Hawazi Daipi
Singapore
“Madam, between 2001 and 2014, of the international students at secondary and junior college levels who were granted permanent residence (PR) on their own merit, around one-quarter were on scholarships, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) scholarship, for their studies.”
“Madam, we are aware that these are secondary and pre-university students who are not likely to start working immediately after they have completed their "A" levels. So, we do not require them to work in Singapore. It is separate from the university-level scholarships. Page: 34”
“Madam, as I have said in my reply, we leave it to the schools to decide on whether a student or a staff member is fit or good enough for certain types of overseas trips. Some overseas trips can be very physically challenging, but some may not be.”
“Madam, the Member may be aware that MOE has worked with the Temasek Cares for a programme to assist families to manage the cost of treatment after the insurance coverage cap has been reached.”
“I think, generally, yes, Madam. The travel insurance coverage includes accidents and treatment of injuries as a result of accidents, as well as repatriation.”
“At the ground-breaking event, a number of non-Muslim grassroots leaders asked me how they can also support the construction of this community institution in Woodlands. I am heartened by such a supportive spirit and inter-racial and inter-religious cooperation.”
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“Sir, on maternity leave, I think we have provisions to protect the maternity leave rights of pregnant women. For those who feel that they are being discriminated, eg, they have been sacked due to their pregnancy, then they can come to the Ministry. We can help them, investigate the case and, if found guilty, employers can be punished. As regards fall from heights involving foreign domestic workers, as Members know, we have already tightened our regulations and we have instituted measures to advise first-time foreign domestic workers on safety measures that they must take into consideration when hanging clothes out or cleaning windows. Cleaning windows on the outside is not allowed. Currently, we have not banned window cleaning at all but, if necessary, we can look into the possibility of banning it in the future. But we have seen the good results of all these measures taken to help increase the awareness of both the employees (foreign domestic workers) as well as first-time employers. On maternity leave - flexibility for the 8% who did not consume the maternity leave in a stretch - I think since 92% of our pregnant women consumed their maternity leave in a stretch, it shows that the majority feels that it is the best way to recuperate and develop bonds with the child. We have no plan at the moment to mandate paternity leave. But, as I said in my reply, there are companies which have already extended paternity leave and it is done based on mutual arrangement between the employer and employee. We can facilitate, and we can encourage, but I think, at the moment, there is no need to mandate this.”
“The five-day work week is currently the norm and 40% of employees in the private sector enjoy 15 days or more annual leave. Under the Employment Act, employees are also entitled to two days’ childcare leave per year if they have a child under the age of 7. Hence, it may not be appropriate to impose an additional burden on employers by legislating paternity leave. Nonetheless, Members may be pleased to know that a survey conducted by my Ministry shows that 43% of firms (employing 25 workers or more) currently provide paid paternity leave even though it is not mandated. In closing, I would like to reiterate that our manpower policies are working. Singaporeans have benefited from these policies. However, in the global race for talent, our efforts to meet the demand for manpower must be supported by strategies to optimise the quality and performance of our workplaces. We must strive for safer and healthier workplaces, with workplace arrangements that can enable our workers to enhance their contributions and optimise their productivity while addressing their personal needs.”
“We will also be refining the funding criteria so as to encourage applicants to go beyond the typical measures, like telecommuting, so that there is greater diversity of the types of flexible work arrangements offered. Sir, let me now touch on the issue of maternity leave. To complement the work-life efforts, maternity leave was extended from eight weeks to 12 weeks in 2004 as part of the marriage and parenthood package. For the last four weeks of maternity leave, female employees have the option to take the leave flexibly over a period of six months from the child’s birth, with mutual agreement from the employer. Mr Seah Kian Peng has suggested that female employees be allowed to take a larger portion of the maternity leave flexibly. Sir, the primary purpose of maternity leave is for the mother to recuperate after childbirth. He might have heard this, but I think it is useful to repeat the reply of my Minister because it is an important principle that we are basing on. Since the flexibility option was first introduced in 2004, we found that the take-up of such flexibility has not been high. More than 92% of mothers have opted to take their leave in a continuous stretch of 12 weeks. So, 92% is quite a high proportion. The current provision for flexibility was introduced after extensive consultation with all stakeholders. It is a fair position, bearing in mind the overall purpose of maternity leave and the need to prevent excessive disruptions to business operations. As such, it may not be necessary to make changes to the maternity leave provision at this juncture. The proposal by Mr Seah and Dr Amy Khor to introduce statutory paternity leave should be assessed in relation to the prevailing working patterns and leave entitlements.”
“SMEs currently account for more than 90% of the approved projects to build their work-life capabilities and facilitate flexible work arrangements. A significant number of companies have used the WoW! Fund to invest in systems to support telecommuting. 2.00 pm One example is a small firm called Financial Alliance Pte Ltd. With the WoW! Fund, Financial Alliance assessed the needs of their employees and the business, organised work-life training and introduced a telecommuting project for their employees. The result is a win-win outcome for both the company and the staff, with improved productivity, more satisfied customers, reduced healthcare costs and no employee turnover since the project started a year ago. So, as you can see, the initiative has benefited both the employers and the employees. Another example is Fei Yue Family Service Centre. The WoW! Fund enabled employees of Fei Yue, especially the middle managers, to undergo extensive work-life training, provided payroll support for their employees to drive the implementation of family-friendly workplace practices and enabled Fei Yue to set up a network for telecommuting. I have been told that both employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction with Fei Yue’s Counselling Services have improved as a result, and staff turnover has fallen. By the middle of this year, the Fund will be fully committed and would have benefited over 400 companies. Given the positive responses, I am happy to announce that we will be topping up the WoW! Fund with another $10 million. This new stream of funding is expected to benefit more than 1,000 locally-based companies over the next three to four years.”
“We will consider raising the minimum coverage of this insurance. We will announce more details later. Sir, the second issue that I will address relates to the concerns raised today as well as during the Budget debate by Members. My Ministry agrees with Members - Dr Amy Khor, Mr Ong Ah Heng, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Ms Irene Ng, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Ang Mong Seng - on the importance of work-life harmony and the need for flexible work arrangements. Effective work-life strategies are beneficial to both employers and employees. They are likely to make employees more engaged and motivated - as stressed by Ms Jessica - at their workplaces, thereby raising their performance. This is why MOM, together with the tripartite partners, has been actively promoting work-life strategies since 2004, including recognising family-friendly organisations through the Work-Life Excellence Award. A key partner is the Employer Alliance, which comprises 95 forward-thinking and like-minded CEOs who are committed to promoting work-life to their fellow CEOs. So this is really a grounds-up work - CEOs trying to motivate their fellow CEOs to do the same to ensure that their workers can do their work better and more productive in the process. Over the coming year, MOM will continue to support the work of the Employer Alliance as they develop programmes to bring more employers on board. I agree with Members that there is room for more flexible work arrangements for the workforce. Our approach is to educate employers of these possibilities and for them to see the business case for doing so. To facilitate the implementation of work-life strategies, MOM launched the $10 million Work-life Works!, or WoW!, Fund in August 2004.”
