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1. What You Need to Know about Subject-Based Banding

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1. What You Need to Know about Subject-Based Banding

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Students who score between 4 and 20 points will be in posting group 3, and those who score between 23 and 24 points will be in posting group 2.

Those who score 26 to 30 points, with an Achievement Level of 7 in English and mathematics, will be in posting group 1.

Students who score 21 or 22 points will be put in an option band, and can choose to apply as a student from posting group 2 or 3. Students who score 25 points can choose between applying under posting group 1 or 2, the Education Ministry said.

How does this affect Sec 1 posting?

A student should consider their posting group and PSLE score when applying for entry into secondary school.

For example, a student who scores 10 points for PSLE will be put in posting group 3. This student can then consider schools that accept students from posting group 3.

They should also consider their PSLE score and how it compares to the schools' cut-off ranges when listing their school choices. With a score of 10, it may be more difficult to get into a school that has a cut-off point range of 4 to 8, but easier to score a spot in a school with a cut-off point range of 6-12.

Students who are put in the option bands can choose to apply to schools that accept either posting group.

Currently, students who score within the option bands can already choose to apply for schools at an Express or N(A) level, and N(A) or N(T) level respectively. Each school will continue to have a different cut-off point range for each posting group it accepts.

For example, those in the first option band may apply to Springfield Secondary School, which accepts students from posting groups 1, 2 and 3 from 2024.

They can choose to apply under posting group 2 or 3, depending on how their score compares to the school's cut-off point ranges.

Students may then go on to enter the school under posting group 2, and eventually take some subjects at a higher level.

What about the subjects?

The posting group that the student enters the school under will determine the level of most of the subjects they take.

For example, a student who enters a school under posting group 2 will take most of their subjects at G2 at the start of the year.

Depending on their PSLE results for the various subjects, they may also be offered a chance to take English, math, science or mother tongue at the G3 level from the start.

If they do well later on, they may be offered a chance to go from G2 to G3 for their other subjects too.

This means that a student that enters a school under posting group 2 and starts off with mostly G2 subjects may eventually take many, or even all their subjects at the G3 level as they progress through secondary school.

What if students find the subject too difficult?

Students can also choose to take subjects at a less demanding level if they are not coping well.

From 2024, students entering Secondary 1 who face exceptional difficulties with mother tongue will have the option to offer it at a less demanding level, at G1 or G2.

Students who are offered English, math or science at Foundation level at PSLE, but are otherwise eligible to take most of their subjects at G3 in secondary school, can choose to take those subjects at a less demanding level, or G2, after consulting with their schools.

They can further adjust these subject levels as they progress through secondary school.

From 2026, some subjects will also be offered as electives at more demanding or less demanding levels.

For example, computer applications is currently a standalone subject for lower secondary N(T) students.

This will be discontinued, and computing will be offered as an elective subject for all upper secondary students from 2026, when the Secondary 1 batch of 2024 reaches Secondary 3.

From the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, social studies for the N(T) stream will also be discontinued, and replaced by G1 humanities, which is non-examinable.

Most of the elective subjects taken at the upper secondary level are examinable, and there are some elective subjects, like History, that are not offered at the G1 level, said MOE.

About 80 per cent of secondary schools will implement full subject-based banding.

The remaining schools include integrated programme schools such as Raffles Institution, which only accept students from posting group 3 - currently the Express stream. Crest Secondary School will also remain a specialised school that offers a customised curriculum for students in posting group 1 - currently the Normal (Technical) stream.

However, these schools can still allow students to take subjects at a more demanding or less demanding level.

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CNA Explains: What you need to know about full subject-based banding

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Students who score between 4 and 20 points will be in posting group 3, and those who score between 23 and 24 points will be in posting group 2. Those who score 26 to 30 points, with an Achievement Level of 7 in English and mathematics, will be in posting group 1.

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1. Blended Learning to be integral part of Singapore's education curriculum

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1. Blended Learning to be integral part of Singapore's education curriculum

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Blended learning to be integral part of Singapore's education curriculum from 2021

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1. Millennials embrace lifelong learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

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1. Millennials embrace lifelong learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Millennials embrace lifelong learning amid COVID-19 pandemic

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1. Youth Conversations: Mental Well-being

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1. Youth Conversations: Mental Well-being

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1. Inside Asia’s biggest cram school, where Chinese students study for the gaokao

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1. Inside Asia’s biggest cram school, where Chinese students study for the gaokao

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Updated: Inside Asia’s biggest cram school, where Chinese students study for the gaokao

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(i) Sub Themes

a. Multiple Education Pathways, Full Subject-Based Banding

b. Changing Definitions of Success

c. Student Mental Wellbeing

d. Blended Learning

e. Lifelong Learning

(ii) Questions to think about
1. Do you agree with the view that it is good for students to compete with one another?

