New focus on values in key education shift

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will shine a spotlight on developing character and instilling values in students, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.

Mr Heng said: "Between academic achievements and values, it must not be 'either/or'. We should strive to achieve both."

He was speaking to some 1,800 school leaders and teachers at the annual MOE Work Plan Seminar at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

To re-affirm the central place of values and character development in a student-centric education system, he announced initiatives like a new Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum and a dedicated CCE branch, which will be set up next year.

The CCE curriculum will be co-created by schools and MOE.

It will incorporate existing programmes such as Civics and Moral Education (CME), National Education and Co-Curri- cular Activities (CCA).

Mr Heng said the education system needs to nurture citizens of good character so that "everyone has moral resolve to withstand an uncertain future".

Globally, he said that there are changes in traditional social structures of families, lifestyles and consumption of media.

Closer to home, he cited the challenge of the ageing population and a changing social context.

While MOE will set clear expectations on devoting curriculum time to CCE, Mr Heng said that school leaders and teachers must commit to it.

He said: "Periods set aside for CME must not make way for remedial lessons for examinable subjects."

While the teaching of values has always been done at Haig Girls' School, its principal, Mrs Constance Loke, welcomes the new move.

She said: "If we want our children to be good citizens who are creative and able to contribute to society, we need to start with values."

Recognising that CCAs are an integral way to build character outside the classroom, MOE will be reviewing its current grading framework called Leaps (Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation, Service).

The review's aim is to "re-balance the recognition from achievement to holistic and balanced participation".

Mr Heng said: "We must re-emphasise that the intent of CCAs is not to win medals per se, but to learn the values of excellence, teamwork and discipline; to be gracious in victory and resilient in losing."

He said that schools should increase their capacity to enable students to participate in recreational sports and other activities.

At Yio Chu Kang Secondary, students are already being given a chance to participate in dance activities as part of their school-based curriculum.

Its principal, Mr Saminathan Gopal, said that this ensures that all students have equal opportunities in exposure and experience.

He said: "In this way, the school encourages the exploration of diverse interests and provides opportunities for students with a special talent or interest to specialise and develop these talents."

To reduce the workload of schools, Mr Heng announced plans to reduce the administrative work required for the school appraisal system by one third.

nggwen@sph.com.sg

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