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Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions 1 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) what is the median and maximum programmed wait time for pedestrians at signalised junctions; (b) whether pedestrians are currently prioritised in traffic signal timing logic and, if not, whether the Land Transport Authority will consider prioritising them; and (c) whether the Ministry will reduce maximum wait times to under 60 seconds.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions Speaker, the median and maximum waiting time for pedestrians at signalised junctions are 120 seconds and 140 seconds respectively.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions Wait times for pedestrians depend on the nature of road, junction size and configuration, as well as prevailing traffic volume. For example, waiting times at signalised junctions of Friendly Streets, which we are expanding to every town by 2030, are under 60 seconds.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions Mr Giam.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Sir, the Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) 2018 Transport Impact Assessment guidelines reflect a shift to prioritise mass transport and active mobility, which includes walking over private transport modes. Can the Minister of State give some examples of how this translates into shorter pedestrian wait times and more pedestrian priority, other than the Friendly Streets initiative, which only covers a few intersections in a few towns? Does the Government intend to give greater priority to pedestrians for all intersections, including the older ones?
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions And secondly, the Minister of State said that the maximum time is 140 seconds? That is almost two and a half minutes. Does the Minister of State agreed that a wait time of almost two and a half minutes in Singapore's hot and humid climate, can be a bit too long and can the maximum time be reduced further, as much as to 60 seconds?
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions And thirdly, do most signalised intersections currently use a fixed time signal, or do they change according to demand?
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions And the last question is very fast one: does pressing the green man button, does that shorten the wait time, or does that just signal that the pedestrian is waiting at the junction?
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions Sir, the configuration for signal timing needs to strike a balance among all the users of the junction, whether vehicles on the roads or pedestrians. And while I appreciate that the Member has concern for people waiting longer at the traffic junction, waiting for the green man, we also have to take account for traffic. Traffic is not just private vehicles. It also includes public buses, which need to stick to a schedule to make sure they bring commuters to work on time. So, we do need to look at the interest of all parties, which will be affected by changes in the traffic light timings.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions Having said that, we do take a look at the junctions in question. So, we mentioned that there is a median time; it is not a fixed time for every junction. We look at the configuration, the volume of pedestrians and traffic, so that we are able to achieve an optimal situation to balance the different needs.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions We do have dynamic systems that are able to track traffic volume. We are working on a better system where at certain junctions we might want to install cameras at the pedestrian waiting area to track pedestrian volume and whether we are able to build that capability to also incorporate pedestrian data to adjust traffic lights timings dynamically. But it will be within a certain range.
Wait Times for Pedestrians at Signalised Junctions As for the green man, the Member was talking about pressing the button, whether that activates it faster. I think it depends on the junction. For some, it does turn faster; and for some, there are some crossings where the lights do not usually change because it has a very low pedestrian crossing volume. And therefore, the lights are green in favour of the traffic, and unless someone presses it and then, it will turn red or have the green man turned on for the pedestrian. So, it serves a variety of functions. We will customise it for the need of the particular crossing and where possible, we use technology data from the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2.0 system to allow us to better assess the different needs and then to achieve a more optimal situation for all.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit 2 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) what Singapore dollar-specific factors have contributed to its persistent weakness against the Malaysian ringgit; (b) what implications a sustained slide below the exchange rate of 3 Malaysian ringgit/Singapore dollar may have on Singapore’s labour market; and (c) whether MAS will consider strengthening policy settings or adjusting the exchange rate band to ensure stability.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Sir, the Singapore dollar has appreciated against the Malaysian ringgit at an average rate of 1.3% per annum over 2020 to 2025. However, it is important to emphasise that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) manages the Singapore dollar against a trade-weighted basket of currencies of its major trading partners and not against any bilateral exchange rate. The Singapore dollar trade-weighted exchange rate has been on a gradual appreciating path since October 2021. The strength and stability of the Singapore dollar is assessed against the attainment of medium-term price stability in the economy.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Non-resident labour flows into Singapore principally reflect the economy’s overall growth and employment prospects.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit MAS will continue to closely monitor economic and financial developments and is in an appropriate position to adjust its monetary policy stance to ensure medium-term price stability.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Mr Yip.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his response. With the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, expected to begin operation soon, cross-border travel will become faster and cheaper, making it even easier for consumers to travel across the Causeway and tap on the services there. Coupled with a weaker Singapore dollar, this could significantly reduce demand for local retailers, and food and beverage (F&B) outlets.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Will the Government look into forward-looking support measures to help local businesses prepare for this shift, given the potential impact on Singapore jobs and household incomes?
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit Sir, I thank Mr Yip Hon Weng for his question. I am answering this Parliamentary Question in my MAS hat, but he has asked a question wearing my Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) hat. In fact, this is regard to the RTS Link, and of course there are some relationships with the Singapore dollar as well as Malaysian ringgit.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit In fact, earlier this morning I met with the RTS Link Task Force, of which I am chairing, to look at ways in which to enhance our local business, their competitiveness, their ability to place-make. In the MTI Committee of Supply, we have also announced many enhancements to the grants and support for heartland businesses, looking forward to both the challenges as well as opportunities of the RTS Link when it is operational at the end of the year.
Singapore Dollar-specific Factors Contributing to Persistent Weakness against Malaysian Ringgit So, as chairman of the RTS Link Task Force, we are looking at this very carefully. We have met with the merchants. We have met with Government officials, including Enterprise Singapore, the Housing and Development Board, and the National Environment Agency this morning. And we will announce these measures in due course.
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps 3 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) whether the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) compiles a list of specific mobile network dead zones across the entire MRT network; (b) if so, whether this list and the rectification status of each site will be made public via a dashboard to ensure operator accountability; and (c) how many persistent signal gaps have remained unrectified for more than 12 months.
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are required to meet the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA's) 4G Quality of Service standards, and IMDA conducts regular checks to ensure these are met. This includes the requirement to provide more than 99% mobile coverage in all Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnels and MRT stations in Singapore. The Quality of Service performance results for each MRT line are published on IMDA’s website.
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps Where there are coverage gaps found along the MRT network, IMDA works closely with MNOs to carry out enhancements that address the gaps. MNOs typically take six months to complete these enhancements, working within the limited hours of maintenance windows for tunnel access.
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps Mr Giam.
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. For the persistent dead zones that have been remain unrectified after six months, does the Ministry impose any escalating financial penalties on the providers in order to ensure that there is a stronger commercial incentive for them to resolve the issues more speedily? And second, does IMDA track whether certain mobile operators have a higher proportion of these long-term dead zones and will this track record of non-compliance be factored into the pricing or allocation of future spectrum allocations or spectrum options?
Mobile Network Dead Zones in MRT Network and Steps to Rectify Persistent Signal Gaps Sir, as I said earlier in my reply, MNOs typically take six months to enhance coverage. Over the last three years, no persistent signal gaps within MRT network remained unrectified.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang 4 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the Ministry will consider expanding the usability of ActiveSG credits to include sports facilities beyond those currently under ActiveSG, such as those in community centres and The Kallang, to offer residents greater flexibility and encourage wider participation.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang The Government is committed to ensuring that public sports facilities remain accessible and affordable for all Singaporeans.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang ActiveSG credits can be used at all ActiveSG sports facilities, including ActiveSG’s World Aquatics Championship Arena at The Kallang, as well as community sport facilities in Our Tampines Hub and Senja-Cashew Community Club. The credits can also be used to offset the cost of ActiveSG and Active Health programmes.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang Since November 2025, we have also expanded the use of ActiveSG credits across more than 370 school sports facilities under the Dual-Use Scheme (DUS), providing more opportunities for the public to utilise their ActiveSG credits.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang SportSG will continue to explore ways to expand the use of ActiveSG credits at more public sports facilities.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang Mr Yip.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I ask this Parliamentary Question because I have been approached by many residents who have asked to use the ActiveSG credits in community facilities, like in the Community Clubs for sports. And I want to ask the Ministry whether it will consider opening it up and ensuring that there is no fragmentation and there are no barriers to continue to help Singaporeans to remain active and healthy.