2. How far do you agree with the view that students should focus on their main school subjects and not take courses outside of school?

3. Some people think it is better to do one job throughout your career and not to change jobs. What are your views?

(iii) Words associated with Education & Career

(iv) Quotes

"Friction produces fire" - common maxim

"Education of the mind without education of the heart is no education at all" - Aristotle

"Focus on the right things and everything else will follow" - common maxim

"No competition, no progress"

"Education is our passport to the future. For tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest" - Benjamin Franklin

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2.  Edtech at a crossroads - Asia's new era of learning

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2.  Edtech at a crossroads - Asia's new era of learning

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The education technology boom in Asia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be easing off, forcing some like Indian edtech firms to reinvent their roles. But there is room yet for the industry to grow as demand for edtech is set to grow, given that it opens up new learning opportunities for young people and adults alike.

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Edtech at a crossroads: Asia's new era of learning

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The education technology boom in Asia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be easing off, forcing some like Indian edtech firms to reinvent their roles. But there is room yet for the industry to grow as demand for edtech is set to grow, given that it opens up new learning opportunities for young people and adults alike.

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2. SkillsFuture aims to train and place 15,000 workers every year until 2025

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2. SkillsFuture aims to train and place 15,000 workers every year until 2025

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SkillsFuture aims to train and place 15,000 workers every year until 2025

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Teen angst is a part of growing up, here's how youths can be better equipped to cope and be well-adjusted.

While teen angst is a part of growing up, not all youths are equipped with adequate coping abilities. Some may plunge into a debilitating state of depression. It doesn't help that youths of today have to deal with increasing competitiveness both at school and work, and rising pressures to keep up with perfect appearances on social media such as Tik Tok and Instagram.

Depression is the most common mental illness in Singapore, and 1 out of 16 Singaporeans will have exhibited depression symptoms at least once in their lifetime. If you are a concerned individual with a peer or loved one fighting youth depression, how can you help?

Related: Coping with Depression

Changing Our Help-seeking Behaviour

Even though most of us don't think twice about visiting a doctor for an ailment like the common flu, people dealing with depression symptoms tend to take much longer to seek help. This is because people with depression or their immediate family may not actually be aware that the signs and symptoms point to depression. They may even think that it is a phase that will pass with time or that they will eventually "snap out of it".

Then there is the social stigma of depression and mental illness. While many high-profile people such as Stephanie Sun, Mavis Hee and Yvonne Lim have stepped out to talk about their battles with depression, it still remains a topic that people avoid discussing in public for fear of coming off as unstable, unreliable or weak. De-stigmatising depression begins with the understanding that depression is a medical condition much like the stomach flu or even a chronic illness such as hypertension, and people who have depression do not choose to be afflicted. Raising awareness and educating people will help create a mindset shift and change the cultural norm.

Related: Myths and Misconceptions about Depression

Establishing a Safety Network

Recognising that those afflicted with depression have difficulty getting help, the onus is often on their support network to recognise depression symptoms and help them overcome it. There are ways to cure depression and early intervention is one of the keys to effective treatment.

Related: Building a Supportive Network of Family and Friends

Family

The first port of call is often family. As they live in close proximity, parents and siblings should be the first to notice any marked changes in behaviour, personality or appearance of their loved ones. As family members are closest to the person with depression, they tend to also have the most influence to initiate treatment and encourage those afflicted to get help.

Related: 7 Habits of Highly Resilient Families

Friends and Peers

If a buddy of yours has turned down one too many invitations or has been acting out of character, it could be cause for concern. More so if that friend has confided in you that he or she has had trouble sleeping or has been feeling in a low mood. If they have been increasingly absent from work or school, do raise a red flag and have a conversation with them. Acquaint yourself with the signs and symptoms of depression so that you can recognise them in your close friends.

A project recently started in Singapore called 'HappYouth', trains young people to cope with emotions in a crisis and to reach out to friends with mental health issues. Youth leaders are trained to become positive mentors and happiness ambassadors to help their peers.

