a GA procedure, she must produce an LP before the young adult could go for the surgery. The young adult is technically not intellectually disabled – his IQ is above 70 but he has moderate autism. I confirmed yesterday that the young man has still not gone for his surgery. He probably has gotten used to the pain. Another father shared of his challenges to be appointed as the deputy of his autistic daughter, who is moderate to severely disabled. He was quoted a hefty sum of a few thousand dollars, which I think is very high, by a law firm in a public housing estate.”
“I, therefore, urge that there be stronger safeguards in the form of audits, whistle-blowing procedures and stricter due diligence in the granting of LPAs when the stakes are higher, such as: (a) where the assets involved are of a sizable value; (b) where the donee is an unrelated party and/or a foreign citizen; (c) where the elderly donor is above a specific age, hence, more susceptible to conditions like dementia; and (d) where donor does not have any immediate family member. Next, on the cost of MCA applications and services. In addition to the application fees to the OPG which are currently kindly waived by the Ministry, there are three costs for which I am asking for better cost management: (a) the remuneration payable for the deputyship and doneeship services for the professional services introduced in the amendments of this Bill; (b) the cost incurred for getting an updated medical report in the course of an MCA application; and (c) the fees payable to the lawyers for work done in explaining to the applicant, drafting the necessary papers and other disbursements. I urge the Ministry to look into the means by which these costs can be kept reasonable and subsidised in the case of persons with average or lower income. I recommend that the Ministry: (a) provide a set of fee guidelines for the types of legal services relevant to the MCA and the Bill; (b) work with the polyclinics, Government hospitals or an appointed panel of healthcare providers to issue the necessary medical report in a template that is acceptable to OPG; and (c) allow the use of CPF and/or Medisave to pay for the required costs incurred in the application and appointment of one's donee or deputy. Next, on families with children with special needs.”
“These families with children who are deemed to lack the capacity to make significant life decisions are in need of deputies to act on their behalf. Madam, while I support the Bill, I wish to highlight five areas for the Minister's response. The five areas are: (a) more protection of vulnerable donors; (b) cost of MCA applications and services; (c) families of children with special needs; (d) more resources for administration, education and outreach for the OPG; and (e) the amendment to dissolve the Public Guardian Board First, on the protection of vulnerable donors. Madam, one of the objectives of this Bill is to further protect those who are vulnerable and who do not have immediate family members to rely on to be their proxy decision makers. I am concerned with the clause in the current MCA which specifies the qualifications of a donee to simply be at least 21 years old and a non-bankrupt when the LPA is signed. We can learn more from the highly publicised case of Mdm Chung Khin Chun versus her former tour guide, Yang Yin. It is alarming and I quote this just for discussion, as what the Minister had also quoted. It is alarming that a foreign citizen, who is not related to the donor, can be granted an LPA that effectively gave him control of more than $35 million worth of her assets. It is also appalling that Yang could do as he pleased in his apparently calculated dissipation of Madam Chung's assets in the years before he was arrested. The proposed amendments to allow the Courts to revoke the donees' or deputies' powers in the event of risk of abuse or exploitation, in my opinion, do not offer sufficient pre-emptive or upstream protection to the donor.”
“Madam, I support this Bill that seeks to amend and improve the current MCA. The MCA was a significant one. Persons can appoint donees in advance to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. The Act provided for the Court to appoint deputies for those who have lost capacity. It further enables parents of children with intellectual disabilities to appoint deputies to oversee welfare and other matters relating to the child. Since the introduction of the Act, more than 17,000 LPAs have been issued. This is but only a small percentage of a larger group of Singaporeans who ought to make use of the provisions of the MCA. The urgency is especially high for three groups of people. One, families, especially those with sole breadwinners who, due to injury or sudden deaths, leave their families helpless; Two, persons at risk of losing mental capacity due to age. There is an estimated 450,000 Singaporeans above the age of 65 in Singapore. According to a nationwide study – and this is quoted by the Minister as well – of 5,500 elderly residents and their family members, one in 10 people aged 60 and above in Singapore has dementia. In my Kampong Glam constituency, I have witnessed the challenges of households where elderly residents lose their mental capacity and no prior arrangements were made for proxy decision-makers. As a result, much time and money are expended to ensure the affected elderly receive the needed care and support. Where property and finance are involved, the administrative hassle led to unnecessary anxiety and resentment, sometimes, resentment of those left behind. The third group who ought to make use of the MCA provisions are families with special needs children. Now, they should not be limited to only those with intellectual disabilities.”
