Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce aims to give a leg-up to disadvantaged kids
It will propose measures to boost motivation, tackle absenteeism, step up parent outreach
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Oct 2018
Recognising that social inequality is a multi-faceted problem, an inter-agency task force has been set up to help children from disadvantaged households and enable them to meet their full potential.
Called UPLIFT, short for Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce, the eight-member panel headed by Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah will focus on three areas: to improve students' motivation; tackle long-term absenteeism and drop-out rates; and step up parent outreach and parenting programmes to empower families.
The panel - which includes Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, and Foreign Affairs, and Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower - will release its recommendations in the second quarter of next year. Those that are implemented will be evaluated over a one-to two-year period.
A key part of their work will be directed at children in pre-schools and primary schools, as research shows it is especially critical to intervene in the early years to give a child a good start in life.
The panel does not want to give a hard definition on the group it is trying to help. Instead, Ms Indranee said: "We will be looking at the bottom 20 per cent, but we will also include children from the lower 30 per cent, even 40 per cent... These students have the potential to do so much better, and we want to help them achieve that potential. To do so, we must ascertain the gaps and identify what exactly is preventing them from doing well."
The issues of inequality and social mobility came under further scrutiny last week after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's report on equity and education. While Singapore is among the top in the world for improving education levels of successive generations, disadvantaged students here find it tougher to match more well-to-do peers, despite faring very well against peers from other countries.
The report also pointed out the link between truancy and disciplinary climate, and how well a student performs.
In Singapore's primary schools, about 1.1 in 1,000 pupils are absent from school 60 days or more in a year without valid reasons. At the secondary school level, it rises to 7.5 in 1,000 students, said the Education Ministry. It said schools monitor attendance closely and deploy student welfare officers to reach out to those with irregular attendance. Teachers and counsellors are also trained to identify early warning signs of disengagement from school.
Ms Indranee said that while there are various ongoing government and community efforts to support disadvantaged students, "the challenges they face are multi-faceted, and this requires us to delve even deeper to identify the gaps and reach out to them more effectively".
Part of the task force's role will be to integrate work done by various stakeholders. It will consult those on the front line of working with disadvantaged children, and brainstorm for solutions with the community.
Mr Tan, who sits on the Chinese Development Assistance Council, said reaching out to parents is important as they play a crucial role in their children's development.
Mr Zaqy, deputy chairman of self-help group Mendaki, said it is important to strengthen the "last-mile service delivery", so families requiring support can access it more easily.
It will propose measures to boost motivation, tackle absenteeism, step up parent outreach
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Oct 2018
Called UPLIFT, short for Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce, the eight-member panel headed by Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah will focus on three areas: to improve students' motivation; tackle long-term absenteeism and drop-out rates; and step up parent outreach and parenting programmes to empower families.
The panel - which includes Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, and Foreign Affairs, and Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower - will release its recommendations in the second quarter of next year. Those that are implemented will be evaluated over a one-to two-year period.
A key part of their work will be directed at children in pre-schools and primary schools, as research shows it is especially critical to intervene in the early years to give a child a good start in life.
The panel does not want to give a hard definition on the group it is trying to help. Instead, Ms Indranee said: "We will be looking at the bottom 20 per cent, but we will also include children from the lower 30 per cent, even 40 per cent... These students have the potential to do so much better, and we want to help them achieve that potential. To do so, we must ascertain the gaps and identify what exactly is preventing them from doing well."
The issues of inequality and social mobility came under further scrutiny last week after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's report on equity and education. While Singapore is among the top in the world for improving education levels of successive generations, disadvantaged students here find it tougher to match more well-to-do peers, despite faring very well against peers from other countries.
The report also pointed out the link between truancy and disciplinary climate, and how well a student performs.
In Singapore's primary schools, about 1.1 in 1,000 pupils are absent from school 60 days or more in a year without valid reasons. At the secondary school level, it rises to 7.5 in 1,000 students, said the Education Ministry. It said schools monitor attendance closely and deploy student welfare officers to reach out to those with irregular attendance. Teachers and counsellors are also trained to identify early warning signs of disengagement from school.