School and Work

Chronic or severe absenteeism from school or work is a clear sign that something is amiss. However, people with depression often can still go through the motions and show up for their work obligations. Being a place of daily contact, education institutions and work organisations are in the next best position to recognise depression symptoms and encourage treatment.

However, the stigma surrounding mental illnesses remains strong and many do not talk about their depression for fear of jeopardising their jobs or, for job seekers, a potential job. In particular, those in positions of influence, such as school personnel and employers, should be equipped with basic mental health literacy to manage and support students and employees with mental health concerns.

Related: Learn to Deal with Peer Pressure and the Media Influence

Support from the Community

With the social stigma tied to mental illness, people with depression often seek help anonymously, turning to counselling services or hotlines available. There are also many support groups available to help those afflicted and their caretakers to deal with the disorder.

Related: Helplines for Mental Health

How You Can Help Personally

Here are some practical ways with which you can help a loved one overcome depression:

Encourage them to get appropriate professional help.

Support healthy living habits such as:

Exercise - physical activity aids in relaxation and one will feel more positive if one is fit.

Exploring interests - pursuing hobbies helps one to break the monotony and also encourage relaxation.

Going on a break - taking some time out can help one to get out of a rut and return feeling more refreshed.

Be patient, understanding and empathetic.

Related: Be Active for a Healthy Mind

Resources and Helplines

If you need more information/resources to help you cope, you can go to Belle, the Beyond the Label helpbot.

SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) also provides emotional support for those in crisis.

Suicide Prevention and Crisis Helplines
Visit MindSG for more tools to take care of your mental well-being.

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Youth Preventive Dental Service

Youth Preventive Dental Service (YPDS) provides oral health screening for pre-schoolers at some childcare centres as part of the Preschool Oral Health Screening and Fluoride Therapy Programme. Parents will be informed of the screening findings and recommended follow-up action through an "Information Sheet for Parents" that is downloadable from HealthHub. YPDS also provides free basic dental services to Primary and Secondary students through school dental clinics and mobile dental clinics. Annually, Primary 1, 2, 4 and 6, Secondary 1 and 3, and ITE Year 1 students who are enrolled in the school dental programme will be screened and treated by YPDS. Students in other levels who require dental services may visit the school or mobile dental clinics for free consultation and treatment.

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There's a lot about e-cigarettes that many of us are unaware of - what are they exactly, and are they safe? Read on to uncover truths and myths clouding it!

STAY ONE STEP AHEAD WITH VACCINATIONS

Protect yourself and your loved ones from vaccine-preventable diseases like influenza and pneumococcal disease. There is no reason why anyone should suffer from the serious complications vaccine-preventable diseases can cause. Your best defence against such diseases is getting vaccinated.

Teen angst is a part of growing up, here's how youths can be better equipped to cope and be well-adjusted.

<div class="ExternalClassBF00F648D6AF460ABCBE1EF2CF38A864"><p>While teen angst is a part of growing up, not all youths are equipped with adequate coping abilities. Some may plunge into a debilitating state of depression. It doesn't help that youths of today have to deal with increasing competitiveness both at school and work, and rising pressures to keep up with perfect appearances on social media such as Tik Tok and Instagram.</p><p>
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/101/topics_depression" title="Depression">Depression</a> is the most common mental illness in Singapore, and 1 out of 16 Singaporeans will have exhibited depression symptoms at least once in their lifetime. If you are a concerned individual with a peer or loved one fighting youth depression, how can you help?</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/87/coping_with_depression_" title="Coping with Depression">Coping with Depression</a></strong></p><h2>Changing Our Help-seeking Behaviour</h2><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/midsection-of-female-friends-holding-hands.jpg" alt="" style="margin&#58;5px;width&#58;640px;" /> </p><p>Even though most of us don't think twice about visiting a doctor for an ailment like the common flu, people dealing with depression symptoms tend to take much longer to seek help. This is because people with depression or their immediate family may not actually be aware that the signs and symptoms point to depression. They may even think that it is a phase that will pass with time or that they will eventually "snap out of it".</p><p>Then there is the social stigma of depression and mental illness. While many high-profile people such as Stephanie Sun, Mavis Hee and Yvonne Lim have stepped out to talk about their battles with depression, it still remains a topic that people avoid discussing in public for fear of coming off as unstable, unreliable or weak. De-stigmatising depression begins with the understanding that depression is a medical condition much like the stomach flu or even a chronic illness such as hypertension, and people who have depression do not choose to be afflicted. Raising awareness and educating people will help create a mindset shift and change the cultural norm.</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/509/mythsandmisconceptionsaboutdepression" title="Myths and Misconceptions about Depression">Myths and Misconceptions about Depression</a></strong></p><h2>Establishing a Safety Network</h2><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/crying-girl.jpg" alt="a young chinese child consoling her friend" style="margin&#58;5px;" /> </p><p>Recognising that those afflicted with depression have difficulty getting help, the onus is often on their support network to recognise depression symptoms and help them overcome it. There are ways to cure depression and early intervention is one of the keys to effective treatment.</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/programmes/186/MindSG/Discover#how-to-get-emotional-support-tips">Building a Supportive Network of Family and Friends</a></strong></p><h3>Family
</h3><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/iStock-484611232.jpg" alt="three generations of asian family women sitting together" style="margin&#58;5px;width&#58;640px;height&#58;427px;" />