Expanding Use of ActiveSG Credits to Include Sports Facilities Such As Those at Community Clubs and The Kallang Sir, I appreciate the Member raising the interest from his residents. We are aligned in wanting to provide more access to these facilities for our Singaporeans. Rest assured, Sport SG is working on enhancing the My ActiveSG+ booking system – first, focusing on enhancing and improving the user experience, before working on expanding the use of ActiveSG credits for People's Association facilities. So, this is currently in the works.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally 5 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government has assessed the export potential of Singapore’s water recycling and integrated water management capabilities, particularly in regions facing rising industrial and digital infrastructure demand; and (b) whether there are plans to develop a coordinated strategy to position Singapore firms as global leaders in this sector.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally 6 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether existing financing and risk-sharing mechanisms are sufficient for Singapore-based water-technology firms to compete internationally with state-backed competitors in large-scale overseas projects; and (b) whether further enhancements are planned to strengthen Singapore’s global competitiveness and support local firms in securing international desalination and recycling contracts.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer oral Questions Nos 5 and 6 in today’s Order Paper together, as they both relate to the international competitiveness of Singapore’s water technology firms?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Please proceed.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Thank you, Sir. Sir, water supply is an existential issue for Singapore. Therefore, the Government has been promoting the water industry and investing in the research and development (R&D) of water technologies under Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE). Today, Singapore is globally recognised for our integrated water management and our know-how also creates opportunities for our companies to meet the needs of other countries.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Enterprise Singapore, PUB and the Singapore Water Association work together to support Singapore-based companies such as Keppel and Sembcorp as they build capabilities and pursue opportunities overseas.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Our biennial Singapore International Water Week has become one of the world’s leading conferences for public utilities and the water industry since its establishment in 2008. It comprises flagship events that gather suppliers and customers of innovative water, coastal and flood solutions. Co-organised by PUB, the event culminates in the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize. Events like these help Singapore-based companies and startups gain visibility and access to potential investors, partners and customers.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Our agencies also regularly organise business missions to and facilitate engagements with stakeholders in key regional markets.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally These efforts have been particularly helpful for smaller companies. Hydroleap, a watertech company specialising in electrochemical separation, piloted its water recycling systems with Amazon Web Services (AWS) at a data centre facility in Singapore. It has since expanded to markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally SG Enviro, another Singapore startup focused on advanced water purification treatment using nano-bubble technology, has been working on water reclamation and wastewater treatment projects with palm oil refineries in Malaysia.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Watertech companies like Hydroleap and SG Enviro have and can tap the Enterprise Development Grant to upgrade, innovate and access new markets and our Market Readiness Assistance grant to defray the costs of overseas market promotion. They can also use those grants for development of their businesses and to set up their businesses overseas.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Companies which need financing for overseas expansion can also tap the Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS). Under EFS, Government offers risk sharing with participating Financial Institutions, such as for fixed asset loans for construction or the acquisition of plants and equipment. They also can access trade loans for the buying and selling of goods. We announced enhancements to some of these schemes at this year's Budget and the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Committee of Supply (MTI COS) session.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally I want to ensure the Member that the Government will continue to support our local water tech companies, to strengthen their global competitiveness and better position them to pursue market opportunities abroad.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Mr Dennis Tan.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for his answers. I have different supplementary questions for Question Nos 5 and 6 respectively.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally For Question No 5, I would like to ask the Minister of State, will the Government consider a circular economy export office to specifically bundle our water recycling and waste to energy technologies, like Tuas Nexus, as a single high value export for the growing cities in ASEAN and beyond in Asia?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Second supplementary question, for Question No 5. Is MTI actively marketing Singapore's integrated cooling plus water recycling solutions to regional digital hubs like Johor and Batam, to ensure our firms capture the spillover infrastructure demand from Singapore's own land constraint?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Finally, for the third supplementary question, given that water is often a sovereign municipal issue overseas, will the Government use more government-to-government platforms to pre-qualify or support Singapore water technologies in emerging markets?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally For Question No 6, Mr Speaker, my supplementary questions are as follows. One, will MTI introduce a sovereign project bond or risk sharing mechanism that allows Singapore water firms to bid for larger scale overseas desalination projects with the financial backing of a, so called, Team Singapore guarantee?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Second supplementary question, will the Government allow for more export oriented test bedding within PUB facilities where the primary goal is not just local water security, but providing the firms with a globally recognised reference track to win overseas tenders?
