Ng Chee Meng
Singapore
“I note the intent of the OJT and agree with the objectives behind the proposal, and it will be studied, considered in our NTUC's work, even as we chart possibilities in career counselling for the youths, and do possible pathways to innovate with the IHLs in career guidance and matches into internship and other possibilities.”
“I began this speech with the questions on many workers' minds: how can I take part in the AI growth and benefit from it? How can I translate into fair opportunities for me? Singapore has invested much in education and the skills of our workforce.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Government for responding to NTUC's and our Platform Work Association's calls to support sectors most affected by the recent fuel price increases. The measures announced for platform drivers and riders will go some way in easing the pressures on their livelihoods. I have two clarifications.”
“Family members who have mental health conditions or degenerative diseases, such as dementia, which is becoming more common, who may require high supervision but may not necessarily qualify for the three ADL criteria today. Preventive Healthcare in the Community”
“However, there is one group that I am particularly concerned about – the 13,000 or so who are out of the workforce to care for their elderly. I note from MOM's data that this group is largely female, single, 50 and above, non-tertiary educated and do not have any or any recent work experience. We think that there is scope to do more.”
“Chairman, our young graduates are entering the workforce at a time in a disrupted age. AI is becoming more advanced, even at entry-level tasks. And throughout their careers, they will need to adapt and pivot several times, as the pace of change and skills obsolescence increases.”
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“To do so, the Labour Movement will work to set up Training Committees with our partnering companies. These committees, made up of management and union leaders, will work together to articulate what Worker 4.0 looks like for the company, and partner management in the transformation towards Industry 4.0. Some of our companies have already started. PSA, of course, is amongst a group of around 10 companies in various sectors working with our unions on their Training Committees. For example, in the aviation and aerospace cluster, we have SIA Engineering Company, ST Aerospace, SATS; in energy, we have the Singapore Power (SP) Group; in transport, we have the Singapore Bus Services Transit (SBST), Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) and so on. In the past, we also have companies that work with unions on training and wage increments to support the implementation of PWM. This provides a ready infrastructure for us to push Industry 4.0 and Worker 4.0 outcomes within these companies as well. These Training Committees may have different sounding names and structures. But more importantly, I am concerned about the outcomes and not the form. Whichever the form they may come in, what they have in common is that management and union must sit down together to discuss, plan and execute these very important training programmes for workers. They must share information in a way that facilitates this mutually beneficial initiative. Training Committees harness workers’ expertise to support companies’ business development and investments. Union leaders, by the nature of their work, have a deep understanding of the factory floor and intimate knowledge of ground worker readiness and realities.”
“When Members get their hands on the pamphlet, you will see that this is a simplified example of what the archetype for Port Engineering Professional 4.0 looks like – the current version, what is the 4.0 version, the skills gap, and the necessary and required training for them to upgrade. Our intention is to help our workers visualise the potential of Industry 4.0, for the companies and for themselves, for their careers. As part of this study, PSA officers worked with the Port Officers' Union to develop training programmes for Port Engineering Professional 4.0. When Minister Heng Swee Keat visited PSA over the Lunar New Year period, he may have noticed some automation projects which were on trial. Automation is an important area of productivity growth for PSA in the intense arena of competition for Ports. One of our Union members and a Senior Mechanical Engineer at PSA, Brother Ng Hwee Sheng, has completed a one-year Systems Engineering course at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). With his newly acquired skillsets, he now takes on a larger role managing various automated and intelligent systems. This is part of PSA's scheme in upskilling and multiskilling their PMEs to be more agile and adaptive to keep value-adding in the long run. With a better vision of Worker 4.0, and examples of fellow workers that have achieved it, we want our workers to make it real for themselves, to know that it is doable that they must take personal responsibility for it. Many colleagues in the Chamber today have called for workers' upskilling and upgrading. As the Secretary General, I am very grateful for the support this Chamber has for the workers, including Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Ms Foo Mee Har, for standing in support of workers' training. NTUC will act to scale this effort.”
“Some of our very own workers in Singapore also feel threatened by the unknown and some of the fear mongering online. But we, in Singapore, cannot reject technology. Technology allows us, especially in our context, to overcome many of our labour shortage constraints and, if applied intelligently, businesses can be more productive and able to seize many emerging opportunities and create wealth. In the past few months, we worked with companies and sector agencies on a study to produce archetypes of Worker 4.0 in different industries. Why? We want workers to be able to benefit from this transformation and be assured that this is, indeed, the best for them. Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, may I ask the Clerks to distribute a handout to illustrate this Worker 4.0?”
“As of December 2018, the IGP has benefited more than 91,000 workers from 2,000 companies across various sectors: security guards, cleaners, F&B service staff, and hotel service staff. In the past five years, the average wage increase per project was around 13%. The successful demonstration of sustainable, productivity-driven wage increases also facilitated the eventual legislation of PWM for lower-income sectors. These successes were possible because union leaders and our industrial relations officers acted as critical catalysts. They worked the ground, company by company, to understand specific business needs and operational process details. They persuaded management that innovation and worker training would be good for business and encouraged their fellow workers also to participate in this upstream work to support the successes of their bosses so that, in turn, they can get better pay. The Labour Movement looks forward to a productive partnership with MTI and ESG on the EDG. Mr Deputy Speaker, I will now talk about how we can best help workers in securing good employment prospects in our rapidly transforming economy. The Labour Movement must act on the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, as mentioned by Minister Heng Swee Keat. For Industry 4.0 to be actualised, we need our workers to transform in parallel with their companies and industries because there can be no Industry 4.0 without the workers. These workers, what we have called and termed "Worker 4.0", go hand in hand with Industry 4.0. Many workers in countries overseas reject technology. They fear it, they do not understand it, and they are worried that technology will take away their rice bowl.”
“In this regard, I agree with the Minister for Finance that a company's leadership is key. So, when the boss of a company is ready to seize new opportunities through technology, NTUC wants to partner you and wants to facilitate with the necessary worker training and upskilling. With the economy transforming rapidly, if we are to help our workers upskill effectively, NTUC and our unions must now move upstream to participate in Government and industry-led transformation. This is why NTUC strongly welcomes the impending changes to the terms of ESG's EDG. For funding to be approved, a company must demonstrate how such initiatives not only benefit the business, but also provide positive worker outcomes. NTUC and our union leaders are eager to share our experience and expertise with our tripartite partners in ensuring that these outcomes are achieved. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] I will cite a simple example of what we have done for almost 10 years. NTUC's e2i launched the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) in 2010 as NTUC's advocacy for low-wage workers. The programme provides funding for companies' productivity initiatives that translate into actual workers' wage increments. Brother Norizal bin Zainal, a security supervisor at Temasek Polytechnic, benefited from this. He took part in a project that was looking to allow officers to update information to supervisors through their handphones. This gives security supervisors more mobility and they were able to up their productivity. As a consequence, he enjoyed a $100 increment to his basic salary as a result. Some may think that $100 a month is not so significant an amount, but to many of our workers, this matters a lot.”
