Online users express anger towards Chan Chun Sing over his remarks of calling people “idiots” and “disgraceful”

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Many people posing unmasked.

 

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More people posing unmasked.

 

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Chan Chun Sing​

13 h ·
Here’s a holiday activity for families – visit Jurong Regional Library for musical encounters!
If you have children who like listening to music while reading, look out for something special in the library as part of the 40th anniversary of the Music Elective Programme.
I hope you’ll enjoy your visits to the library as much as I do

. #MEP40

Ministry of Education, Singapore​

22 October ·
Sound on! Soak in this original jazz tune by local musician Chok Kerong, performed by a quintet of students from the Music Elective Programme.
If you’re headed to the library in the coming weeks, bring headphones as well. Our music educators have curated musical works by students and created a library-wide treasure hunt of tunes in the form of “shelf talkers” – small cards with song suggestions to accompany your browsing of books.
It’s part of celebrations for the Music Elective Programme’s 40th anniversary, which also include a soundscapes exhibition at the Library@Esplanade.
#MEP40

 

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from straitstimes.com:

NTU institute launched to advance digital molecular analysis capabilities​

NTU Professor Chen Xiaodong (left) speaks with Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing at the Nanyang Executive Centre on Dec 1, 2022. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Zhaki Abdullah

PUBLISHED

1 DEC 2022, 3:15 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE - Getting back the results of a blood test can take days, but this might change soon, thanks to research being conducted at a newly opened centre at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The work done at the centre might eventually enable doctors to analyse a patient’s blood sample on the spot using just a smartphone camera.
The Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), launched by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday, aims to advance the science behind analysing biological molecules such as proteins and carbohydrates.

Digital molecular analytics forms a bridge between biology and information technology.
The goal of the institute is to develop the capabilities that will allow for real-time tracking of viral infections and the molecular signatures indicating the presence of disease.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how easily diseases can spread in an interconnected world, said Professor Ling San, NTU’s acting president and provost.


“By integrating the digital and the biological, we can more quickly detect threats, inform policy and guide action in real time,” he said during the launch of IDMxS, held at the NTU campus.


IDMxS will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse and interpret the vast amount of information a biological sample provides.
Professor Jay Groves, the institute’s founding director, compared molecular assays, or the process of analysing molecular information, to individual pixels in a digital image.
“The defining feature of digital molecular analytics is the way results from these thousands or millions of individual assays are collected, interpreted and ultimately reconstructed into a super-high resolution molecular analysis,” said Prof Groves, who is also president’s chair in bioanalytical sciences at NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Among the possible applications of the technology is the development of a tool to identify the different disease-causing molecules in the blood.
This would allow doctors to analyse a patient’s blood sample immediately using a smartphone camera, reducing the need for lengthy laboratory tests.
Prof Groves said he expected such tools to be commercially available within the next decade.


Another project to be undertaken by the centre is the large-scale monitoring of insect-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
The analysis of molecules making up the dengue virus will allow researchers to eventually develop an imaging system to monitor dengue within the mosquito population.
This could potentially be used to track not only dengue and malaria, but also other infectious diseases.
Prof Groves added that he expected the market for digital molecular analytics to grow substantially, with several multibillion-dollar companies in the field over the next 10 to 20 years.
IDMxS is Singapore’s seventh research centre of excellence and is the third such centre under NTU. Research centres of excellence aim to carry out world-class research in line with the Republic’s long-term strategic interests.
About $160 million will be invested in IDMxS over the next decade, with $94 million from the Ministry of Education and the remaining amount from NTU and the National University of Singapore.


The centre is expected to have 100 full-time researchers and staff with expertise in areas such as biology, medical technology and computer science.
It will also have a graduate programme, which will provide postgraduate NTU students with opportunities in interdisciplinary education and training.
The centre will provide funding for more than 30 PhD students – four of whom have already started their studies – and will develop continuing-education programmes that will help healthcare workers adapt to the digitalisation of clinical diagnostics.

 

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Keechiu visits SUTD.

Chan Chun Sing​

7 h ·
How can we enhance the quality of remote learning? This was a question educators at SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design grappled with after conducting surveys to better understand student needs.
While existing platforms provide good engagement, 3-dimensional concepts such as physics can be harder to teach online.
They decided to leverage technological advances and came up CampusX — an initiative driven by new media like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality — to foster a more immersive remote learning experience.
I joined Sarah, Kellie, Luvyn, Swasti, Jing Kai, Kah Kiat and Kyle for a class discussion using CampusX’s cyber-physical learning platform. Kyle, who was dialling in, could even ‘point’ to items in the classroom using a laser-pointer he controlled remotely, making the class more engaging for him. The students shared with me the Design Thinking Framework, and we examined the workings of a mosquito trap in order to brainstorm ways to improve its design.
Thanks for having me, SUTD! May our institutes of higher learning continue to use technology to revolutionise learning for the better.

 

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Keechiu joins a discussion.

 

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Keechiu shares a joke.

