Secondary schools to offer 7 new hands-on subjects

Secondary curriculum to include robotics, sports science and drama
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 7 Oct 2016

Seven new subjects, ranging from robotics to sports science, are set to become part of the O- and N-level tracks to give students a chance for more hands-on learning.

These subjects, which will be rolled out over the next two years, will be available in more than 60 secondary schools.

O-level electronics and computing will start next year, along with three Normal (Technical) subjects - smart electrical technology, mobile robotics and retail operations.

In 2018, drama, as well as exercise and sports science, will be added to the O-level curriculum.

These subjects are different from traditional subjects such as mathematics, for instance. The key focus will be to expose students to applied learning, which integrates classroom learning with real-world situations, said an Education Ministry spokesman.

This will also allow students to make better choices on courses to pursue after secondary school.

The spokesman said that the ministry worked with industry partners, as well as the polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education and universities to ensure that the new curriculum is "relevant and engaging".

Subjects which focus on applied learning have been available since 2008. But these six subjects, which include the fundamentals of electronics and design studies, are offered only to O-level students.

On average, a total of 310 students have taken these six subjects each year in the last five years.

Polytechnic lecturers also teach the students and help to develop the curriculum. Most of these subjects will be phased out by next year, except for biotechnology and design studies offered at the Singapore School of Science and Technology.

The seven new applied subjects will be taught by teachers at the secondary schools themselves, and this could allow more students to take them up. Teachers are currently being trained to teach the new subjects.

Religious groups in Singapore ramp up security measures

Move is in line with new SGSecure movement to better prepare public for terrorist attack
By K.C. Vijayan, Senior Law Correspondent, The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2016

Religious organisations are reviewing safety and security in places of worship islandwide, in the wake of a national initiative to better prepare Singapore residents for a terrorist attack.

The Catholic Archdiocese, the Hindu Endowments Board, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the Singapore Buddhist Federation have all pro-actively stepped up security measures at their premises, in line with the SGSecure movement.

The Catholic Church is going further, with plans to form an Archdiocesan Emergency Preparedness Taskforce to work out a centralised response. This includes training staff with basic emergency skills and improving standard operating procedures for emergencies.

The SGSecure national movement, officially launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last month, aims to get all Singaporeans involved in the fight against terror.

Said the Catholic Archbishop's Office spokesman Andre Ahchak: "What we're doing is in line with the Government's call for all citizens, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to be prepared to handle emergencies that may arise anywhere around them. It is our task therefore to review and to heighten our preparedness as an organisation and see how we can collaborate with public agencies to protect members of our society and train our people to handle emergencies."

Headed by Archbishop William Goh, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore oversees a congregation of some 360,000 Catholics and has 31 churches spread across five districts in Singapore. Currently, individual parish churches are encouraged to contact the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fire stations in their vicinity to work out emergency evacuation plans for their congregations. But concerted coordination from a central body from within the Archdiocese - working with agencies like the SCDF and the Singapore Police Force - will strengthen the safety measures, said Mr Ahchak.

Churchgoer and community volunteer leader Lionel de Souza said the review is timely in the wake of possible new threats such as " lone wolf attacks or sudden assaults by mentally unstable minds".

International Civil Aviation Organisation council seat key for Singapore

It puts Republic in good position as Jakarta seeks to reclaim its Singapore-managed airspace
By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent, The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2016

The elections were closely watched as their outcome could affect Singapore's hold over the airspace it currently manages, which enables it to ensure its airport runs smoothly.

When the final results were tabulated early yesterday, Singapore was re-elected to the decision-making body of the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for another three years while Indonesia failed to qualify.

This has put Singapore, which has been in the ICAO's governing body since 2003, in a good position to continue to oversee the airspace it now manages, which includes the skies over parts of Indonesia.

The ICAO elections to fill 36 seats were held in Montreal, Canada at the organisation's assembly, which ends tomorrow.

Had Indonesia made it into the inner circle, there is little doubt it would have used its position to lobby other states to support its bid to control the airspace now managed by Singapore, observers say.

It would have been "interesting times... where both the Indonesian and Singapore delegations will be working hard" to drum up support for their respective positions, said aviation law professor Alan Tan from the National University of Singapore.

Since 1946, when the rules of global international aviation were drawn up with the establishment of the ICAO, the authority has been responsible for the delegation of airspace management to countries.

This is based mostly on technical capabilities and safety standing, and less on national sovereignty.