“Sir, let me now move to the question of safety of foreign domestic workers. The Ministry has similarly introduced mandatory safety awareness courses for first-time foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and employment orientation programmes for first-time employers since April 2004. In 2006, we have also introduced a set of new measures to better educate FDWs on their rights and duties, including circulating a 6-monthly newsletter for FDWs, conducting random interviews with first-time FDWs, and including safety messages on the 6-monthly medical examination envelopes - all these to enhance the knowledge of their rights and their responsibilities so that they can perform their work much better in a safer environment. Additionally, we issued an employment guide to inform all FDW employers of their responsibilities. Apart from promotional and educational efforts, the Ministry has stepped up enforcement against employers who wilfully put their FDWs at risk. In 2006, two employers were fined for endangering the lives of their foreign domestic workers, while one employer was jailed after her foreign domestic worker fell to her death while hanging laundry from a ledge. With the introduction of all these measures, the total number of FDW deaths in 2006 fell by 35%, from an annual average of 37 deaths over the past six years. Nonetheless, there is still room for improvement and the Ministry will continue to do more in this area. In line with my Minister's announcement that MOM will review the compensation system for injured workers under the Workmen's Compensation Act, we will also be reviewing the compensation for foreign domestic workers who are injured. FDW employers are currently required by the Ministry to purchase a personal accident insurance for their foreign domestic workers.”
“Last year, MOM together with the WSHAC and our tripartite partners - NTUC, SNEF and SBF - jointly organised a seminar on workplace safety and health. MOM officers also provide technical assistance to industry associations to develop risk compendiums, guidelines and codes of practice. This indeed is a key approach in our drive to enhance workplace safety and health, working with industry associations who have a good reach to companies in the sectors. Mr Yeo also asked for an update on the implementation of risk assessment in the workplaces. The Risk Management Regulations came into effect only in September last year, and my officers from the Occupational Safety and Health Division have been offering assistance to companies to meet the requirements. Since September, we have also issued more than 1,200 Notices of Non-Compliance to companies as a warning for them to improve their risk assessment measures. Of the 470 companies inspected in January 2007, about 30% have implemented risk assessment. This is not unexpected because our inspections are generally targeted at sectors and companies with weak safety management systems or poorer safety records. Nevertheless, industry capability is gradually being built up in this respect, eg, with the help of the Risk Management Assistance Fund, and we expect this proportion to increase. Another important area is safety training for workers so that they can recognise potentially hazardous situations, understand their responsibilities under the WSH Act and know their roles in creating safe work conditions. The WSHAC and MOM are reviewing how to ensure that workers are adequately trained prior to and during the course of employment, especially for those working in high-risk sectors.”
“The six selected sectors are: (1) Services allied to the transport of goods, such as logistics, freight forwarding and cargo surveying services; (2) Landscape care and maintenance service activities, such as grass-cutting; (3) Water supply, sewerage and waste management, such as refuse disposal; (4) Hotels and restaurants; (5) Healthcare activities, such as hospitals; and (6) Veterinary activities. This will allow a reasonable timeframe for the affected companies to build up their capabilities to comply with the Act. Stakeholders in these sectors have been consulted and my Ministry will continue to work with them to address their concerns in the coming months, and also offer compliance assistance to help them. Specifically, we will extend the Risk Management Assistance Fund to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in these six sectors, to help them build up capabilities to conduct comprehensive risk assessments. I am heartened to note that many organisations have already taken the initiative to enhance the safety and health of workers at their workplaces, even when they are not legally required to do so under the WSH Act as yet. For example, NTUC led the formulation of a set of guidelines on safe work procedures to guide contractors involved in town council cleaning and custodial services. NTUC also secured the commitment of 55 cleaning companies that have pledged to make the work environment safer and healthier for their workers. Mr Yeo has asked if MOM could provide assistance for industry-driven or tripartite initiatives to improve workplace safety and health. Sir, we have done so. Many of the initiatives headed by the WSHAC, which is industry-led with tripartite representation, are funded by MOM.”
“This extensive consultation is important in building up ownership by industry for safety and health standards - a point made by Mr Yeo Guat Kwang. The WSH 2015 will be the national blueprint to bring together stakeholders to drive the implementation of the WSH framework in Singapore. To specifically address safety standards in the construction industry, the WSHAC and MOM have also developed a Construction Strategy to complement WSH 2015. The construction strategy takes into account the specific challenges in the sector and recommends sector-specific measures based on the broad directions of WSH 2015. Let me address the request for extension of the WSH Act. While we continue to raise the workplace safety and health performance in construction sites, shipyards and general factories, the intention is to ensure that workers in all workplaces are protected. Mr Yeo asked MOM to expedite the extension of the WSH Act to new workplaces. Sir, we will do this in phases. As announced in Parliament last year when the WSH Act was passed, my Ministry will cover all workplaces under the Act in three to five years. This approach will ensure a sustainable build-up, with industry ownership. MOM will roll out the next phase of workplaces to be included under the WSH Act on 1st March 2008. These will be sectors that either have higher accident rates or where the potential consequences of any accident can be serious.”
“Mr Chairman, let me first highlight the progress that we have made in the area of workplace safety and health. Last year, MOM replaced the decades-old Factories Act with the Workplace Safety and Health Act. This is a key milestone in the overhaul of the workplace safety and health framework, in order to achieve the target of halving the workplace fatality rate by 2015. Dr Ahmad Magad and Mr Yeo Guat Kwang have asked, in the Budget debate and today, about the improvements that we have made so far. Our efforts have started to pay off. The total number of deaths at our workplaces fell from 71 in 2005 to 62 in 2006. Correspondingly, the workplace fatality rate in 2006 was 3.1 per 100,000 workers, a 22% reduction from 4.0 in 2005, and a reduction of more than one-third from 4.9 per 100,000 workers in 2004. While construction remained one of the riskiest sectors, accounting for almost 40% of the workplace fatalities in 2006, the absolute number of construction fatalities has fallen compared to 2005. The Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee, or WSHAC, will be releasing a more detailed analysis of the workplace fatalities and injuries that occurred in 2006 later this month. We have also made progress in charting the strategic direction for WSH. The WSHAC and MOM have jointly developed a National Workplace Safety and Health Strategy called WSH 2015 to map out a national, strategic and long-term approach towards improving WSH. More than 1,500 stakeholders were consulted in the process. The International Advisory Panel for Workplace Safety and Health, whom we consulted last year, has given the WSH 2015 a very strong endorsement.”
