Tue, Sep 15, 2009
AsiaOne
The Ministry of Education (MOE) survey in 2008 showed that students had a sense of belonging to Singapore, with 9 out of 10 students being proud to be Singaporean.
Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen gave this response in a written parliamentary reply to MP Dr Fatimah Lateef's query on whether Nation Education (NE) objectives have been met so far, and if there are KPIs (Key performances indexes) pertaining to this.
Below is the Minister's reply in full:
Dr Ng Eng Hen:
When National Education (NE) in schools was launched in 1997, the stated objectives were to develop national cohesion, cultivate the instinct for survival and instil confidence in our future. These goals continue to be relevant but following the 2007 Report of the Committee on National Education, MOE has placed a greater emphasis on these goals, in addition to fostering a sense of belonging to Singapore.
Programs and outcomes related to NE are reviewed annually in all schools as part of the School Excellence Model where schools systematically assess enablers and processes in relation to key performance results linked to the Desired Outcomes of Education. Schools with consistently good NE programs and outcomes are recognised in the yearly NE Awards. In the last 9 years, there were 144 such schools which effectively infused NE into the school's formal and informal curriculum. In addition, these schools engaged key stakeholders and built sustained partnerships with community partners in relation to NE.
For example, Evergreen Secondary School has a program to teach students storytelling skills, leveraging on diverse media tools to convey the Singapore Story. The school also has a comprehensive emergency preparedness programme organised in conjunction with the local community.
To ensure that students have basic knowledge about Singapore, an NE quiz is administered for Primary 6 and Secondary 4 students. MOE also surveys student perceptions and attitudes to obtain feedback on the effectiveness of our NE programs. Our latest survey in 2008 showed that students had a sense of belonging to Singapore, with 9 out of 10 students being proud to be Singaporean.
82% of students said they were comfortable with friends from a different religious background. They also expressed increasing confidence in Singapore's future. 74% of students expressed the belief that Singapore will remain prosperous over the next five years, and that we will remain a leading economic centre in Asia.
While these survey results are encouraging, MOE will continue to review its NE programs and content periodically to ensure that they engage students and serve our overall objectives. MOE is also mindful that we will have to engage other stakeholders, including parents and the community on this collective task to instil among our students a sense of rootedness to Singapore.
AsiaOne
The Ministry of Education (MOE) survey in 2008 showed that students had a sense of belonging to Singapore, with 9 out of 10 students being proud to be Singaporean.
Minister for Education Dr Ng Eng Hen gave this response in a written parliamentary reply to MP Dr Fatimah Lateef's query on whether Nation Education (NE) objectives have been met so far, and if there are KPIs (Key performances indexes) pertaining to this.
Below is the Minister's reply in full:
Dr Ng Eng Hen:
When National Education (NE) in schools was launched in 1997, the stated objectives were to develop national cohesion, cultivate the instinct for survival and instil confidence in our future. These goals continue to be relevant but following the 2007 Report of the Committee on National Education, MOE has placed a greater emphasis on these goals, in addition to fostering a sense of belonging to Singapore.
Programs and outcomes related to NE are reviewed annually in all schools as part of the School Excellence Model where schools systematically assess enablers and processes in relation to key performance results linked to the Desired Outcomes of Education. Schools with consistently good NE programs and outcomes are recognised in the yearly NE Awards. In the last 9 years, there were 144 such schools which effectively infused NE into the school's formal and informal curriculum. In addition, these schools engaged key stakeholders and built sustained partnerships with community partners in relation to NE.
For example, Evergreen Secondary School has a program to teach students storytelling skills, leveraging on diverse media tools to convey the Singapore Story. The school also has a comprehensive emergency preparedness programme organised in conjunction with the local community.
To ensure that students have basic knowledge about Singapore, an NE quiz is administered for Primary 6 and Secondary 4 students. MOE also surveys student perceptions and attitudes to obtain feedback on the effectiveness of our NE programs. Our latest survey in 2008 showed that students had a sense of belonging to Singapore, with 9 out of 10 students being proud to be Singaporean.
82% of students said they were comfortable with friends from a different religious background. They also expressed increasing confidence in Singapore's future. 74% of students expressed the belief that Singapore will remain prosperous over the next five years, and that we will remain a leading economic centre in Asia.
While these survey results are encouraging, MOE will continue to review its NE programs and content periodically to ensure that they engage students and serve our overall objectives. MOE is also mindful that we will have to engage other stakeholders, including parents and the community on this collective task to instil among our students a sense of rootedness to Singapore.