The Singapore flight information region which air traffic controllers here manage, for example, is more than 2,000 times bigger than the Republic's own airspace. It includes areas in Riau - including Batam and Bintan. In September last year, Indonesian President Joko Widodo asked aviation officials to improve their air traffic personnel and equipment, as the country made known its intention to push for ICAO to relook its allocation of airspace in its favour.

If this happens, Singapore's status as an air hub could be hit. This could lead to flight delays and slow growth. When air zones in a region are divided, the need for air traffic controllers in different parts to hand over flights to one another typically leads to delays and reduces flight-handling capacity, experts warn.

To make a strong case to take over from Singapore, Indonesia has to show it can do the job well, especially after a spate of air incidents including a December 2014 AirAsia Indonesia crash. The tragedy raised concerns, including possible regulatory gaps and inadequate pilot training, which the Indonesian government has since gone all out to fix.

A milestone was achieved in August when the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States lifted a nine-year ban on Indonesian airlines- a key reason why Indonesia went to the ICAO polls confident, observers say.

The Indonesian delegation lobbied hard, the country's Antara news agency reported last week.

On Friday, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi held bilateral meetings with representatives from other ICAO member countries including Russia, China and India. He also attended receptions hosted by countries such as Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, France and Malaysia.

In the end, the efforts fell short.

Private hospital operation fees to be included on Ministry of Health's website

Listing of op fees at private hospitals helps patients
Move increases fee transparency and allows patients to make informed decisions: MOH
By Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times, 6 Oct 2016

Patients can now have an idea of how much private sector surgeons charge for their services, and perhaps even negotiate a better rate.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has started publishing private hospitals' operation fees. It gives a breakdown of the bill for various procedures - the surgeon's fee, the anaesthetist's charge and the cost of the facility such as use of the operating theatre.

The ministry yesterday said making the information public will increase fee transparency and help patients make informed decisions.

The move sheds some light on what is currently an opaque area.

There are no fee guidelines for doctors. Many private specialists fix their own fees, which could differ greatly between two surgeons operating in the same hospital. In general, half the cost paid by patients goes to the surgeon.

As a result, there have been cases of doctors overcharging, the most prominent being surgeon Susan Lim's bill for seven months of cancer treatment in 2007 for a member of the Bruneian royalty, amounting to $24.8 million.

The fees put up by MOH are based on data submitted by hospitals between July 1, 2014 and Dec 31 last year. They are a range, with the lower amount reflecting the 25th percentile charged and the higher amount, the 75th percentile. This means a quarter of patients pay less than the lower amount, and an equal proportion pay more than the higher rate.

So, for instance, to remove the appendix, half the patients in the private sector pay $9,928 to $13,128, with the surgeon pocketing $4,500 to $6,420 of this sum.

So a patient who pays his surgeon more than $6,420 for this procedure will know that the price falls in the top 25 per cent range.

The move by MOH was welcomed by Dr Chia Shi-Lu, head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, who has raised the issue in Parliament.

Dr Chia, an orthopaedic surgeon at Singapore General Hospital, said it would help both patients and doctors in financial discussions.

If the doctor is charging a lot more than the range given, then he will have to explain the reason to the patient, he said. It could be because of the doctor's greater experience, or because the case is more complex.

The ministry said: "Such information will enable patients who are considering treatment at private hospitals to estimate the fees charged by the doctors and the hospital for the various listed procedures."

The list of common procedures for which the ministry publishes operation fees has also been increased from 65 to 141. The data will be updated annually on its website.

The MOH started publishing bill sizes in 2003, beginning with only public sector facilities.

Dengue vaccine approved for use in Singapore on 4 Oct 2016; Drug giant Sanofi raises alert on harm from dengue vaccine, 29 Nov 2017

It works better for those infected before, and is less effective against common strains here
The Straits Times, 5 Oct 2016

The world's first dengue vaccine has been given the green light by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), and will be available here in a few months.

The vaccine is most effective in people who have had dengue before and - underscoring the difficulty of vaccinating against a virus that has four distinct strains - is less effective against the two strains that are more common here.



But experts say it still holds promise against the mosquito-borne virus, which had infected 12,054 people (as of 3pm yesterday) so far this year, surpassing the number for the whole of last year.

The HSA, which has been studying the vaccine since March, fast-tracked its approval process because of public health concerns.

The decision to approve Dengvaxia was based on 24 studies conducted by vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, which involved more than 41,000 people and showed the vaccine to be safe for use and effective against dengue.

