An Education Ministry review, called Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (ASPIRE), is underway to "future-proof" young Singaporeans against unemployment. It is studying Germany's apprenticeship model. One sector the review will focus on is early childhood education. Details are pending, but preschools said apprenticeships could help ease their manpower crunch in the long term.
Six top independent schools in Singapore have had their funding cut and, along with other mission schools, have been told to moderate fund-raising activities for campus upgrading. In addition, they will have to comply with a new directive urging all schools with air-conditioned classrooms to install fans and use air-conditioning only when necessary.
Singapore’s Minister of Education Heng Swee Keat encouraged teachers to use technology in meaningful ways that will improve student engagement and learning. He went on to commend Christopher Chee, a teacher from Christchurch Secondary School, for his use of flipped classrooms that kept the students so engaged they stayed beyond schools hours to learn more.