 

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SUTD also registers more Indians than any other races

 

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Keechiu waves from the staircase.

 

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Keechiu asks what your book cover theme and design would be.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
#DidYouKnow that primary and secondary school students created book covers as part of Singapore Youth Festival - SYF?
They designed their book covers based on the themes ‘Connection’, ‘Discovery’ and ‘Nature’. These creative, colourful pieces celebrate their journeys in the arts and gave the budding student-designers an opportunity to hone their skills through mentorships with professional designers.
As the year draws to a close, what would your 2022 book cover theme and design be

?
[

: Ministry of Education, Singapore]

 

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Keechiu wants you to continue to play your part.

Chan Chun Sing​

4 h ·
The Ministry of Health, Singapore introduced booster shots for our children against COVID-19 in October. The #Soaper5 are once again featured in our #COVID19 paediatric vaccination centres. We hope this provides a sense of familiarity and assurance for our children. If you have not yet signed your child up for an appointment, I urge you to do so this school holiday as vaccination saves lives.
Our Soaper Heroes have been championing messages on good hygiene habits among our children. In November, the creators behind this all-star team were recognised at the Marketing Excellence Awards as one of the finalists for excellence in marketing communications under the COVID-19-Related Campaign category. Ministry of Education, Singapore is proud of their contributions in our fight against COVID-19.
In the words of the Soaper 5, “Let’s continue to play our part, to protect what’s close to our hearts!”
#SingaporeTogether

 

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from straitstimes.com:

SIT pilots pathway for working adults to upskill in ICT sector with stackable qualifications​

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing (back row, third from left), was the guest of honour at the event where the Singapore Institute of Technology inked a memorandum of understanding with three industry partners and three polytechnics. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Chin Hui Shan

PUBLISHED

28 NOV 2022, 9:50 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE - Working adults can soon upgrade their skills in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector through a new programme offering qualifications which can stack up to a Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) degree.
The programme will let them earn micro-credentials, which are qualifications in specific topics, in areas such as cyber security, software engineering and network systems.
The pilot programme, known as the Competency-based Stackable Micro-credential pathway, is run by SIT and targets working adults who want to take on larger roles in their companies or pivot to emerging technologies.

On Monday, SIT inked a memorandum of understanding with three industry partners – NCS, Singtel and Singapore Computer Society – and three polytechnics – Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who was the guest of honour at the event held at The Arts House, said degrees and diplomas tended to be the focus in the past.
“These are certainly useful in signalling general abilities and capabilities. But increasingly, moving forward, we need to be able to help our workers signal specific skill sets to the market,” he said.


“Beyond the first diploma or degree, we should be pursuing many more stackable modules that are competency-based. It is not just about getting a general degree, but micro-credentials that are relevant and specific to the industry needs.”


The micro-credentials will be offered through the existing Bachelor of Science with Honours in Applied Computing, and may be expanded to more degree programmes in the future.
Each micro-credential consists of about four courses and takes about four months to complete.
Learners can sign up for a single micro-credential or take on multiple micro-credentials over a period of time and complete a capstone project to obtain an SIT degree.


SIT president Chua Kee Chaing said the applied computing degree was chosen to address the critical shortage of talent in the ICT sector.
The programme will allow learners to be exempted from certain courses if their previous qualifications and acquired skills – such as post-diploma certifications or skills gained through work – are a match with the course.
“This way, learners don’t waste time relearning what they already know,” said Professor Chua.


The programme will begin in the later half of the academic year 2023 to 2024 that starts next September, with an expected initial intake of close to 150 students.
Besides being tested on the theories and principles of the topics in the programme, students will also be assessed on how they apply what they have learnt in their workplaces.
To maximise the flexibility of the programme, the courses will be taught in a mix of virtual and physical classes. The virtual classes, mostly for theory lessons, will be carried out using a self-learning format that lets students complete the lessons in their own time.
NCS and Singtel will be sponsoring their employees for this programme and will work closely with SIT to curate suitable learning materials for the students.
NCS vice-president for people and culture Gerard Koh said: “This collaboration is a win-win for us, because we get to train and retain our talent, and for the students, they get to work to gain experience and study at the same time towards a degree.”
He added that NCS will support its participating employees, including by giving them time off during their examination period.
Mr Charlton Ong, Singtel’s vice-president for people and culture, said: “A lot of our people want to get a degree, but many may not have the support in balancing their professional life and personal life. This sponsorship will help them learn new skills and stay relevant.
“After all, our people are our assets.”

 

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Keechiu visited his former school campus.

Chan Chun Sing​

6 h ·
Visited my former school campus when I was a teenager. Have not set foot on this site for more than 30 years.
Walking down the corridors and up the stairs was nostalgic. I immediately spotted my Secondary 2 classroom and of course, our well-loved Scout Den.
So many good memories!

 

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Chan Chun Sing​

8 h ·

Outside my Secondary Two classroom

 

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Chan Chun Sing​

8 h ·

Outside the Scout Den

 

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Keechiu surrounded by green grass.