“Mr Speaker, this is both the necessary thing to do for our economy, and the right thing to do for our society. Our changing demographics mean a tighter labour force in the future and, with limited manpower growth, Every Worker Matters. Each worker's skills, knowledge, experience, contribute to our human capital. Our economy can only be at its best when all our workers are performing to their potential and are rewarded fairly for their productivity. Having said that, the Minister for Finance has shared an encouraging statistic – productivity has increased 3.6% in the past three years. This is testament to the efforts of the tripartite stakeholders – the Government, businesses and our workers. But even as we have done well, the Labour Movement cannot rest and must look ahead. At these moments of rapid economic change and disruption, I am glad that there are also many new opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans. NTUC will partner our tripartite partners to enable our businesses to seize new opportunities and create wealth, so that our workers can aspire to what we, in the Labour Movement call, the 3Ws: better wages, better welfare and better work prospects. At the same time, the Labour Movement is cognisant that some workers in Singapore will feel dislocated by the rapid changes. NTUC will and must always and will do our best to support these workers to keep up. Let me elaborate on how we will manage and balance these multiple objectives. The heart of the Labour Movement's purpose is for our workers to earn and secure a fair wage. This allows them and their families to keep up with the cost of living, save and flourish. We have no illusions that workers can do well if businesses do not do well. Thriving businesses are good for workers.”
“Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance has announced a Budget of $80 billion that is both pro-business and pro-worker. In particular, Minister Heng Swee Keat paid close attention to workers, not just workers in the generic sense, but workers as real people – the elderly, the unemployed, lower-income workers, even our youths, who represent the future workforce. Feedback from our workers on the Budget has been positive. The MGP, WIS enhancements and other forms of support reflect a more "caring and inclusive" society. They appreciate what the Government is doing for them. However, some middle-class workers pointed out that they did not feel the benefits as strongly. Some also noted that notwithstanding the disbursements, structural rises in costs of living – water, diesel tax, carbon tax and the eventual Goods and Services Tax (GST) rise – would ultimately be passed on to the end users. Some of our workers also wanted to clarify that disbursements, such as the MGP, would not burden future Governments or the workforce. I thought these were very insightful feedback from our workers. In short, the Labour Movement appreciates the direction of our Government and, as Secretary-General of NTUC, I urge the Government to continue to put workers at the heart of all we do. NTUC Labour Members and many other colleagues in the Chamber today have placed workers at the heart of our debate speeches. They have each addressed the various segments of our workforce and the issues they face, whether it is the elderly workers, low-income workers, workplace safety issues, balancing family with work, training and progression, all segments of the workforce, including freelancers and PMEs. Our vision and purpose in NTUC are a simple one. It is about doing the best we can for every worker.”
“Help will always be available to those who need it, whether for employment, housing or education. Those who have done better should reach out to the less fortunate. In our Singapore, no one, no one should be left behind. We hear you; we are with you; and together, we can make it real for Singapore, and for all our working people. [Applause.]”
“Workers want to change but they do not know what to do next: what skills do I lack? With so many training courses, which one is suitable for me? I need to work and look after my family at the same time, how do I find the time and energy to go for training courses? NTUC will strengthen our efforts to help our workers. We have set up the Training Council to turn training roadmaps into training programmes which will benefit our workers. We will design and introduce courses that are suitable for our workers, encourage employers to support their employees to undergo training, and introduce bite-sized modular courses which will allow our workers to acquire new knowledge anytime, anywhere. The economy changes, businesses transform, workers adapt. No matter how things change, our ultimate goal and outcome must be better jobs and lives for our workers, and a brighter future for our people. (In English): My Speaker, we need to take better care of our low-wage workers, our middle-aged/middle-income workers, as well as our mature workers. The cost of housing, healthcare and education will be monitored closely. The Government will continue to find ways to do more and do better in helping Singaporeans improve their lives. But needless to say, solutions are only possible if employers, workers and Government work together. It is critical that our businesses take the lead and do the right thing, that when our workers do their best, remember to share the gains with their workers and give them what is fairly theirs when their businesses thrive. It is imperative that we have a workforce that is competent and able to stay relevant. We must continue to close social gaps by addressing the struggles of all our working people, especially the sandwich middle class and lower-income workers.”
“With this outcome, workers can look forward to better jobs and future wage increases. We need to stay relevant by making lifelong learning a habit. The concept of lifelong learning is not new. The Chinese saying of “活到老, 学到老” is a teaching dating back thousands of years. By embracing lifelong learning and making it a habit, we will be better prepared for future challenges. There will always be challenges along the way and even hardship. But if we work smart and stay ahead of the curve, we will find solutions, progress and forge a better living for ourselves. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: Globalisation, the use of technology and digitalisation, all these changes impact not only our businesses but our workers as well. Over the last two years, the Government has launched 23 ITMs to help businesses transform and enhance capabilities to seize future opportunities. The next phase will be the implementation and operationalisation of these ITMs. Our economy, businesses and jobs are undergoing transformation. Our workers will have to transform, too. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is helping our workers to do so by simplifying the complex and making the tough easy for them. The information in the ITMs is comprehensive. There are macro-level policies to achieve long-term goals, strategies to deal with future challenges and a list of future opportunities. The information is too complex and high level for many workers. We must simplify and personalise it for them. What our workers want to know are: will I be affected? How will I be affected? Will I lose my job? Are there better jobs for me? After we help our workers understand how the changes will impact them, the next step is to help them adapt accordingly.”
“This is because some of their skillsets are diminishing in demand, or they lack the opportunities to progress. There are currently several Government schemes outlined for this group of middle-income workers. However, similar to mature workers, the entrenched mindset against hiring middle-aged workers is worrying. The Labour Movement will need more support from the Government and business leaders to redesign jobs, encourage our workers to upskill, stay relevant so that they can progress in their careers. We will continue to look into career-matching programmes, programmes to change employers' and workers’ mindsets; and for the displaced middle-aged workers, work towards giving them a second chance at employment. As Minister Josephine Teo and I chatted, she told me that employers want “plug and play” workers, but the reality is that workers need to “plug, train and then play”. Beyond addressing the current concerns, we also want to help all working people seize opportunities that the future will bring. Hence, I would like to touch on the ITMs. The best way forward for the Labour Movement is to operationalise the ITMs and continue to work with the tripartite partners to translate these ITMs into tangible outcomes. We need to make ITMs real for all our working people, whether it is a professional, manager or executive (PME) in the financial sector or the worker on the shop floor, by distilling the ITMs into actionable, purposeful training programmes for them. For example, in the aviation sector where I had interaction when I was in the Ministry of Transport, SIA Engineering, together with union representatives, are empowering 3,000 workers with the skills to handle technology in maintenance operations, including real-time data to facilitate more productive work.”