“Sir, in maintaining a people's army like ours, it is natural that the public pays particular attention to the safety record of the SAF, particularly in training involving NSF and NSmen. A good safety record will boost the confidence of every parent whose son is in or will be in the Army or National Service. Can the Minister inform the House about the SAF's safety strategy and give an update on the SAF's safety record for military training? It is important that the SAF take near accident misses seriously in order to prevent accidents in the future. So, can I ask the Minister: has there been an increase in the number of near misses reported and how it deals with non-reporting of near accidents? While safety must be a key concern of the SAF, it would not be beneficial if it adversely affects the effectiveness of our NSmen, NSF and units. I would like to know how the SAF achieve both training safety and operational readiness of our armed forces. National Service”
“Just as the threat of nuclear arms development in North Korea has subsided, the concern in the Asia-Pacific region has shifted to the potential arms race among the big powers. China's decision to boost its defence spending by 17.8% this year has already drawn a reaction from the United States which has called for transparency in China's military spending and this may complicate relations between the two big powers. Japan and Taiwan are likely to react to China's plan by increasing their own defence budget. Bearing this in mind, what is MINDEF's assessment of the security situation in Asia Pacific? What would be the consequences of such military build-up to Southeast Asia? Apart from that, have there been any escalation of military activities in the South China Sea that could threaten the security of littoral states in particular and other Southeast Asian countries in general, including Singapore? To avert any conflict in the region, especially one that could involve or affect us, we have to continuously work on defence diplomacy and cooperation with other countries. What has MINDEF done to boost defence relations with other countries in the region and outside? Can the Minister also inform the House of the progress and problems in multilateral defence cooperation like the Five Power Defence Arrangement? Maritime Security”
“Can the Minister give us an update on the state of affairs of our relations with our three close neighbours and those outside Southeast Asia? Can the relationship that can be mutually beneficial be moved forward despite the current bilateral issues? Middle East”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, recently, we have been reassured by the Minister that the fundamentals in our relations with our closest neighbours, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, are sound and are not affected by the current spats in our relationship now with two of them at least. However, in the case of our relationship with Indonesia and Thailand in particular, there seem to be almost daily events and statements from their government leaders that indicate that even strong fundamentals built over the years may not be that strong after all. In the case of our relations with Thailand, our use of their territory for regular military training is being questioned. As for relations with Indonesia, their flip-flopping on the reasons for the ban on sand export to Singapore does not augur well for strong bilateral ties. In fact, by the actions taken by the Indonesian navy to stop barges carrying granite stones which were heading towards Singapore, there seems to be a ban on the export of granite to Singapore too. If there is any concern in Indonesia about the possibility of sand smuggling under the guise of granite export, we should work towards joint inspection of the barges carrying granites, unless Indonesia intends to also block the export of granite to Singapore. Sir, we must maintain a close relationship with all countries, including the US and other external major powers, that can enhance our safety and security and that of the region too. In this context, like fellow Member, Dr Ong Chit Chung, I am puzzled by the comment made by an Indonesia Minister that Singapore is a "puppet" of the US, and would thus like the Minister to comment on it.”
“Sir, in the face of the growth of China and India as economic power houses, it is very important and urgent for ASEAN's 10 members to work more closely together to enhance their competitiveness and attractiveness to investors. I would acknowledge that the different stages of economic development among the member countries is a key challenge to ASEAN's economic integration but efforts must be put in to achieve it. Singapore is the current Chairman of ASEAN. Can the Minister give an update on whether we are achieving the objectives, in particular ASEAN economic integration, that we set out to achieve for ASEAN when Singapore assumed the chairmanship last year? What are the problems and challenges that are yet to be overcome towards that end? Sir, I would also like to ask the Minister whether we are moving towards political integration and what are the challenges and, if we are achieving, whether there had been an agreement among ASEAN member countries to achieve it. Relations with China and India”
“Low-income families can receive up to $300 in childcare subsidies per month. For those who need further help, community-based support is available through the grassroots organisations and self-help groups. For example, CDAC and MENDAKI provide additional financial assistance to needy families under the Pre-School Assistance and Support Scheme (PASS) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) initiatives respectively. Advisers and grassroots leaders can also tap on the Citizens’ Consultative Committees' (CCC) Welfare and Education Fund, and the ComCare Fund to assist their residents who need financial support to send their children to pre-school. Our primary schools are doing good work to help children catch up and realise their potential, regardless of their initial starting point, whether or not they have attended pre-school. From this year, the enhanced Learning Support Programme (LSP) will be rolled out to all Primary schools, starting with the Primary 1 children. The enhanced LSP provides a more customised support for children to improve their basic early reading skills. Similarly, additional support in Mathematics for P1 pupils has also been introduced in all schools this year. Many schools continue to provide customised support for children needing help in English and Mathematics beyond Primary 2. Hence, support for these children does extend beyond the pre-school years. The rigorous primary school curriculum, coupled with support programmes, builds strong foundations for our children to go on to secondary and post-secondary education.”
“Given this attendance rate and the real choice parents have from a diversity of the pre-school options available, MOE does not see a need to make pre-school education compulsory. MOE is therefore targeting its efforts at continuing to uplift the quality of pre-school education, particularly for children from lower-income backgrounds. Several measures to improve quality have been introduced over the years by MOE, such as developing a curriculum framework, introducing training, qualification requirements for teachers, and accrediting teacher training courses. MOE is also working with MCYS, the People's Association and the self-help groups in a coordinated effort to reach out to the small number of families, ie, the 5% that I mentioned just now, who do not already send their children to pre-school and to persuade them to do so. The success of these joint and targeted efforts will, we hope, have a significant impact on this group of children. MOE and MCYS provide operators with guidelines on making fee revisions, but do not control their fees. For example, pre-schools intending to raise their fees are advised to provide adequate notice to parents about their fee revision plans. There are a variety of financial assistance schemes in place to help children from lower-income families. MCYS provides a fee subsidy under its Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS). Families which cannot afford the initial costs related to sending their children to kindergarten may also be considered for a Start-up Grant (SUG) of up to $200 per child per year. For low-income families with children enrolled in childcare centres, there is also the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Childcare (CFAC) if mothers are also working.”
“7. Mrs Josephine Teo asked the Minister for Education (a) if he will provide an update on the number of pre-school education providers in Singapore; and (b) if the Ministry plans to issue guidelines on the fees charged by providers of pre-school education services. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to address Question Nos. 5, 6 and 7 together. The three Questions relate to the pre-school education scene, benefits of pre-school education, and opportunities to level up. The pre-school landscape in Singapore is diverse, with various community and private organisations providing a variety of pre-school education programmes to cater to different needs and expectations. As at 1st January 2007, there are altogether 1,210 kindergartens and childcare centres offering pre-school education. Of these, 492 (40.4%) are kindergartens and the rest are childcare centres. This diversity provides choice for parents to select the most appropriate pre-school education in accordance to their needs and preferences. Recent international research suggests that the early childhood years are a sensitive period in which a child's future development can be influenced. Our own data at MOE indicates that pre-school education is particularly helpful in allowing children from low-income families and non-English speaking families to catch up with their peers. Indeed, the vast majority of parents already recognise the value of pre-school education. We estimate that roughly 95% of children have received formal pre-school education.”