Ms Indranee said that while there are various ongoing government and community efforts to support disadvantaged students, "the challenges they face are multi-faceted, and this requires us to delve even deeper to identify the gaps and reach out to them more effectively".
Part of the task force's role will be to integrate work done by various stakeholders. It will consult those on the front line of working with disadvantaged children, and brainstorm for solutions with the community.
Mr Tan, who sits on the Chinese Development Assistance Council, said reaching out to parents is important as they play a crucial role in their children's development.
Mr Zaqy, deputy chairman of self-help group Mendaki, said it is important to strengthen the "last-mile service delivery", so families requiring support can access it more easily.
Taskforce members
Ms Indranee Rajah, Second Minister for Education and Finance (chairman)
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower
Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Social and Family Development
Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education & Social and Family Development
Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower
Ms Lai Wei Lin, Deputy Secretary (Policy) for Education
Dr Lee Tung Jean, Deputy Secretary for Social and Family Development
Mr Eugene Leong, chief executive of the Early Childhood Development Agency
Ms Indranee Rajah, Second Minister for Education and Finance (chairman)
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower
Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Social and Family Development
Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education & Social and Family Development
Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower
Ms Lai Wei Lin, Deputy Secretary (Policy) for Education
Dr Lee Tung Jean, Deputy Secretary for Social and Family Development
Mr Eugene Leong, chief executive of the Early Childhood Development Agency
* Parliament: Task force to look into helping disadvantaged students across all ages, says Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah
But the focus is on younger kids, where there is greatest potential for positive change: Indranee
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 21 Nov 2018
The inter-agency task force set up to help children from disadvantaged homes level up will look into helping students across all ages, although it will focus on pre-school and primary school children.
Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah, who heads the eight-member panel called Uplift, short for Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce, was replying to Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC) who asked if the panel will look at issues affecting youth and older children in school.
Ms Indranee explained that the focus is on younger children so the Ministry of Education (MOE) can prioritise upstream interventions, "where there is greatest potential for positive change and long-term impact". But the panel has identified three areas of focus spanning all student age groups for now.
It will look at shoring up the motivation and resilience of students from disadvantaged homes, so that they can get the most out of current school efforts to help them level up academically. The panel will also look at school absenteeism and the causes underlying it.
When announcing the panel last month, MOE said that about 1.1 in 1,000 primary school pupils are absent from school for 60 days or more in a year without valid reasons. At the secondary school level, this rises to 7.5 in 1,000 students. Many of the students with patchy attendance come from disadvantaged homes.
The panel, which has started to engage those who work with less privileged children and their families, will also look into stepping up parent outreach and parenting programmes to empower these families, Ms Indranee said.
She also answered a related question by Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok) on whether the task force will consider the adequacy of the statutory levers provided in the Children and Young Persons Act.
Ms Indranee said this Act is essentially designed for the Government to take action to protect children from harm, say, for example, victims of physical abuse.
If a child's schooling is affected because of harm inflicted by family members or other adults, the Act will be invoked. As the Act's provisions are adequate for its purpose, reviewing it will not be the task force's focus, she said, adding that the more common situation is where there is no physical harm or abuse of the children per se, but the children still underperform.
"The reasons for their underperformance are complex and multifactorial, and often have their roots in the child's home environment and family situation," said Ms Indranee.
To a question from Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) on students living in Housing Board rental flats, MOE said the percentage of students living in such flats was about 2 per cent to 3 per cent over the last five years.
To Mr Ng's question on the household income of students in the various academic streams, MOE said it does not collect data on the household income of students.
But the focus is on younger kids, where there is greatest potential for positive change: Indranee
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 21 Nov 2018
The inter-agency task force set up to help children from disadvantaged homes level up will look into helping students across all ages, although it will focus on pre-school and primary school children.
Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah, who heads the eight-member panel called Uplift, short for Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce, was replying to Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong GRC) who asked if the panel will look at issues affecting youth and older children in school.
Ms Indranee explained that the focus is on younger children so the Ministry of Education (MOE) can prioritise upstream interventions, "where there is greatest potential for positive change and long-term impact". But the panel has identified three areas of focus spanning all student age groups for now.