“In another conversation, this time with teachers from the Singapore Teachers’ Union, they told me they welcomed the Retirement and Re-employment Act that we passed in this Chamber last year. This Act extended the re-employment age to 67. However, being part of the Baby Boomer generation, they also wondered if they could be better protected with more assured terms of employment. Many union leaders have very similar concerns. They cited that we can legislate retirement and re-employment ages but, on the ground, we cannot legislate mindsets. The real question here, therefore, is whether employers are willing to employ senior workers instead of having the fixed mindset that these workers are a burden, more expensive and untrainable. Union leaders and I are worried for this group of workers. For many of them, the job is essential. Just like us, they have expenses, mortgages and dependants relying on them. Tapping on WorkPro, the Labour Movement continues to work with companies to implement age-management policies and practices and redesign their workplaces. In addition, through the Special Employment Credit, the Government subsidises employers the net cost of employing mature workers. We should empower the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) to look into this area of concern and do more. Furthermore, I propose to set up a new Tripartite Committee to provide better support for our ageing workforce and help our mature workers to continue working if they choose to. The third group I would like to talk about are the middle-aged/middle-income workers. They may be currently employed, but their earnings are just sufficient to meet their needs and their income growth is not high.”
“Collectively, these efforts by the tripartite partners have moved wages up for over 70,000 workers. From 2011 to 2016, the real median gross wages of these workers grew by up to 6.4% per annum. The PWM has done much to alleviate hardship of low-wage workers in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. However, there are other sectors with low wage growth. For them, I propose that we expand the use of the Inclusive Growth Programme and find pathways forward to support more workers. We will work with the Government for better support and prevent them from stagnating. We must also take care of the freelancers, such as food delivery riders, the self-employed, part-timers, people in the creative field and other forms of freelance work. With this emerging form of project-based employment, we should ensure that our independent workers enjoy CPF protection, medical coverage and skills development. I note that the Tripartite Workgroup for Freelancers and Self-employed is currently working in this area, and we are keenly watching their progress. Another group of workers that I am concerned about is our mature workers. Recently, I chatted with two uncles, both of whom are 75 years old, at the curbside in Changi Airport Terminal 2. These uncles were working as porters. They were sprightly and fit, and while they chatted with me, they told me that they appreciated that they could still contribute, work and earn a living. So, on one hand, I was happy to see them healthy and active but, on the other, I wonder if provisions for their retirement are adequate when they are no longer fit to work or when they finally choose to retire.”
“Singaporeans now have longer life expectancy and the issue of retirement adequacy will become more and more pressing. Your concerns are our concerns as well. It is reasonable for Singaporeans who are working hard to have such concerns. So, how do we address them? How do we ensure we uphold the principles of meritocracy and equality that have brought Singapore to where we are today? The Labour Movement believes that the best way to improve the lives of our workers is gainful employment, in good jobs and good wages. We need employers to maintain a nimble mindset and workers to help themselves by upgrading their work skills. Both employees and employers must stay relevant in the evolving business environment. This is the best solution because wages can only increase with productivity gains. Real wage increase is necessary to keep up with inflation to cope with the cost of living. Weishen Industrial Services, a cleaning company, is an example. The company embarked on the Inclusive Growth Programme and was able to exploit driverless ecobot technology. The employers deployed this new technology and were able to redeploy their employees to higher value roles with corresponding higher pay. The company became profitable and more productive. A good win-win outcome resulted. But I know workers on the ground have experienced growth differently: some have done a little better, others have progressed a little slower. This is the reality when technology disrupts businesses. While we push to transform, I am particularly concerned with three groups of workers. First, our low-wage workers. Back in June 2012, the Labour Movement under former Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, mooted the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for the cleaning, security and landscape sectors.”
“But in this short time that I have joined the Labour Movement, there are concerns on the ground. And I would now like to touch on some of these concerns. Workers are worried about making ends meet. There are worries about buying a home, their retirement savings, healthcare costs and having enough for their children’s education. They sometimes feel that no matter how hard they work, these needs may not always be adequately addressed. These concerns are all about the rising cost of living. In a conversation I had with a very close relative, he pointed out to me that coffee prices have been increasing and are set to increase again. He said that while the price increase may only be 10 cents, the number of increases has been too often and these expenses have added up over time. Union leaders on the ground often share similar concerns as well. They are on the shop floor and daily expenses are always on the radar screen of our workers. Many older Singaporeans are worried about rising healthcare costs. The Government has introduced numerous policies like the 3M framework of MediSave, MediShield Life and MediFund to assist Singaporeans in their healthcare needs. Nevertheless, Singaporeans still have concerns and I can understand their anxieties. For our workers, retirement adequacy is another anxiety. They are worried that their Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings will not be enough for them to enjoy the quality of life they seek once they stop working. More crucially, if they lose their jobs unexpectedly before retirement, will they have enough savings? Can they be assured that if they work hard, save and contribute to their CPF savings, their basic needs of housing, children’s education, healthcare and retirement will continue to be taken care of?”
“Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. We are all well aware that the world is undergoing unprecedented rapid technological changes. No country or market is spared. The fast pace of change is having a major impact on how we work and earn a living. For Singapore to be competitive in this new arena, we need to be hungry. Businesses will need to transform, our towkays will need to change their mindsets, and our workers will need to be eager to learn, to upskill and continually upgrade. These critical strategies have been mentioned numerous times, but we are not acting on it fast enough. We need to improve our workers’ productivity and employability skills. Companies and workers must embark on this transformation journey now. The Labour Movement will push the transformation agenda by working even closer with the Government and businesses, and this is how the Labour Movement will be here to assist. The tripartite partners have collaborated extensively on the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) for the 23 sectors. We are now into operationalising these maps. The Labour Movement will fully support employers in the transformation of their businesses because it will ultimately benefit our workers. Businesses will have to play a leadership role by leveraging technologies to transform their businesses. Our workers must support businesses by working smarter and becoming more productive. The Labour Movement will support workers who are willing to improve and upskill. Currently, we have high employment and our workers have enjoyed real income growth over the years. In fact, the median income has risen almost 22% in the last five years. So, when businesses do well, our workers will benefit, have better wages and higher quality of living.”
