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Students discuss issues — from education to licensing

SINGAPORE — Perhaps the biggest deterrent to reforming the education system in Singapore is the culture here, suggested a junior college student at the annual Pre-University Seminar yesterday, where students got to question Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah on national policies.

SINGAPORE — Perhaps the biggest deterrent to reforming the education system in Singapore is the culture here, suggested a junior college student at the annual Pre-University Seminar yesterday, where students got to question Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah on national policies.

Responding to the question by Victoria Junior College student Hamzah Yaacob, 18, Ms Indranee said: “Partly, but not wholly.”

For example, there is still the perception that “play is very different from learning”, she said, pointing out that the current “learning through play” framework for kindergartens prompted some parents to question the lack of homework for their children.

In her speech, Ms Indranee noted the importance of “creative thinking” in adapting to a rapidly-changing world and said the Government was encouraging this, starting at the pre-school level. “The substantive content you learn will only take you so far ... it’s the ability to think out of the box (that) really takes you all the way,” she said.

The seminar, which ends on Thursday, is attended by some 540 students from 29 schools, including junior colleges, polytechnics and the Millennia Institute. They will discuss national issues under the theme of Singapore 2030: Our Future, Our Home. This will culminate in action plans that will be sent to the relevant government agencies for their consideration.

The top three action plans as voted by the participants will be presented to Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and other committee members from Our Singapore Conversation.

Ms Indranee was also asked about the Media Development Authority’s new licensing framework for online news sites. Nanyang Junior College student Joel Yew, 17, asked if the policy “harmed the creation of a national identity … or brings about cohesion because they protect certain minority groups”.

Ms Indranee said she did not think the new framework was restricting free speech and reiterated that it was, instead, bringing online sites onto the same level as traditional print media.

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student Micole Yang, 17, asked why there are no laws against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) discrimination here, although there are laws against racial and religious intolerance. Ms Indranee responded that any rule should not single out a group — be it LGBT, those overweight, or those with learning disabilities — and the “broader rule” is to treat everyone with kindness and respect.

The Government will let “the status quo be”, she said, adding “from the Government’s perspective, we do not think the LGBT should face job discrimination simply because of their preference or orientation”.

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