S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully understand where the Member is coming from and I empathise with her motivations. I just want to draw a distinction between the university fees and polytechnic fees. A key consideration is the order of the magnitude of difference. The typical university fees are at least three times what the polytechnic students pay. When we are talking in terms of financial planning, there is a significant difference. In university fees, we look for about 25% cost recovery and we are not quite there yet. In the case of our polytechnic students, it is a far lower target level. We are talking about very different orders of magnitude. But the point is well-taken. In the first instance, our objective is to ensure, and it is a central tenet of our education system, that any deserving student that is admitted to the polytechnics will not be deprived of that education because of financial issues. If it is because of the marginal fee increase, then that will be rectified. ETHNIC CLASSIFICATION FOR PSLE RESULTS 4. Mr Viswa Sadasivan asked the Minister for Education why is there a need to announce PSLE results along ethnic categories.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposed changes to the Economic Expansion Incentives Act seek to stimulate more economic activity in Singapore. These changes also reflect the Government’s commitment to monitor the effectiveness of our tax incentive regime and to keep it relevant as economic conditions change. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr S Iswaran]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.”
“Adopting more energy efficient means of production will help businesses deal with rising energy costs. Energy efficiency is also an important component in our efforts to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. However, high capital costs and long pay-back periods can discourage energy efficiency investments. This amendment, therefore, aims to encourage more investments in energy efficiency projects by companies in Singapore. Clause 3 of the Bill amends section 67 of the EEI Act to give legislative effect to this enhancement. Renewal of IA for aircraft rotables The IA incentive for aircraft rotables was introduced in 2004 to develop the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector for the aerospace industry. Aircraft rotables are replacement parts used in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircrafts. The incentive expired on 9th September 2009 and it has earlier been announced in Budget 2010 that the incentive will be renewed for another five years effective from 1st April 2010. Clause 3 of the Bill gives effect to this renewal. Repealing obsolete incentives Three incentives – the Export of Services Incentive, the Overseas Investment Incentive as well as the Research and Development and Intellectual Property Management Hub Incentive – have expired and will be repealed. These changes are reflected in clauses 2, 6 and 7 of the Bill. Consequential amendments Section 97(h) of the EEI Act now makes reference to "qualifying services" as defined in section 44(a) of the EEI Act which relates to the Export of Services Incentive. With the repeal of the Export of Services Incentive, section 97(h) therefore has to be amended to include in full the "qualifying services" presently defined in section 44(a). Clause 5 of the Bill relates to this change.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill will amend the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act, or the EEI Act in short. It will put into effect three tax changes announced in previous Budget Statements. It will also make other technical changes to the Act. I will now describe each of the proposed amendments in turn. Enhancement of Investment Allowance The Bill extends the maximum period within which companies can qualify their fixed capital expenditure in hire-purchase transactions for Investment Allowance (IA) from five years to eight years. IA incentivises capital investments by companies by providing companies with additional capital allowances, for approved projects, that can be offset against their taxable incomes. Other than with specified exceptions, the legislation currently states that fixed capital expenditure must be incurred within a qualifying period of five years to be considered for IA. It has been assessed that it is not uncommon that companies, especially small and medium enterprises, carrying out fixed capital expenditure through hire-purchase transactions can do so over a hire-purchase period of up to eight years. Thus, to better meet the needs of companies, the maximum qualifying period for IA will be revised from five years to eight years for hire-purchase transactions. Clause 4 of the Bill amends Section 68 of the EEI Act to give legislative effect to this enhancement. Inclusion of energy efficiency projects into IA scheme The Bill also expands on the list of the qualifying activities for IA to include energy efficiency projects. As a small, open economy, Singapore is a price taker in the global energy market and will be subject to the upward trend in energy prices.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir. There is already a slew of measures in place arising from the Resilience Package that was implemented last year and that included measures like the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme. Apart from that, we have also got very targeted measures such as U-Save which is specifically aimed at utilities and for low-income households. I think the Government has given the commitment and continues to remain committed to ensuring that we will provide targeted assistance to those who need it. ERP RATE REVISIONS The following Question stood in the name of Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong – 15. To ask the Minister for Transport (a) what is the justification for the rate increase at 23 Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries; (b) whether traffic flow is constantly monitored in these areas; (c) how effective has the ERP system been in easing traffic congestion during peak hours on expressways, especially the CTE; and (d) what other measures are being taken to alleviate traffic congestion, besides raising ERP rates. 16. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for Transport in introducing the recent revision of ERP charges (a) what are the criteria used to determine the optimal speed range for the roads; (b) whether the Ministry takes into account that between 2007 and 2010 the population has risen by at least 500,000 people and 45,000 more vehicles which will invariably affect the optimal speed range; and (c) whether the Ministry will review the optimal speed range to reflect the higher movement of traffic in line with the population growth.”
“Mr Speaker, I think the GST question should be directed to the Minister for Finance. I will, however, address the matter on food prices. I think our best strategy is really to ensure, first, that we have diverse food sources so that we are not locked into any one particular supplier which then means that if there is disruption, we have shocks in our system. The second thing is to ensure that the markets remain competitive. In other words, we have a competitive market for food products in Singapore as well and that will ensure that we are always given a supply of food which is competitively-priced, not necessarily lowly-priced because it depends on what the global market prices are. Those are our main strategies – diversification and competitive markets. Mdm Ho Geok Choo: Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State what measures would the Ministry consider to implement to help the low-income Singaporean families in such a situation.”
“Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many transactions of private properties by Permanent Residents (PRs) and foreigners were recorded in the last 24 months as compared to Singaporeans and, of these, how many were for (i) landed properties and (ii) condominiums; (b) whether there are any figures to indicate the regularity of the flipping of such properties by PRs and foreigners; and (c) what has been the rate of increase in the number of flipped properties. 10. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for National Development following the introduction of measures to cool the property market (a) what is the likely market reaction to these measures in the next five years; (b) what is the likely impact on the property market within a 10-year time frame; (c) what is the Government's assessment of the current market direction; and (d) whether there has been any new influx of foreign funds into the property market. The Minister for National Development (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Sir, may I take Question Nos. 8, 9 and 10 together?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Members would be well aware that opinion is divided on the impact the quantitative easing announced by the US Federal Reserves will have on the US economy. In any event, it is likely to have countervailing implications for us. On the one hand, yes, the Singapore dollar will appreciate vis-à-vis the US dollar. However, if the quantitative easing succeeds in stimulating consumption and business investment, then that in turn will have a positive impact on our economy. So, it is too early to judge how this would play out and impact our economy and, indeed, Asia and other countries. As far as our strategy is concerned, as I said earlier, the expectation is that growth will moderate in the second half and in 2011 to a level that is more sustainable. Our strategy is to ensure that we remain a well-diversified economy and emphasise key elements of competitiveness including productivity, which is an object of the Committee headed by the Deputy Prime Minister. IMPACT OF RECENT PROPERTY MEASURES 8. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development in view of the recent changes in HDB policy and ownership of overseas properties (a) what is the rationale of this policy; (b) whether HDB will allow exemptions to those who inherited foreign properties out of bequests; and (c) how will HDB trace whether a HDB owner has a foreign property. 9.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member is rephrasing the question that was asked earlier. In effect, the answer is the same. Basically, if you live within 500 metres of a school, it means you live within a one-kilometre radius of the school. Therefore, you are already accorded priority. To further fine-tune this may not necessarily result in outcomes that are good for the school or the community at large. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY 3. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many applications were received for permanent residency in 2009 and 2010 and what is the proportion that was successful for each year; (b) what is the profile of those who were successful in their applications; (c) whether the fall in proportion of permanent residents (PR) is due to more stringent immigration policies; and (d) what are the implications of this restriction on PRs on the old-age support ratio for Singapore in the long term.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I said, in the system we have today, we have priority accorded across the different phases according to criteria. Within each phase, if there is an excess of places available, then admissions are based on proximity to the school. That proximity is tiered. In the first instance, those within a one-kilometre radius are accorded priority. If that is exhausted and there are still places available, then those between a one- and two-kilometre radius are given the option. If there are more applications than places, then there will be balloting. Beyond that, admission will be for those in the three-kilometre radius and further. That is a system that is fair. To guarantee someone who lives across from the school that he will definitely get admission to that school would unnecessarily constrain the system, because, really, a one-kilometre radius accords sufficient priority for the purpose of proximity to the school.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this judgment is actually left to the schools to make. The reason is simple: it is not just a matter of clocking hours. It is the kind and the value of the contribution that a parent volunteer brings. A mere measurement of the number of hours by itself may not be an accurate indicator of what they bring to the school and can contribute. We leave it to the schools. If we talk to the principals and the heads of departments, they have very systematic processes, they interview the parents and judge what the volunteers can bring to the school and how that complements the school's plans. That is the basis on which they make the decisions.”
“I would also like to point out that Singapore is unique in that a large segment of our population owns their homes. Therefore, we have the opportunity to support ageing-in-place within these homes that the seniors already own. In fact, URA’s recent Lifestyle Survey 2009 and the Concept Plan 2011 Online Survey showed that nearly 80% of the senior respondents prefer to live in regular housing, rather than more dedicated forms of senior housing like Studio Apartments and retirement villages. They prefer to remain in the homes that they already own and age in an environment that they are familiar with alongside other generations. We will also continue working with other agencies to further improve the hardware and software to support ageing-in-place. 3.00 pm”
“The short answer is, I think there is quite a range of mechanisms. The community can inform the Hotel Licensing Board. The Member of Parliament can make representation to the Ministry or to the Board as well. And I think, in general, the HLB is also monitoring the situation on the ground and therefore tries to keep in regular contact with all the stakeholders and so the stakeholders should maintain that dialogue on a regular basis. LAND LEASE FOR RETIREMENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT 15. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what has been the response from developers for the 30-year land lease for the development of retirement housing; and (b) if he will give an assessment on the need for retirement villages in Singapore. The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development): The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has made available a site at Jalan Jurong Kechil since 2006, where a retirement housing development can be built. This site has a tenure of 30 years instead of the usual 99 years for residential land. This will reduce land costs for developers, which in turn could translate to more affordable housing for the elderly. While there has been some market interest in the site, no bids have been received thus far. Retirement housing is but one of many possible housing options for senior citizens. For example, private sector developers have offered adjoining apartments that allow seniors to live next to their grown-up children. There are also Studio Apartments for senior citizens in HDB estates. While Government will facilitate new retirement housing options, we should let the market forces decide on the housing typologies that meet the needs of seniors.”
“I thank the Member and I will extend the due hospitality.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer to both questions really is hotels are issued licences and these licences are subject to renewal, typically, I think, on an annual or biennial basis. And at the point of renewal, these considerations will apply, and HLB will take them into account. As for whether we would impose the community engagement requirement, that would really depend on the situation because if, in fact, the hotel has been conducting its business in a manner that does not in any way incur or cause any disamenities to the community, then we do not need to impose these additional encumbrances on the hotels. But where there is an indication that there may be some issues, then certainly that would be required.”
“Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Government has plans to put in place recommendations for the compulsory education of children with special needs sometime in the near future; and (b) as the education of children with special needs deserves our utmost support and encouragement for their full integration in society, what has been done by the Government in this direction.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for her suggestions and timeline. I would like to re-emphasise the point that, currently, our post-secondary education institutions, whether it is ITE, polytechnics or universities, leverage extensively on their internal resources to try and accommodate the needs of special-needs students. As I explained, they identify their needs and render the extra support as it has been assessed to be required, and they also train their faculty and staff members to manage those needs. But I want to assure the Member that MOE and the institutions are prepared to consider further measures to assist such students, if necessary. She pointed out the examples in many parts of the world, in developed countries, and suggested we study their models. Indeed, MOE agencies are working together with the post-secondary education institutions in order to deepen our outstanding and see where the gaps are. Take the example of ITE, MOE's Psychological Services Branch is helping ITE with the needs assessment study to systematically identify the gaps that exist today in ITE's provision to special-needs students. ITE would then take steps to bridge those gaps. Whether that entails a specific allocation of resources or a more systematic response, as the Member has suggested, I think will depend on the kind of needs that have been identified and the extent of those needs. I would also like to assure the Member that if there are any specific instances that she cited, like she feels that the support rendered is insufficient, then she should really highlight it and we will see what we can do to address that. COMPULSORY EDUCATION FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS CHILDREN 11.”
“Ms Ellen Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the last 12 months ending March 2010 (a) how many applications for long-term visit passes, both new and for renewal, were received and what were the respective success rates; (b) what was the number of applications for permanent residence and how many were successful; (c) what was the number of applications for Singapore citizenship and how many were successful; and (d) whether the rejections in each category were in response to the strong sentiments expressed by Singaporeans that there are too many foreigners in Singapore. 15. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will grant long-term visit passes to foreign relatives of Singaporeans if the objective for the long-term stay is to help look after Singaporeans. 16. Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the last five years, what is the number of foreign spouses of Singapore citizens whose marriages were registered in Singapore and whose applications for long-term visas and permanent residence (PR) were rejected; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider measures to increase the public's awareness that marriage registration in Singapore does not entitle foreign spouses of Singaporeans to long-term stay or PR and the reasons behind this policy. The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, may I take Question Nos. 14, 15 and 16 together?”
“With the opening of the IRs this year, STB has forecasted record international arrivals of between 11.5 million and 12.5 million visitors and S$17.5 billion to S$18.5 billion in tourism receipts. Already, STB has reported consecutive record highs in monthly visitor arrivals since January this year. The IRs will directly bring in about S$12 billion of investments when they are completed, and as I have mentioned earlier, the job recreation element as well – about 16,000 workers have already been employed directly and when they are fully open, the number will rise to 20,000. But these are early days yet and I think the full economic benefits of the IRs can only be properly assessed and realised when both of them are fully open and operating in the city state. Beyond economic benefits, the developments in Singapore's tourism sector have enhanced our national branding, sharpened Singapore's competitive edge for talent and broadened leisure options for residents. We remain confident that the IRs, together with the other offerings that are coming up such as Gardens by the Bay, the International Cruise Terminal and the River Safari wildlife park, will position Singapore as a leading global city in Asia. APPLICATIONS FOR LONG-TERM VISIT PASSES 14.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, 2009 was a challenging year for global tourism which was affected by the twin challenges of the economic downturn and the H1N1 virus. Even so, the Singapore tourism industry delivered a creditable performance. Tourism Receipts (TR) for 2009 was S$12.8 billion, and the value-add generated by the sector was an estimated S$7.3 billion. This was possible largely because of the close collaboration between STB and the industry over the years to develop a diverse offering of world-class tourism products and experiences in Singapore, as well as the special efforts made to boost the tourism industry during the economic downturn. The Orchard Road mall enhancement which the Member referred to, for example, has improved visitors' shopping experience and was timely with the addition of more than 100,000 square metres of commercial space along Orchard Road with the opening of three new malls. Besides hardware, efforts have also been made to improve our events space and increase Singapore's mindshare amongst international visitors, and this has helped to enhance Singapore's attractiveness as a top leisure and MICE destination. In addition, at the onset of the downturn, STB introduced the S$90 million Building on Opportunity to Strengthen Tourism (BOOST), package in order to cushion the effects of the recession. One hundred and twenty retailers or so partnered STB to bundle and market promotional deals under the "2009 Reasons to Enjoy Singapore" campaign. And there was also enhanced support given to over 300 events and that will generate an additional 1.2 million visitor nights through February 2012. So, as a result of these efforts, from 2004 to 2009, the tourism sector value-add increased by close to 30% from S$5.7 billion to S$7.3 billion.”
“Mrs Mildred Tan asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) for the last one year, what is the dollar spending by the tourism industry and tourism receipts generated by visitors; (b) what proportion of this is generated by the recent improvements ranging from the Orchard Road upgrading to the opening of the two IRs; and (c) whether we are on track to achieve the expected $2.7 billion of value-add by the "IR effect".”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the first question on the contribution of the IRs to the economy – actually there is another question after this – but I will say that there have been significant investment commitments. To-date, together they have contributed more than S$12 billion worth of investments and they will be creating at steady state about 20,000 jobs, of which about 80% has already been realised and a significant proportion of that are for locals. As for the patronage of the casinos, obviously, we want to ensure that Singaporeans who choose to go to the casinos give due thought to it before they go in and not to do it on impulse, which is why we have a whole slew of measures that have been put in place under the MCYS' approach towards ensuring that we do not have a problem with problem gambling. Having said that, I do not have specific data but it would be fair to say that, again, there is a novelty factor in play at the moment. To think that whatever we see at play in terms of numbers and of performance in the first few weeks and months is an accurate predictor of what is going to be happening 12 or 24 months down the road may be stretching the argument a bit. So what I can assure the Member is that the agencies are monitoring the situation closely and once we have a better sense of the patterns and trends, I think we will know how the measures we put in place are working. IMPACT OF INTEGRATED RESORTS ON TOURISM REVENUE 13.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for his question. First of all, if media reports are anything to go by, then I think even the casinos were affected by some of the teething problems. Secondly, I want to make it quite clear that, as far as Government agencies are concerned, there is absolutely no compromise on the fact that the concept of the IR must be upheld. That was the logic when we started this endeavour and Government agencies are committed to see it through. However, we must recognise that these are multi-billion dollar, multi-decade projects. When you are looking at projects of that kind of scale and complexity, first, phased openings are not uncommon at all when you look at international best practice and, secondly, we should not judge the outcome or the success of these projects on the basis of what we have seen in the first few days, weeks or months.”
