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

[jw5]

Keechiu thanks everyone.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
Kudos to Keat Hong Constituency for engaging and collaborating with diverse community partners such as BASF South East Asia and the Keat Hong Tiger Cub Scouts. These partnerships help to introduce related activities such as sustainability and community resilience to residents.
Popped by different parts of Keat Hong and had good conversations with many residents this morning.
Thank you to Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and his grassroots team for showing me around Keat Hong. My thanks to residents for the warm welcome!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu visited Assumption English School.

Chan Chun Sing​

9 h ·
As students, where was your favourite hang-out after school?
During my visit to Assumption English School, I had the pleasure of exploring the GABRIEL Cabin, a dedicated space for students to unwind and relax after school hours. Students can play foosball, board games, and even doodle on a mural wall.
I met Marcus and Kai Liang, both of whom are part of a team of 'Cabin leaders' -- students who maintain the space and ensure its cleanliness for their peers to enjoy. They had a strong sense of responsibility in upkeeping this space. The Cabin isn't just any other hangout spot; it showcases the students' ownership and the strong, close-knit community they've built.
#ourschoolstories

 

[jw5]

Keechiu wants to galvanise the strengths of different individuals, communities and organisations to tackle the challenges ahead of Singapore.

Chan Chun Sing​

2 d ·
At the President’s Scholarship Award Ceremony this evening, I met three outstanding young individuals – Edison, Renee and Feifei – who shared with me their aspirations for Singapore and how they hoped to contribute to the Public Service.
We will need to galvanise the strengths of different individuals, communities and organisations to tackle the challenges ahead of Singapore. As they embark on the next chapter of their journey, I wish them success in their endeavours. I am confident that they will exemplify the values and ethos of Public Service, to build a better and brighter future for all Singaporeans.

 

[jw5]

Keechiu congratulates awardees.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
Congratulations to the 23 awardees of the Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent Scheme (START)!
As researchers, you will help develop fresh solutions to the complex challenges we face. As educators, you will play a key role in preparing our students for an increasingly uncertain world. Your work will not only lead to published findings in international journals, but also impact and improve the lives of fellow Singaporeans.
I wish you an exciting START to your journey ahead!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu was delighted to catch up with residents and stall owners.

Chan Chun Sing​

6 h ·
Delighted to catch up with residents and stall owners during my market and house visits in My Buona Vista this morning. Glad to know they’re keeping well!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu is thankful again.

Chan Chun Sing​

11 h ·
We are thankful for the close partnerships forged in My Buona Vista.
Some of our residents enjoyed a breakfast gathering this weekend at Commonwealth Close organised by our grassroots leaders and volunteers. Our partners from UOB were also present to share with residents tips on how to protect ourselves from scams.
Over at Buona Vista CC, our partners from Family Justice Courts, MSF Singapore, The Law Society of Singapore, Agency for Integrated Care - AIC Singapore and Pro Bono SG were providing advice to our residents and addressing their queries on issues such as those pertaining to Wills and LPA.
We would like to thank all our residents, grassroots leaders and volunteers, as well as community partners for their dedication and spirit of community. We hope everyone had an enriching time!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu wants to express his love.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
There are many reasons to love Singapore, and even more ways to express them though our different languages! Thank you students from Institute of Technical Education, Singapore and SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design for your sharing.
What do you love about Singapore?

Join me in showing it through a short video!

From now till 27 Aug, the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism (LKYFB) and 8视界娱乐生活志 8world Entertainment & Lifestyle are running a competition to promote the use of our Mother Tongue. Visit https://go.gov.sg/aa4ol7 for more details!
#ilovesingapore23

: The Road Ahead by Linying, Sezairi, Shye and Shabir

 

[jw5]

Keechiu wishes everyone happy learning.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
Our Autonomous Universities (AUs) offer a wide variety of courses that cater to our students' different interests and learning needs.
At NUS, students are exposed to a comprehensive and research-intensive education pathway taught by faculty and staff who have deep mastery of their subject matter.
This semester, NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) welcomes Assoc Prof Jasjit Singh, a Sikh Studies expert from the University of Leeds, as part of its South Asian Studies Programme. This is part of a Visiting Professorship, the first of its kind in Asia and outside the Indian subcontinent, set up following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between FASS and the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (CSGB). Both the Sikh and non-Sikh community came together to raise endowment funds, with dollar to dollar matching from Ministry of Education.
Our Sikh friends will also be able to learn from Assoc Prof Singh, through a series of public workshops and public lectures.
Collaborations between our AUs and corporate and community partners to bring experts from across the globe foster cross cultural understanding, and deepen understanding about different ways of lives.
Sat Sri Akaal, Happy learning!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu visited ITE.