“I would like to thank the Minister for confirming that elevators will also be approved for neighbourhoods that have a higher number of elderly residents. At Farrer Park MRT station, there is only one exit that has access from the basement to the street level. This has caused quite a bit of inconvenience for my residents who are wheel-chair bound. For instances like these, could there also be a full study of barrier-free accessibility for these areas? Also, is it possible for the Minister to consider whether for neighbourhoods with a higher percentage of elderly, there could be a full package of support covering traffic lights, duration of traffic lights, distance of traffic lights from the residences and also the overhead bridge lifts as well? It would be good if there is a full package that could be studied and implemented for these neighbourhoods.”
“I would like to express my condolences to the family of Benjamin Lim. I also thank the Ministers for taking this case seriously to issue the Statements. My question is about the Appropriate Adult scheme. Notwithstanding the fact that it could be an imperfect scheme, I would like to ask the Minister to consider extending the scope of this current scheme. Currently, it covers persons with mental and intellectual disability only. In regimes like in the United Kingdom, the scope covers young people who are less than 18 years of age and also vulnerable adults who might have mental wellness issues or even dementia or other learning disabilities. So, I would like to ask the Minister to consider this. The second question is: the current Appropriate Adult scheme in Singapore is manned by volunteers and run by charities. I think the scheme is important enough for the state to allocate some resources to ensure that at least people who are trained, not just trained for a short while only, people who are professionals, can operate the scheme on a sustainable basis. This is for Minister's consideration, please.”
“I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the responses. Just a supplementary question. If values and character-based development are so important in one's education, can MOE then take these into account in crucial milestone decisions, such as entry into schools of choice of the students, or especially for the high-stake examinations, or in decisions such as the awarding of scholarships, and also entry into Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs)? Is there any way by which MOE can strengthen the alignment between the importance of this aspect of education with all the other crucial decisions in our education system?”
“I do agree with the Minister and I would like to ask the Minister what would be the top three barriers to having a higher take-up rate for this very important instrument. What is being done to address these barriers, especially on how much more aggressive can we be? Could we be a bit more aggressive to help, especially those who are less educated and those who are less aware?”
“That is the purpose of the next series of citizen engagement in the form of the SG50 discussions, and the mission of agencies such as the Community Development Councils (CDCs). There is still much more to be done for the vulnerable in our midst, but they will not get any better unless we collaborate with, instead of simply naming and shaming or pushing away, those who could make a difference with us. In conclusion, Madam, I believe the "Future of Us" is only as strong as our humility and boldness in taking another path or making the U-turn when we confront the deep holes or even craters in our pathways. The "Future of Us" is only as strong as our determination to stick our necks out for what we instinctively know is right and humane. The "Future of Us" is only as strong as our willingness to be part of the solution and dirty our hands if we need to, and our ability to genuinely collaborate – giving credit when credit is due; refraining from naming, shaming and posturing to score points for oneself or for one's political party. Someone once said in a political satire that politicians will lose votes when they advocate something controversial, but they will lose an election if they choose to be too bold or courageous. But for the deep holes that confront our nation, I urge us all to be bold and walk another path if need be; for not doing so, may not only cost us an election but cost us our beloved country. Madam, I support the Motion. [Applause]. 3.13 pm”
“The women have the Women's Charter; abandoned parents have the Maintenance of Parents Act; those who are mentally incapacitated have the Mental Capacity Act; even the animals have the Animals and Birds Act to protect their welfare. We should do the same for the education, employment and care support for the elderly and the disabled. Should we aim for a way by which Civil Society and the Government can work more collaboratively to achieve their mission and shared values? We should. In this matter, I beg to differ from the WP's desire to have the Government out of the way as much as possible. At times, getting the Government out of the way may not work when it is in the interest of the target community or the cause to have more of Government engagement and involvement. Two experiences come to mind. One is my journey as an advocate for the special needs community and the second, that of Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng, an animal rights advocate. We were both not Members of this House when we first began our work in the two causes. Separately, we decided at some stage, that the confrontational "name and shame" way of advocacy could only go that far. We learnt that if we truly have the interest of the communities we care for at heart, then we need to be part of the solution, to persuade, to coax, to explain and dirty our hands, where necessary, and to engage those, including the Government, who can help us as partners. We do not all need to end up as parliamentarians, but we can lead, sponsor and/or run initiatives that can advance those whom we care for. Sweep and clean up the school compound or the animal habitat, if necessary. We learnt that we need to move beyond criticising, and initiate or join others and get involved in Care Projects ourselves.”