</p><p>The first port of call is often family. As they live in close proximity, parents and siblings should be the first to notice any marked changes in behaviour, personality or appearance of their loved ones. As family members are closest to the person with depression, they tend to also have the most influence to initiate treatment and encourage those afflicted to get help.</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1712/7-habits-of-highly-resilient-families" title="7 Habits of Highly Resilient Families">7 Habits of Highly Resilient Families</a></strong></p><h3>Friends and Peers
</h3><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/iStock-950138492.jpg" alt="two malay teenagers console their friend while sitting on a staircase outdoors" style="margin&#58;5px;" />

</p><p>If a buddy of yours has turned down one too many invitations or has been acting out of character, it could be cause for concern. More so if that friend has confided in you that he or she has had trouble sleeping or has been feeling in a low mood. If they have been increasingly absent from work or school, do raise a red flag and have a conversation with them. Acquaint yourself with the <a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1296/how-to-identify-and-deal-with-depression" title="Signs of Depression">signs and symptoms of depression</a> so that you can recognise them in your close friends.</p><p>A project recently started in Singapore called 'HappYouth', trains young people to cope with emotions in a crisis and to reach out to friends with mental health issues. Youth leaders are trained to become positive mentors and happiness ambassadors to help their peers.
</p><h3>School and Work
</h3><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/iStock-479143346.jpg" alt="two students studying together in the library" style="margin&#58;5px;" />

</p><p>Chronic or severe absenteeism from school or work is a clear sign that something is amiss. However, people with depression often can still go through the motions and show up for their work obligations. Being a place of daily contact, education institutions and work organisations are in the next best position to recognise depression symptoms and encourage treatment.</p><p>However, the stigma surrounding mental illnesses remains strong and many do not talk about their depression for fear of jeopardising their jobs or, for job seekers, a potential job. In particular, those in positions of influence, such as school personnel and employers, should be equipped with basic mental health literacy to manage and support students and employees with mental health concerns.</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/377/deal_with_peer_pressure_media" title="Learn to Deal with Peer Pressure and the Media Influence">Learn to Deal with Peer Pressure and the Media Influence</a></strong></p><h2>Support from the Community
</h2><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/iStock-639418304.jpg" alt="a group of asian teenagers of mixed races sitting together" style="margin&#58;5px;" />