“At the O Level, the proportion of Chinese language students offering Higher Chinese has increased by about 4% over the past decade, to 30% last year. The proportion for Higher Tamil has increased over the same period from 19% to 30%. For Higher Malay, the proportion has hovered at around 11%. At PSLE, the proportion of students offering Higher Chinese and Higher Tamil has held steady at about 27% and 21% respectively. The proportion of students offering Higher Malay has reduced by about 4% over the past decade, to about 5% in 2017. MOE has reviewed the criteria to offer Higher Mother Tongue at O Level in 2004, broadening access to beyond the top 10% of the cohort. Schools also have the discretion to allow any student to take up the subject if he or she demonstrates the passion and competency in Mother Tongue Language. This has led to the general increase in the proportion of students offering Higher Mother Tongue. However, there are also concerns from schools and parents on whether students can cope with too many subjects. MOE is working with schools to support students with the ability and interest in their Mother Tongues to continue to pursue it to as high a level as they can.”
“And, therefore, Mr Deputy Speaker, may I conclude that, with this Bill, we will have the levers to support the air hub in growing from strength to strength so that it continues to remain a success factor for Singapore and bring benefits for Singapore and Singaporeans. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Ng Chee Meng]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“If you look at the whole MOT, we will encourage greater use of public transport. There will be an MRT line straight to Terminal 5. We hope to increase the public mode share of passengers to Changi Airport Terminal 5. And beyond this, we have put in place a vehicular emission regime for vehicles in Singapore, a new regime that raises the standards and minimises air pollution. We are already experimenting and promoting the use of electric cars on our roads. All these measures combined will, hopefully, dampen any increase in air pollution due to the new roads that may be leading up to Terminal 5. But, ultimately, the Government's position is to go car-lite. We have limited the growth of cars and other vehicles and, for car growth, it is down to zero now. So, we do take this very, very seriously and we continue to monitor the amount of pollution arising from these new roads in the future. Mr Dennis Tan mentioned about the security issues with the RSAF. The third runway is not a new runway and operations between the Singapore Airforce and the Civil Aviation Authority have been ongoing for many, many years. Paya Lebar today is still a co-use airport even though it is hardly ever visited by civilian airliners. But Paya Lebar is ready for civilian diversions. Measures have been in place for many, many years to deal with civilian and military co-use. In fact, in Changi East, Runway Three used to be the military runway. For now, the airforce has moved out temporarily. In time to come, they will have to co-use the facilities again. The measures and the SOPs taken – I probably would not be at liberty to discuss here – have been in place for many years. With that, I think I have addressed most of the questions from Members.”
“For example, the maximum quantum of $100,000 would wipe out any profits from abusing any slots to operate a flight. Mr Dennis Tan spoke extensively about the pollution issues. Let me try to address the five different questions as best as I can. On air pollution, I think this is why the Singapore Government has embarked on this Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) on a voluntary basis. We want to make sure that the aviation system is sustainable. So, together with the noise pollution that the Member mentioned, we have not done a study on air or noise pollution, but, from my own experience, the aircraft that come into Changi have newer technologies, newer engines. So, the pollution index is lower, the noise index is also lower. Furthermore, because of our urban planning, Changi Airport is situated to the east of Singapore, away from the populace. That is a design that has served us very well for the last 40 to 50 years – moving from Paya Lebar to Changi. So, the noise that aircraft bring in the dead of night is a lot lower and, as far as I remember, it does not impact the environment, in terms of noise, for residents in the east side. The improvement of aircraft technology, basically the engines, will further allow us to have a sustainable regime for the air aviation industry to grow. So, beyond Singapore, internationally, aircraft engine standards in terms of air pollution and noise pollution are being enhanced each and every time new engines come online. We will consider Mr Dennis Tan's proposal if we should do a study, especially on air pollution. For the pollution of vehicular support to the airport, there are various measures we take beyond the airport system.”
“This will help to cushion the transitional impact on airlines and their business operations. Details are still being worked out. Mr Zaqy Mohamad also rightly pointed out that the aviation industry is very volatile, easily susceptible to external shocks. Hence, we must have in place a robust system that can provide for the long-term financial sustainability of the aviation system. Specifically, Mr Zaqy Mohamad also spoke about the deployment of the reserve fund. Indeed, the reserve fund will act as a buffer against significant shocks, such as a downturn in the economy, or a global pandemic, as I mentioned earlier, such as a SARS outbreak. When the SARS outbreak actually happened, CAAS, the airport operator then, introduced a temporary rebate in landing charges. This helped our airline partners tide over the challenging operating environment and ensured that the Changi air hub remained resilient. The reserve fund aims to serve a similar purpose, to help our airport partners, which include airlines and also ground-handling agents, during these potentially difficult periods and to position them for recovery. This will then minimise the impact on businesses and workers in the aviation sector. Beyond support for our airport partners, we are also strengthening our aviation system by optimising the use of airport resources and improving operational efficiency. Mr Zaqy Mohamad spoke about the new airport capacity management scheme and asked how the new scheme would enable more efficient use of the airport. As traffic through Changi Airport increases, slot misuse will place a heavy strain on our aviation system. The proposed scheme in the Bill will have a strong deterrent effect against deliberate and repeated slot misuse by airlines.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Members for their general support of the Bill and speaking on the Bill. The amendments proposed in this Bill will ensure that our aviation sector remains robust and secure so that it will continue to grow and, in turn, support Singapore's growth. We have embarked on the Changi East project to position our airport decisively for the future. It is a large-scale and complex project, as I have said, to increase our capacity by 60% in the first phase, as Mr Dennis Tan had mentioned. First, Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked about the industry's feedback on the Airport Development Levy (ADL). The last question by Mr Dennis Tan alluded to the ADL as well. Let me try to explain the issues. Our priority was, first, to set the ADL rates at a level that is competitive against other hub airports which have implemented similar charges for airport expansion. We also took into account our strategies for air hub competitiveness. In deciding on the final quantum, we had taken into account the industry's feedback and suggestion for lower rates. For a fact, our initial proposal was to collect $12 from departing Origin-Destination passengers and $6 from departing Transit/Transfer passengers, but we had revised this downwards following our industry consultation. Why we have a different scale is simply because the Transit/Transfer passengers do not use the full extent of the airport's facilities. And we thought this layering is a fair approach towards the charges. At the same time, we also noted concerns of the industry that they would need time to adjust to its implementation. While there will not be a staggered implementation, the Government will put in place short-term measures to assist airlines.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for his questions. For his first question on availability on the taxi framework, well, I did say 99% satisfaction for both PHC and taxis. It is a combination. But the situation is evolving. As I have said in this Chamber for the last two years, we are monitoring but are always open to a review. Let it settle for a while and see whether we can review this again. The second question is basically on career counselling. That, I think, is not difficult to do. We can easily put up a couple of preambles for the public coming in to apply for the licence. On the last part, we will study the proposal.”