“Suggestion four is to pilot inclusive education villages across Singapore to house students of different abilities and backgrounds. There is no better way to learn inclusion except to play, eat, interact and learn with others who are unlike yourself. Let those who are academically stronger learn via subject-banded classes, but design school campuses that allow diversity and vibrant social interactions for all groups. Better still, make full use of these Education Villages to allow SkillsFuture learnings for adults to take place there too. There is no better time to consider taking another path in this aspect especially when enrolments are falling, and some physical capacity can be found. Next, on Caring and Doing. Madam, there will be those who are at risk of being left behind in the new economy we are heading towards. I am most concerned with the elderly, especially those who are lower skilled and those with special needs and disabilities. Building a caring society is an aspiration expressed not only in the President's Address; it is the desire of many Singaporeans who participated in the "Our Singapore Conversations" led by Minister Heng Swee Keat. The Government has made some excellent moves in ensuring the essentials of healthcare, housing and transport for the vulnerable amongst us. It is time for us to consider taking bolder steps to entrench this value of Care into our system. Can the Government exercise the moral authority to commit schools and corporations, including Government agencies to adopt, on a regular and longer-term basis, vulnerable groups, especially the low-skilled elderly and those with special needs and/or disabilities? Do we have the courage to legislate the protection of their rights and welfare into our way of life? We should.”
“Invest at the national level for learning management systems like Canvas or the like. Make templates on these platforms available for easy development and sharing. Reward those who share materials and pedagogy of good standard, lesson plans as well. Create 21st century jobs of Curators and Coaches who can help sieve through the submissions and advise on usage. Take reference from the smartphone apps platform where both developers and users can interact actively and put the power of learning content development into the hands of those beyond the Ministry as well. Suggestion two is to remove the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) without compromising academic rigour and pilot a 10-year through-train school model. This is not the first time that I and other Members of the House have raised this. Seriously, walk another path − remove one high-stake examination, the PSLE! Even educators, I understand, call for this. At the age of 12, it is too early to sort. Tweaking the assessment grading system will not remove the deeply entrenched mindsets of chasing the scores. The problem is unlikely to disappear even if we replace PSLE T-scores with Banding – students will start scoring four "A"s, five "A"s and so forth. We are back to square one. Suggestion three is to re-dream and slay the sacred cow of physically segregating people who learn differently. Re-think the concept of the School of the Arts, the Singapore Sports School, Normal (Technical) schools, the Special Assistance Plans (SAP) schools, and the Special schools. Think programmes, yes, even programmes for the gifted, and make these programmes available across more physical school campuses – so that students of different abilities and talents can grow up together under one roof.”