</p><p>With the social stigma tied to mental illness, people with depression often seek help anonymously, turning to counselling services or hotlines available. There are also many support groups available to help those afflicted and their caretakers to deal with the disorder.</p><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/a-z/support-groups-and-others/20/call-on-these-when-you-need-help" title="Helplines for Mental Health">Helplines for Mental Health</a></strong></p><h2>How You Can Help Personally</h2><p style="text-align&#58;center;">
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Mind%20N%20Balance/mother-consoling-her-daughter.jpg" alt="asian mum hugging her daughter" style="margin&#58;5px;" /> </p><p>Here are some practical ways with which you can help a loved one overcome depression&#58;</p><ul><li><p>Encourage them to get appropriate professional help.</p></li><li><p>Support healthy living habits such as&#58;</p><ul><li><p>Exercise - physical activity aids in relaxation and one will feel more positive if one is fit.</p></li><li><p>Exploring interests - pursuing hobbies helps one to break the monotony and also encourage relaxation.</p></li><li><p>Going on a break - taking some time out can help one to get out of a rut and return feeling more refreshed.</p></li></ul></li><li><p>Be patient, understanding and empathetic.</p></li></ul><p>
<strong>Related&#58;
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/431/beactiveforahealthymind" title="Be Active for a Healthy Mind">Be Active for a Healthy Mind</a></strong></p><h4>Resources and Helplines</h4><p>If you need more information/resources to help you cope, you can go to
<a href="https&#58;//www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/beyond-the-label/belle-beyond-the-label-helpbot">Belle, the Beyond the Label helpbot</a>.</p><p>SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) also provides emotional support for those in crisis.</p><h4>Suicide Prevention and Crisis Helplines</h4><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="color&#58;#222222;font-family&#58;arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size&#58;small;background-color&#58;#ffffff;"><tbody><tr><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.8pt;border&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">SOS (Samaritans of Singapore)<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.85pt;border-top&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-left&#58;none;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">1-767<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.6pt;border-top&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-left&#58;none;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">Daily<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.8pt;border-top&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-left&#58;none;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">24 hours<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.8pt;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-left&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-top&#58;none;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">Care Email<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.85pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;"><a href="mailto&#58;pat@sos.org.sg" target="_blank" style="color&#58;#1155cc;">pat@sos.org.sg</a><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.6pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;"><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span> <span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.8pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;"><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span> <span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.8pt;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-left&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-top&#58;none;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">Care Text<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="208" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;155.85pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;"><a href="https&#58;//www.sos.org.sg/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https&#58;//www.google.com/url?q=https&#58;//www.sos.org.sg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1646971189648000&amp;usg=AOvVaw10v7nZg4kGbRC_lNLGoyZU" style="color&#58;#1155cc;">https&#58;//www.sos.org.sg</a><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;"><em>accessible via Chatbox function<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></em></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.6pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">Daily<span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span><span style="text-decoration&#58;underline;"></span></p></td><td width="85" valign="top" style="font-family&#58;roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;margin&#58;0px;width&#58;63.8pt;border-top&#58;none;border-left&#58;none;border-bottom&#58;1pt solid windowtext;border-right&#58;1pt solid windowtext;padding&#58;0cm 5.4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom&#58;0px;">24 hours
</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/programmes/186/MindSG/Discover">Visit MindSG for more tools to take care of your mental well-being.</a></div><div class="ExternalClassBF00F648D6AF460ABCBE1EF2CF38A864">
<p><a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub">V</a><a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub">isit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your child a healthy start.</a></p>
<p>
<em>Download the HealthHub app on
<a href="https&#58;//play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.gov.hpb.healthhub&amp;hl=en_SG" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google Play</a> or
<a href="https&#58;//itunes.apple.com/sg/app/healthhub-sg/id1034200875?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Apple Store</a> to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.</em> </p><hr /><p>
<strong>Read these next&#58;</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/231/dont_mope_cope" title="Feeling Depressed? You Are Not Alone">Feeling Depressed? You Are Not Alone</a> </li><li>
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/322/leading_healthy_Happy_lives" title="Leading Healthy and Happy Lives">Leading Healthy and Happy Lives</a></li><li>
<a href="https&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/133/understandinganxiety" title="Understanding Anxiety">Understanding Anxiety</a>
</li><li>
<a href="/live-healthy/1361/surprisingly-healthy-activities-fun-with-friends" title="Surprisingly Healthy Activities&#58; Fun with Friends">Surprisingly Healthy Activities&#58; Fun with Friends</a>
</li></ul><div class="footnote" style="margin&#58;20px 0px 0px;padding&#58;5px 2.5%;border-top&#58;1px solid #eeeeee;"><hr /><h2>References</h2><ol id="footnotes" style="margin&#58;0px;"><li>Health Promotion Board. (2005, Aug). Fight The Blues [PDF].

Retrieved June 2016 from http&#58;//www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/HPB/Mental%20Health/HPB%20-%20Fight%20The%20Blues.pdf

</li><li>Chong, S. A., Abdin, E., Vaingankar, J. A., Heng, D., Sherbourne, C., Yap, M., et al. (2012, Feb). A Population-based Survey of Mental Disorders in Singapore.
<em>Annals of the Academy of Medicine, 41</em>(2), 49-66.

Retrieved June 2016 from http&#58;//www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/41VolNo2Feb2012/V41N1p49.pdf

</li><li>Teng, A. (2015, Dec 28). Rising trend of self-harm among the young.
<em>The Straits Times</em>.