“Sir, I have mentioned earlier some of the programmes organised by WDA and its related agencies for PMETs. We already have programmes covering 14 industry sectors - retail, hotel and accommodation services, logistics, healthcare, marine and maritime engineering services, and so on. These are programmes which are designed to help PMETs to gain new skills, so that they are even more employable, whether for their future use or when they are seeking re-employment. We can always expand and look for new areas in which we can help PMETs to gain new skills. But I want to report that we have actually a lot of programmes already running for PMETs. Sir, on whether we can help Singaporean PMETs to find jobs overseas, our best knowledge lies locally. I think we have a good knowledge about local employment needs, skill needs and employment demand. It is best to focus our attention on the local market and help our PMETs and job-seekers alike to look at areas in which there are demands for workers. As to securing overseas assignments for PMETs, as more Singapore companies operate overseas, we can widen the network and find out whether there are employment opportunities in Singapore-owned companies overseas. PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION 5. Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the proportion of Singaporean children who do not attend pre-school education; (b) whether there are any data or statistics to show the benefits of pre-school education or a direct correlation to future academic performance; and (c) whether there is a need to make pre-school education compulsory. 6. Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider subsidies for pre-school education for children from lower-income families so as to give these children the opportunity to level up.”
“Sir, salary gains by employees depend very much on the nature of work done, so we do not have the figures about their salary. We also do not have information about whether they are employed in better jobs or jobs which are paying less, compared to their previous salary.”
“A new programme introduced last year, called the Property Officer Re-skilling Programme, has helped 61 workers holding at least a diploma qualification to be retrained as property officers. 184 workers were placed and trained for the marine and maritime industry, under the ASMI Super V programme in 2006. However, it is ultimately the buoyant economy that will create demand for PMETs, thus allowing them to find employment. MOM's records on complaints of discrimination in hiring practices do not indicate that bankruptcy is a significant factor of discrimination. In view of this, it is not necessary to have special programmes for job seekers who are bankrupt. In any case, any programme that is targeted specially at persons who are bankrupt is likely to stigmatise them further. Nevertheless, MOM recognises the importance of fair employment practices in the workplace. It adopts a promotional and educational approach towards employers, working with the tripartite partners. A key vehicle is the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP), which is headed by Mdm Halimah Yacob from NTUC and Mr Bob Tan from SNEF. Amongst other initiatives in its first year, TAFEP has gotten more than 300 companies and organisations to endorse a Pledge of Fair Employment Practices, and has recently partnered Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) to ensure that all job advertisements carried on SPH publications conform to the Tripartite Guidelines on Non-Discriminatory Job Advertisements.”
“Sir, in tandem with the robust employment growth, the prospects for residents retrenched from PMET jobs in 2006 were much better compared to the three years before. 83% of the residents retrenched from PMET jobs in the first six months of 2006 were re-employed by September 2006, ie, within nine months of retrenchment. This is a significant improvement compared to 2004 and 2005 where the re-employment rates were 67% and 71% respectively. The re-employment rate for PMETs as at September 2006 is also higher than the overall resident re-employment rate of 76% for the same period. Furthermore, the re-employment prospects for retrenched PMETs aged 50 and above had improved dramatically from 54% in 2004, 61% in 2005 to 86% in 2006. Unemployment of PMETs has also fallen. The resident unemployment rate for PMETs has declined steadily from a high of 4.1% in June 2003 to 2.9% in June 2006. This is much lower than the overall resident unemployment rate of 4.5% in June 2006 and 3.6% in December 2006. Nevertheless, we recognise that some PMETs may need help to find a job. Between January and December last year, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) assisted some 3,800 PMETs to obtain employment through its Public Employment System (PES) and funded some 17,000 PMETs to upgrade their skills via SDF-funded programmes. In addition, other PMET-targeted programmes have been effective in helping many PMETs find work opportunities in wholly new career areas. For example, since 2003, more than 400 PMETs have been trained and put onto new career pathways in nursing and radiography, under the Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme (SMCP) in Healthcare.”
“In this respect, the Malay community will always rely on the support, understanding, assistance from the Government and also the other communities so that, together from within the community itself and also in cooperation with the other communities, the Malay community will also be able to assist in enhancing the progress and development of Singapore. Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that what we have achieved so far in overcoming our problems at the national level, overcoming internal problems within certain communities, including the Malay community, give us a sense of satisfaction because this further improves our community strength in overcoming new problems. This will of course further strengthen our foundation to achieve continuous progress in future. *Cols. 903-906. 3.20 pm”
“This, I think, is not a small matter because it shows the desire to progress, the desire to improve ourselves based on the principles and values that we hold high, which are hard work, responsibility for our own welfare and self-reliance. At the community leadership level, I am proud that the Malay community leadership has advanced far in their effort to assist the community to help them progress, particularly in facing social problems and enhancing their progress in education. For the past number of years, the Malay community leadership has worked together with the Malay political leadership in the People's Action Party to move self-help efforts in four main areas - improving educational achievement, encouraging skills upgrading and work assistance, strengthening family relationships so that the family has a strong foundation to ensure that children grow up healthy and active and benefit from all the opportunities in Singapore, and, fourthly, to overcome social problems. As I said earlier, self-help efforts which were initiated together with Malay community leaders, Malay organisations and the Malay political leadership have been a source of strength and self-confidence for me and the Malay community in general because this shows an inner effort within the Malay community to progress together, taking advantage of the opportunities that exist in Singapore. This also helps Singapore to progress because, in line with other communities, the Malay community also contributes to the national and community development of Singapore. I think in many aspects, the less skilled, less educated within the community need more help.”
“I would like to suggest that we use this approach in all our endeavours to improve the quality of life for Singaporeans, whether it is on specific needs of Singaporeans or on the needs of people on the ground for better facilities and services, which means that everyone in Singapore will have a role to play in ensuring that the environment they live in and the relationships they establish can be improved further. Sir, let me continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *. ] Like other Singaporeans, Malays have enjoyed great benefit from the development and stability of Singapore. The challenges faced by Malays in Singapore are similar to those that are faced by other communities, whether it is a result of the effects of globalisation or the relationship with employers or problems at work. The challenges faced by the Malay community as workers and as Singaporeans are the same as others. Malays can and should be confident of their opportunities to progress in future based on the progress that they have achieved so far, whether in terms of education, employment, home ownership or in other social aspects. The Malay community, however, also has its own problems, just like other communities here. However, other than being able to benefit from the various programmes and assistance offered at national level, whether by community organisations or the Government, Malays also benefit from various self-help programmes and efforts within the community itself. I believe this will bring a very good effect to the community because it improves their confidence and self-esteem as they are able to assist each other or assist those who are facing problems and difficulties.”
