Category Archives: Education, Inequality, Cost of Living

REVIEW OF COMCARE PAYOUTS GIVEN INFLATION

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in light of rising inflation for daily necessities, whether there will be a reassessment by the Social Service Offices of the amount of ComCare payouts and a more expeditious review of the eligibility criteria. Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: ComCare provides assistance to low-incomeContinue reading “REVIEW OF COMCARE PAYOUTS GIVEN INFLATION”

PLANS TO IMPLEMENT USE OF CLEAR MASKS IN PRESCHOOL SETTINGS TO ENABLE INFANTS AND TODDLERS TO OBSERVE LIP MOVEMENTS OF TEACHERS IN THEIR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether there are plans to implement the use of clear masks in preschool settings in respect of infants and toddlers who, in the process of language acquisition, may suffer delays due to an inability to observe the lip movement of teachers and adults. MrContinue reading “PLANS TO IMPLEMENT USE OF CLEAR MASKS IN PRESCHOOL SETTINGS TO ENABLE INFANTS AND TODDLERS TO OBSERVE LIP MOVEMENTS OF TEACHERS IN THEIR LANGUAGE ACQUISITION”

MEASURES TO DAMPEN INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OR TO HELP SINGAPOREANS COPE GIVEN HIGHER PRICES

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Finance (a) in the last five years, what is the annual amount of excise duties derived from petrol and diesel sold to end consumers; and (b) whether the Government can reduce excise duties for intermediate grade petrol and diesel in view of high fuel prices today. Ms HeContinue reading “MEASURES TO DAMPEN INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OR TO HELP SINGAPOREANS COPE GIVEN HIGHER PRICES”

IMPACT OF HIGHER ELECTRICITY AND INGREDIENT PRICES ON EARNINGS OF HAWKERS

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what data has the Ministry obtained regarding the quantitative impact on earnings faced by hawkers due to inflation in electricity and ingredient prices and restrictions on dining-in; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider additional support measures to cushion the impact on (i) hawkers andContinue reading “IMPACT OF HIGHER ELECTRICITY AND INGREDIENT PRICES ON EARNINGS OF HAWKERS”

IMPACT OF RECENT GLOBAL EVENTS ON COSTS OF DAILY NECESSITIES AND GOODS AND SUPPORT MEASURES FOR NEEDY SINGAPOREANS

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Finance what studies has the Ministry conducted so far to examine how the costs of daily necessities and goods in Singapore will be impacted by recent global events such as rising commodity prices, rising global inflation, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. 30 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked theContinue reading “IMPACT OF RECENT GLOBAL EVENTS ON COSTS OF DAILY NECESSITIES AND GOODS AND SUPPORT MEASURES FOR NEEDY SINGAPOREANS”

AGE-APPROPRIATE DISCUSSIONS IN SCHOOLS FOR COMPLEX FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY ISSUES

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Education to what extent are teachers engaging students to discuss with them, in age-appropriate ways, the positions Singapore has taken on complex foreign policy and security issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Singapore’s relations with the US and China and hostile information campaigns targeted at Singapore’s population. Mr ChanContinue reading “AGE-APPROPRIATE DISCUSSIONS IN SCHOOLS FOR COMPLEX FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY ISSUES”

PERCENTAGES OF PRESCHOOLS PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT-LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAMME AND INCLUSIVE SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the current percentage of preschools that provide the Development Support-Learning Support programmes for children with special needs; (b) what is the current percentage of preschools that provide the Inclusive Support Programme to integrate early childhood and early intervention services at preschoolsContinue reading “PERCENTAGES OF PRESCHOOLS PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT-LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAMME AND INCLUSIVE SUPPORT PROGRAMME”

INCOME DATA OF LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED POPULATION WITH BREAKDOWN BY INCOME GROUP IN PAST THREE YEARS AND HELP MEASURES PLANNED

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Manpower (a) for each year in the past three years, what is the income data of the long-term unemployed population with a breakdown by income groups; (b) what are the top five industries with the highest long-term unemployment rates; and (c) what are the plans to support long-term unemployed workersContinue reading “INCOME DATA OF LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED POPULATION WITH BREAKDOWN BY INCOME GROUP IN PAST THREE YEARS AND HELP MEASURES PLANNED”

MAINTAINING DIVERSE CURRICULUM WITH LIBERAL ARTS AT NEW NUS COLLEGE FOLLOWING CLOSURE OF YALE-NUS COLLEGE

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Education (a) how will a diverse curriculum that includes the liberal arts be ensured for the new NUS College and its students in order to maintain the inter-disciplinary and global perspectives from Yale-NUS College (YNC) and NUS’ University Scholars Programme (USP) experiences; and (b) how will small-group teaching andContinue reading “MAINTAINING DIVERSE CURRICULUM WITH LIBERAL ARTS AT NEW NUS COLLEGE FOLLOWING CLOSURE OF YALE-NUS COLLEGE”

TEACHERS’ WORKLOAD AND HOURS SPENT WORKING IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry has conducted reviews on teachers’ workload following the introduction of hybrid learning in schools. Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Ministry of Education (MOE) monitors our teachers’ workload through periodic surveys and polls, and various forms of staff engagements, including school visits by senior management. SuchContinue reading “TEACHERS’ WORKLOAD AND HOURS SPENT WORKING IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL”