Primary Education Review with MP Michael Palmer

MP Michael Palmer (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) n Mr Goh Sin Teck

REACH Focus Group Discussion on Primary Education Review with MP Michael Palmer
(5 Nov, 7.30-9.30 pm, SMU)
Enhancing Academic Programmes and CCAs

To find out more about Singaporeans' views on our primary education. There were about 30 respondents. Half of them are parents with kids in Primary schools.

The review that MOE is conducting includes the following areas :

* The roll-out of Single-Session Primary Schools (SSPS);

* The move towards an all graduate teacher recruitment by 2015;

* Rebalancing the learning of content knowledge and the development of skills and values so that our young are well prepared for the future.

Guidelines :

What would you like to see more/less of in a typical primary school classroom? What would you like to see more/less of outside the classroom?
•
What could be done that would enable primary school pupils to develop a stronger eagerness and curiosity to learn, confidence in themselves, a good grasp of communication skills, and the facility to work and cooperate with others?
•
Should CCA participation be scaled up for primary school pupils? Should CCAs be offered within curriculum time, and for which levels of primary school?
•
What are your thoughts on using drama or outdoor education as enablers to achieve a more holistic education? Are there any other areas worth exploring?

Creating More Time and Space for Holistic Education through Single-Session Primary Schools
•
What are your views on single-session and if it can help achieve a more holistic education?
•
With single-session, how can schools make better use of the time and flexibility to organise the school day?
•
What are some of the challenges in implementing single-session? How do you think we can overcome them?
•
Do you think schools will benefit from an all-graduate teaching force? Why?
•
What do you think are important qualities and competencies of primary school teachers that need to be further developed?
•
Should schools have an after-school care centre that organises activities for students and supervises their homework?

OMG! Some people came prepared with long speeches. *faint* MP was too nice to stop them. Not a lot could be covered in such a short time.