Chan Chun Sing​

6 h ·
At Institute of Technical Education, Singapore, students go beyond the physical barriers of a classroom using technology, and pick up industry relevant skills through the smart use of VR and immersive projections.
Aliyah demonstrated how she operates a chemical plant through VR at the Plant for Authentic Learning. Students learn petrochemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes here by operating virtual chemical plants without needing to brave high temperatures.
At the Airport Operations Simulation Training Centre, Sarra explained how he uses real parts of a passenger aircraft to learn about airport operations.
Wei Kang and Gwen also walked me through how they use a micro drill to check for tree trunk decay at the Urban Greenery Hub.
Always great to see our IHLs innovating to deliver authentic learning experiences for our students!

 

[jw5]

Keechiu thanks all teachers.

Chan Chun Sing​

4 h ·
Many of us know that Singapore's passport is currently the world's most powerful passport. However, beyond our physical passport, Singaporeans also hold an equally vital passport; that of the "bilingualism" passport.
The ability for Singaporeans to speak two languages and understand multiple cultures allows us to maintain not only a strong link to our cultural roots, but also enables us to unlock connections with people around the world. So we must treasure our language landscape and redouble our efforts to protect our bilingualism edge. Educators, parents, and community partners must work hand in hand to create a conducive environment that nurtures and deepens students' love for the language.
At today's Mother Tongue Languages Symposium, we celebrated the achievements of outstanding preschool Mother Tongue teachers, who used engaging pedagogies to excite their students in the learning of MTLs. I was also pleased to launch the new 2024 Primary MTL curriculum. The new curriculum is designed for the times, by using technology such as Augmented Reality and animated videos more extensively, and refreshes the joy of learning MTLs within and beyond the classroom.
Thank you to all teachers who consistently go the extra mile to nurture the love of MTL in our students. And as the first teacher in our children’s school of life, parents will always be our key supporter in our children’s lifelong language journey.
With Dr Maliki Osman, Gan Siow Huang 颜晓芳, Vikram Nair

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

New curriculum for mother tongue languages for Primary 1 pupils from 2024​

A pupil showing Education Minister Chan Chun Sing (right) and Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman a hanyu pinyin game that will be used in the new curriculum, at the Mother Tongue Languages Symposium 2023 on Saturday. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Amelia Teng
Education Correspondent
UPDATED

26 AUG 2023, 6:34 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE – Animated videos, online games and augmented reality will be featured more prominently in mother tongue lessons for Primary 1 pupils from 2024, as part of a refreshed curriculum announced by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Saturday.
Pupils will have more avenues to use their mother tongue languages in day-to-day contexts, such as when buying food in the canteen and writing social media posts.
The new curriculum, which will be implemented progressively starting with the Primary 1 cohort in 2024, aims to promote cross-cultural literacy.

For example, in the Primary 1 Malay textbook, pupils will be introduced to popiah, a Chinese spring roll that has become a local favourite, as well as to lumpia, the Filipino version of spring roll.
“Through these examples, students will better appreciate cross-cultural similarities and better connect with their friends in the region,” said Mr Chan.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) carried out a pilot of the refreshed curriculum in 2023 across 10 schools for Chinese language, 10 schools for Tamil and 16 schools for Malay.

The latest curriculum builds on the 2015 iteration and will feature greater use of technology, such as in the learning of hanyu pinyin and in tongue placement animations for Tamil.

MOE said it will continue to guide teachers in using technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, in teaching and learning.
Speaking at the Mother Tongue Languages Symposium held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mr Chan said the new curriculum will place greater focus on helping pupils learn and use their mother tongue languages in and outside of the classroom.
Pupils will learn through a mix of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic means, he added. For instance, for Chinese language, they could read e-books with interactive functions and digital narration at home or play games that improve word recognition.

An electronic Tamil reading pen has also been created to help pupils learn the correct pronunciation of words, while pupils can learn Malay through songs and body movement activities during lessons.
Mr Chan said MOE is working with industry partners to develop an AI solution for children learning oracy skills for their mother tongues in out-of-school contexts.
Being bilingual is an important part of the Singapore identity, he said. Yet remaining proficient in mother tongue languages has been a challenge as Singapore has seen a shift to English as the language most frequently spoken at home in the past decade.
“Many parents value the importance of bilingualism, but struggle to create conducive environments for their children to develop bilingual capabilities,” he added.
“If we do not do anything, we will start to lose our bilingualism edge,” he said, encouraging parents to devote more time to the mother tongue languages in their children’s early years.

