Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing engaged with over 200 parents, youths, educators, community and industry representatives on 19 November 2022. This was part of the Forward Singapore engagement under the Equip pillar, which focuses on education and lifelong learning. Minister Chan was joined by Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and National Development Mr Tan Kiat How, and Minister of State for Education and Manpower Ms Gan Siow Huang.

More than 7,500 Singaporeans have submitted their pledges on the desired collective outcomes for education and lifelong learning since the launch of the Equip pillar microsite by Minister Chan on 5 September. Discussions are centred on the following three areas which resonated most with the various participants:

a)    Embracing lifelong learning to seize new opportunities and maximise potential;

b)    Supporting our students’ diverse interests, learning needs and aspirations; and

c)    Building an inclusive society for our students with special educational needs (SEN) and their families.

School-Industry Partnerships

During the engagement, participants discussed ways to strengthen the partnerships between schools and industry stakeholders, to create more opportunities for educators and students to learn for life and prepare them for a future-ready workforce.

Minister Chan explained that it is challenging for schools to anticipate the skills that companies require when students eventually join the workforce. Therefore, schools and industry must work much closer together, so that students would know what is relevant to them as they prepare their choices for their careers. 

Minister Chan Chung Sing interacting with participants at the Forward Singapore Equip pillar engagement on education and lifelong learning on 19 November 2022. (Credit: MCI / Jon)

Participants discussed ways for companies to move towards skills-based hiring practices. To this, SMS Tan said that employers must broaden their definitions of success by looking beyond potential employees’ qualifications and academic record, with more focus on the persons’ skills and dispositions. He looked forward to seeing more companies moving towards progressive hiring practices and focusing more on skill sets, as Singapore moves towards a skills-based economy.

Supporting students with diverse needs and talents

At the engagement session, participants also discussed ways to better support students’ diverse learning needs and aspirations, and to build a more inclusive environment in school and the community. Several parents exchanged ideas on how to better support children’s holistic learning and development. These points were reiterated by MOS Gan who said that Parent Support Groups play an integral role in parenting journey. She added that it is important to create parent-peer communities, especially for parents of children with special education needs (SEN) to support one another. She also emphasised the importance of co-creating resources to support parents in engaging their children on their holistic well-being.

Minister of State Gan Siow Huang speaking with participants during a small group discussion at the Forward Singapore Equip pillar engagement on 19 November 2022. (Credit: MCI / Jon)

Refreshing social compact on education and lifelong learning

In his closing remarks at the engagement session, Minister Chan encouraged more Singaporeans to step forward to share their vision and aspirations for education and lifelong learning as part of the Forward Singapore exercise.

Minister Chan Chung Sing and Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How delivering their closing remarks at the Forward Singapore Equip pillar engagement on education and lifelong learning on 19 November 2022. (Credit: MCI / Jon)

Minister Chan hoped the engagement sessions would generate new perspectives and ideas on ways for Singaporeans to take collective action to achieve the desired outcomes for education and lifelong learning. 

A graphic illustration encapsulating discussions at the Forward Singapore Equip pillar engagement on education and lifelong learning on 19 November 2022. (Credit: MCI / Jon)

Visit the Equip pillar microsite to share your views and make your pledges!

To participate in the next Forward Singapore engagement, go here.