“This was to ensure that the casino would be allowed to operate only when a significant amount of non-gaming facilities were opened and the integrity of the Integrated Resort concept upheld. When the IRs are fully opened, gaming areas would take up less than 3% of the GFA for Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and less than 5% of the GFA for Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). Both IRs have, in fact, opened significant non-gaming facilities. RWS soft-opened with Universal Studios Singapore, its theatre, part of the Festive Walk and four hotels. The next phase of its development will include the addition of new attractions in Universal Studios, the premier of a locally created circus theatre show, a Marine Life and Water Theme Park, and a Maritime experiential Museum. MBS’ preview opening included a significant amount of non-gaming areas such as 963 hotel rooms, retail outlets, restaurants, bars and MICE facilities. MBS expects to open its remaining facilities such as the Skypark, Theatres and Museum by the end of this year.”
“To put it in perspective, Singapore plays host to 6,000 business events annually, and accounted for more than 25% of the meetings held in Asia in 2008. Notable MICE events we have hosted in the past include the IMF-World Bank meetings in 2006, the APEC Summit in 2009, as well as business events such as the World Dental Federation Congress of 2009. As the lead Government agency supporting the MICE industry, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)works with local industry partners including associations and organisers to bid for international exhibitions and conventions. Collectively, Government agencies and the industry in Singapore have secured a robust pipeline of international business events for the next few years, and will continue to strive to maintain our standing as a global business events destination of choice. If I may turn to Mr Calvin Cheng's point, international tourism projects such as the CityCentre Resort in Las Vegas, Wynn Resort in Macau and Universal Studios in Florida were all opened in phases. Locally, ION Orchard and Singapore Airport Terminal 3 are two examples of large local developments that also had phased openings. The phased opening of Singapore’s Integrated Resorts (IRs) is thus quite typical for projects of this scale and complexity. From an operational perspective, phased openings are necessary to allow the IRs to work through operational issues and to allow employees to familiarise themselves with their new roles and gain confidence for the ramp-up in activities. Although the IRs were opened in phases, the casino licence was granted only when the Government authorities had established that at least 50% of the Gross Floor Area (GFA) was completed and at least 50% of the Development Investment (DI) had been expended.”
“The recent opening of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Integrated Resort has added 69,000 square metres of exhibition and meeting space to the MICE industry in Singapore. When the phased opening of MBS is completed, about 100,000 square metres will be added to the total amount. And this will effectively increase the amount of purpose-built exhibition and meeting space in Singapore by more than half. It is not uncommon for projects of this size to encounter, as the Member has mentioned, "teething problems", especially when they commence operations. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that delegates at a recent conference found their experience at Marina Bay Sands to be unsatisfactory. I understand that MBS has taken the feedback of its clients into consideration and is already taking steps to address these issues. Singapore's reputation as a top city for MICE events is important to the Government. But our reputation is not determined by a single conference. Rather, it is built over time, as a result of many factors that underpin our organisation as a city to provide the best value proposition to MICE organisers and delegates. This includes the accessibility to target markets for buyers and delegates, the presence of a pro-business environment and the overall appeal of the city to delegates and visitors. Over the years, Singapore has developed sound fundamentals as a business destination and established a strong track record for successfully hosting many business events. Last year, the Union of International Associations (UIA) accorded Singapore the title of the world’s Top International Meeting City for the second consecutive year. Singapore has also been ranked as Asia’s top country and city for meetings for the last 25 years.”
“Another 7,400 flats will be launched from May to September. The total supply of new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats for 2010 will be at least 12,000. If there is further demand, HDB is prepared to launch even more. HDB has also recently awarded two sites for executive condominium development in Sengkang and Yishun which, when launched, will provide buyers with household incomes between $8,000 and $10,000 more housing options. The Government will continue to monitor the property market closely. We will implement additional measures, if necessary, to maintain a healthy and stable property market. COMPLAINTS AGAINST REAL ESTATE AGENTS 12. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many complaints had the Ministry received against real estate agents over the last three years and how were these resolved; (b) whether the existing regulations are sufficient in dealing with abuses and unscrupulous practices; (c) when will the Ministry be introducing the mandatory industry examinations; and (d) whether the Ministry is concerned with the current trend where credit companies working with real estate agents advance money at exorbitant rates to ignorant and desperate homeowners who are selling their flats.”
“Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for National Development in view of public and private property prices continuing to rise unabated despite the recent measures implemented, what other measures does the Ministry intend to introduce.   The Minister for National Development (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the measures introduced in February this year and September last year were calibrated to encourage greater financial prudence among purchasers, temper exuberance in the market and pre-empt a property bubble from forming. They were not intended to stop prices from rising or to deter genuine home-buyers and investors from buying properties. While the number of purchases of new private housing units has picked up in the first quarter this year, the rate of increase in prices of private residential properties has moderated. Overall, prices increased 5.6% in first quarter of 2010 compared to 7.4% increase in fourth quarter last year. The latest data for public housing also shows signs of moderation. Resale prices registered slower quarter-on-quarter increase, and the median Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) has also stabilised. The Government will increase supply to meet the strong demand. We have made available a total of 26 sites yielding about 10,500 private residential units as part of the first half 2010 Government Land Sales (GLS) programme. This was the highest from any half yearly GLS programme since the Reserve List system started in 2001. We will inject an even larger supply of private housing in the second half 2010 GLS programme if demand continues to be strong. We will announce the details of the GLS Programme for the second half of 2010 by this June. Similarly, since January 2010, HDB has launched about 5,100 public housing units.”