The new curriculum, which will be implemented progressively starting with the Primary 1 cohort in 2024, aims to promote cross-cultural literacy. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Madam Li Huan, 49, head of department for mother tongue language at Elias Park Primary School, one of the pilot schools, said the latest curriculum allows for more self-directed learning as pupils can use digital resources at home.
For instance, they will have more interactive resources to recognise Chinese characters or learn hanyu pinyin, which is necessary for them to expand their vocabulary and read more extensively, she said.
Mr Thiagarrajan, 52, a parent whose Primary 1 son was part of the pilot at Anderson Primary School, said he is glad that pupils are encouraged to speak their mother tongue language in daily life. His wife speaks in English to their two sons, aged seven and five, while he speaks in Tamil to them.
“My son used to be quite shy using Tamil in public, but he’s improving and is now more confident,” said Mr Thiagarrajan, who is self-employed and goes by one name. “He enjoys using technology, which has sped up his learning process, although we also try to control that as it shouldn’t replace real-life learning.”
He added: “Language has to evolve to stay alive, including the methods by which it is taught to students.”

 

[jw5]

Keechiu thanks teachers.

Chan Chun Sing​

10 h ·
To our teachers, I’d like to say Thank You,

for igniting our students’ curiosity to learn for life, and nurturing our students with values, purpose and conviction.

for adjusting this year’s celebrations, exam schedules and personal plans to support the smooth conduct of Presidential Elections 2023; and through these, exemplifying the values of resilience, adaptability and grace.

for standing in solidarity with tenacity and creativity through good times and tough times, and committing to keep growing – professionally, personally, and collectively – in service of Singapore and Singaporeans.
This year’s official Teachers’ Day school holiday may have changed, but our appreciation of you, your strength, and your heart, has not.
May our education fraternity be the pride of Singapore and a beacon for the world.
Happy Teachers’ Day!
#ThankYouCher

 

[jw5]

Keechiu tells his students that they have much to gain.

Chan Chun Sing​

8 h ·
We celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Vietnam this year. Was pleased to meet Dr Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Education and Training and affirm our strong educational relations with Vietnam, through the refreshing of our Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation, together with PM @leehsienloong, Vivian Balakrishnan, Tan See Leng and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Many of our youths and educators enjoy study visits and exchange programmes with our Vietnamese friends, and I hope that our educational and professional ties will only continue to flourish.
We live in a borderless world of knowledge and work. As I often tell my students, we have much to gain as Singaporeans when we learn and interact with our regional peers and have the opportunity to understand more deeply the cultures and developments in the ASEAN region we live in. Just come back with new perspectives, new ideas, and share them with us!

: Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI)

 

[jw5]

Keechiu watched birds with Primary 1 students.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
They say that nature is good for the soul. How often do you go out for a walk and experience nature?
At Valour Primary School, the outdoors is a key part of learning.
I joined the Primary 1 students in their lesson on bird watching. Mikayla is a bird enthusiast, and very familiar with different birds species and their unique characteristics. By starting young, I hope many like Mikayla will grow up with respect and appreciation for nature.
At the Eco-stream, students tested the buoyancy of DIY boats made from recycled materials. Some boats sank, some boats floated – and students had to work together and think of creative solutions to repair their boats and correct course.
Glad to see that with these Valourian experiences, our young ones have the principles and values to keep their boats of learning afloat

#ourschoolstories

 

[jw5]

Keechiu with his fellow bird watchers.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Govt will continue to support S’poreans financially, remain transparent to earn their trust: Chan Chun Sing​

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said being upfront with Singaporeans and not hiding anything from them are important steps. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
UPDATED

13 AUG 2023, 5:27 AM SGT

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SINGAPORE – The Government understands the financial concerns faced by Singaporeans, and is committed to using resources judiciously to help as many of them as possible.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, said this in a speech at a National Day dinner in the constituency on Saturday.
Speaking to about 800 residents, grassroots leaders and clan representatives, he said the Government will fund the country’s increased spending needs in a sustainable way.

“We understand the challenges, particularly the inflationary pressures faced by our residents. The Government will do what we can to help as many people as possible.”
Mr Chan said he also understands that many are concerned about recent developments in the political landscape. He said some have asked what has gone wrong, while others have wondered if the Government is able to make things right.
While he did not specifically refer to any cases, most in the audience understood he was likely referring to the recent high-profile cases involving political figures.

He told the audience: “You can have our assurance that this Government will make sure that we handle all these issues transparently, fairly, to continue to earn the trust and confidence of our people in Singapore and our international partners.”

He said being upfront with Singaporeans and not hiding anything from them are important steps.
“Are we able to run, maintain and keep improving our political system that inspires confidence in the next generation for us to attract the best and most committed people to come forth and serve?
“This is the larger reason why we are doing what we are doing.”