It will look at shoring up the motivation and resilience of students from disadvantaged homes, so that they can get the most out of current school efforts to help them level up academically. The panel will also look at school absenteeism and the causes underlying it.
When announcing the panel last month, MOE said that about 1.1 in 1,000 primary school pupils are absent from school for 60 days or more in a year without valid reasons. At the secondary school level, this rises to 7.5 in 1,000 students. Many of the students with patchy attendance come from disadvantaged homes.
The panel, which has started to engage those who work with less privileged children and their families, will also look into stepping up parent outreach and parenting programmes to empower these families, Ms Indranee said.
She also answered a related question by Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok) on whether the task force will consider the adequacy of the statutory levers provided in the Children and Young Persons Act.
Ms Indranee said this Act is essentially designed for the Government to take action to protect children from harm, say, for example, victims of physical abuse.
If a child's schooling is affected because of harm inflicted by family members or other adults, the Act will be invoked. As the Act's provisions are adequate for its purpose, reviewing it will not be the task force's focus, she said, adding that the more common situation is where there is no physical harm or abuse of the children per se, but the children still underperform.
"The reasons for their underperformance are complex and multifactorial, and often have their roots in the child's home environment and family situation," said Ms Indranee.
To a question from Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) on students living in Housing Board rental flats, MOE said the percentage of students living in such flats was about 2 per cent to 3 per cent over the last five years.
To Mr Ng's question on the household income of students in the various academic streams, MOE said it does not collect data on the household income of students.
Streaming still has role in school: Indranee
But she stresses need to change negative perceptions of kids in slower streams
By Jolene Ang, The Straits Times, 2 Nov 2018
Streaming still has a place in Singapore's education system, but there is a need to change the negative perceptions that students and society have of students from slower streams.
"The question is to figure out how to do it, and that is something which will take the effort of the whole of society," Second Education Minister Indranee Rajah said yesterday.
In a recent Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development report on equity and education, the streaming of children, especially at a young age, was highlighted as a problem that could cause social divisions to set in early.
On Singapore, the report highlighted the country as among the top in the world for improving the education levels of successive generations. At the same time, disadvantaged students here find it tougher to match their more well-to-do peers, despite faring very well against their peers from other countries.
When asked about streaming yesterday, Ms Indranee, who is heading a task force to help children from disadvantaged households meet their full potential, said: "The intention behind streaming was to help students progress at a pace that was comfortable for them.
"It greatly reduced dropout rates and ensured that people were able to stay in school and access the different pathways.
"So what we want is to retain a system that allows people to learn at their own pace but, at the same time, encourage more social mixing, empathy and programmes that allow students to do things together so they get to see each other for who they really are."
She was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a camp co-designed by the Ministry of Education and Outward Bound Singapore.
The five-day, multi-school camp is meant to promote social mixing and nurture character traits such as resilience and discipline.
A total of 440 students from four schools - St Patrick's School, Hwa Chong Institution, Geylang Methodist Secondary School and Deyi Secondary School - are attending the expedition-based camp, which began on Monday.
The camp activity venues have ranged from Pulau Ubin to East Coast to Changi over the five days.
But she stresses need to change negative perceptions of kids in slower streams
By Jolene Ang, The Straits Times, 2 Nov 2018
Streaming still has a place in Singapore's education system, but there is a need to change the negative perceptions that students and society have of students from slower streams.
"The question is to figure out how to do it, and that is something which will take the effort of the whole of society," Second Education Minister Indranee Rajah said yesterday.
In a recent Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development report on equity and education, the streaming of children, especially at a young age, was highlighted as a problem that could cause social divisions to set in early.
On Singapore, the report highlighted the country as among the top in the world for improving the education levels of successive generations. At the same time, disadvantaged students here find it tougher to match their more well-to-do peers, despite faring very well against their peers from other countries.
When asked about streaming yesterday, Ms Indranee, who is heading a task force to help children from disadvantaged households meet their full potential, said: "The intention behind streaming was to help students progress at a pace that was comfortable for them.