“As I sound like sand paper now, I beg the indulgence of the House to bear with me. Sir, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) does not promote Singapore as a spa centre, it only profiles spa experiences as one of the many lifestyle options that visitors can enjoy in Singapore, alongside the myriad of retail, dining, attractions, events and entertainment offerings. STB is careful to profile spas with a proven track record that provide good service and a sound business model. The recent spa incidents did not involve visitors, but local consumers who purchased prepaid packages to be used over a period of time. Sir, the best defence for consumers, as always, is to be vigilant and to also consider carefully before paying in advance for services. At the same time, there are also measures to help consumers who often complain that they bought packages under pressure to make better choices. CASE has, with MTI’s support, recently launched the CaseTrust for Spa and Wellness Association Scheme to raise consumers’ awareness of spa standards and to put in place good business practices. These include giving customers a cooling-off period of at least five working days to seek refund of payments made for packages and also not to sell to customers during their spa treatments. So, we will study with CASE the feasibility of adding financial soundness as a criterion for the accreditation. Consumer education and industry accreditation provide a balanced approach to safeguarding consumers’ interests. This is preferable in imposing new and onerous regulatory burdens on spa operators, which ultimately will translate into higher costs for consumers. We will monitor the situation and refine our approach further if necessary. MEASURES TO CURB RISE IN PROPERTY PRICES  11.”
“Basically, it is the location of the two budget hotels. It is directly behind six residential houses where the main gates are facing the hotels. Could the Minister, please, seriously consider this, in view of the fact that he has lifted the hourly rate for Joo Chiat hotels.  Mr S Iswaran: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for her persistence. I want to assure the Member that there is no intention nor is there a risk of this becoming another Joo Chiat. We have the measures in place. I think we should allow legitimate business activity to continue, if in any way it results in a material deterioration of the environment in the manner that the Member has described, then I think the enforcement agencies and the Hotel Licensing Board will act and, in the meantime, we will work in close cooperation with the Member to prevent such a situation from coming about. SPA INDUSTRY  10. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the Singapore Tourism Board's efforts to promote Singapore as a spa centre (a) what steps can be taken to protect the industry from getting a bad image because of unscrupulous spa operators; (b) will the Ministry take steps to ensure that these operators lodge deposits with a licensing authority before they are allowed to operate; and (c) how can consumers be protected against businesses which solicit for clients even though they know that the closure of their operations is imminent.  The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not trying to impersonate Rod Stewart or Louis Armstrong. Just that my voice has been affected by the flu in the last few days.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully appreciate the Member's concern on behalf of her constituents and residents. As a general rule, hotels offer transit rates for a variety of reasons. In the case of these particular examples she has cited, it may well be that they are targeting at the regional offices and the local residents who have relatives visiting, although I suspect that it may not be exclusively just for these groups. But having said that, I think the Member's point is valid and I want to make the point that, first, we should not over-react based on one or two episodes. I think that would be unfair to the businesses and, in general, set the wrong tone. But having said that, neither do we want to wait until the situation deterioriates to a point where we are forced to act. That is not the intention either. I want to assure the Member of that. That is why we have put in place these measures, such as the requirements for CCTVs, security patrols and also community engagement. And I think the Member is well aware of that because she has actively engaged the operators in question in this case. In the event that they exceed the perimeters that are acceptable, then certainly, warning letters will be served, and if they persist in this sort of egregious activity, then their licence is at risk.  Mr Speaker: Last question. I do not know how much further you can go with this.  Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, I would just like to ask the Senior Minister of State – this is not the first time the estate has asked the Minister to consider removing the transit rate. I think Member of Parliament, Mr Chan Soo Sen, has done that for Joo Chiat. I would like to ask the Minister to consider removing the transit rate for these two budget hotels.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for the clarification. I am not sure what constitutes type A, but I take her word for it that it is high quality institutions. But the fact of the matter remains that our polytechnics actually can hold their own with many university-type degrees around the world. Having said that, the second point, the 37% cohort rate, whether there is a regular time frame to evaluate this, I want to make the point that it is not about keeping up with other countries but deciding what is relevant in our context. When we talk about our context, we want to talk about Singapore's needs but we cannot look at that in isolation, we will look at regional opportunities and what that entails. That is what this annual planning is about. The annual exercise between MOE, MOM and MTI and the economic agencies shapes this on a tactical basis from year to year. They are periodic reviews, there is no set time frame for this but we are quite clear that when the need arises, we will be able to act proactively to meet that.”
“To what depth has the lingo on the Internet affected schools. I think we have not done that kind of survey. But I can say this, if you talk to the teachers, they will tell you that by and large students do have an informal register, whether it is Singlish or shorthand that they use, particularly when they talk among themselves socially. Most of them also understand that in certain other contexts, which are more formal, you have to use proper, standard English. They are clearly aware of it. The key thing is first, once the awareness is there, do they have the ability to switch registers as and when appropriate and we must make sure that they are able to function in that standard register. That is the key point. Now, it does mean that, for example when they are writing their essays, some of these "Twitter" habits, for example, "b4", creep in. But the teachers are trying to get the students to remember that you can do this when you are SMS-ing or emailing, but when it comes to a formal essay, something that you are doing in front of your class or school as a presentation, there is a different requirement. Once we clear that, we cross the understanding point, then it is a lot easier because then, it is about building up their ability.”
“How soon will the support scheme be implemented? I think, shortly, but I do not want to give the Member a very specific timeline because they are trying to work out the details. But I think it is all a matter of months rather than a year. So I think sometime in the first half of this year, possibly by the early part of the second quarter we should have something in place. The whole point about fee protection modules – I just want to clarify the position again. For those PEIs who have already collected funds, in excess of what is provided for under the present regime, there is no requirement for them to refund, but what we do require is that they have appropriate fee protection schemes in place. In many instances they already have them, in which case, what they need to do is to provide the evidence to the CPE so that the CPE is satisfied that that money is protected. And if it is, then the arrangement can carry on. In that case, they would not be required to buy any new group insurance. However, if there is no protection, then they will have to satisfy the CPE on what measures are in place to protect that additional fees that have been collected.”
“Mr Chairman, first of all, I think the point is the demand for polytechnic education is because of the "O" level and other students who are doing well and for the reasons I have cited. They appreciate the quality and the kind of market-relevant courses that there are available. We have just started the SIT process. So, if you look at the entire environment today, our polytechnic students, in addition to what has already been made available to them; which is to go into our own autonomous Universities in Singapore, they have now got the option of going to degree programmes offered through SIT. In the steady state, the aim is to offer 2,000 places, which is quite a substantial number. And in addition to that, some of them follow through on their own and they undertake further studies whether in Singapore or overseas. I know Members are very keen to move beyond, but this is already a process which is going to take several years to reach a steady state, because the expansion in the polytechnic cohort – the point which Dr Amy Khor made – will take about four to five years to be achieved and the SIT will also take a similar period of time to reach a steady state number. We need to assess the model carefully, to see whether that is a workable model. We will try and secure more partnerships to expand. We do not want to prejudge the situation and see which way to go right now. We have made some key decisions now. Let them work themselves through the system and maybe in two to three years' time, we will have a better sense of whether there is a need for greater progression pathways and, if so, how they should be done.”
“Mr Chairman, I think I owe Ms Irene Ng a reply first. The short answer is "yes", literature is being used as part of the effort to teach English in schools. Schools like Xin Min Secondary, for example, have done it very successfully. Our measure of their success is that the students want more classroom time to learn English, and they found it very exciting. So, even without this English Language Innovation Fund, they are already doing it. But I think we will use this to catalyse any other initiatives that could promote the interest in the language. I apologise to Dr Khor for not addressing her questions specifically. The increase is, yes, 42% to 45%, but this is going to occur over a period of time. Will there be a consequential demand increase for university places? I think we need to let the process play itself out because we need to consider the balance. I want to go back to the point I made in discussing university cohort participation rate – the balance between the quality, the market relevance of our degrees, the respect and value they command, as opposed to the quantity of places available. I think we need to keep those parameters in mind. So, whether it is 30% cohort participation rate for university or the consequential demand from polytechnic students, I think the way we will go about this is very deliberate. We will assess how things evolve. I do not think anything is cast in stone. It is not about closing the chapter, but it is more about staying relevant and in the context of the needs of the time. 2.45 pm”
“I want to thank Mrs Teo for the question and I fully understand where she is coming from. I think the intention is to try and create more opportunities, and the WSQ path is an important one. I just want to make the point that the SIT admissions policy is not something that is determined purely by SIT alone because the partner universities, in fact, have a very strong vested interest in this. They want to be assured of the quality of the students who are coming in. Sir, I want to give Members an example: Like the Technical University of Munich. I met the President and he impressed upon me – he took great pains to say – that one of their main concerns was: Do our diploma students have sufficient intellectual heft to meet up to their standards? They did a very thorough diligence and then they say that they were satisfied. Because even in Germany, they do not have these linkages with diploma-awarding institutions. So they were very cautious. 2.30 pm So, in principle, the emphasis is on the quality. It is early days. I think we need to get started on the process. But in due course, if, in fact, some of these WSQ courses meet the quality thresholds, I am sure we can visit them at that point, in terms of progression.”
“Certainly, the Ministry of Education will do its part to work with the Government agencies and industry groups on programmes and initiatives to improve the standard of English in Singapore. Mr Chairman, in conclusion, I would like to emphasise that MOE will continue to commit significant resources and efforts, to expand the capacity and diversify the pathways in our tertiary education sector, enhance the quality of our private education sector as a key component of our education landscape and raise the standard of English to endow our students with an enduring asset that will hold them in good stead in the globalised economy of the 21st century. Early childhood education”
“The "whole-school approach" will also be extended to all primary, secondary and junior colleges. We hope that these efforts will be transformative in providing the right language environment for our children and significantly raising the level of our English Language proficiency. But I want to make the point that it is also important and useful to recognise that school-based efforts are only part of the story here. Improving the standards of English has to go beyond the classroom and into the community and, indeed, the media. We need an environment that is conducive to and supportive of the use of standard English in communication. A few real examples of English misuse that can be found in our day-to-day lives. I have illustrated in the slide which was put together by a group of young enterprising MOE officials. So you could infer from, first, it is "Irresistible". Second, it is not really about stopping operation but taking over an operation with fear. Third, we would like "self-cleaning" areas; and lastly, I must confess I am a bit baffled, I infer that it must be something to do with the hairstylist but it really talks about simplicity being a virtue in the way we communicate. I think while the examples might be amusing – you can ponder more about it for a while if you want – the more important point is that they serve to illustrate the need for a collective effort, if we are to raise our English Language proficiency. Each of us has a role to play as students, as teachers, as principals, as parents, as workers and as managers, if we are to sustain and succeed in this effort.”
“Mr Seah comes from a Mandarin and Hokkien-speaking background and, by his own admission, he would sometimes mispronounce words, such as "proNOUNCEciation" rather than "proNUNciation" – he gave me a demonstration on this. Realising the need to lead by example, he has made a personal commitment to improve his English, to the extent that he has even asked his former students to jot down all the words he commonly mispronounces so that he can be mindful of them. His humility and willingness to learn has earned the respect of his students, for whom he is a role model, an exemplar of a positive attitude towards learning English. At Junyuan Primary, the Principal, Mdm Law Li Mei, plays a key role in driving the "whole-school approach." Mdm Law and her English Language teachers have started a "One Minute of English" segment during the weekly Staff Contact Time to raise teachers' awareness of common English errors (eg, pass up your books versus hand in your books). Non-teaching staff are also included to benefit from the session. As a HOD for English put it, once the Principal, as the leader of the institution sets the tone, the entire school community is engaged in this very important effort. 1.45 pm After a successful pilot last year, more support will also be given to primary schools to engage Language Facilitators. This year, the Language Facilitator Scheme will be extended to 25 more primary schools. These Language Facilitators complement the teaching and learning of the English Language by conducting before or after-school enrichment lessons in areas such as oral presentation, drama or story-telling. Over time, MOE plans to extend the Language Facilitator Scheme to all primary schools.”