The dinner, held at Tanjong Pagar Community Club, was organised by the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru grassroots organisations.
Among the attendees were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development and Finance Indranee Rajah; Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth as well as Trade and Industry Alvin Tan; Ms Joan Pereira, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua, National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong; and former MP Koo Tsai Kee.
Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC grassroots leaders were also present.

Those who attended the Tanjong Pagar National Day dinner on Saturday included (from left) National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong; Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development and Finance Indranee Rajah; Education Minister Chan Chun Sing; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Eric Chua; Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira and former MP Koo Tsai Kee. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Mr Chan told the audience that Singapore faces three issues – its relevance, cohesion, and political system and leadership.
He said the greater the uncertainties of the world, the more local and international businesses will look for places where they can mobilise their capital safely, aggregate the talent and protect their intellectual properties.
He added that these are areas where Singapore can distinguish itself and continue to attract the investments necessary to create good jobs for the next generation.
Said Mr Chan: “You can be assured that the Government is thinking very seriously and putting in place the necessary measures to make sure that Singapore can continue to remain an attractive location for international businesses.”

On the cost of living, Ms Indranee earlier told attendees that there are many ways in which residents can get financial help, such as through vouchers, cost-of-living special payments and bonuses for seniors.
She said the Government will continue to roll out support for the rest of the year, while keeping an eye on the cost of living.
It will also continue providing support for families.
Switching to speaking in Malay, Mr Chan said he wanted to thank the Malay/Muslim community for making various adjustments over the past three years to help the country get through the challenges of Covid-19.
These included adapting to Covid-19 restrictions during prayers at mosques and Hari Raya celebrations.
He encouraged the Malay/Muslim community to build on the various new and innovative practices from Covid-19 to stay in touch with families, the gotong royong practices, worship and work.

 

[jw5]

Keechiu thanks everyone again.

Chan Chun Sing​

21 h ·
The Elections Department (ELD) deployed 36,000 election officials this Presidential Election. This is a bigger number compared to GE2020. The majority of them were in over 1,200 polling stations and more than 200 counting centres islandwide.
My appreciation to ELD and all our election officials. They come from various ministries and government bodies. Their hard work started some time ago with their appointment and they had undergone several months of training. They were professional in the conduct of their duties and, at the same time, displayed care and concern for our voters in many different ways.
Kudos to everyone and thank you for your contributions to a smooth election! May everyone have a good break this weekend.
[

: Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI)]

 

[jw5]

Tharman brought Keechiu to Davos.

Chan Chun Sing​

20 h ·
In 2018, when I was in NTUC, then-DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam brought me to Davos, Switzerland and he was gracious enough to use the weight of his reputation to help us juniors secure meetings, and encourage his global counterparts to give us juniors a chance, and see whether we can bring something to the table.
That is the character of Singapore’s 9th President-elect. Someone who serves with heart, committed to flying the Singapore flag high and helping to groom the next generation.
I wish President-elect Tharman the very best and we look forward to working with him as he serves Singapore and Singaporeans.

: Tharman speaking at the 12th International Academic Advisory Panel Conference in Jun 2022

 

[jw5]

Keechiu thanks PAT recipients and nominees.

Chan Chun Sing​

1 d ·
More than just a thank you to our educators, the President's Award for Teachers (PAT) recognises and affirms the critical role that teachers play in shaping our future learners.
At the Teachers’ Day Reception, I met Miss Yang Yan Qi, who teaches at CHIJ Katong Primary. She is passionate about encouraging more girls to get interested in STEM, and used a virtual escape room to ignite her students’ interest in block-based coding. Ms Asihikin, from Ngee Ann Secondary with nearly 30 years of experience under her belt, is a teacher of teachers who helps them to support higher needs students.
Our teachers dedicate themselves to cultivating curiosity and a thirst for knowledge in our students, nurturing young minds and guiding them for the world beyond school.
To the PAT recipients as well as the over 4,000 nominees -- thank you for your commitment and passion for teaching, and for inspiring others with your energy. All of us at @moesingapore treasure you and are proud of your achievements!
With President Halimah Yacob, Dr Maliki Osman, Gan Siow Huang 颜晓芳, and Wan Rizal

 

[jw5]

Keechiu says a heartfelt thank you.

Chan Chun Sing​

3 d ·
The Buona Vista Paw Party was a pawsitively unforgettable event, made even more special by the participation of My Buona Vista residents and their adorable fur babies on a beautiful Saturday morning.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing sponsors, SHEIN, Pet Lovers Centre Singapore, Dog Cruise Singapore, Silversky Pet Care and House of Seafood, for making this day of furry fun a reality.

#BuonaVistaPawParty #mybuonavista