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Education Minister again rejects WP’s proposal for smaller class sizes to enhance student potential

Despite the government’s efforts to revamp the Gifted Education Programme (GEP), Education Minister Chan Chun Sing rejected the Workers’ Party MPs’ proposal for smaller class sizes. MPs Jamus Lim and Louis Chua argued that smaller classes would help develop students’ potential more effectively. Minister Chan explained that class sizes vary based on student needs and emphasized that teacher quality and support are more crucial for educational outcomes.

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SINGAPORE: Despite the government’s commitment to revamping the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) to improve access to quality education for all students, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing once again rejected the proposal for smaller class sizes put forward by Workers’ Party Members of Parliament.

During the parliamentary sitting on 10 September, Associate Professor Jamus Lim and Mr. Louis Chua, both WP MPs for Sengkang GRC, argued that smaller class sizes, particularly in specialized programs like the GEP, would enable teachers to better develop students’ potential.

Mr Chua highlighted feedback from both former and current GEP students, parents, and educators, who noted that smaller class sizes in the GEP had been a key benefit.

Assoc Prof Lim sought clarification from Minister Chan on whether he agreed that smaller class sizes could better cater to students with mid-range abilities, rather than focusing only on the lower and higher ends of the spectrum.

He suggested that tailoring teaching for students in the middle could benefit from reduced class sizes.

In response, Minister Chan explained that while average class sizes in Singapore range from 30 to 40 students, the actual size varies significantly based on the needs of students.

For example, students with higher needs, on both ends of the spectrum, often have smaller class sizes, and in some cases, classes can consist of only a few students, or even operate on a one-on-one or one-to-two basis. He emphasized that there is no “one-size-fits-all” class size in Singapore’s education system.

Minister Chan also clarified that while class size is an important factor, the most significant determinant of educational outcomes is the quality of teachers and the support they receive.

Given the finite resources and the need to maintain teacher quality, the government prioritizes “tilting the curve,” meaning that smaller class sizes are allocated for students with higher needs, while leveraging technology to support learning for students in larger classes.

He introduced the concept of the “trilemma” in public education, which refers to the challenge of balancing quality, scale, and affordability. According to Minister Chan, leveraging technology, such as adaptive learning systems and gamification, offers a way to break this trilemma by allowing mass customization of education.

Later, Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency MP from Progress Singapore Party (PSP), also raised concerns about the Singapore education system’s emphasis on sorting and labeling students, which he believes increases examination pressure on children and parents. He questioned whether the Ministry of Education plans to reduce this sorting and alleviate exam-related stress.

Minister Chan responded by explaining that grouping students by ability aims to provide a suitable learning environment, not to stigmatize them. He emphasized that exams should be seen as a tool for self-improvement, not competition. Chan also highlighted the need for societal mindset shifts, particularly around labeling students.

He reiterated that the Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB) system is designed to move away from categorizing students as uniformly “gifted” or “average” and instead focuses on recognizing individual strengths across different subjects, fostering a more inclusive society based on diversity.

Gifted Education Programme to be replaced with new approach for high-ability learners

On 18 August, during his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that GEP will be phased out and replaced with a new framework aimed at supporting high-ability learners in all primary schools.

Mr Wong revealed that the GEP will be “discontinued in its current form” as part of a broader effort to make educational opportunities more inclusive and accessible to a larger group of students.

“We will equip the schools to identify their own high-ability learners – so this will benefit more students,” he stated. The new approach will allow students to remain in their current schools, avoiding the need to transfer to specific institutions that offer the GEP.

This change is intended to help students maintain existing relationships with their peers and teachers while receiving enhanced educational support.

The GEP, introduced in 1984, has been a selective programme, identifying around 1% of the student cohort through a rigorous two-stage exercise in Primary 3. Those selected typically join the programme in Primary 4, with nine primary schools currently offering the GEP, including Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Raffles Girls’ Primary School.

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Education

Singapore to expand Higher Mother Tongue access in secondary schools from 2026

Singapore will allow students who excel in their Mother Tongue Language at the PSLE to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary school starting in 2026, regardless of their overall PSLE score. The new policy is part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism and strengthen linguistic proficiency.

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16 September 2024

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SINGAPORE: From 2026, students who perform well in their Mother Tongue Language (MTL) at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be eligible to study Higher Mother Tongue at Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score, announced Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing on 14 September.