“In the long run, we envision ELIS as a Centre of Excellence for the teaching of English Language in Asia and beyond. Secondly, MOE aims to enrich the English Language learning environment in schools. To support our schools in this endeavour, an English Language Innovation Fund will be set up. Schools can draw on this Innovation Fund to promote creative ideas and practices that encourage the use of good English among its students and teachers. It will give schools the flexibility to implement customised English Language programmes and activities that cater to the unique needs of their school community. Forty schools, including 20 primary schools, 19 secondary schools and one junior college, are participating in the first phase of this "whole school approach" and will benefit from the English Language Innovation Fund. Mr Chairman, during my recent visit to some of the pilot schools, I had the chance to see how the "whole-school approach" was being implemented through the lens of students and teachers. At St. Andrew’s Secondary, I was struck by the quiet assurance and articulation of Joel Liew, a Secondary 4 Normal (Academic) student, who shared with me his experience in a Drama course offered by the school. Joel said that the course helped him learn and appreciate the craft of drama and how to write effective dialogue. But he said that his biggest thrill was performing at the Arts House where the plays were staged for the public. More important perhaps in the performance itself is that such enrichment programmes are enlivening the English Language for our students and boosting their confidence in using the language, a point made by Mdm Halimah Yacob. At Tanjong Katong Girls’ School, I met Mr Seah Chin Choon, an Additional Mathematics teacher.”
“This becomes even more important as the services industries grow as an engine of our economy. In the long run, raising our students’ spoken and written proficiency in the English language will endow them with a key asset and enable them to take on the challenges of a globalised economy. Raising the standard of English will require a continuous and coordinated effort from all stakeholders, ranging from English-medium teachers in our schools to community partners and the media. MOE will focus on two areas in particular. Firstly, we will enhance teacher capacity to teach English and English-medium subjects. Secondly, we will promote school-based programmes to improve the use of English language by students and teachers. First, teacher capacity. As role models for students and key enablers of language learning, our teachers are at the heart of this effort. MOE will establish the English Language Institute of Singapore (ELIS) in early 2011. ELIS will provide in-service training for both English Language and English-medium teachers, and offer a range of differentiated courses that cater to their specific learning needs. As a "test-bed" for innovative teaching methods, ELIS will make use of new technology and training approaches, blending traditional face-to-face instruction with web-based self-learning modules. ELIS will also play a key role in pooling our English Language expertise and resources from partner agencies, and in advising schools on the programmes that are best suited to their needs. ELIS will also tap on our English Language Master Teachers as trainers and recruit local and overseas experts. These trainers will be deployed to schools to provide customised courses and advice.”
“In the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) which was conducted in 2006 by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, our Primary 4 students were ranked fourth among 45 educational systems, which was an improvement from the rank of 15 out of 35 in 2001. We were even ahead of countries where English is the native language, such as the United States and England. Today, the pass rate for English at the "O" level and General Paper at the "A" level is about 90%, with students scoring double the proportion of distinctions compared to over 20 years ago. However, more can certainly be done particularly to improve our oracy skills. In 2000, MOE commissioned the UK-based National Foundation for Educational Research to measure the English Language proficiency of primary and secondary school students. The study showed that over a three-year period, our students showed the most improvement in reading and grammar, but the least improvement in speaking, as compared to the results of baseline tests conducted in 2001 and 2002. As part of the 2006 English Language review, MOE also conducted a students’ survey on the teaching and learning of English. The survey findings showed that our students were regularly exposed to what is called the "informal register", which we all understand it as Singlish, but did not have enough opportunities to use the formal register of English required for work and higher education. The next step forward is therefore to nurture the oral communication skills of our students. While our students have a strong grasp of content knowledge, they will be disadvantaged if they are unable to express their ideas clearly in standard English, which is a point made by Mr Ong Kian Min yesterday.”
“The details of the scheme will be announced in due course once they are finalised. Overall, the measures being taken by CPE will contribute towards the strengthening of our private education sector. As Mr Inderjit Singh noted, this in turn will help us to attract and cultivate quality PEIs to add further diversity to our private education landscape. The attraction of new private universities is something not quite within the purview of MOE. In fact, EDB continues to do that through the Global Schoolhouse Initiative. But any institution coming into Singapore must expect to be governed by the new regime established under the Private Education Act and implemented by the Council for Private Education. Mr Chairman, let me now turn finally to the issue of English Language. Mr Ong Kian Min, Mdm Halimah Yacob and Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked about what is being done to uplift English Language instruction in schools. English Language proficiency is a valuable asset for our students, something that I think we all agree on. English is the international language of commerce, industry, diplomacy, and I was just told that it is even so in the case of sports. Since the 2006 World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has required all referees and their assistants to pass an oral English proficiency test, and to take written English tests on the game rules and regulations. In general, we have made significant strides in acquiring English Language proficiency.”
“Mr Yeo asked about advance fee collection under the previous regime and whether there is any dispensation in making the transition to the new regime. The answer is "yes". There is no need for a refund but the excess fees that are being collected must be protected. And whatever is the existing protection scheme, that must be then made available under the new system, and evidence of that protection must be provided to the CPE. Once that is done, then I think they can continue and see out the existing arrangements they have with the students for the cohorts before this change in the regulatory framework. I thank Mr Yeo for his feedback on small PEIs needing assistance to attain EduTrust certification. The EduTrust Scheme assesses private education institutions on their performance in six main criteria, ranging from corporate governance to student protection and academic processes. The EduTrust Certification Scheme also allows industry best practices to be recognised. I think we must be clear about this. If our desire is to raise the standard in the sector, which I think all Members have endorsed, then there will be some additional compliance costs which the institutions have to live with. But we recognise that some PEIs may need further support to transit to the new scheme. So I am pleased that the CPE is in the process of working with SPRING Singapore, IE Singapore and the industry to formulate a support scheme to help private education institutions in the private education sector prepare for EduTrust certification. The proposed scheme aims to provide grants to the eligible institutions so that they can engage consultants who can conduct diagnostic reviews and identify areas for them to upgrade in terms of their capability.”