Given in three doses over a year, the vaccine is approved for use in those aged between 12 and 45. Those outside this age group can be vaccinated if they so wish, but should seek a doctor's advice first.

Before the vaccine becomes available, the HSA will be embarking on efforts to educate doctors and the public on the benefits and limitations of the vaccine.

For people aged two to 16, Dengvaxia was shown to reduce the number of dengue cases by 60 per cent as compared with those who had not been vaccinated. This figure went up to 84 per cent when it came to preventing severe dengue infections in the same age group.

Additional studies showed that the vaccine was effective up to age 45, said the HSA yesterday.

Singapore, India to step up cooperation in key areas

Projects include skills training for India's youth and help in developing its smart cities
By Charissa Yong, In New Delhi, The Straits Times, 5 Oct 2016

Singapore and India yesterday pledged to strengthen cooperation in several key areas, a year after they upgraded the relationship to a strategic partnership.

These include skills training for India's youth to support its economic transformation, helping develop its smart cities, and expediting the ongoing review of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Indian counterpart, Mr Narendra Modi, did a detailed review of the partnership, and agreed to appoint senior ministers to facilitate investment flows and deepen financial cooperation.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will discuss new and innovative ways for both countries to cooperate and find win-win outcomes.

"Singapore is a firm believer in India. We continue to contribute, where we can, to your remarkable development story," Mr Lee said at a joint press conference alongside Mr Modi.

"I look forward to India playing a growing role in the region because we believe your economy and your influence will continue to grow for many more years," Mr Lee added.

Trade and investment ties form the bedrock of the bilateral relationship, with Singapore being one of India's largest sources of foreign direct investment, and over 8,000 Indian firms present in Singapore.

Defence and security cooperation was also a key pillar of the partnership, Mr Modi noted.

"As two maritime nations, keeping the sea lanes of communication open, and respect for international legal order of seas and oceans, is a shared priority," he said.

And cooperation with ASEAN and participation at its meetings are "aimed at building an open and inclusive architecture for regional cooperation, in an atmosphere of trust and confidence", he added.

Both leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation against terrorism and in cyber security.

PM Lee is in India on a five-day working visit, and noted the growing optimism about its prospects.

A floating nuclear power plant - off Singapore?

The Republic could be a world leader in building small reactors deployed at sea, including in nearby waters
By Lim Soon Heng, Published The Straits Times, 4 Oct 2016

The Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011 left the world with a deep aversion to nuclear power.

However, the approval last month by Britain for the construction of a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point is a symbolic turning point.

Britain will pay £92.50 per megawatt hour of electricity produced (S$0.165/kwhr), rising with inflation, for 35 years, according to the Financial Times.

The price is substantially higher than the prevailing market rate for fossil fuels. The British government must have decided that the premium for the clean energy was worth paying. It is also a tacit acknowledgement that the harvesting of wind, solar and tidal current energies will not meet foreseeable demand.

Nuclear fission emits no pollutants or gases. A gas-, oil- or coal-fired power plant insidiously emits toxins and carbon dioxide, threatening life and destabilising the environment.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute: "As of May 2016, 30 countries worldwide are operating 444 nuclear reactors for electricity generation, and 63 new nuclear plants are under construction in 15 countries."

In Asia, by 2030, China expects to have 150 gigawatts (GWe) of electricity - Malaysia, 1 GWe; Vietnam, 10 GWe; and Indonesia, 35 GWe. In France, 75 per cent of the energy is from nuclear sources.

Is the nuclear option important for Singapore? Certainly. Ninety-five per cent of Singapore's energy needs are piped from Indonesia and Malaysia in the form of natural gas. The economy's heavy dependence on a single fuel type, and its mode of delivery, makes it vulnerable.

To diversify its procurement strategy, Singapore has built liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification facilities so that LNG can be shipped in addition to being piped. Storage facilities, including deep caverns and floating tank farms, have been developed.

However, LNG reserves are finite. Nobody is sure how much is left.

Renewable energy, such as solar power, is the only sustainable energy source for this century but the technologies to harness renewables economically still face challenges. Even if they are overcome elsewhere, in Singapore, the challenges will remain.

Solar energy is very costly because it is land-intensive. And renewable energy from hydro, wind and tidal current sources are not that available in Singapore.

THE ONLY VIABLE ANSWER

The nuclear option is the only viable one. However, with an area of 713 sq km, Singapore does not have the space for a nuclear power plant. (For Fukushima, an area within a 20km radius from the plant was declared unsafe, an area 75 per cent larger than Singapore).