“The PSA is a good example. Members may recall that several years ago, PSA needed to retrench workers and adjust wages to stay competitive. It was a very difficult period faced by the management and the union, but with strong labour relations, they worked together to tide through. Today, it is a very different picture. I read in the Sunday Times last weekend that PSA had done well and rewarded the staff generously. The Singapore Port Workers' Union (SPWU), where I had the privilege of serving as Executive Secretary some years back, is now getting thanks and a pat on the back from its members and PSA workers, quite unlike the brunt of workers’ unhappiness that it had to bear during those difficult times. Just last weekend, I attended the 60th anniversary of the SPWU and I saw the mood was different, compared to about four or five years ago. There, I saw unionists, members of the union as well as management staff and other union leaders got together in a very friendly atmosphere. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have outlined five potential hotspots in our society as we venture into the new future. The key to addressing the various differences and potential frictions and conflicts in our society is to facilitate mutual understanding and tolerance among the different groups of people, and the Government will need to play a major role here. Our strong tripartite partnership is a workable modus operandi that can be adapted to address other differences and reaching win-win for all.”
“Otherwise, the fears and concerns will infest and create rifts, tensions and misunderstanding, which will disrupt social harmony. Here, we can encourage grassroots leaders to work with residents to ensure that this understanding of the need for foreign workers and working with foreign workers can be driven at the grassroots and community levels. Fifth, relationship between employers and workers. Globalisation has created a new business environment - one which requires companies to face competitive and rapidly changing markets. To survive in the new economy, companies need flexibility and innovation. Some will restructure their organisation or reduce costs to keep pace with the changes. However, workers ask for job security and fairness in treatment and reward. As workers feel insecure, they are also less engaged, resulting in lower productivity and quality. Therein lies the dilemma between company’s needs and the workers’ needs, between flexibility and security, and between security and the ability of workers to adapt and innovate. To address the tension and with the view of enhancing workers’ productivity, employers will need to place greater importance on managing their relationship with their workers, share with them information on company's performance, tap on their ideas and improve the workplace environment and safety. Workers, on the other hand, would also need to be flexible and open to change. Here lies the importance of tripartism. With our strong tripartite relationship and continued support from the Government, employers and unions, I am confident that we can manage the dilemmas and workplace issues, and continue to maintain a peaceful industrial environment. The key point is, we must help strengthen further this three-party partnership.”
“With an ageing population and not having enough babies to replace it, we need foreign workers to augment our workforce to meet labour demands of our economy. However, some Singaporeans continue to have reservations over the open-door policy to attract foreign talent. They are concerned that the foreigners will deprive Singaporeans of jobs. Recently some residents in Jurong East had complained about empty flats being rented out to foreigners. Others had also expressed concern over foreign worker dormitories being built near their homes. As we need more foreign workers to meet the needs of growing industries, we will have to build more foreign worker dormitories. So we will have to manage this. Without a doubt, we will need foreign workers in our workforce to create more jobs for Singaporeans. However, the challenge here is for the Government to strike an appropriate balance between meeting the economic need of workers and putting in place the control measures to ensure that the foreign workers are deployed in the right numbers, in the right places and with the right skills. At the same time, we need to allay the fears of Singaporeans. The key safeguard for Singaporeans is not in protecting jobs for locals, as this may not mean more jobs for Singaporeans if there is a skills mismatch. Protecting jobs could ultimately also affect the competitiveness of our companies and their ability to grow and create more jobs. Instead, the key safeguard for Singaporeans is to continue to grow the economic pie and create more jobs for locals to take up. We also need to work on removing the suspicions towards foreigners by building up a better mutual understanding between locals and foreigners.”
“However, it was a good lesson on how an insensitive act could stir things up and, if not managed carefully, it could spiral out of control. Maintaining an environment of mutual understanding and tolerance of differences thus remains fundamental to ensuring Singapore’s continued social harmony and stability. We must thank our community and religious leaders for having guided their communities towards mutual understanding and tolerance, and help them to strengthen the foundation further. Third, managing young and old workers. In the 60s and 70s, as a young nation, one of Singapore’s value propositions to investors was our relatively young workforce. Today, with an ageing resident population, our workforce is also ageing. About one in three workers is expected to be above the age of 50 in 10 years’ time, compared to around one in four today. This means that we will have a much more age diverse workforce, with younger and older workers working together. There are benefits from having an age diverse workforce, as younger and older workers have different strengths that employers can tap on. However, just as some families face problems of generation gaps between the young and old, potentially there could also be similar frictions between younger and older workers at the workplace. I recently visited Japan to study the law for the re-employment of older workers, and met some unionists there. They told me that this is one of the workplace issues that they have to grapple with as their workforce ages. I suggest that the Government, employers and HR professionals as well as unionists look into the workplace challenge of managing age diversity and address any potential issues before they affect workplace performance. Fourth, influx of foreign workers.”
“The Government has already taken steps last year to help the lower-income group through the Workfare Bonus and other recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Low Wage Workers. I am glad that, as announced by PM and Ministers, the Government will do more to help those who have difficulty coping, so that no one will be left behind. However, in extending the helping hand to the needy, we must always emphasise three fundamental values: personal responsibility, hard work and self-reliance. It must help people to level up and seize opportunities for self improvement. Workfare is thus a very important approach. Like all good things, it must have the strong support, in this case, financial support and to ensure that resources that are needed to help the poor and the needy will be there to help them. The Prime Minister yesterday announced the need to increase GST by up to 2%. I think Singaporeans are bracing for that but, more importantly, Singaporeans are waiting for the GST offset package to be announced in July. Like all Singaporeans, I do hope that the offset package will be helpful enough to Singaporeans, particularly those who are needy. Second, amidst dealing with the challenges ahead, we must continue to be mindful of the need to maintain our racial and religious harmony. Members may recall the publication of the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in Europe. That incident caused racial and religious tensions to soar and even sparked off protests and violence in some countries. In Singapore, we were able to sit down and discuss issues and deal with them peacefully due to our strong racial and religious relations and mutual understanding.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join in the debate. I support the motion in thanking the President for his Address. Singapore has seen significant changes and events over the past few years, many of which were unexpected. We managed to overcome a number of major problems since 1997: economic downturns, the threat of racial and religious polarisation, if not conflict, following the 911 incident, SARS and the Avian flu. With everyone working together, we managed these difficult times and have emerged stronger today. Our economy is doing well, and job creation is expected to reach another record high this year. Going forward, the only constant we can expect is change. The President, in his Address, has highlighted four key changes affecting Singapore: (a) globalisation bringing shifts to the economy; (b) ageing society; (c) generational changes; and (d) the need for a new social and political compact. These changes, if not carefully managed, can be unsettling and even create friction in society and amongst Singaporeans. Let me touch on some potential hotspots which will need greater attention. First, the widening income gap. Globalisation brings opportunities for the higher-skilled workers, but the lower-skilled face downward wage pressures and higher risk of structural unemployment. In the last few years, the income gap has widened. The Gini coefficient, which measures inequality of income distribution, has risen from 0.490 in 2000 to 0.522 in 2005. This is not unique to Singapore, but we must acknowledge that the widening income disparity is a looming issue which can cause social friction between the haves and have-nots if it is not properly tackled.”