“Madam, we have acquired the habit of feeding the sacred cow practice of physically segregating students into different geographic settings whenever they are assessed to be different, or they learn differently. We tend to promote a system where those who excel in the academics are placed in the top academic schools, those who excel in arts in School for the Arts (SOTA); those good at sports to the Singapore Sports School, and so on – a very efficient system that sorts and places our students in geographically different location, meeting occasionally at school-driven projects or events. But, Madam, one of the most effective ways of keeping our country safe, secure and empathic is to forge relationships of acceptance and trust among citizens of different abilities, faiths, and socioeconomic status, during one's growing-up years, in natural settings. Trust and empathy cannot be built deeply when Singaporeans are physically segregated from young. Madam, this is a sacred cow that ought to be examined closely and slaughtered if need be. Suggestions on Learning. I would like to make four suggestions today, to address the unhealthy three "P"s − a pre-occupation with academic scores for high-stake examinations, the risk of parentocracy and physical segregation. At times, it would take walking another path or making a U-turn, when tweaking and patching will not work. Suggestion one is to create an open architecture and invest in e-learning developers and curators to accelerate the sharing of best learning materials including lectures and self-driven learning modules. This is especially urgent across some 400 primary, secondary and special schools in order to level the playing field and empower more teachers, students and families.”
“Academic rigour is a good thing, but it becomes an impairment when even academically stronger students start seeking extra help through tuition. It is an impairment when the posting criteria to popular schools is based on cut-off points of high-stake examinations at the age of 12. It is an impairment when teachers teach to test, and parents feed the $1-bilion tuition industry in order to ace examinations and increase one's options. It is hard to cultivate or inculcate a love for learning when all that matters to the majority is the score from a series of high-stake examinations. When the curiosity and love for learning is snuffed out when one is young, it will be hard to re-ignite it after one's formal school years when he leaves the school gate. On parentocracy. The second unhealthy "P" of our education landscape is parentocracy. It is commonly described as a phenomenon in which a child's education is shaped according to the wishes and opportunities that can be afforded by his parents. As the stakes of academic scores become higher, parentocracy will further rear its ugly head. Parentocracy restricts social mobility and can unfairly deprive those with lesser resources and networks, undermining the development of their potential. In the case of the Direct School Admissions (DSA) programme, for example, it is an open secret that children from more affluent backgrounds stand a higher chance of benefitting from it since they could be nurtured from young in the arts or even sports. In the case of overseas exchange programmes or internships, the more affluent parents will be better able to put their children through. We need to level the playing field as much as possible. The third "P", physical segregation of our young during their school years especially.”
“Often, when it involves entrenched mindsets and structures, it will take more than patching up or just walking around them. We may have to walk down another street or make U-turns. Let me share some observations and suggestions on two areas that I think will require more than patching. First, in the space of Learning; next, in Caring and Doing. On Learning – the future of learning will be far from the teacher-directed, traditional classroom settings we are used to. In the future, learning can take place anytime, anywhere; not constrained by time or the physical dimensions of a school. We can choose from a quiver of tools, devices and learning solutions that can be face-to-face, online or blended. If SkillsFuture were to succeed, then learners will come in all ages with all backgrounds. They will have to be self-driven lifelong learners – a habit that is not yet pervasive today. Many positive changes have taken place in the education landscape in Singapore in the last decades – learning support; online learning resources; special education; teacher recruitment and compensation; and, most recently, to me, a brilliant move of having MOE actively take on the SkillsFuture portfolio in Continual Education and Training (CET) for adult learners. As a GPC member for Education for the last 10 years, I have met many authentic, diligent and professional educators who want the best for our young. However, Madam, our education system is one that is pimpled by three unhealthy "P"s: one, a pre-occupation with academic scores; two, parentocracy; and three, physical segregation of our students. One, on our pre-occupation. Our pre-occupation with academic scores is an outcome of years of conditioning, a choice borne out of a perceived lack of other better avenues of social mobility.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks for the President's Address. I fully agree with the five key priorities of the Government as outlined by the President. The devil, of course, is in the details. Madam, the world confronting us and those who come after us will be different. Our society is ageing rapidly. Every job task that can be replicated can be replaced by a machine. Citizens who cannot add value enough are at risk of being left behind. Income gaps widen between those whose skills are in demand and those who cannot catch up. In the words of Albert Einstein, "The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when the problems were first created." Madam, let me first share a simple poem that shows the different levels that we can view and address the challenges we face in life. This poem by a Ms Portia Nelson is entitled "Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters". Chapter I I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost ... I am helpless. Is it my fault? It takes me forever to find a way out. Chapter II I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place. But it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter III I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter IV I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter V I walk down another street. Madam, the new world is full of deep holes. Sometimes, we patch up the holes.”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I think the Senior Group Home is a great model because it allows for more inclusiveness in our community. I have two questions. One is: can this model be extended beyond rental flats? Can it go into new flats that are built for the future so that persons who are elderly and who can still live with some supervision can be included in the mainstream society? The second question is: can this model also be extended to beyond elderly persons? For example, persons with special needs and disabilities who, similarly, could live a bit more independently in mainstream society with some supervision instead of going to nursing homes or residential homes.”