"It greatly reduced dropout rates and ensured that people were able to stay in school and access the different pathways.
"So what we want is to retain a system that allows people to learn at their own pace but, at the same time, encourage more social mixing, empathy and programmes that allow students to do things together so they get to see each other for who they really are."
She was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a camp co-designed by the Ministry of Education and Outward Bound Singapore.
The five-day, multi-school camp is meant to promote social mixing and nurture character traits such as resilience and discipline.
A total of 440 students from four schools - St Patrick's School, Hwa Chong Institution, Geylang Methodist Secondary School and Deyi Secondary School - are attending the expedition-based camp, which began on Monday.
The camp activity venues have ranged from Pulau Ubin to East Coast to Changi over the five days.
During such camps, students take part in place-based learning.
For example, one of the expedition routes passed by the old Changi Hospital, where the students learnt about its use during the Japanese Occupation.
Student Joshua Cordeiro, 15, from Hwa Chong Institution, said: "Some of us have different socio-economic backgrounds, but this camp helped us to understand that everyone is the same deep down."
After 2020, all Secondary 3 students will have to undergo these camps as part of a National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan, which provides students with more opportunities to benefit from outdoor education.
For example, one of the expedition routes passed by the old Changi Hospital, where the students learnt about its use during the Japanese Occupation.
Student Joshua Cordeiro, 15, from Hwa Chong Institution, said: "Some of us have different socio-economic backgrounds, but this camp helped us to understand that everyone is the same deep down."
After 2020, all Secondary 3 students will have to undergo these camps as part of a National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan, which provides students with more opportunities to benefit from outdoor education.
Volunteers cheer move to study reasons why some kids lag behind
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Oct 2018
National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate Gary Lau made it to university this year, but as a child growing up in a troubled home environment, he did not think he would ever do well enough in school to make it to university.
The 27-year-old, who recently started on his degree studies in social work, grew up in a single-parent household after his parents divorced when he was three years old. His mother took custody of him and later had a boyfriend, but the man abused her physically and they broke up when the boy was 12.
Mr Lau also recalled how he had no friends and was often bullied. That was when he picked up smoking, and joined a gang at age 13. He got his first tattoos at 14 and dropped out of school soon after.
It was only after a stint in Boys' Town that he vowed to change his life.
While doing his national service, he also decided to continue his education and sat his N-level exams privately. He eventually made it to the Institute of Technical Education, Nanyang Polytechnic and, finally, NUS. He said that through primary school, his teachers tried to help him, but he still went astray.
"My family and I faced many problems, but the main problem was I grew up in a single-parent household without any supervision. I had no one to discipline me or guide me."
Based on his own experience of starting and running a free tuition service for disadvantaged children, called Happy Children Happy Future, he cheered the Government's move to set up an inter-agency task force to study the underlying causes of why some children fall behind in school.
Mr Lau agrees with the panel that the key to helping them is to go beyond the academics.
"Often, like me, they may fall behind not because they are unable to study, but because they are affected by many problems. Many of them lack self confidence and think they will never make it and just give up. Their parents are faced with more urgent problems, such as being jobless or having no money to pay the rent. So, they don't prioritise education."
Other volunteers working with young children agreed that there is a need to study the underlying causes and take a more holistic approach in helping the children and their families.
Ms Michelle Yeo, 29, who co-founded children's literacy charity ReadAble five years ago, agreed that when children do poorly in school, there are underlying causes.
She said volunteers at ReadAble who run weekly reading and language arts classes for children ages two to 12, in a rental flat neighbourhood in the Chin Swee area, do engage many of the families to understand the problems they face. They refer some of the families to other social work agencies.
"When children are in an unstable environment, they are subject to intense, chronic stress, called toxic stress, and this affects their development greatly." She is heartened by the show of political will to help children from underprivileged homes, but added: "If we are really committed to lifting up these children, then we must be prepared to offer help on many fronts."
Mrs Lynn Heng, programme adviser to the Circle of Care which gathers educators, social workers and health professionals to support underprivileged children, said an important part of the scheme is parent engagement and education.