 

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Keechiu took a stroll around Buona Vista.

 

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from straitstimes.com:

Schools and businesses to work on exposing more students to industry needs​

Mr Chan Chun Sing speaking with attendees at a Forward Singapore group discussion session, on Nov 19, 2022. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Ng Keng Gene
UPDATED

21 NOV 2022, 6:24 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE – To allow students to better track the skills and competencies needed to enter the workforce, business and employer federations are looking to partner schools to run programmes that will offer students and teachers a taste of the working world.
While such collaborations currently exist, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Saturday that it wants more students and teachers to benefit from initiatives such as entrepreneurship lessons and industry attachments.
MOE will work with the Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Human Resource Institute and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) to facilitate more tie-ups, said the ministry, as it drew to a close the first phase of engagements under the Forward Singapore exercise’s “equip” pillar, which focuses on education and lifelong learning.

Forward Singapore is an ongoing, year-long public engagement exercise that will lay out the roles and responsibilities of the Government and citizens in the coming years. Each of the six pillars that discussions are centred on is headed by a 4G minister.
On Saturday, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who heads the equip pillar, engaged with 200 young people, parents, educators, and industry and community representatives at the Employment and Employability Institute in Jurong East.
They discussed topics such as lifelong learning, diverse education pathways and special education needs. Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, as well as National Development, Mr Tan Kiat How, and Minister of State for Education Gan Siow Huang were also at the event.


SNEF executive director Sim Gim Guan, who participated in the engagement, said current school-business collaborations are ad hoc and dependent on the network that each school has with businesses, and that institutionalising such arrangements will achieve better outcomes for schools and companies.

Singapore National Employment Federation executive director Sim Gim Guan said students can mentally prepare themselves for their future jobs through school-industry partnerships. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
“The students of today will be the workforce of tomorrow. So it is clearly in the interest of industries to ensure that the students are aware of opportunities that are in our economy... and to mentally prepare them for the future of work,” he said.
For instance, under a partnership between Yuying Secondary School and food company Super Bean International, the students learnt about the process of creating and marketing a food product, as well as heard from company representatives about their entrepreneurship journey.
Mr Chan said it is challenging for schools to anticipate the skills that firms will require of their students when they join the workforce. One way to “shorten the cycle” is for schools and businesses to work much closer together “so that students know what is relevant to them in a timely manner as they prepare their choices for their future careers”.

MOE said the school-industry partnerships will include centralised talks and visits to companies, attachments for educators, corporate representation in school advisory committees, and opportunities for companies or associations to adopt a school for longer-term partnership.
Mr Sam Liew, managing partner of IT firm NCS’ government strategic business group, said school-industry collaborations could help firms, especially those facing a talent crunch, by allowing them to reach students directly with internship openings.
This could possibly create pathways for students to become full-time employees, said Mr Liew, co-chair of the TechSkills Accelerator for ITE and Polytechnics Alliance – a group of 13 companies that helps to upskill and employ students and graduates from polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education.
Meanwhile, another issue addressed on Saturday was support for students with special education needs and their parents, with calls for more opportunities for them to further their education before entering the workforce.
Mrs Tina Tan, who has three sons, including an 18-year-old with several special education needs, proposed that more groups could be set up for parents of children with special education needs to share experiences and support one another.
While there are avenues for parents to speak with their children’s schools and teachers, she noted, these could at times be unsettling because schools’ communication with parents is likely to be performance-based.

Mrs Tina Tan, vice-president of the Society for the Promotion of ADHD Research and Knowledge and a mother of three sons, speaking at a Forward Singapore discussion on Saturday. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
“Sometimes the schools are not really in the position to reach in,” said the 47-year-old, who is the vice-president of the Society for the Promotion of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Research and Knowledge.
“The key is peer-to-peer support,” said Mrs Tan, adding that when parents engage and share with one another, there is a depth of familiarity and problems become more relatable, as they are able to identify with what each of them is going through.
“Peer connection and community are very powerful in helping parents come to terms with the diagnosis, and changing their mindset on what it takes to support a child with special needs.”

 

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Keechiu is inspired by Dr Chiradip Chatterjee, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical science at Republic Polytechnic.

Chan Chun Sing​

7 h ·
BTS, soy-based abalone feed and cartoons – these are all the things Dr Chiradip Chatterjee, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutical science at Republic Polytechnic, uses to make his classes fun and engaging for his students.
“It is up to me to adapt the way I support them, so all of them have opportunities to succeed,” Dr Chiradip says. “In the end, it’s actually about how a teacher approaches his students and helps them. If you give them time, space and a happy environment, it’s possible to draw even the quietest ones into class.”
Proud of our teachers for their daily efforts in understanding the interests of our students and using differentiated approaches to engage them effectively

Read more about Dr Chiradip at https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/.../bringing-out-the-voice....
Be inspired by stories of other educators like him at https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/

 

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Keechiu watches Dr Chiradip Chatterjee chatting with chiobus.