08 May 2019

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill was introduced in Parliament recently to tackle the spread of online falsehoods.

The new law aims to provide the Government with powers to act against online falsehoods to protect public interest. The Bill lists several definitions of public interest: Singapore’s security; to protect public health, public finances, public safety or public tranquility; Singapore’s friendly relations with other countries; to prevent influence on the outcome of an election or a referendum; to prevent incitement of feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different groups of people; or to prevent a diminution of public confidence in public institutions.

For action to be taken, there are two criteria that must be met — there must be a false statement of fact, and it must also be in the public interest for the Government to take action.

Corrections as well as take-down orders may be issued to remove falsehoods online. “Malicious actors”, or those who act deliberately to undermine society using falsehoods, will be subject to criminal action.

The courts will have the final say on what is false. This means that any decision by the Government on what is false can be overridden by the courts on appeal.

05 May 2019

Future post-secondary school graduates will receive digital as well as physical versions of their qualifications, according to Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.

The digital certificates will be automatically included in graduates’ MySkillsFuture accounts, which are accessible via SingPass.

The scheme will be implemented for GCE N, O and A level certificates, as well as other post-secondary qualifications such as polytechnic diplomas and university degrees. It will also include Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications.

Individuals will also be able to have their digital certificates verified easily via a blockchain-based platform known as OpenCerts. Each digital certificate is assigned a unique cryptographic signature that is permanent and immutable, thus providing a safeguard against tampering.

04 May 2019

The committee that was set up to review the National University of Singapore’s disciplinary and support frameworks says it expects to come up with recommendations by the middle of this month.

Professor Chan Heng Chee, who is Ambassador-at-Large with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Yale-NUS governing board, is a new member of the committee. Other members of the committee include Singapore Management University president Lily Kong and NUS president Tan Eng Chye.

The committee will undertake a comprehensive review of the disciplinary framework and its application, the support system for victims and the NUS’ approach to safety on our campuses.

Madam Kay Kuok, a member of the NUS board of trustees and chairman of the committee, said, “The committee understands the importance and urgency of our work, but we also need to ensure we conduct a proper, thorough, consultative review that must be robust and sustainable for the long term, establishing a new system that the entire NUS community can stand behind.”

04 May 2019

Republic Polytechnic is offering its alumni three SkillsFuture Series courses free of charge.

The courses are run under a brand new RP initiative called the Alumni Skills Advancement Programme (ASAP) which aims to promote lifelong learning amongst graduates and professionals who are alumni of Republic Polytechnic.

According to RP principal Yeo Li Pheow, this offer is valid for only the next three years. He also mentioned that that RP offers about 200 SkillsFuture Series courses, and this number is expected to increase in the future.

SkillsFuture Series courses are industry-relevant training programmes that focus on emerging skills.

Senior Minister of State for Education and Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat has said that lifelong learning is important, not just for the individual but for the greater economy.

02 May 2019

The National University of Singapore will tighten security in all students’ halls of residence, as well as introduce educational seminars on respect, consent and awareness for all students and staff.

Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS senior deputy president and provost, announced these in an e-mail to students, which has also been seen by the press. His email followed a town hall held at the NUS.

Prof Ho added in his e-mail: “The town hall is just the first step in a broad consultation with the NUS community to hear from our students, faculty and staff. We are committed to providing further opportunities for consultation and feedback in the coming weeks, including more town hall sessions.”

Prof Ho said: “I would like to state emphatically that we take our responsibilities very seriously when it comes to protecting everyone in our community from harm… We are committed to a transparent and consultative process, and our proposed actions will continue to be published for your feedback before they are implemented by the start of the new academic year.”

Ms Baey, 23, an NUS communications and new media student, had said on Instagram that she was filmed at Eusoff Hall last November and identified the 23-year-old perpetrator as Mr Nicholas Lim, a chemical engineering student. The university said it would take immediate action to set up a victim support unit and improve campus security. It also acknowledged that it had failed Monica Baey.

29 April 2019

Monetary Authority of Singapore managing director Ravi Menon has said that there is still plenty of scope to increase the proportion of Singaporeans with non-tertiary education such as secondary, diploma and professional qualifications.

This group will be able to transform the nature of many jobs, thus raising standards and quality.

There is scope to increase productivity and efficiency in many domestic services jobs, for example, the occupations of childcare worker, baker, security guard and plasterer. In Singapore, the typical pay for these occupations is between 30 and 60 per cent of the median wage.

Similar efforts have been already been rolled out for other occupations in Singapore — including bank tellers, hairdressers, vehicle mechanics and bus drivers.

Mr Menon also cautioned if a country’s economic growth falls below 2 per cent, it would discourage talent from seeking work here.

“It is hard to imagine a dynamic city growing at less than 2 per cent or worse still, 1.5 per cent. It will be unattractive to investors and talent, including the city’s own investors and talented people,” he said. “A reasonably good rate of growth helps to create opportunities and preserve a sense of progress and hope, particularly among the young. It will also facilitate upward social mobility.”