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally Sir, I thank Mr Dennis Tan for his supplementary questions for both Question Nos 5 and 6. Let me try to answer them as comprehensively as possible.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally With regard to the circular economy export office and the market integrated cooling solutions, there are no immediate plans to do so.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally With regard to supporting Singapore water tech companies and to use our know-how to tap onto the opportunities outside of Singapore, I think those are very useful suggestions and important ones. Allow me to put that into context; because I have two questions. I can go a little bit into detail to answer Mr Dennis Tan's questions.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally First of all, maybe I start with the export test bedding and talk about PUB's support. PUB, in fact, has opened up its water insulation for test bedding. For example, they have this Living Lab fund which provides R&D funding. So, if you are a local company, for example, Hydroleap or SG Enviro, you are able to use some of these funds to test bed some of these innovative solutions, which if it works, then you can potentially use it in Singapore and then potentially export to different markets.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally PUB also has support schemes for companies and research institutions to then pilot and to validate these new tech, which could be applied for both industrial as well as municipal water needs.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally What I thought is also very important, because the Member is asking about how Singapore water tech companies can better expand into the overseas markets, is this. Since 2006, Government has invested about $800 million from RIE on water tech. And since, then the water tech industry has grown quite significantly. In fact, we have now moved from 50 to about 400 companies and increased job opportunities. So, now, it is about over 20,000 jobs.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally For the schemes, at MTI COS, we have enhanced some of these schemes to help these companies, not just water tech companies, but companies who want to expand overseas. For example, we enhanced the Market Readiness Assistance grant. So, even if you are already in the market, you can continue to use that grant.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally We have enhanced the Double Tax Deduction for Internationalisation grant, and we have also enhanced the EFS.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally All of these, put together, enables our companies to expand overseas. I give a quick example to illustrate this point. Hydroleap, for example. Because of the support from Enterprise Singapore and MTI, it is now able to use the Enterprise Development Grant funding to upgrade its water technologies, which I mentioned earlier on. It is now expanded to Australia. It is expanded to Thailand, for example, partnering with the Bangkok Industrial Gas, to provide smart water treatment solutions in PepsiCo Thailand.
Export Potential of Singapore’s Water Recycling and Management Capabilities and Support for Water Technology Firms to Compete Globally So, I thank the Member for his questions. We are indeed looking at water as a strategic imperative, not just as an existential issue for Singapore, but also supporting our water tech companies to test bed, to validate their ideas to grow and then to expand beyond our shores.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector 7 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what measures the Government is taking to facilitate greater adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within the energy generation sector; and (b) how it is supporting businesses and households in leveraging AI solutions to improve energy conservation and efficiency.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Mr Speaker, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a strong enabler in the power sector. In 2025, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) launched a regulatory sandbox for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), which are essentially, digital platforms that control, optimise and aggregate distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and battery energy storage systems. VPP pilots may utilise AI to forecast renewable generation output and optimise generation capacity based on prevailing wholesale market conditions. EMA has also incorporated AI within its internal energy management systems to support solar forecasting.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector The Government is committed to helping businesses and households improve energy conservation and efficiency, including through AI-enabled solutions. For example, Enterprise Singapore supports the Singapore Business Federation's Cost and Carbon Reduction Programme. The programme utilises a proprietary AI tool to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) identify cost reduction and decarbonisation opportunities, including through energy conservation and efficiency measures.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector We welcome proposals from the public and industry on how the Government can better support the adoption of AI solutions in the power sector and for businesses and households in Singapore.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Ms Lee.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Minister of State. I have two supplementary questions. For successful deployment of AI in power generation, it will require engineers with both energy and data analytics expertise. Could the Minister of State elaborate on whether there are plans to develop specialised skills in AI for the energy sector workforce?
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector The second supplementary question is, have we studied use cases across other jurisdictions on AI use within the power sector, for example, for power dispatch, power generation efficiency and for renewables dispatch?
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector The Government is committed to growing our own pipeline of talent in the energy sector and helping workers navigate their careers in this exciting space. For example, we have the Skills Framework for Energy and Power developed by SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and EMA with industry and union partners, mapping out the key roles and required competencies, including digital and data skills. For niche skills, the Government will work closely with industry partners and educational institutions to update the curriculum and grow talent to meet the sector's needs.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Can I ask the Member Ms Valerie Lee to repeat her second question?
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Ms Lee.
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector Yes, so have we studied used cases across other countries on AI use within a power sector, for example, for power dispatch, or for power generation efficiency? And in what countries did we do so?
Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector I thank the Member for her question. Indeed, we have a lot to learn from other countries. We recognise that AI is a strong enabler in the power sector and that other countries could be more advanced than us in the adoption of AI. We are studying various AI solutions, which other countries have deployed for both energy generation and the grid network. Some examples include the use of AI for predictive maintenance of energy assets and the application of machine learning to enhance the operational efficiency of both traditional and renewable energy sources.
10.31 am 8 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry provides guidelines to teachers and schools on the handling of children who may have or are diagnosed with special education needs (SEN); (b) what is the annual number of hours of SEN training provided to teachers; and (c) whether the Ministry conducts an annual review on the best practices across schools in providing support to children.
10.31 am The Ministry provides guidelines, information and video resources to schools to support students with special educational needs (SEN). Through Teaching and Learning Guides, all teachers are provided with practical strategies to support the learning of diverse learners, including students with SEN.