“In short, beyond the religious realm, it has to complement and complete the desired outcomes of the national education system of our nation. Mr Chairman, Sir, in the area of full-time madrasah education, I also understand that Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura has strived to enhance several areas, namely, curriculum, administration and the training of asatizah or teachers. I would like to ask what are the desired outcomes of this madrasah education system. What measures are being planned or taken to help the madrasah students have the academic foundation should they wish to further their education or move to any stage of the national education system? In other words, at the primary level, what measures are being taken to strengthen the students' foundation in English, Mathematics and Science subjects? What progress has been achieved by MUIS in coordinating the curriculum and syllabus of the six full-time madrasahs? Inter-faith Dialogue and Hub”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, we know that Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) has taken steps to renew and enhance the quality of religious education in general as well as the quality and performance of full-time madrasah education. This is important, considering that our lives have changed tremendously. Likewise, with the challenges and problems that we face. All communities in the world, especially the urban community like the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore, face challenges to their changing moral values. These challenges can come from various sources - the mass media, their peers, and even the values of their parents. In view of the challenges posed by terrorist activities around the world on inter-racial relations or relations among the followers of the different religions, there arises a need to ensure that the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore, particularly our children, receive an education which not only strengthens their Islamic faith, but also has a positive mindset on the need to strengthen relations with communities of different races and religions. I would like to ask the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, what are the new measures which have been taken to enhance part-time or non-formal religious education. What are the desired outcomes of this religious education? In my opinion, besides nurturing the foundation of faith and knowledge on the teachings of Islam, it should also assist our children in distinguishing between what is right and what is wrong; to be able to intermingle and be tolerant of their friends, including those of different races and religions; to be moderate in thinking and action, to be inquisitive and curious about things, and to love Singapore.”
“Second, this concession was followed by a further reduction of $50 to both the normal and concessionary levy rates on 1st April last year. We will, therefore, not be lowering the levy further for the time being.”
“Since February this year, MOM has also implemented a demerit points system for the industry. This system provides early warning for employment agencies that have breached minor infringements to improve. It also helps the public identify errant agents which flout the Ministry's rules. Third, I now respond to Mr Ong's question on available channels for assistance. While employers and employment agents have to fulfil their responsibilities, the Ministry also believes that foreign domestic workers should be empowered to safeguard their own interests. All foreign domestic workers are therefore given a list of telephone numbers to contact upon entry into Singapore, as well as at the Safety Awareness Course, which is compulsory for first-time foreign domestic workers. These numbers include a dedicated hotline run by MOM to provide assistance to foreign domestic workers in distress. Finally, I would like to address several questions which have arisen on the foreign domestic worker levy during this session as well as in the earlier Budget debate. Sir, the levy serves as a pricing mechanism to moderate the demand for foreign domestic workers. Currently, there are already about 160,000 foreign domestic workers in Singapore, and about one in every six households hires a foreign domestic worker. In recent years, the levy has already been lowered twice. First, on 1st August 2004, as part of the marriage and procreation support package, families with young children and those with elderly parents or grandparents residing in the same household were granted a concessionary levy rate of $250, as compared to the normal levy rate of $345 per month. This concessionary rate applies to both single as well as married employers.”
“First, Mr Ong has asked if rest days could be mandated for these workers, similar to that enjoyed by other workers covered under the Employment Act. Sir, all foreign domestic workers generally work and stay in their employer's house. Their work patterns and duties vary across households. Prescribing minimum employment terms and conditions will inevitably lead to rigidities and inconvenience for many households. For example, some households have elderly or infirm members with special needs who require constant attention, and may find it difficult to release the domestic workers for a prescribed period every week. Nevertheless, MOM agrees that all workers should be accorded adequate rest. As part of the work permit conditions, employers are held responsible for the well-being of their foreign domestic workers, including the provision of adequate rest. Employers who breach these work permit conditions can be fined up to $5,000 or served with a jail term of up to six months. The Ministry also understands that CaseTrust and the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) (AEAS) are looking at introducing a standard employment contract which would include terms on rest days. We understand that the two accreditation bodies are still in discussion on the exact terms. We look forward to the finalisation of this initiative. Second, Mr Ong asked MOM to review the conduct of employment agencies which place foreign domestic workers. Sir, the Ministry has actively prosecuted and removed the licences of errant employment agencies over the past two years. Since January 2004, 13 employment agencies have had their licences revoked or non-renewed due to infringements of the Employment Agencies Act.”
“Employers are already responding to this by providing family care leave or unofficial time-off for employees to look after their aged parents. In addition, annual leave entitlements have been going up. In 2004, 41% of full-time employees enjoyed 15 or more days of annual leave. Ten years ago, the percentage was only 34%. A five-day work week in the civil service and in many parts of the private sector has also helped. I thank Prof. Ong Soh Khim for raising this question. Indeed, we must continue to encourage companies to support their employees who need to care for their elderly parents. However, making eldercare leave an entitlement will affect companies' costs. A stipulated three to five days for eldercare leave may not allow companies flexibility to tailor their leave benefits to the diverse needs of individual employees. In addition to providing adequate leave, employers should try to introduce work-life programmes, including flexible work arrangements. These will help employees balance work and their family responsibilities as well as personal needs. Companies which have done so have found that work-life programmes make business sense, as workers perform better and their productivity increases. In this regard, my Ministry introduced the $10 million Work-life Works! Fund in August 2004 to help companies design and implement work-life programmes. This includes catering to the work-life needs of all employees, including the older workers who may be part of their companies' workforce. To date, the Fund has attracted more than 100 private sector applicants. We hope more companies will tap on the Fund. Let me now turn to the well-being of foreign workers. Mr Ong Ah Heng has passionately raised several points on the employment of foreign domestic workers.”
“Sir, the debate in this House has centred on skills upgrading, employability, employment practices and workplace safety thus far. Apart from these, we must continue to protect the interests and well-being of our workforce. Our unions serve an important role in this regard. I am pleased that Dr Tan Sze Wee has asked for an update on the unionisation rate of workers in Singapore. Over the past 10 years, from 1996 onwards, the total number of "unionisable" employees has grown from 1.2 to 1.5 million. Union membership increased from 255,000 in 1996 to 450,000 in 2005. As a result, the unionisation rate rose markedly from 21% in 1996 to 30% in 2005. Our rising unionisation rate bucks the global trend where union membership in many countries has been declining. I believe this bears testimony to the ability of our labour movement to stay relevant. Our labour movement under NTUC has been a constructive partner. It has made significant contributions to our harmonious industrial relations climate, economic growth, and to enhancing the well-being of workers. Our unions have worked closely with employers and the Government to help workers upgrade their skills, enhance their employability, and improve their employment terms based on higher productivity. The labour movement has also set up various workers' co-operatives and introduced a wide range of programmes and activities for workers. All these various efforts have pulled in more members, further affirming the achievements of our labour movement. We should applaud the excellent work of NTUC. Mr Chairman, Sir, I move next to the issue of leave entitlement, which is an integral part of employment benefits. We recognise that, as our population ages, employees will need more support to take care of their elderly dependants.”
“Sir, I thank Mdm Ho for her contributions. Yes, we do track this issue in schools. But, today, I would like to assure Members that there is no disturbing trend among the students. In 2005, 30 and 65 students were caught gambling in primary and secondary schools respectively. MOE will continue to monitor this issue. We are working very closely with MCYS to ensure that these programmes and training for teachers can be conducted to ensure that we can address this issue, should this become a problem. University Fees”
“Sir, I thank Ms Olsen for her suggestion. I am pleased to tell Ms Olsen and Members that we are actually doing this in schools. Schools are already engaging a lot of excellent partners to help explain to students the issues of sexuality and the problems arising from relationships. Of course, we tailor different approaches to different groups of students to address their different interest or maturity.”
“MOE will work with educational and community partners, including the CDCs, to provide training on areas such as multi-cultural studies, facilitating conversations on racial harmony and understanding racial and religious practices and taboos. In conclusion, MOE takes a multi-pronged approach to promoting racial harmony. However, bringing about racial understanding and harmony is ultimately a nation-wide effort. Schools simply cannot do this on their own. But, as one of the first platforms through which students will have the opportunity to interact with and get to know students of different races, we recognise and acknowledge the key role that our schools must play in this effort.”
“One of our initiatives will be to encourage students to try traditionally ethnic-based activities such as Chinese Orchestra, Malay Dance and Indian Dance. A Malay student in my constituency attending Marsiling Secondary School is playing the erhu and he is now in Marsiling Constituency Orchestra, the only Malay boy among 120 or so Chinese youths who are members of the orchestra. This is something that we should always encourage. Second, our SAP schools are aware of their responsibility to ensure that their students have the opportunities to interact with students of other races, and already do much in this regard. Since 2004, Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) has had a joint cultural activities programme with Westspring Secondary School (WSS). HCI students meet West Spring Secondary students once a fortnight for six months and have a camp during the June holidays. These students have taught each other activities ranging from Dikir Barat to Wushu. Since 2002, St Nicholas Girls' Primary School has had an annual one-day camp with Malay students from Admiralty Primary School, with the Admiralty students teaching them Malay phrases and dance. Looking ahead, MOE will encourage a more structured and sustained approach, with the SAP schools having at least one partner school with students from a different ethnic group. Third, MOE will further engage stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers and the community. Schools will identify suitable students and parents to act as Racial Harmony Ambassadors to initiate programmes for their peers and to take joint ownership of this issue. We will also be further deepening school leaders and teachers' understanding of cultural issues and sensitivities.”
“Hence, we encourage students of different races to work and play together. Schools provide such opportunities through CCAs, CIP, project work, camps and overseas trips. For instance, Jurong JC sent 170 students to the recent Thaipusam Festival to be road marshals. Joint activities between schools also provide a good platform for students of different races to interact. I am also pleased to inform Members that we are providing more opportunities for students to learn non-native Mother Tongue Languages. Starting from 2007, we will no longer impose the academic eligibility criteria for students to offer the non-native Mother Tongue Languages as a third language. An increasing number of schools have also been conducting conversational non-native Mother Tongue language lessons. While only seven schools offered conversational Malay in 2002, 60 schools do so on a regular basis today. Thirty-seven schools offer conversational Mandarin on a regular basis. I visited Tampines Secondary School last year, where non-Chinese students are taught conversational Mandarin and non-Malay students are taught conversational Malay. Lower secondary students attend one period of such lessons every two weeks. In the classroom of Malay students I saw learning Mandarin, students were alert and very excited about learning new phrases which are very commonly used by their friends. This is something that we can encourage schools to do more. These are excellent opportunities for students to gain access to the cultures of other races, and enlarge our common space. To take racial harmony to the next level, MOE will encourage a more widespread adoption of these activities, and provide more opportunities for students to get to know one another better.”
“In this regard, schools may include as school-based CCA activities with organisations that fulfil this idea of service learning. This could include grassroots organisations. Mr Yeo also wanted clarification on whether students have full freedom to choose their CCAs. I would like to assure Mr Yeo that this is very much the case. Students are free to indicate and try out the CCAs of their choice. Of course, this is subject to the availability of places in some cases. In other cases, there might be selection involved, for instance, onto the school's competitive basketball or soccer team, and not all students that want to join can get in. I would like to emphasise that it is very much the wish of MOE for students to pursue their interests through CCAs. On top of the comprehensive range of CCAs already provided in schools, students can also initiate other CCAs that they would like to see. This scheme was started in 2004 and, to-date, has been implemented by at least 88 schools. On racial integration and understanding, we cannot agree more with Mr Ong Ah Heng on the importance of ensuring that our students understand one another's cultures and religions. Recent world events have given us a sober reminder of the paramount importance that we must place on racial harmony and understanding. At the same time, MOE is fully aware that true understanding will not take place in a forced and unnatural manner. MOE's approach is to infuse the importance of mutual understanding and respect through the formal and informal curricula, and provide opportunities for students of different races to interact. Additionally, we look for teachable moments in everyday life. Racial harmony and understanding that is sustainable can only take place in this manner.”
“I am sure that not all other organisations maintain their canteens so seriously. The School Tuckshop Committee monitors the quality of food in the tuckshop to ensure that it meets the health and nutritional standards of the Health Promotion Board, and that the tuckshop maintains a high standard of hygiene. The Committee also monitors the prices. Annual surveys have shown that prices at school tuckshops remain reasonable. In addition, I would like to clarify that 82% of our schools do not tender out the tuckshop operation. Mr Chiam See Tong is concerned about a bus bay at Potong Pasir. He asked us to persuade LTA to allow a loading/pick-up bay at Potong Pasir to be used as a bus stop. We agree that the safety of our students is of primary importance, and we take this very seriously. MOE will forward this suggestion to LTA, the competent authority on the siting of bus-stops. In the interim, we will consult LTA should any issue arise for the students of St Andrew's Junior College with this arrangement. On CCAs, Mr Ang Mong Seng requested MOE to consider letting students serve on grassroots organisations as co-curricular activities, or CCAs. I am pleased to inform Mr Ang that the Ministry allows our students to do so. Students' involvement in community-based activities, including appropriate grassroots activities, is recognised as participation in a CCA if schools approve it. To ensure that students choose such activities with thought, students are required to work out formal proposals with their partner organisations. We also hope to bring about the concept of service learning in our students. Part of this is through the Community Involvement Programme (CIP), and part of this is through CCAs.”