“I thank the Minister for the assurance that he will put aside some resources to support some of these discrete programmes that are happening in the special needs sector. Singapore is one of the most wired nations and much needs to be done in order that this community would not be left behind in information technology. In view of the urgency of the matter, since almost every child in Singapore has access to IT, I would like to ask the Minister when the timeframe would be for the Ministry to set aside resources and perhaps even set up a small taskforce comprising the different players so that what Ms Chia Yong Yong mentioned about the inclusion of the disability community in the Smart Nation master plan could be effected. When could that be?”
“I would like to thank Minister Chan Chun Sing and the Parliamentary Secretary, Ms Low Yen Ling, for the comprehensive responses. I also want to thank the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Secretary and the MSF team for serving with so many partners on the ground to fulfil MSF's mission. The Ministry has, indeed, grown from strength to strength, so thank you for that. As Minster Chan Chun Sing proceeds to his next post to serve in the unions from 1 April, our GPC team would like to wish him all the very best. We know he will make an impact there. So, thank you very much. With that, Madam, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Page: 45 Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $2,007,381,300 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $115,591,300 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.”
“I would like the Ministry to consider not to carry this to the extreme, as it could then be perceived that the Government is the nervous system and the central thinker whilst the rest of the players are seen as outsourced contractors carrying out the central nervous system's plan. Especially for the social service sector, this is quite dangerous. If I misunderstood that, I stand to be corrected. But I believe that different players, whether they are professionals, volunteers, corporate or individuals, can also play a part and help co-shape the sector as the thinkers.”
“Like having a network of learning access support officers, just like in the formal education sector. I would like to ask for more work to be done to make it more structured and formal. The third clarification is on what the Minister said. I agree with everything except one. The Minister spoke about the imagery of the “千手观音” as the way that we want to organise the sector, that there is a central nervous system that is the brain that does all the thinking and so forth, with the rest of the players as the many helping hands working in alignment with the nervous system.”
“Thank you, Madam. Just three clarifications. One, I wanted to ask Parliamentary Secretary Ms Low Yen Ling on the strategic communications plan that I have suggested. This is so that the good work on the Enabling Masterplan and its progress can be updated and so that it is not always kept as a "best-kept secret" in our country. There are information gaps that need to be determined; it is good to allocate resources to make sure that there is a plan for strategic communications to the various stakeholder groups and to regularly deploy that plan. The second is to do with special needs adults. I am thankful to the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary that work is going to be done especially for the care options portion, and that there will be more attention given to that end, due to the urgency. But for the people who can work – and I am glad that the Deputy Prime Minister is here to hear this – because of the SkillsFuture Council, I think it is one thing to say that the courses are available and open to anyone who wants to take it, regardless of your ability and where you come from. But it is quite different in reality – courses can be open but may not be accessible due to pedagogy, instructions and so forth. I would like the Ministry to work with the SkillsFuture Council as well as the whole-of-Government to ensure that structured official efforts are made so that the workforce has access. Page: 39”
“Recommendation: I urge the Ministry to make a special effort to develop and launch a more strategic Caregivers Support Plan and Campaign through all major VWOs and CDCs. Sir, in conclusion, the current Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled will soon come to an end. It is now time to start pondering over the underlying attitudes, assumptions and perception of persons with disabilities in our country. We should learn from the United Nations Convention about respecting the right of every person with disability – not pity them – respecting their rights to lead a dignified life with access to important aspects such as health, physical environment, education and employment. Page: 159 Every baby born to Singapore is our very own and precious, whichever form they come in, whichever condition they come in. The next Enabling Masterplan must have a greater sense of urgency and focus with participation from the whole-of-Government and the whole-of-society. It is, of course, not the job of the Government alone but the Government can take the lead to signal the rest of society to include these sons and daughters of Singapore.”