Adult Protective Service: Government unit saw over 100 cases of vulnerable adult abuse

Cases handled by Adult Protective Service, set up last year, range from neglect to assault
By Theresa Tan, The Straits Times, 3 Oct 2016

A new unit investigating abuse of the disabled and the infirm has handled over 100 cases since it was set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in May last year. They range from neglect to more serious cases of physical or sexual assault.

The establishment of the Adult Protective Service (APS) means that there is now a dedicated team of government social workers on the front line. In the past, the ministry focused on policies and funding of charities that handled the cases.

The move to get more directly involved ties in with the impending Vulnerable Adults Act, which the ministry expects to be tabled in Parliament by early next year.

The new law gives the state more statutory powers to protect vulnerable adults, such as by allowing government agencies to enter homes to assess a person's well-being, and to move an abuse victim temporarily to safe places. Currently, the agencies can rely only on moral suasion.

Since its establishment, the APS and its 10 social workers have had their hands full.

There were cases of neglect, which is when a caregiver fails to provide even basic care such as food. But the most common type of abuse has been physical violence and neglect, a ministry spokesman told The Straits Times. The victims, who suffer from physical or mental infirmities such as dementia, range in age from 18 to over 90.

Of the cases referred to the unit, the APS conducted full-fledged investigations into 21.

These included a case of an 80-year-old man suspected of being assaulted by his son. The elderly man has dementia and is using a wheelchair. After its probe, the APS took him to a nursing home.

Another case involved a 78-year- old bedridden woman who lived with her 45-year-old son. He left her alone at home when he went to work so she had to rely on neighbours and volunteers to buy food for her. In this case, as with other instances, the APS ropes in other agencies, such as healthcare providers and family service centres, to give support and services a victim needs.

While the APS did not launch full-scale probes into the cases it deemed less serious, it provided assistance and referred them to agencies such as charities.

The APS also looks into making alternative care arrangements if it deems that it is unsafe for an individual to remain at home.

Cases are referred to the APS by agencies such as hospitals, the police and family service centres.

As Singapore's population ages, the number of vulnerable adults could grow, Mr Chan Chun Sing said in 2014, when he helmed the ministry.

Social workers welcome the impending new law. They pointed out that they currently do not have the legal powers to intervene if a family denies them access to someone whom they believe is being abused.

Call for pre-school teachers to get day off on Teachers' Day

Childcare centres can close for an additional half-day, on top of the 51/2 days now
By Priscilla Goy, The Sunday Times, 2 Oct 2016

Give all pre-school educators a day off on Teachers' Day, so they get more respect and recognition.

That call was made yesterday by Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, even as new moves to help more people join the pre-school sector and develop their careers were announced.

While there have been other efforts to appreciate teachers, Mr Tan said: "I think there is more we can and should do to acknowledge our teachers for the important and hard work they do."

Speaking at the Early Childhood Conference held at Suntec Singapore and attended by over 1,500 educators, Mr Tan said the day off on Teachers' Day "is long overdue".

Kindergartens, which follow the primary school calendar, give teachers the day off on Teachers' Day. But it is up to childcare operators to decide if they want to close on Teachers' Day, which falls on the first Friday in September.

Many childcare centres already do so, but to support more centres to follow suit, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will from next year let them close for an additional half-day, on top of the five and a half days currently.

"I believe this is an important signal," said Mr Tan. "Many of you teachers are parents yourselves and I hope this will give you more time to spend with your own children. I also urge employers to exercise some flexibility to allow parents with pre-schoolers to take leave or time off on Teachers' Day."

Many educators and parents welcomed Mr Tan's call.

Ms Wendy Tan, 50, principal of MacPherson Sheng Hong Childcare Centre, said: "We give our teachers the day off on Teachers' Day, but with this announcement, I think childcare teachers are affirmed of their role, commitment and passion."

Ms Intan Ismail, 36, who cares for infants at a My First Skool centre which closes on Teachers' Day, said: "The day off... gives a signal that teachers are appreciated."

More than nine in 10 of the 1,000 parents polled by ECDA in March had also "strongly supported" closing centres that day.

Singaporeans living abroad can apply to suspend MediShield Life

By Seow Bei Yi, The Straits Times, 1 Oct 2016

Citizens living overseas who do not plan to return to Singapore will soon be able to apply to stop paying their MediShield Life premiums.