Retrieved June 2016 from http&#58;//www.straitstimes.com/singapore/rising-trend-of-self-harm-among-the-young

</li><li>Tai, J. (2016, Apr 9). Youth on board for mental wellness drive.
<em>The Straits Times</em>.

Retrieved June 2016 from http&#58;//www.straitstimes.com/singapore/youth-on-board-for-mental-wellness-drive

</li><li>Community Health Assessment Team. (n.d.). Depression [Website].

Retrieved June 2016 from https&#58;//www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/get-the-facts/depression/

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

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Helping Youth Fight Depression

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Teen angst is a part of growing up, here's how youths can be better equipped to cope and be well-adjusted. While teen angst is a part of growing up, not all youths are equipped with adequate coping abilities. Some may plunge into a debilitating state of depression.

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Full subject-based banding in secondary schools allows students to learn according to own pace

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When it is fully implemented in secondary schools in 2024, there will no longer be Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Broadening Definitions of Success – “Love Beyond Grades”

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3. Society must broaden 'definition of success' beyond academic goals to reduce stress on students: Chan Chun Sing

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3. Society must broaden 'definition of success' beyond academic goals to reduce stress on students: Chan Chun Sing

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Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said cutting the school syllabus may paradoxically increase the stress students face

He based this on feedback students gave him, that they would use the extra free time to ace the subjects

Mr Chan said the definition of success in Singapore must be changed to allow students time to pursue other interests

This way, society can be much more diverse and much more resilient, he added

SINGAPORE - Society needs to adopt a broader definition of success if it hopes to relieve some of the stress that students feel from being put through Singapore's education system, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said during a virtual forum on Monday (Aug 16).

To illustrate his point, he recounted a conversation he had with some secondary school and junior college students and the answers they gave him were very revealing about the "culture behind education" in Singapore.

He had asked the students how they would feel if the Ministry of Education (MOE) decided to cut their subject syllabus by half.

The students told him that he would have to be careful because it would mean that everybody would be trying to "ace the remaining half (of the subjects)... rather than just aiming for 90 marks for the whole syllabus".

The students added that they would be in worse shape than before.

He said that based on the students' feedback, if the extra free time were used to focus on the more commonly perceived yardstick of success - which is academic grades -the stress does not necessarily decrease, but might "paradoxically increase".

Instead, that free time should be used to allow students to pursue new skills, interests or even hobbies beyond what was being taught in school.

This way, society can be "much more diverse and much more resilient", he said.

Mr Chan, who is also the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, was speaking at the Social-Economic Nexus Speaking Engagement Forum, which was attended by more than 1,500 public servants.

He was responding to a question raised during a dialogue moderated by Mr Chng Kai Fong, managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Referring to Mr Chan's opening speech, which touched on encouraging a diversity of views among students and thinking beyond academics, Mr Chng asked the minister what needed to be done for Singapore to maintain its edge.

In his speech, Mr Chan said that any reduction in teaching and testing must not lead to a "perverse outcome of bringing more intense academic competition".

"How far we can move away from an over-emphasis on academic grades to truly embrace strength in diversity depends on the full participation and support of educators and parents," he said.

Mr Chan told Mr Chng that from talking to the students, it showed that there needs to be a wider definition of success, what it means to go through a school system, and what it equips students with beyond academic knowledge.

Separately, Mr Chan pointed out that many universities across the world often hold open-book examinations, because memorising "nuggets of information" was not as important as being able to make sense of it and how to use it.

Similarly, he said that MOE is looking at ways to move away from a rote learning system to one where students are able to use the information they have learned to solve problems.

He added that corporate leaders have told him that they are looking for something beyond the grades students have.

They are looking for a sense of curiosity and how much confidence jobseekers have in presenting themselves, among many other soft skills that go beyond what is taught in school.

"If more of our corporate leaders can come and share with our students and schools on what the new world is looking for, what are some of the skill sets that we are looking for, then I think we will have a slightly different perspective on what is most important going through the school system," Mr Chan said.

The education system needs more people who have found success after leaving school to return to their alma mater to share how they have succeeded, Mr Chan added.

Highlighting his own experience as a student, he said he remembered that a vast majority of past students who returned to school to share their experiences did not say they had scored a certain number of A grades.