“Mr Chairman, yes, curriculum and textbooks are reviewed periodically in MOE. We will continue with this process to make sure our teaching materials are properly updated.”
“Mr Chairman, the short answer is yes, we have some capability to support special needs children in MK, but these are very nascent. We will develop more support programmes and we will be building towards that.”
“But there are ground realities that we have to cope with, such as family circumstances, even family abuse. All these are difficult entrenched problems that we face. Our teachers even tell me sometimes that they wake up earlier in the morning and go to the flat of the students to bring them to school.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the clarification. To assist our students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, this is always a work-in-progress. We will do our best, but it will never be an ending where we will be happy with it. You can see from the different programmes that we have started. MK is a key example. When we started the kindergartens, we wanted to address these disadvantages and bring disadvantaged students to as equal a starting line as possible. In the MKs, we reserve one-third of our places for children from the lower socio-economic backgrounds. We provide the different financial schemes. I have said in my speech the different levelling up of criteria, including for Edusave. We also, in our schools, pay very, very high attention to learning support programmes for students coming into our primary schools at Primary 1. If they are slower, whether in the languages, in English or in Mathematics, we have different programmes to support them in Primary 1 and Primary 2, and we extend it all the way to Primary 6 if required. Most of the kids do well and they graduate from these support programmes by the time they are at Primary 3. We have also designed after-school areas. It is almost like a relax area where a VWO person or teacher stays back to supervise them. They get to hang out in a cool room where there is play but only after they have done their homework part. I have my own experience through the family support services where we also partner Family Service Centres (FSCs). Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds may not have a conducive home environment. We partner the community services to make sure that they are well looked after and well-supervised so that they are not distracted.”
“I thank Ms Denise Phua for her questions. As a system, we remain open-minded, as open-minded as possible, not to be blindsided by different trends that may surface. Some trends would be relevant, some trends may fade. But we examine it in totality. Structurally, we do reviews in MOE periodically across all different subjects and we do benchmarking with renowned institutions around the world and we also go on study visits. For example, I went to Australia. My staff actually asked me, "What would you like to learn in Australia?" I wanted to look at outdoor education and how it would strengthen a perceived weakness in our own system. So, we look at different systems to learn new things. We also have research and development (R&D) arms set up in NIE and MOE. These research entities plug into the world institutions where they do research on pedagogical, heutagogical or andragogical updates. We are always trying to keep at the forefront of developments. But always, as I said earlier, remembering to customise it to our Singapore context.”
“Engage them in conversation over their Applied Learning experiences, share in their successes and setbacks. Share in their joys, empathise with their failings. Create more of such learning experiences for them in the classroom and outside the classroom. With the full support from educators and, most importantly, parents, our children will get the best start in life, whatever the future may bring. They will acquire the skills and values to thrive in the future. A brighter future of greater fulfilment awaits them. [Applause.]”
“My engineering mind straightaway went into a thinking mode and I thought these robots could fail easily and, when they fail to function, the bulbs will not light up, and the failure will be significant, in front of the whole school, a hall full of parents, students, MOE senior officials. After the ceremony, I congratulated the then principal, Mrs Mabel Leong, and I quietly asked her "What would you have done if the robots did not work? What was the backup?" She told me quietly, too, "Minister, there is no back up." She said that if the robots did not work despite all their planning and efforts, she would have simply stood up, apologised to me and sought my understanding to skip the segment. In spite of the risks, she decided to keep the robot segment. I suspect because she is proud of her students and it showcased her students' pride in their learning. I must tell you, I smiled the widest smile in an entire week, knowing what Mable was doing. Our principals and schools are moving in the right direction. More of them are taking calculated risks for their students to have the time and space for experimentation, to try, fail, try again, even in front of a Minister! Seeing how the schools and educators are changing, I sincerely urge all parents to join us in creating similar opportunities for our children. The results of such opportunities may not be immediately apparent. But the true test for all of us is not any single examination. It is the test of life. It is such opportunities that will benefit our children for a lifetime, much more than cramping their free time with excessive tuition. I hope all parents will encourage their children when they participate in their schools' ALPs, Outdoor Education Programme, Values-in-Action activities.”
“We will do more for students from lower-income families by enhancing the MOE FAS. We will raise the income criteria for the Gross Household Income per month from $2,500 to $2,750, as well as the per capita household income per month from $625 to $690. We will increase the annual bursary quantum for pre-university students from $750 to $900. We will provide 10 meals for secondary school students under the School Meals Programme, an increase from the seven we provide currently. This is in answer to Assoc Prof Daniel Goh. We will also increase the income eligibility criteria for the Edusave Merit Bursary and Independent School Bursary. Overall, with these enhancements, the various financial assistance schemes will cost the Government close to $100 million per year, and benefit around 90,000 students in total. Mr Chairman, I have said what MOE, our schools and teachers are committed to doing. But let me emphasise that we cannot do this alone. We need the whole nation to move with us towards holistic education, and parents play a most important role. I strongly urge all parents to give our children the time for their minds to imagine; space for them to experiment and learn to embrace and take risks; opportunities to learn from failing, trying, relearning and trying until they succeed. Mr Chairman, let me conclude with a story. I visited Assumption English School last July to open their upgraded school site. The opening ceremony was a most unusual one, hinged on robots programmed by their students part of an ALP. I was invited to participate in a robot race on stage, to move the robots, in order to switch on a ray of bright-coloured lights to mark the official opening of the school. The robots were powered solely by wind and controlled by an iPad.”
“I would like to reassure Dr Intan Mokhtar that EC training today is already delivered with a heavy emphasis on practical skills. Most faculty are experienced practitioners in the preschool sector. It will be no different in NIEC. Separately, MOE has facilitated professional exchanges between MK educators and also primary school teachers. They help develop mutual understanding, which smoothens the transition from kindergarten to Primary 1. MOE is also committed to providing quality and affordable education to all Singapore Citizens, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our education today is heavily subsidised at all levels. Ms Denise Phua mentioned Digital Equity, as learning is done more online. This year, we will be rolling out the Student Learning Space (SLS) to all students. SLS will provide high-quality, curriculum-aligned learning resources and online learning tools for students. This will drive self-directed learning which can take place anytime, anywhere and, hopefully, reduce the reliance contribution as well. MOE has provided funding to schools, which can be used to subsidise students from less advantaged backgrounds, for them to purchase mobile learning devices. Mr Edwin Tong and quite a few others in the Budget Debate asked about Edusave contributions. We will increase the annual Edusave contributions from 2019. With this increase, students can participate in more activities, such as creative writing programmes and learning journeys, to broaden their learning experiences. The Government also provides a range of financial assistance schemes to assist those who are in need. Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Cheng Li Hui asked about this. At the primary to pre-university levels, Singaporean students who need assistance can tap on the MOE FAS.”