“For those who are able to work with training and support, the prognosis is more optimistic in view of the good work of SG Enable and the job centres set up by several VWOs, such as SPD, MINDS, Bizlink and the Autism Resource Centre, of which I am the President. There is need for more support for suitable jobs for especially those who are lower in skills and need more intensive support. I have asked several times for the Government and Government-related agencies to lead the way in redesigning jobs for this group, and I seek a favourable response to that. I continue to worry for their employment future as they are not yet mainstreamed into our country's manpower plans for the future. Many of them stop formal learning after they leave school or get roped into the workforce. I had asked that the SkillsFuture Masterplan formally include this special-needs workforce for lifelong learning and deepening of their vocational skills. Recommendation: I urge the Ministry to convene and resource an Interim Work Group to focus specifically on the adults group to look into and improve current help plans for faster and better outcomes in significant areas such as care options, job search, training and support. On caregivers, it is not uncommon for parents and other caregivers to care for their children with disabilities till they are well into their old age themselves. Despite the introduction of such useful measures, such as the Mental Capacity Act, Special Needs Trust, Special Needs Savings Scheme and even the Foreign Domestic Workers Levy Concession, many still remain ignorant of these schemes. They are not equipped with planning ahead and constantly worry about their own healthcare and retirement adequacy needs as they themselves age.”
“Sir, Singapore signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), a strong signal by the PAP Government to show our country's commitment to do more for persons with disabilities in Singapore. The way by which the vision of the UNCRPD is realised is through our Enabling Masterplan in our country. However, in my dealings with the special needs community, many families, professionals and persons with disabilities are hardly aware of the Enabling Masterplan and its progress. Some called it the "best-kept secret". It is a pity that as a result many missed out on the services available and/or remain anxious, worried or even angry over the years. I would like to seek the Ministry's update on its achievements to date and the challenges it faced for the Enabling Masterplan. I would also like to ask the Ministry to invest in resources to develop and implement a Strategic Communications Plan for the disability community, with its own micro-site in multiple languages and in multiple media forms. Areas of concern – adults with disabilities. Sir, my biggest concern lies with the adults with disabilities in our country. Their needs for service, their ages last from age 21 to an average of 80 to 85 years old. This is the space in the Enabling Masterplan and in the sector that is least developed and least resourced. For those who are more severe in their disability and unable to work even with support, the progress of options available for them remains small. There is insufficient day activity centres for them nor willing manpower to care for them. New day activity centres can be Page: 158 filled even before they officially open.”
“For, in the final analysis, they are the ones who matter and feel the impact of all social policies. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Developing Capability in Social Service”
“Suggestions: One, start a "Grand Social Challenges" Series to seek bold and out-of-box ideas. Better still, leverage on the Social Science Research Council announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman last night at Ngee Ann Kongsi's 170th anniversary. More importantly, let me add a caveat to remember to include the voices of the people on the ground, especially the practitioners and the target beneficiaries.”
“It can also find ways in the landscape to have most lasting and sustainable ways, especially of individual citizen participation, instead of the ad hoc do-good efforts in the form of CSR and CIP involvements. I have the following suggestions. One, develop a strategic communications plan, much like "Our Singapore Conversations". Go deeper in understanding and validating ground needs on a regular basis. Adopt a beneficiary-centric programme rather than a Ministry-centric way of communicating social service programmes from the whole-of-Government. Use technology to conduct crucial dialogues and to share Government social service policies and programmes, in their language and in their preferred modes. Two, develop a strategic citizen participation blueprint for a more structured and visible way to match willing hearts and hands, and sector needs. Third, on big social challenges of the 21st century. The American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare had prompted a series of programmes under the umbrella of "Grand Challenges" to facilitate deep dialogues on social challenges. The series seeks to identify pressing social issues and bigger and bolder ideas to meet existing and emerging demands facing the community in the coming decade. Some of the challenges are similar to what we face in Singapore – growing income inequality, ageing population, low birth rates, values in transition, and those pertaining to 21st century trends, such as online gambling and mental wellness. Many of these big social changes need solutions that are outside the purview and knowledge base of the Ministry and social service sector. A lot of these cannot be solved by Government or money alone. It takes a village.”
“MSF should tier its treatment of the social service players; help those with a track record to build centres of excellence; partner them to use their expertise for their financial independence; understand their challenges better and support them. One example is the additional costs of internal audits that the Charity Governance guidelines expect bigger players to install, which have to be funded from donations. As they say, big vision can come with big problems; small vision, small problems; and no vision, no problem. The Ministry should not ignore the bigger players, their vision and their bigger problems. In this regard, I propose that the MSF build a consulting arm with the right expertise in both social and business sectors and the ability to nurture the different levels of players in the social service sector. Next, on rising public expectations and citizen participation. In the face of many great social challenges of our century are great expectations of the public that Government must deliver more, faster and cheaper. I was once told that the mobile phone expenses are now essential items and should be considered in the computation of financial assistance for those in need. I also hear of challenges to the assumptions and principles underlying Singapore's social service programmes. Should the family still be the first port of call for a parent, a child or a sibling in need? Or should the latter be considered a citizen in his own right and is entitled to state subsidies, regardless of how affluent his immediate family is? Page: 149 Sir, MSF has to find better ways of citizen participation to identify and validate the real prioritised needs and pains on the ground; to discuss underlying values and rationales behind policies and trade-offs.”
“With trends, such as an increasing number of elderly people living on their own, increasing income and digital gaps between those who are more affluent and those less, a single Ministry's outreach efforts are still limited. In fact, each of the Ministries is also now conducting its own efforts in public consultation, policy communications, as can be seen in the many MOF Pioneer Generation, MOH MediShield Life, Silver Support and other efforts all hitting the same ground. I have several suggestions. Page: 148 Sir, against this backdrop, I fear that the underlying structure of SSOs will not be sufficient to address the social challenges of the future and have two suggestions in this regard. One, on Municipal Services Office. There needs to be a community-centric Municipal Services Office of sorts, an integrator that works across Ministries to study both strategic and ground need and co-ordinate the many services, needs and players to align to the target beneficiaries on the ground. The landscape of SSOs, WDAs, VWOs, grassroots, FSCs, not to mention the CDCs, is not optimal and can be confusing. Two, on the tiered approach to partnering VWOs. Sir, the Ministry has also spent much time to strengthen the smaller partner VWOs in the sector, creating more and more hubs and centralised programmes to support them. But it is also important not to lose the support and strengths of the bigger players in the sector. The Ministry should harness the experience, networks and energies of the larger players and nurture them, in the way that MTI is working with and incentivising larger SMEs to support the smaller ones.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head I of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Sir, at last year's Committee of Supply debate, Minister Chan Chun Sing shared his three-pronged vision to mobilise agencies upstream to integrate social service delivery and to invest in the next generation of social service leaders and professionals. I applaud the Ministry for its great work, especially in launching the network of some 20 Social Service Offices (SSOs) across the island. I have the privilege of working with very good SSOs in my constituency and District. Sir, I would like to highlight three key restraining forces that can stand in the way of a strong 21st-century social service sector in Singapore, and provide some suggestions for consideration. One, the size and nature of the landscape. Singapore's social service landscape is dotted by several key Government agencies, such as the MSF, NCSS, SG-Enable and more than 400 voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), serving some 400,000 clients yearly. The number of VWOs is growing by the day, with many passionate and capable persons raring to start projects or organisations of their own. At the same time, the Ministry is, on the other hand, doing its level best to streamline the services, "rein-in" the volunteers so that they would "hunt as a pack", in the Minister's words, for the sake of their beneficiaries. Sir, the balance is difficult to maintain. Too much of control and command and "cookie-cutter" solutions deprive the sector of its much-needed innovation, creativity and passion. Too little control leads to over-serving, under-serving or not serving particular groups in need.”