"It is important to help the parents. They are the primary carers of a child. In the Circle of Care programme, parents are given the support they need to help their child - and themselves," she said, adding that the centres run talks and workshops for parents which result in them becoming more involved in their children's learning.
Launched five years ago by Lien Foundation and Care Corner Singapore, the programme, which has since been extended to 10 pre-schools and two primary schools, brings together teachers, social workers and education therapists to identify the root causes of a child's difficulties and provide help.
Last year, doctors and nurses from the National University Hospital joined the team to conduct medical screening for children at the pre-schools.
Said Mrs Heng: "The causes are varied and complex, but sometimes a child can be lagging behind because of a medical problem that can be dealt with. But because of their more urgent financial worries, the parents don't seek help and it can go undetected. That's why there's a need to look at the underlying problems and offer help on many fronts."
By Sandra Davie, Senior Education Correspondent, The Straits Times, 29 Oct 2018
The 27-year-old, who recently started on his degree studies in social work, grew up in a single-parent household after his parents divorced when he was three years old. His mother took custody of him and later had a boyfriend, but the man abused her physically and they broke up when the boy was 12.
Mr Lau also recalled how he had no friends and was often bullied. That was when he picked up smoking, and joined a gang at age 13. He got his first tattoos at 14 and dropped out of school soon after.
It was only after a stint in Boys' Town that he vowed to change his life.
While doing his national service, he also decided to continue his education and sat his N-level exams privately. He eventually made it to the Institute of Technical Education, Nanyang Polytechnic and, finally, NUS. He said that through primary school, his teachers tried to help him, but he still went astray.
"My family and I faced many problems, but the main problem was I grew up in a single-parent household without any supervision. I had no one to discipline me or guide me."
Based on his own experience of starting and running a free tuition service for disadvantaged children, called Happy Children Happy Future, he cheered the Government's move to set up an inter-agency task force to study the underlying causes of why some children fall behind in school.
Mr Lau agrees with the panel that the key to helping them is to go beyond the academics.
"Often, like me, they may fall behind not because they are unable to study, but because they are affected by many problems. Many of them lack self confidence and think they will never make it and just give up. Their parents are faced with more urgent problems, such as being jobless or having no money to pay the rent. So, they don't prioritise education."
Other volunteers working with young children agreed that there is a need to study the underlying causes and take a more holistic approach in helping the children and their families.
Ms Michelle Yeo, 29, who co-founded children's literacy charity ReadAble five years ago, agreed that when children do poorly in school, there are underlying causes.
She said volunteers at ReadAble who run weekly reading and language arts classes for children ages two to 12, in a rental flat neighbourhood in the Chin Swee area, do engage many of the families to understand the problems they face. They refer some of the families to other social work agencies.
"When children are in an unstable environment, they are subject to intense, chronic stress, called toxic stress, and this affects their development greatly." She is heartened by the show of political will to help children from underprivileged homes, but added: "If we are really committed to lifting up these children, then we must be prepared to offer help on many fronts."
Mrs Lynn Heng, programme adviser to the Circle of Care which gathers educators, social workers and health professionals to support underprivileged children, said an important part of the scheme is parent engagement and education.
"It is important to help the parents. They are the primary carers of a child. In the Circle of Care programme, parents are given the support they need to help their child - and themselves," she said, adding that the centres run talks and workshops for parents which result in them becoming more involved in their children's learning.
Launched five years ago by Lien Foundation and Care Corner Singapore, the programme, which has since been extended to 10 pre-schools and two primary schools, brings together teachers, social workers and education therapists to identify the root causes of a child's difficulties and provide help.
Last year, doctors and nurses from the National University Hospital joined the team to conduct medical screening for children at the pre-schools.
Said Mrs Heng: "The causes are varied and complex, but sometimes a child can be lagging behind because of a medical problem that can be dealt with. But because of their more urgent financial worries, the parents don't seek help and it can go undetected. That's why there's a need to look at the underlying problems and offer help on many fronts."
Inter-Agency Taskforce to Better Support Students from Disadvantaged Families -28 Oct 2018
Disadvantaged Singapore students do well globally, but find it harder to match their top peers: OECD report on equity in education
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