“The community hosts activities, such as writing workshops and storytelling, that broaden students' exposure to language and culture. Students, in turn, contribute to the community. They set up activity booths for the public. They also take on the roles of Rakan Bahasa, or Friends of the Language, to serve as museum guides at the Malay Heritage Centre. The two-way partnership between schools and community not only enhances the learning of students but allows them to put values into action and serve the community. In a separate event at Fiesta Bahasa, this time round at the National Library, I was very happy to see a batch of Hwa Chong Institution boys participating. You see, they were learning Malay, trying to learn to speak it fluently. These Chinese boys from a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school were interacting with our Malay students and parents naturally, without a hint of any language barrier! Mr Chairman, this is applied learning in action, in languages, to promote our Singapore's unique cultures and heritage. As we strive to build a caring and inclusive society, we must make sure no child is left behind. Last year, the Government announced major plans to strengthen the preschool sector to give every child a good start and the best chance to succeed in life. This included upgrading the preschool profession to attract good teachers and careers. I welcome Dr Intan Mokhtar's suggestions. I am happy to update that we are on track for the NIEC to be fully operational by January 2019. NIEC will offer a range of quality programmes to prepare those who aspire to join the Early Childhood (EC) sector with a good foundation for a career as an EC professional.”
“And she built this model, nothing fancy, using simple materials – chopsticks, a straw, a spring and a masking tape. And in this model, she designed something to help the elderly grab food. She experimented several times until she was satisfied with the catch-and-release function. With this design, she went on to 3D-print a plastic prototype, with the help of her teachers. These are the 3D-print chopsticks. However, she is not satisfied with the plastic prototype as it did not work as well as her initial prototype. You see, she has probably reversed the hinge. But I have given her some possibilities and she told me she will work to improve her prototype. She is a Primary 6 girl. 4.30 pm And Zer Jynn is not alone. Her schoolmates in the Teck Whye Primary iDesign Club have built learning aids for their peers with dyslexia, and other prototypes to improve the quality of life for the physically disabled or the elderly. Through the iDesign Club, they not only learn about design principles but, equally important, they are tacitly learning to care, empathise and serve others in the community. Zer Jynn and her schoolmates may only be in primary school but, under the guidance of their school and teachers, they exemplify what we want to nurture in our young the connection among the head, the heart and the hands, innovating to improve the lives of others, developing leadership, empathy, care and, importantly, resilience. Applied learning in real life is so much more effective than just doing it in the classroom. Besides developing solutions for the community, our schools and students have also partnered the community to strengthen culture and heritage. A good example is Bulan Bahasa – the Malay Language Month. I worked with Minister Masagos on this.”
“The lyrics are very touching and the melody beautiful, expressing his love and gratitude to his mother. The song won an award in the 2017 Xinyao Singing and Writing Competition. The work of Zifeng makes us understand the importance of right values. However good a person’s knowledge base and creative capability may be, if his values are flawed, he will bring greater harm to society. Hence, we introduced various programmes in our schools to instill good values in our students. We teach them to be centred on the right morals. This has been our education principle all along. Applied learning should not be confined to a particular subject and the classroom. We hope parents can do the same in daily life to give our children more space and time for applied learning and instill right values in them. Parents can work together with the school and create a better future for our children. (In English): I will now move on to connecting the "Hands" and the "Heart". It is critical that we equip our children with the right values and develop in them a heart for others. Without the right moral compass, talented individuals can do more harm to society than good, and that will be tragic. Just like knowledge, values cannot remain simply in the "head". They must be acted out, applied to the real world. Mr Ang Wei Neng encouraged schools and students to work with their local communities. I mentioned my visit to Teck Whye Primary earlier. During my visit, I met a Primary 6 student. Her name is Zer Jynn. She showed me a pair of chopsticks that she and her team designed for people with weaker muscular control, such as our elderly. Zer Jynn explained that she and her team had first thought of a catch-and-release mechanism to allow users to use the chopsticks with minimal strength.”
“It is not just in the applied fields where Applied Learning is relevant. Our teachers are making a big effort to infuse Applied Learning experiences into their day-to-day teaching. For example, we are using Applied Learning to make our MTLs come alive for our students. This will help foster their appreciation for languages and strengthen their proficiency, which Ms Tin Pei Ling spoke about, and which Mr Azmoon Ahmad and Mr Low Thia Khiang also mentioned in the Budget Debate. Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Although our education system is well-regarded by the international community, many people are still concerned that in a future where automation is the norm, will our next generation be replaced by machines? I can understand their concerns. But I am confident that as long as our education system can empower our children to be creative and acquire good values, our next generation will be able to grasp the opportunities in the future. In order to cultivate creativity from young, MOE is now promoting Applied Learning in our schools. Our students already have a solid academic foundation; but we do not want them to be only able to "talk about strategies on paper" and become nerds who only know how to talk but not how to do. They must know how to convert knowledge into power and use it in real life. Only by applying intelligently what you have learnt can you create infinite possibilities with finite knowledge. I will share an example. Students of Yuan Qing Secondary School are learning to write xinyao (新谣) in the Chinese classes. Through song writing, their language ability will improve and they can also appreciate the beauty of the language better. One student, Guo Zifeng, wrote a song, "My Mother".”
“But I am even prouder of our teachers, who have committed their time and effort to develop Applied Learning experiences for their students. Ms Elaine Koh, a teacher I met from Fuchun Secondary, told me the difference she saw in her Secondary 4 Normal (Technical) students, Viknesh and Kumaran, after they have participated in the Maker Faire. She shared that they were very engaged and focused when they tinkered and built things. And when I met Viknesh and Kumaran, they told me they are interested to study aeronautical and mechanical engineering at ITE. They want to design and build aeroplanes and racing cars. ALP has ignited a passion in them, to want to continue their learning and their maker journey. ALPs are intentional ways to spur innovation in our students. MOE will build on the good work done on ALPs. I have directed all primary schools to set up ALPs by 2023. We will also support schools with ALPs to further enhance and strengthen their capabilities and programmes. This is an investment worth making – nurture innovation and creativity and, importantly, prepare our children for our future. MOE will make another major investment to prepare our children for the future. We will put aside a significant budget to develop the new Science Centre. The new Science Centre will play a key role in providing such Applied Learning experiences for all students when it is completed by the mid-2020s. It will bring science to life through immersive and interactive exhibits and experiences. It will partner homegrown and international companies to provide a wide range of programmes to students and youth: hands-on maker workshops, experiments in specialised laboratories, opportunities for mentorship and research. And I will remember to add, the artistic element into it as well.”