“Mr Chiam raised his concerns about misleading advertising and misrepresentation, and these certainly will run afoul of the Private Education Act, and the CPE is empowered to act based on its own findings or acting on complaints. If there are any specific instances, I would urge Members of this House and indeed, in general, to inform the CPE. The Council recognises that changes in the regulatory environment could affect private education institutions significantly, particularly the small to mid-size institutions, which Mr Yeo highlighted. The CPE has been working closely with industry players, including those who are making the transition from CaseTrust, to help prepare them for a smooth progression to the new regulatory regime. Between October and December last year, the CPE conducted a series of briefings and workshops on the Enhanced Registration Framework, the EduTrust certification and also the Fee Protection Scheme. In the area of student and fee protection, the CPE has implemented an industry-wide group insurance scheme to enhance fee protection for students enrolled in local private education institutions (PEIs). Members will recall that when we moved the Bill, this was a topic of discussion – how much protection will be afforded for the fees the students pay in advance. Now, all PEIs who wish to collect up to six months' fees in advance are required to purchase an industry-wide group insurance to protect the fees. Otherwise, PEIs will only be allowed to up to two months’ fees. This enhancement has been well received by students and parents because, essentially, there are just two months of fees at risk if the PEI is not insured.”
“SUTD’s collaborations with MIT and Zhejiang University will not just have an academic dimension, but as Ms Wong has pointed out quite correctly, a strong cultural element as well, and this will infuse, and in a way differentiate, a unique character of the learning experience in this university. Ms Wong will also be pleased to note that MOE remains committed to providing funding support for diploma programmes at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the LASALLE College of the Arts, as well as NTU's degree programmes at the School of Art, Design and Media at NTU. These institutions have the autonomy to manage the funding stream from MOE, including, if they wish, to set aside a portion of the funds for research, if it is necessary. There are also other sources of research funding that these institutions can tap on. This includes the Research and Development Grant given by the National Arts Council, which is open for application to both lecturers and students. Sir, let me now turn to private education. I would like to give an update on the developments in this sector. I would like to thank Mr Chiam See Tong and Mr Yeo Guat Kwang for their support, and in the case of Mr Yeo, having high hopes to raise standards in the private education sector. The Council for Private Education (CPE) was formally established on 1st December 2009. The new regulatory regime for private education institutions came into force on 21st December 2009. By the end of February this year, the CPE has received a total of 240 registration applications. For the EduTrust Certification Scheme, 23 applications have been received, and the first batch of results will be announced in the coming weeks.”
“Ms Audrey Wong welcomed the introduction of the new Singapore Teachers' Academy for the aRts (STAR) which will serve as a major platform for the professional development of teachers involved in teaching art, music and other arts-related areas. I would like to assure her that STAR will actively collaborate with local arts practitioners who have made significant contributions to Singapore's arts scene. They would include ceramic artist Iskandar Jalil and world-renowned local composer Phoon Yew Tien. She talked about the arts scholars who are returning and certainly there is no restriction on whom we can tap. I think the key issue here is whether they can add value and inform the entire process. By engaging local practitioners to conduct master classes and exhibitions, STAR will deepen our teachers' appreciation of how Singapore's rich cultural heritage has influenced local artists, and how they can in turn impart those values and sensibilities to their students. I think Ms Wong used the term "Thinking Hands" and, essentially, this is what we hope to infuse throughout the system with teachers who are well exposed to the discipline. 1.30 pm Sir, MOE is committed to improving the quality of arts education in all schools, and this would include "instilling a love for making things with imagination and the hands". At the tertiary level, the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) seeks to imbue its students with the very academic values that Ms Wong commends, because SUTD’s vision is to nurture technically grounded leaders trained in the arts and science of design.”
“So it is not about the numbers game, it is not about chasing some kind of notional target; but rather evolving our policy in tandem in what is needed in the economy. In addition, our institutions regularly update their existing courses and mount new ones to keep up with industry needs and expectations in consultation with industry players. Some examples of such new courses include Aerospace Engineering and Sustainable Urban Design. Ms Lim asked whether we do this and, in fact, our ITE and polytechnics take this very seriously. And on their boards and various advisory groups they have got very strong representation from industry. Because that is the target group, that is the market. These efforts have yielded positive employment outcomes. The latest Graduate Employment Survey results show that over 90% of university graduates were employed within the first six months of graduation in 2009. For our polytechnic and ITE graduates, the proportion was 88% and 84% respectively. This is a credible showing, I think Members will agree, especially when we consider the difficult economic environment of last year. Mr Inderjit Singh asked about MOE's plans to set up a Liberal Arts College. The Liberal Arts College is an institution which really exposes the students to a wide breadth of courses to develop their intellectual capacity, rather than just focus on specialised professional training. It would certainly be an innovative addition to our higher education landscape. MOE is studying the feasibility of this quite carefully and we will provide updates in due course. Let me touch on the arts sector. I want to assure Ms Audrey Wong that MOE recognises the value of arts education, and will continue to invest in its development throughout our system.”
“Ms Sylvia Lim asked if the university cohort participation rate will be increased beyond our target of 30%. Mr Christopher de Souza also asked whether MOE will increase the number of SIT places after 2015. And quite interestingly, Mr Lim Biow Chuan then made the point about ensuring that we have enough job opportunities for our graduates. I think therein lies the tension. We want to be measured, as Members have all acknowledged, in the way we expand our tertiary university places, making sure that it is carried out in a manner that does not compromise the quality of education received by our students and ensuring equally that it is a qualification that is valued and recognised in the market. This is fundamental. Each year, MOE works closely with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in planning for places in our post-secondary institutions. This is to ensure that our graduates continue to have market-relevant qualifications, as Mr Lim Biow Chuan pointed out. I think Ms Sylvia Lim made the point about OECD countries having a cohort participation rate of 37% in some study, and comparing it with our objective and seeing whether we should do more. I think the key point is this: It is not about mere numbers, we have to go behind the numbers and look at what is the substantive education that is being obtained. Indeed, in many parts of the world, our polytechnic education would be considered to be of equal rigour and quality to what is claimed to be university education. That is the first point to note. And secondly, we want to make sure, as I said earlier, that we are measured in the way we do this.”