Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): I thank the Minister for the comprehensive response. It is heartening to know that at the higher levels, this is something that is being actively considered. I wonder if this will also be considered at the somewhat lower levels as well. Understandably, students at the lower levels feel more constrained in the kind of subjects they are forced to study and sometimes feel that taking on certain topics may be completely unrelated to their subsequent career aspirations.
Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Just to clarify, first, Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, are you thinking of the lower levels as in the secondary level? Okay.
So, at the secondary level, yes, we do expose our students to polytechnic and ITE courses along the way. Some students are able to take modules in the polytechnic to give them a flavour of the kind of courses that they can take. Some students do take GCE “O” level subjects through polytechnic modules; for example, those who are interested in studying media and they take modules in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Their GCE “O” level is based on these modules that they have taken. So, there is flexibility that is provided, but it really depends on the aptitude of the students at that point. [Please refer to “Clarification by Second Minister for Education“, Official Report, 3 August 2023, Vol 95, Issue 110, Correction by Written Statement section.]
Today, we allow the schools to have the flexibility to identify students’ interest so that they know exactly what options are available.
At the same time, we do a lot of education and career guidance for students at the secondary level. We are also encouraging secondary schools to get their alumni to come back to serve on school boards so that the alumni can expose the students to various industries that are available out there.
While the foundation is necessary for us to make sure that we ready our students with the fundamentals – Math, Science, as articulated by Dr Wan Rizal earlier – from the perspective of getting exposure to the kind of careers that are available when they grow up, we do explore other opportunities for them.
Ministry of Education
3 August 2023
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-3320
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 