“" They had to learn to work as a team, put in place a plan, work each bolt, gear and wire step-by-step to fulfil their design. They went through many interactions. Surprisingly, Zee Cheen told me that his biggest lesson through this ALP was not just in creating the robot. His team has to bring their robot to the Science Centre's Maker Faire. And he had to practise public speaking and he says it is not his forte. He had to explain his robot to each visitor interested in his robot! In his words, he said, "These are things I cannot learn in a classroom". This is the value of applied learning in real life. Some of our primary schools have also developed ALPs. I have visited Teck Whye Primary which runs an ALP called "Media Whiz Kids!" I met Maisarah, a cute petite Primary 5 student. She wanted to help her schoolmates tell fake news apart from real news. So, she worked with her friends and teachers to make a short three-minute video. In the video, Maisarah explains what fake news is, why people create it, and she also suggests how to tackle it. We all debate about fake news in this very Chamber. Through Applied Learning Programmes, our 10-year-old students are teaching it in their own way in school. It is a refreshing take on a very real concern. Maisarah and her friends narrate and present with great confidence and clarity. Importantly, Maisarah's teachers not only use the video to raise information literacy among their students but also inculcate values. The video has been uploaded onto the school's Facebook and I encourage all of us to take a look. I am very proud of the confident and creative students our schools have nurtured through ALPs.”
“It is a mode of learning for all students, not just a separate track for vocational students. Students learn by applying and by doing. They learn beyond the classroom. They see for themselves how they can apply what they have learnt to the real world. And from all the interactions I had with students, I see them enjoying learning. They are self-motivated or become self-motivated. These are powerful learning experiences. They stick for life, driving lifelong learning. Since 2013, we have encouraged schools to develop their own Applied Learning Programmes (ALPs). All our secondary schools now have ALPs. It is a diverse, colourful and exciting landscape, catering to a wide range of interests: STEM, Languages, Humanities, Business, Entrepreneurship, Aesthetics, Inter-disciplinary Fields, and I will now include STEAM, as Ms Denise mentioned, to add "arts" to STEM. All the ALPs, importantly, encourage exploration, ideation and creativity. There are no tests or examinations. I have emphasised this to MOE. Students learn through experimentation – they try, fail, try, learn from it and try again. Let me share with Members some of my experiences with students. I recently met some Fuchun secondary students and they tell me their school has an ALP called "Innovations in Science and Technology for Sustainability". They all learnt basic coding and programming and apply their coding skills to programme robots. They do it in Secondary 1. I met one Secondary 4 boy. His name is Zee Cheen. Together with his team, Zee Cheen designed and built from scratch a robot that could move on different terrains, even on water, to retrieve and transport objects. Zee Cheen told me that when they started, and I quote, "Everything was in a mess.”
“They then got a set of wheels, mounted them on together with some rudimentary drive train and wired the system up. Then, they applied what they had learnt about energy in their Science class. They put on top of the chassis miniature solar panels and made their own solar-powered car. And it worked brilliantly. Their eyes sparkled when they talked to me on that Saturday morning as they showed me their solar toy car. This car is made out of pure fun, pure curiosity. These boys, all of 10 years old, applied what they had learnt in Science class to build their own toy. Impressive! The second car is also a solar-powered car but, this time, it is a racing car. This car was built by a team of Singapore Polytechnic students taking part in the 2017 World Solar Challenge. They competed against 39 other teams from all over the world, including Cambridge University and Stanford University. They took 20 months to make that car using a high-tech carbon fibre-reinforced composite body. The top speed of this solar car is 100 kilometres per hour (km/h), built by 18- to 20-year-old boys. The team had a difficult race. They met with rough weather, an accident and, unfortunately, did not finish within the deadline. However, I want to celebrate their success and include them in my speech. This car was built out of passion, deep skills and resilience. Though they may not have won, the learning in their journey is invaluable. These two cars may be miles apart in technology and horsepower but, educationally, they are part of the same journey – from curiosity to mastery; from knowledge to application. We want all our students to be able to make this type of learning journey. And our vehicle is Applied Learning. What is Applied Learning?”
“It has a strong disposition in this area but, overall, it has big averages. If we use PISA as one indicator, Israeli students underperform the OECD average. There is also a significant education outcomes gap between the average and the top Israeli students. We do not want this in Singapore. Here, we have high averages, where our students, regardless of socio-economic status, outperform most of their peers in different countries. Rather, we will improve our education system by building on our existing strengths, even as we explore new possibilities. Let us not throw out the baby with the bath water. As such, on top of strong academic foundations and sound values, we want to get our students to move beyond the classroom and apply their knowledge in the real world. This will help nurture our next generation of "change-makers". 4.15 pm Our students must be able to connect their "Head" knowledge to their "Hands" and create value. And their "Hands" must also be connected to their "Hearts" so that they contribute their knowledge and skills to the betterment of society. Education must go beyond the classroom and academic grades. This is key. I will focus the rest of my speech on how we will anchor this within our education system, through the lived experiences of our students. But, first, let me tell Members a "Story of Two Cars". I met two 10-year-old boys at a community event some time ago. They wanted to show me their toy car. I thought to myself initially what was this about? But when I saw the car, I got interested. You see, the car was not any sexy toy. It was very plain, made up of cardboard. The boys took some of their mother's shoe boxes, cut off the top and bottom and fashioned a flat chassis.”
“I have highlighted repeatedly in this House and outside, the need to nurture the joy of learning and entrepreneurial dare. These are important because they sustain self-directed, lifelong learning and instill an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit in our children. These may not be measurable but are certainly observable. They are of utmost importance to shift us away from simply studying for exams to learning for life. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked that MOE complete our transformation by changing the "entrenched" culture of an over-emphasis on academic results. He understands it will take time. I agree. I thank Mr Low for his cut and will consider his suggestion for the study proposal. The many changes I have mentioned are meant to take pressure off parents and students, reducing the chasing after the last mark in our school system. Ultimately, I hope to partner parents and students themselves to reduce their anxieties and stress. Many parents I have spoken to tell me they agree with the directions that we have taken. They also asked, like Ms Foo Mee Har, what will all these mean for their children’s learning experiences in school? As I mentioned earlier, our education system today equips our students with a strong academic foundation and sound values. These are significant strengths. Mr Pritam Singh mentioned education systems in Israel and Finland in the Budget Debate. Indeed, there are strengths in these systems which we can learn from. But we are circumspect when we study other systems. We do not blindly seek to replicate other systems in Singapore nor simply adopt new trends. In fact, these countries are also looking towards Singapore and wanting to learn from us. Consider Israel: I visited Israel and looked at their talent development and innovation ecosystem.”
“Our teachers in tandem are provided many professional development opportunities and resources to support their learning and keep them updated on all the different "gogies" that Ms Denise Phua has mentioned. We have also initiated the Singapore Teaching Practice where the best teaching practices are shared online amongst teachers. Two, we are creating multiple pathways to success, something that Mr Low Thia Khiang mentioned. We introduced Subject-based Banding to allow upper primary and secondary school students to take subjects they are strong in, at a higher level. Beyond academic strengths and interests, we are providing many opportunities for discovery and talent development in the sports and the arts. Mr Edwin Tong made good points about sports in schools and developing sporting talent. Today, primary school students learn fundamental movement skills in different sports in their Physical Education (PE) lessons, a wide range. Primary 4 and 5 students who are interested in sports CCAs not offered by the school can consider joining MOE’s centrally-run Junior Sports Academies, which offer a variety of sports modules. In secondary school, students learn at least six sports and take part in at least three inter-class sports competitions. A third of our students enroll in sports CCAs. Of these, 60% are non-school team players. Our schools understand that the value of sports cannot be measured by performance merely in the inter-school games. MOE also promotes programmes organised by ActiveSG to encourage our students when they are not in school to participate in sports in the community. Three, we are developing positive attitudes and dispositions for lifelong learning.”
“PSLE remains a useful checkpoint at the end of primary school to help us determine where each child’s academic strengths lie. This guides the child to a suitable academic programme in secondary school, one that would best fit his learning needs. PSLE does not, however, cast in stone what students can achieve in school in life or anytime in the future. Removing PSLE and having a through-train will only transfer the stress on parents and students elsewhere, such as to the Primary 1 registration, where if I can paraphrase Ms Foo Mee Har in her words, it would then be a 10- to 15-year race to safeguard the child's interest. The anxieties at Primary 1 then would be tremendous. Also, the GCE "O" and "N" levels at the end of this through-train will really be most stressful. A single examination in the whole career of a child's life. Mr Faisal Manap suggested for MOE to introduce psychology in the secondary school curriculum. Psychology, however, is an abstract discipline, not an age-appropriate subject at secondary school. A better broader approach to fulfil the same intent is to focus on 21st century competencies in our curriculum, create more space for informal learning, learning through play, and encourage opportunities for character building in the classroom, outside the classroom, in the CCAs, including our enhanced Outdoor Education. These support the socio-emotional development in our children. Ms Denise Phua asked about the 21st century Competencies Framework and when it was last reviewed. It was last reviewed in 2014 and also during the time when I entered MOE when I took a fresh look at the Framework.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank Members for their cuts. MOE is committed to giving every child the best start in life – not just in school, but for the future. Ms Denise Phua, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Zainal Sapari highlighted the driving trends of today and asked how we will prepare our children for the future economy. I agree with them that given the trends, tomorrow's jobs will require innovation. We will prepare our children from young and we start from a position of strength. Over the years, we have developed an education system that is effective in inculcating students with sound values and equipping them with a strong academic foundation. We have built upon this base in the last few years. One, we have strengthened our focus on the holistic development of every child. We have dialled back from an over-emphasis on academic grades. Teachers today coordinate to manage the assessment and homework load. We took steps to reduce the competitive pressures in our system, so that students can focus on their learning. For example, from 2021, the new PSLE scoring system will measure how well a student has learnt and not how he has done in comparison to his peers. Ms Denise Phua asked if we can pilot no-PSLE through-train schools. I understand her good intentions, as well as the stresses that parents and students face. Stress arises from a complex mix of factors – policies, expectations, perceptions, mindsets and ground realities. The PSLE changes we have made are important changes at the policy level. However, it will take time for the effects to be felt on the ground, including other policy measures like Subject-Based Banding, to increase the porosity in our schools. However, we do not think that removing PSLE is the way to go.”
“There are currently nine primary schools and three secondary schools in Punggol. The Ministry of Education has plans to build three new schools – a primary and a secondary school at Punggol Central, and a primary school at Northshore Link, to meet the needs of residents from new housing developments in Punggol. Construction of the schools is expected to start soon, and we will provide more details on when the schools will open in due course.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I have in hand what Mr Low Thia Khiang said in the 2017 COS debate on the MOF cut. I quote, "I hope he", meaning the Minister for Finance, "can be upfront with Singaporeans now so that they are not blindsided by the Government as they were with the sudden 30% increase in water price". You cannot have the cake and eat it.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I have not intended to speak, but as I listened to the Workers' Party's speeches, I get increasingly baffled. I hear across the different speeches that they essentially agree with the many programmes proposed in the Budget. In fact, they want the Government to do more – in education, take care of the elderly, doing more for the women, more for the disadvantaged. And in one Member's speech, she focused her speech on inequality and emphasised that inequality is a threat to our nation, that we have to "take concrete steps to remedy it". The Workers' Party agrees with many of the Budget proposals. Mr Low Thia Khiang said that this is a forward-looking Budget to anchor Singapore firmly in the future. But, yet, the Workers' Party says that the GST is a distraction. Mr Deputy Speaker, our Government has put together a concrete forward-looking Budget so that we can resource all these programmes for Singaporeans. In this Budget, we have outlined to Singaporeans how we can take care of our seniors, to better prepare our children for the future, to prime our businesses, to help our workers in the dramatic economic changes taking place and the technological disruptions. We want to help the disadvantaged in society more. And yet, after all the speeches that I have listened carefully to in this Chamber, the Workers' Party thinks that finding the ways to fund all these programmes is a distraction. They agree with the programmes but that talking about how to fund these programmes is a distraction. I find it baffling. I think it is critical, honest and right that we outline to Singaporeans how we intend to chart Singapore's future forward in a sustainable manner.”
“Indeed, the region's airports grow at different rates but, contextually, we must look at the growth conditions as well. Bangkok and Singapore Changi Airport are at about the same base but, in Bangkok, they have two different airports to serve the domestic and the international market at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi Airports. With this advantage and also the domestic growth of LCCs, they have a 10.2% growth. We are watching this – as we always do – to make sure that Changi is competitive. Whereas for Jakarta, it starts at a lower base, much lower numbers of passengers per year. When it starts off with different initial conditions, we have different growth rates. Nevertheless, what we want to do for Changi is to anchor it as a premier air hub, as we have done for so many years, which, also in time to come, will involve building a T5 for the expanded capacities to handle increased projected volumes of passengers.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the clarification. Yes, if needed, we will extend the necessary support both educationally and emotionally to the child affected. After all, he or she is still the centre of the purpose of education.”