Under the current system, only students with an overall PSLE score of 8 or better, or those with a score between 9 and 14 who also achieve an AL1 or AL2 in MTL, or at least a merit in Higher Mother Tongue (HMTL), can qualify to take HMTL in secondary school.

However, from 2026, eligibility will be based solely on their MTL performance.

Students will be able to study HMTL if they score AL1 or AL2 in MTL or attain a distinction or merit in HMTL at the PSLE, regardless of their overall score.

Mr Chan, speaking at the 2024 Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, emphasised the importance of supporting students with linguistic strengths.

“All of us have different strengths and talents. Some students may be strong in languages but not in other subjects,” he said.

“We will support more of these students to take Higher Mother Tongue, so they can learn their MTL to as high a level as possible.”

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote bilingualism, which Mr Chan described as a “cornerstone of Singapore’s education system” and a key aspect of Singapore’s national identity.

He noted that bilingualism not only helps to strengthen the country’s social fabric but also enhances cognitive abilities, such as empathy and the understanding of different perspectives.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the launch of the MTL SOAR programme, which will begin in 2025 for Primary 1 and 2 students.

Under this programme, 30 minutes of the Mother Tongue curriculum will be allocated to reading and library activities, with the initiative to be extended to all primary levels by 2029.

The programme aims to support diverse learners by providing supplementary reading materials tailored to different proficiency levels.

Mr Chan highlighted the programme’s adaptability, explaining that “those who are stronger in mother tongue proficiency can read more books that are richer in content and be stretched in their learning, while those who need more support will have books that are more accessible for them.”

Additionally, as part of a pilot programme, MOE will extend the daily Mother Tongue curriculum at MOE Kindergartens from one hour to 1.5 hours, beginning with the 2025 Kindergarten 1 cohort at MK@Hougang and MK@Elias Park.

The pilot will be gradually expanded to more kindergartens.

The series of initiatives follows Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech in August, where he acknowledged concerns about declining standards in Mother Tongue proficiency and announced plans to enable more students to take Higher Mother Tongue in secondary schools.

Mr Chan underscored the cognitive and cultural benefits of bilingualism, stating, “The ability to speak two languages and understand two cultures enables us to maintain a strong link to our heritage and forge connections with people around the world.”

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Education

Malaysian man earns law degree at 77, proving education has no age limit

At 77, Malaysian retiree Zulkifly Abdullah graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara, marking his second university degree earned in retirement. His story of lifelong learning has gone viral, inspiring many to pursue education regardless of age.

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4 days ago

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13 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: A 77-year-old Malaysian man, Zulkifly Abdullah, has proven that education is indeed a lifelong journey by graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Selangor, Malaysia, on 4 September.

While many in their 70s may enjoy a quiet retirement, Zulkifly instead completed his second university degree in his golden years.

Zulkifly, a retired human resources officer and father of five, began his part-time law studies in 2018 and completed the program in December 2023.

His achievement has garnered significant attention online, with a video of his graduation, posted on UiTM’s official TikTok account, going viral on 9 September.

The clip, which shows Zulkifly smiling as he receives his scroll onstage to loud cheers and applause, has amassed over 950,000 views as of 13 September.

@uitm_channel

Warga emas berusia 77 tahun dari jurusan Sarjana Muda Pengajian Undang-Undang, Fakulti Undang-Undang naik pentas menerima skrol di #istiadatkonvokesyenuitm99 #Konvoksyen99 #konvo99 #usahatakwamulia #uitmdihatiku

♬ original sound – UiTM Channel – UiTM Channel

This is Zulkifly’s second degree earned during retirement. He first returned to school at the age of 60, enrolling at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from 2007 to 2011, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History.

His decision to study law came from personal interest, particularly due to his prior work in a ministry dealing with legal regulations.

In an interview with The New Straits Times, Zulkifly acknowledged the challenges of studying in his later years, especially in retaining information, but credited his family, lecturers, and classmates for their unwavering support.

He often discussed legal matters with his son, a lawyer, and sought clarification on various topics from him.

Reflecting on his journey, Zulkifly emphasised the importance of lifelong learning.

“Education is a lifelong journey. Law requires consistent reading and effort. If you have the opportunity, continue learning regardless of your age,” he said.

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