Rather, they attributed skills they picked up from their co-curricular activities, which were the qualities that allowed them to convince their employers to give them a chance because they had "gumption, creativity and so forth".

"We need many more of these positive storytelling beyond what is just in the school curriculum," Mr Chan said, adding that society must also celebrate the success of those who do well in non-academic areas such as sports and leadership.
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During the dialogue, Mr Chng of EDB also posed wide-ranging questions from public officers about the economy and the public service.

In some of the responses, Mr Chan said that as a business hub, Singapore should not compete on the basis of offering attractive prices, but rather on the value proposition it can give in the long term.

He said that in a fractious global environment, it has become critical to be able to aggregate capital based on the rule of law, bring talent together from different parts of the world, protect intellectual property and evolve production processes and services faster than others.

He also addressed a misperception that the Government only looks to opening up more high-end, high-tech jobs, and said that there is a need to take care of another segment of the population that may not be involved in high-growth sectors.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a greater appreciation for various sectors such as healthcare, cleaning and security that were not on the radar for most people previously.

"There's a greater awareness of how we need to give the workers in all these sectors a fair wage," Mr Chan said, adding that questions also need to be asked about how these jobs can be made more meaningful and dignified.

On a separate point about employers, he said that they need to understand that they cannot always get the perfect candidate for a job.

Rather than rule out a candidate completely for having only seven or eight out the 10 required skill sets for a job, both employers and employees should work together to bridge the gap in the remaining skill sets.

In addressing public service leaders, Mr Chan told them to take care of those under them, noting that the past 20 months fighting the pandemic have been tough for public officers "who are always on" and ready to swing into action when a crisis occurs.

"If we can take care of our people, our people will take care of the mission. No questions asked."

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Society must broaden 'definition of success' beyond academic goals to reduce stress on students: Chan Chun Sing

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SINGAPORE - Society needs to adopt a broader definition of success if it hopes to relieve some of the stress that students feel from being put through Singapore's education system, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said during a virtual forum on Monday (Aug 16).

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"We learn to appreciate one another's strengths and weaknesses."

It’s about full SBB, getting students from different streams me break the “stereotype and stigmas”, to get students from different backgrounds together, bringing education system and provide different methods of teaching beyond the traditional way as everyone of us are different in the way of learning, some more hands on some prefer repetitive practicing.

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I am honestly do not support it. if I am going to be honest it is quite cruel to let kids only focus on their school work and not look for other courses that might inanity the fire of passion

As education in, mind without education of the heart It is no education at all. From my perspective as I have joined multiple courses such as plane related once it truly did ignite some passion to continue my course and it influences my choice of my course In college. If you were to ask any adultin the world right now there is quite a good chance they have pursued their dreams from their childhood according to many articles such as this 43 Percent of Adults Report Living Out Their Childhood Dream ...The Toy Associationhttps://www.toyassociation.org › News › 2021-news › 43...  . It's also important to note that it isn’t about the matter of whether the kids were to find their passion, it’s also about who in their right mind would just restrict their kids to only focus on their school work focusing should be finding something else to do, not. sit in a classroom being taught the same thing every generation it is as cruel as it sounds

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I do not agree with students focusing on main school subjects and not taking courses outside of school.

Teenagers, still lost and not know who they are or what they like, their strength, self identity, their ideal life. Only focusing on academics will stress them out more as “grades matter, nothing else” idea was inputted into their minds. “What we perceive is what we believe”,without experiencing life outside of school and education, they do not know their strength and would not be able to change their perspective on studies “grades matter nothing else” as they only have life within school and their friends, not going out of that zone to the actual world.

For me, I spend most of my time on my hobbies in exchange for my PSLE grades, time spended goes to where the effort is putted in

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Do you agree that it is good for students to compete with one another ?

I dont agree that students should be competing against one another. why ? It causes students to be overwhelmed by personal experience. Being overwhelmed everyday was a healthy habit to have. It was always what i can do better and i finally did better. It was never i should give time for myself. It causes students to hate on each other because there is a feeling between one another which was i have to be better than them. It causes to have misunderstandings which can lead to many worse things in the future. They wont be able to work in a working community which needs to be worked together in a group as they will feel like how they were in the past it could effect their life in the future just because of something that happen im the past. So asking students to compete with another will do nothing and will not benefit them in any way. All it would do make the discourage themselves and end up overworking themselves to the point, they dont know if they should be continuing what ever they are doing or stop. Competing is never good for any one especially the younger generations.