“The office for MSO can add even more value than its current role at both the national and local levels. I would like to ask what is the vision of the MSO in terms of its role, beyond the channelling of estate management feedback to the respective agencies and coordinating them where required? [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] Two, how does the MSO measure and communicate its accountability to those who provide the feedback and the partnering agencies? Does the MSO have any service standards of its own, keep track of its partnering agencies receiving the channelled feedback; and does it monitor the satisfying closure of all feedback received? Can the MSO go beyond being a receptacle for citizen feedback and proactively reach out to the ground, seek out the top touch-points of frustration and pain in each town and facilitate the resolution of common inter-agency ground pains? If yes, how does it intend to do so?”
“Thank you, Madam. Madam, I would like to seek two clarifications; one is to seek Minister's thoughts on the integrated 10-year through-train schools. I want to clarify that I do not mean compromising any form of rigour in academics. I really think the rigour of academics and character building must remain so. I just want to seek again the Minister's thoughts on this, since I have been asking several times. The second clarification is for Minister of State Sim Ann. For the special needs students, if a special solution can be found to ensure that the SPED schools are not left out of all the good things that are happening at the national level, for example, the very good school-based Dyslexia Remediation Programme that is currently ongoing. I thought that was very good. There is a number of special needs students who also have co-morbidities. They have different conditions at the same time, including dyslexia. So, I would like to seek your opinion on that as well.”
“I would like to seek the Ministry's inputs on how it intends to protect the interests of especially the children, some of whom may not even be able to express themselves. Disability Support Offices”
“Madam, the Private Education Act was passed in September 2009 to strengthen and level up the private education sector. As a result, the Council for Private Education or CPE was set up to raise standards in the sector through effective regulation, industry development and consumer education. A wide range of private education institutions exists in Singapore. It is the private special education schools that I wish to draw the Ministry's attention to. Privately run special schools have been sprouting up in Singapore. Some of them are owned by local operators whilst others are foreign-owned. Children with special needs from both local and expatriate families attend these classes. However, because this education offering is targeted at a very vulnerable segment of children and families, I believe the Ministry of Education (MOE) must exercise a stronger moral responsibility and take a more active role in overseeing these schools or centres. The strategic thrusts of the CPE are to ensure quality assurance and effective consumer education, amongst others. These private special schools are known in the market as MOE-registered and it is highly plausible that their education programmes, facilities and even pricings are perceived to be endorsed by MOE by the parents. I urge MOE to conduct proper due diligence and reference checks before registering these schools and perform its duty of ensuring quality assurance and effective consumer education. To protect the consumers – in this case, the children – after they have been abused or harmed might be too late in some instances. Quality assurance cannot be just about hardware or administration, in the business of education.”
“I thank and congratulate the MOE team for the diligent work that they have done and I want to tell you that you have made a difference. Mother Tongue Exemptions”
“Currently, each volunteer welfare organisation (VWO) and their respective SPED schools are developing their own resources. For greater productivity, I urge MOE to allocate resources to develop a portal – a repository of core materials in core topics such as daily living skills, literacy and numeracy. Instead of only asking the educators to populate the framework, MOE can invest in local and foreign content so that more is available quickly for both schools and families to use. Second, SPED schools offering mainstream curriculum. Efforts have been made in this aspect but there are still disconnects. SPED teachers, for example, who are teaching the PSLE, are not granted the opportunities to be in the markers' pool for better exposure and development. Third, on ICT. Most recently, the very useful ICT Learning Roadmap for MOE mainstream school Info Clubs were planned and budgeted, but only with mainstream schools in mind. SPED schools who wish to enrol their students were advised to engage the vendors Page: 100 separately. Fourth, on inclusion in good national initiatives. All students, whether taking mainstream academics or not, should also be included in the other good national initiatives, such as the school-based Dyslexia Remediation Programme, applied learning programme and even the SkillsFuture Master Plan.”