The Ministry of Health announced the move yesterday after accepting a recommendation made by the 12-member MediShield Life Council. Those who meet the requirements can apply to the Central Provident Fund Board from Oct 7.

The suspension, if granted, will continue as long as applicants fulfil the necessary criteria.

If they no longer do so or choose to relocate back to Singapore, they will have to pay the accumulated sum of premiums not paid previously, with compound interest.

But they will not need to fork out additional premiums for health conditions that developed during the suspension of MediShield Life premium collection.

Should they seek medical treatment in Singapore during the suspension, they may choose to claim and benefit from MediShield Life payouts, although this would mean stopping the suspension. Similarly, they would have to pay the full sum of unpaid premiums with interest.

"This was a complex issue and the council took into consideration the varying circumstances of different groups of Singaporeans," said Mrs Fang Ai Lian, chairman of the MediShield Life Council. The decision followed a review with input from Singaporeans here and abroad.

"Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that MediShield Life continues to meet the healthcare needs of all Singaporeans," she said.

MediShield Life replaced MediShield from Nov 1 last year. It offers higher claim limits for hospital bills and some outpatient treatments, covering pre-existing medical conditions previously not covered by MediShield.

While those living overseas should remain covered, a small group with no intention to reside in Singapore may apply for a suspension. But they should meet criteria, such as providing "supporting indicators" that they do not intend to return. Besides having a valid permanent residency permit in their country of residence, they must have lived outside Singapore for at least five years immediately before their application, except for short visits.

Singapore on right track with ageing policies, says UN ageing expert

Holistic approach shows right track on ageing
UN expert commends Govt's way of working with many players
By Kok Xing Hui, The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2016

A United Nations expert on ageing has praised the way Singapore has taken a holistic approach to tackle its greying population, with government agencies, voluntary welfare organisations and the private sector working hand in hand.

Ms Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, the UN's first independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, also lauded schemes already put in place after an eight-day visit here at the invitation of the Government.

These included the Pioneer Generation Package and the transport discounts enjoyed by senior citizens. She said Singapore is on the "right track" with its holistic approach towards ageing.

Among her suggestions was to amend the Central Provident Fund scheme so that even those who do not contribute - low-income citizens or stay-at-home mothers - receive a pension, and to make statistics on the sick and the poor publicly available.

A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after her press conference with the media said: "We explained that the Government was strengthening social safety nets to better protect the elderly through schemes such as Workfare, the Silver Support Scheme and ComCare Fund, as well as subsidies for essential services like healthcare, housing and transport.

"The Government's plans to introduce the Vulnerable Adults Act will strengthen the existing legal framework and better protect the rights of older persons."

By 2030, Singapore will have over 900,000 residents aged 65 and above.

Population numbers released on Monday showed that as of the end of June, 13.7 per cent of citizens were aged 65 and above, compared with 9.2 per cent 10 years ago.

Speaking in French at her press conference yesterday, Ms Kornfeld-Matte said: "Your country is experiencing very rapid ageing and I think it is very important that your Government has worked out and started to implement policies for the elderly."

The real value of celebrating Singapore Day

By Jeremy Lim, Published The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2016

Last Saturday saw over 3,500 Singaporeans and friends gather in San Francisco to enjoy a day of fun and festivities. Singapore Day 2016 was filled with reliving memories of years growing up in Singapore, getting updated on happenings back home and, of course, indulging in delights like barbecue stingray, kaya toast and other delectables, compliments of hawker teams that were flown in.

Since the first Singapore Day nine years ago, in New York City, this annual multimillion-dollar "love fest" has become a much-anticipated fixture on the Overseas Singaporean Unit's calendar. Despite the goodwill and camaraderie fostered overseas, the sentiments back in Singapore have been mixed, with questions raised over the associated expenses.



It may be crass to ask what the "return on investment" is, for what is, in essence, a party to bring a slice of Singapore to Singaporeans living overseas, but it is a legitimate question. Public monies are used and the Government should be prepared to justify the expenses.

Various online commentators have described Singapore Day as a "public-sector recruitment fair", while Dr Amy Khor takes a different perspective, remarking at the fifth edition in New York: "There's a value to helping our Singaporeans remember their roots so that if they ever go back, it's easier for them to adjust. You can't put a price on that." Dr Khor is Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and Ministry of Health.

It was with this context that I joined the queue of Singaporeans waiting, under a huge sign that said "Singapore Day: I heart Singapore", for the gates of Pier 70 to open. I was trying to understand the value of such a huge investment of public monies and what it meant to fellow Singaporeans all over the world.