05 February 2020

This year’s Straits Times Education Forum will be held on April 6, and will discuss the motion “Entrepreneurs today do more harm than good”.

This year’s forum will include two junior college students and alumni from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Management University.

Like last year, those attending will be asked to vote for or against the motion at the start and end of the debate. The team that manages to swing more votes will be declared the winner.

SMU president Lily Kong said, “We are delighted to have in The Straits Times a like-minded partner as we bring entrepreneurs, industry leaders, students and academics together to discuss timely issues of global importance such as what the role of modern day entrepreneurs should be, and if they are still creating value for the people whilst remaining profitable.”

Mr Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings’ English/Malay/Tamil Media Group and editor of The Straits Times, said “Every issue can be seen from a range of perspectives, and debates offer a good opportunity to ponder these. This is why our series of debate-style forums has been so popular, and this one promises to be no different.”

03 February 2020

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung recently said that education systems have to recognise the growing influence of social media and equip our young with the values, mindsets and skills to live in this digital world.

Education systems are also confronted by two other challenges: Changing education to one that is lifelong and experiential, and changing society’s perception that university degrees are the only avenue to success.

Mr Ong cited how social media had changed the way people give feedback or criticism. Traditionally, one needs to explain the situation, describe why a particular action led to a negative outcome, and share areas for improvement. “Today I’m not sure these skills are observed as most people just click thumbs up or down, and key in some comments, almost unthinkingly. So (social media) really changes the way we interact and give affirmation to each other,” he said.

Similarly, Minister Ong stressed that academic results is no longer the only route to success. Employers today need talents who possess diverse skills that, when combined together, can deliver results.

31 January 2020

The Ministry of Education recently announced that from October this year, A-Level graduates can be exempted from up to two semesters in 56 polytechnic courses if they fulfil the necessary module requirements.

This policy will enable A-Level students who subsequently study in the polytechnics to shorten their diploma courses by one year.

In addition, the total number of polytechnic courses offering exemptions of at least one semester will also increase to 120.

Since 2019, eligible A-Level students have been allowed mid-year entry to about 110 polytechnic courses, and exemptions from modules depending on their A-Level subjects.

Noting that the mid-year entry launched last year has received positive feedback from students and parents, Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung said that the reduction of the course duration for A-Level students “does not compromise the quality” of the diploma education.

29 January 2020

Institute of Technical Education students are now learning how to use artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems.

One student project completed recently involves a mini-robot that reminds elderly patients to take their medication and an interactive signboard that spots errant cyclists at void decks.

These projects are part of a programme jointly launched by ITE College West and Intel Corporation. The pilot Intel Artificial Intelligence for Youth (AI4Y) programme had 1,120 students enrolled last year.

AI4Y hopes to reach up to 15,000 students, and will be rolled out in phases starting with the School of Electronics and Info-Comm Technology in ITE College West.

Thus far, 20 lecturers from the three ITE colleges have undergone a five-day training camp sponsored by Intel. By the end of June, 60 staff across all schools will be trained to use the AI4Y programme.

27 January 2020

A graduate employment survey has found that five per cent of Institute of Technical Education graduates managed to get degrees from local public universities, while 10 per cent succeeded in obtaining degrees from private or overseas universities.

The ITE survey tracked 3,500 graduates from 2007 to 2017.

Another 44 per cent of ITE graduates eventually attained qualifications higher than an ITE certificate, though they did not go to university.

The ITE survey also found that the median salary of its graduates increased from $1,200 in 2007, when they left ITE, to $3,000 in 2017. Compared with their peers who went on to work after secondary school, ITE graduates were also better off, earning $500 more a month.

Meanwhile, annual graduate employment surveys from Singapore’s polytechnics showed that fresh graduates from the five polytechnics — Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore and Temasek — reported a median gross monthly salary of $2,400 last year.