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I wouldn’t fully agree with the view that student should not take courses outside of school because on one hand some courses would be helpful to you when finding jobs , or even when they are trying to hire you like for example when the interviewer asks you what makes you different from the rest you can say that the course that you took would be detrimental to the choice of the interviewer weather they would hire you or not, and another hand ,some courses would just be an unimportant skill like for example you are interested in an engineering joband you took an course outside of school like cooking has no correlation to your job scope or even what you are currently studying I know that some have a passion on certain skills but when these people are coming closer to your exams the would obviously be weighed with the heavy option with either they have to continue it but some will also opt to continue with the course but would also affect the will to study and would also lose focus from their studies, and would ultimately led to getting bad marks which most people would not want ,

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no I don’t think it is good for students to compete with one another . I don’t think it’s a good idea because it may fosters an unhealthy relationship between one student to another .” It doesn’t help that youths of today have to deal with increasing competitiveness both at school and work, and rising pressures to keep up with perfect appearances on social media such as Tik Tok and Instagram. “ this shows that teen with suffer being compared to one another because it’ll hurt the mental health and they my fall into a state of depression due to it . “ 1 in 3 young people aged between 15 and 35 years in Singapore experience severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress.  “ this also proves that it’s easier and a higher chance for students to be affected and fall into that state  of mind because comparing themselves with one another will make them feel as if that they not good enough as who they are and that they have to look like others to be the ‘perfect’ one .

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In my opinion, I don’t think that it is best to stick with one job throughout your entire career. Only sticking with one job will not let you explore your hidden interests. Who knows if you actually have a passion in gardening? You will never know because you only stuck to one job. People should be more open minded about switching jobs once in a awhile. I personally have no experience but my father used to do all types of jobs. He would be an accountant, then a manager,  and then a personal driver. He said that it helped him gain a lot of experience in various things. I feel like if you stick to one job, you will be more closed minded as you are not open to working in a different job. I get that sometimes a different environment is scary, but sometimes it’s better to stop out of your comfort zone to see which job or skill piques your interest.

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No! I do not agree with the view that it is good for student to compete with one another. It is not good for students to compete with one another because they may feel hatred and stress amongst one another, if one did not do well and the other do well, it might cause the student with lesser mark to overthink and overwork themselves causing depression, competing against one another can cause a negative effect on our mental health. I can relate to this as I am a students, my parents always compare me with my brother as he is the hardworking and the smart one. This causes me and my brother hatred and always competing against one another, even tho I try my best it was always not enough in my parents eyes

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no , I do not agree that it is good for students to compete with one another. When students compete with one another they tend to not get along well with their peers as they are trying to be above the other 24/7. When parents compare students to their schoolmates, the student may feel hatred towards the other person and feel like they are not doing their best and work even harder which makes them feel more stressed and may lead to falling ill as they might prioritise studies over their wellbeing. When I was younger, my teachers always compared me to my sister and would talk about how I should be more like her and work harder, this lead to me and my sister feeling hatred towards each other and consistently competing against each other hoping to be the “better” one which made us become distant. Parents always hope for their children to get along with one another instead of arguing all the time but that is not possible if they are comparing them with each other, the only person we should compete with is ourselves and become a better version of our past.

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Some people think it is better to do one job throughout your career and not to change jobs. However in my opinion, changing jobs helps us broader the range of experiences and having different perspective views. I my personal experience, I always looking for different part time jobs during the holidays, it’s because I prefer trying new things than having a same jobs because it will make me feel boring. Having a same jobs don’t allow me to gain more jobs experience and skills. It also doesn’t allow me to get the opportunity to have different views of the job. That’s the reason why I think that changing jobs helps us broader the range of experiences and having different perspective views.

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I do agree that students must focus on their school subjects, however, I do not agree with the notion that you must only focus on your school subjects and not take external courses that interests them. While, of course, the main school subjects are important, choosing to focus solely on studying during free time instead of studying one’s passion may cause stress, depression, and angst as they are forced to study subjects which they have little to no interest in. About 10-30% of all students are depressed or have depressive tendencies. Wouldn’t you be depressed if you couldn’t even focus on what you wanted to be, and only focused on your studies? Focusing solely on their subjects may also hinder them on their future jobs, as people would rather hire someone who has experience than someone who can do algebra. Outside courses are great for students as they can help prepare them for their future jobs, and even help them realise what they can do in the future.