“Sir, on student well-being, I would like to address Mr Yeo Guat Kwang's queries. Schools have to decide for themselves the most appropriate starting time. There are many local factors that schools are best placed to balance, such as the scheduling of the curricular and co-curricular time-tables and traffic conditions at different times. Mr Yeo would be pleased to know that with the move towards some single-session schools, some of our schools have implemented later starting times after consultation with stakeholders, although others have also kept to the same starting time after feedback from stakeholders. 46 of our schools also start after 7.45 am now. MOE has not done any studies on how much sleep students get. I think this is something that generally we all can have more of. However, may I offer two simple pieces of advice. First, to get adequate rest for students, they should go to bed at a reasonable time at night, and this must be supervised by parents. Second, in choosing schools, parents might also wish to consider the distance of the school from their home if this is a serious concern. On football fields, Mr Yeo asked about the use of school fields during the weekend. Fifty schools allow the public to use their fields during the weekend as part of the Singapore Sports Council's Dual Use Scheme. In addition, another 90 schools have arrangements with community groups such as football clubs, constituency clubs and alumni groups to allow them to use the school fields. 1.30 pm Members may be pleased to know that every school has a School Tuckshop Committee that is chaired by the Principal, whether the tuckshop operation is tendered out or not. This is a very good thing to see in our schools.”
“The "Growing Years Series" is meant for students in primary and secondary schools as well as junior college/pre-university level. Tertiary institutions customise their sexuality education programmes in accordance with the needs of their students. Although parents can opt out of the "Growing Years Series", less than 1% of parents have done so. This suggests that parents and students have found this programme useful. Moving forward, MOE intends to ensure that the "Growing Years Series" maintains its relevance and is engaging and useful. MOE will encourage schools to adopt an even more customised approach. We recognise that different groups of students might have different needs with regard to sexuality education -this is a point which Ms Olsen talked about. Having smaller group discussions, for instance, will allow teachers to reach out differently to different groups of students, and use different approaches in discussing the same issues. Currently, sexuality education is taught only by selected and trained teachers. MOE will additionally strengthen their training. We will ensure that such teachers are more regularly updated on matters concerning teenage sexuality. There will be a greater emphasis on how teachers should deliver information and advice on this delicate topic to their young students. Are schools equipped to educate students on sexuality matters? I would say that MOE ensures that students obtain the best possible foundation from the school environment that allows them to later make informed choices about their relationships. But it is important that parents also play an equally active role in such efforts, reinforcing and customising sexuality education for their children based on their respective family values.”
“The emphasis of the programme is ensuring that students have the knowledge and ability to make responsible, informed choices, a point that Ms Olsen alluded to. It is premised on the importance of the family as the unit of society - an objective, a vision that we still hold to - which is a sensible approach that acknowledges the nature of our society. Through the formal curriculum as well as the co-curricular programme, the "Growing Years Series", schools provide students with the knowledge that they need to make responsible decisions about relationships. The "Growing Years Series" discusses the consequences of teenage sexual activity, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. As a realistic approach to dealing with these issues, the Science curriculum at secondary school also provides information on contraception as a means of prevention against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and this is taught at Secondary 2 level. Beyond hard facts, the programme also provides the context in which sexuality matters should be viewed - what it means to be in a relationship; what it means to build a family; what it means to be responsible to your loved ones. In addition, schools provide students with the necessary life-skills to be able to make responsible decisions. To augment their resources, schools have the autonomy to bring in relevant resources, including the Health Promotion Board or other external agencies. I would like to assure Members that guidelines have been provided to schools to help them screen external agencies. We are a secular nation. MOE ensures that all messages on sexuality matters that are transmitted through our schools are likewise secular and sensitive to our multi-religious make-up.”
“To spearhead these efforts, MOE has set up working committees for the implementation of the new Malay and Tamil Language curriculum and pedagogy. The committees will also implement new initiatives for assessment, examinations and teacher training. Key initiatives would include opening up more space for classroom discussion, giving greater emphasis to assignments that require deeper thinking, and providing differentiated instruction to cater to students from different backgrounds and of different abilities. There will also be more focus on oral communication skills. Such initiatives will provide a richer classroom experience. MOE will implement the new Malay and Tamil curriculum at Primary 1 to Primary 4, starting from 2008. Sir, on sexuality education, Mr Ong Ah Heng and Ms Eunice Olsen asked about the effectiveness of the sexuality education programme in our schools. Sexuality matters have become increasingly complicated in a rapidly changing world with evolving mores. We all recognise this. Why adolescents indulge in sexual behaviour that results in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases is a complex issue. Lack of family support, low self-esteem and lack of understanding about the responsibilities in relationships are among the contributing factors. Many forces, including the influence of the family and media, contribute to shaping the attitudes of teenagers towards sexuality - rightly or wrongly. To tackle these issues, I cannot stress enough the necessity of parents, the community and the media also playing their part to inculcate sound values in our children. What is MOE's approach to sexuality education? Sir, sexuality education is provided for all students in our schools.”
“In February 2006, MOE set up the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee, chaired by myself, and the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee, chaired by Mr S Iswaran, Deputy Speaker of Parliament. The terms of reference are precisely to collaborate with Malay and Tamil communities to organise activities to promote the teaching and learning of these languages. The role of these Committees is also to win support from the communities to pursue these goals. The two Committees will therefore work with Malay and Tamil community organisations, institutes of higher learning, the media, parents as well as schools. The mandate will be to collaboratively organise language, literature and cultural activities to expand the space in which Malay and Tamil are used in our daily lives. The organisation of these activities is aimed at supporting and complementing the present efforts of the Malay and Tamil communities to promote these languages. So the two committees are not to supplement the existing efforts by the communities. We hope that they will provide momentum for language, literary and cultural groups to come together in a sustained and focused effort to promote the living and daily use of Malay and Tamil. If, through these activities, we are able to infuse in Malay and Tamil Singaporeans a sense of excitement about the role of these languages in their daily lives, I am confident that this would be the most successful type of "movement" that Mr Zainudin talked about. Indeed, we need all the collaborative efforts of the whole community to support the use of the Mother tongues. Sir, on the teaching of the Malay and Tamil languages, Mr Ong Ah Heng sought updates on the review of the teaching and learning of these two Mother tongues.”