10.31 am All new teachers undergo basic training covering how to engage students with SEN during their pre-service training. After they start teaching, they continue to deepen their SEN-related skills through workshops and Networked Learning Communities in areas, such as inclusive pedagogy. Micro-Learning Units offer just-in-time learning opportunities to build teachers' understanding of principles for supporting students with SEN and strategies for an inclusive classroom. Each school also has Teachers Trained in Special Needs who have completed a 130-hour certificate-level course conducted by the National Institute of Education. All mainstream schools also have SEN Officers who work with school personnel to develop customised interventions to support the specific needs of students with SEN, particularly those with higher needs.
10.31 am The Ministry of Education (MOE) facilitates systematic sharing of best practices among mainstream schools, as well as between mainstream schools and Special Education schools. MOE continually reviews our guidelines and good practices through monitoring international research, international good practice and local practice.
10.31 am Mr Chua.
10.31 am Thank you, Speaker. Just two quick supplementary questions. The first is on the guide that the Senior Parliamentary Secretary shared just now. I wanted to ask if that is actually consistent across all the different schools and whether this can be made available to across both parents and teachers, so that everyone can have a better understanding on how best to support the children.
10.31 am The second question is in relation to the training. So, I understand that for in service teachers, there are optional online courses that they can sign up for as part of their 40 hours continuous professional development (CPD), but just wanted to ask what is the actual number of hours of these SEN-related training that is being imparted? May I also ask as a extension where, if you look at the finance industry for certain modules, such as ethics or regulations, there are minimum hours required for these components, whether or not there is a specified requirements for this continuous training.
10.31 am I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. On the first question with regard to the guide and whether it is standardised across the schools – indeed, it is something that we endeavour to have. In terms of access for our teachers for their continual education, we do have a variety of platforms which are accessible for our teachers at different levels.
10.31 am First, we have the SEN Resource Portal and this offers schools with the structures, the guidelines and the resources to support students with SEN.
10.31 am Second, we also have the Transition Support Framework for which there is guidance of facilitating students' successful transitions in new settings through a planned, goal-oriented process.
10.31 am And third, we also have the SEN:se Online Professional Development, a series of practice oriented online modules on OPAL 2.0 for teachers' just-in-time learning and also bite-sized, locally produced modules covering perceptions about SEN, support principles on needs and not on diagnosis, as well as strategies on positive classroom culture and behavioural support.
10.31 am So, these are the variety of opportunities for our teachers to look at where their needs are in terms of their teaching, in the classroom and directly, they can apply through the learning process through their CPD.
10.31 am As to the Member's question about parents, there is separate information that we push through our Parents Gateway, to our parents, to be able to allow them to in turn, look towards supporting their children with SEN where the needs apply.
10.31 am In terms of the specific number of hours in terms of SEN, I do not have the exact number of hours that we have for our teachers, but suffice to say, they have the flexibility to look at what lessons they require, what additional modules they wish to be able to have; and they can apply that in turn, because it is readily accessible for them.
10.31 am If they are keen on developing further towards becoming a Teacher Trained in Special Needs, then they will transit into the 130-hour Certificate Module by the National Institute of Education, as I mentioned earlier.
10.31 am Order. End of Question Time. Introduction of Government Bills. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
10.31 am [Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]
Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill [(proc text) "to amend the Energy Conservation Act 2012", (proc text)]
Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill [(proc text) presented by the Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Janil Puthucheary), on behalf of the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
Veterinary Practice Bill [(proc text) "to establish the Veterinary Council, to provide for the registration of veterinarians and the regulation of individuals practising veterinary medicine and for matters connected therewith and to make consequential amendments to certain other Acts", (proc text)]
Veterinary Practice Bill [(proc text) presented by the Minister of State for National Development (Mr Alvin Tan), on behalf of the Minister for National Development, read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 - Committee of Supply – Paper Cmd 4 of 2026 [(proc text) Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [7th Allotted Day]. (proc text)]
Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 - Committee of Supply – Paper Cmd 4 of 2026 [Mr Speaker in the Chair]
12.15 pm [(proc text) Head I (Cont) – (proc text)]
12.15 pm [(proc text) Resumption of Debate on Question [5 March 2026] (proc text)]
12.15 pm [(proc text) "That the total sum to be allocated for Head I of the Estimates be reduced by $100." – [Mr Xie Yao Quan] (proc text)]
12.15 pm [(proc text) Question again proposed. (proc text)]
12.15 pm Minister of State Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim.