Parliamentary Replies
Proposal to Expand Social Studies in Schools
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen, Nominated Member of Parliament
Question
To ask the Minister for Education with the proposal to expand Social Studies as a subject in schools (a) whether the subject will include more topics on Singapore’s arts and culture, covering both traditional and contemporary arts; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider additional schemes to promote the understanding and appreciation of traditional Asian arts among students and teachers.
Response
In our Primary and Secondary school curriculum, Art and Music are the key subjects to develop our students’ understanding and appreciation of traditional and contemporary Asian arts. Through the primary and secondary Art curriculum, students are exposed to artworks, techniques and materials unique to various Asian cultures and contemporary artists. Students are taught basic batik techniques, Chinese brush painting, tie dye or paper cuts. Students are also introduced to local pioneer artists like Liu Kang and Georgette Chen. The primary and secondary Art textbooks included pictures and descriptions to introduce students to works by prominent artists, for example, batik painting by Sarkasi Said, Chinese ink painting by Xu Bei Hong and Japanese prints by Ando Hiroshige. Contemporary artworks of local artists such as Ng Eng Teng and Anthony Poon are also featured in the textbooks to foster students’ appreciation of local culture and heritage.
Similarly, through the primary and secondary music curriculum, students develop an awareness of and appreciation for music of various cultures. They learn about the music of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western Cultures and how music is featured in festive and cultural events. Students learn to sing Asian and local folk songs such as Dayung Sampan (Indonesian), Xiao Bai Chuan (小百船), Munnaeru Vaalibaa (Singaporean) and Planting Rice (Filipino). Traditional favourites such as Bengawan Solo (Indonesian), Mo Li Hua (茉莉花), and Semoga Bahagia (Malay) are also included in the recommended list of songs in the music curriculum.
Students also have opportunities in music-making using instruments such as Angklung, kompang and the recorder. Students are exposed to group playing of simple music pieces using the Angklung or recorder eg; Xiao Bai Chuan (小百船), Di Tanjong Katong, Ode to Joy (Beethoven). Through the MOE music package, students are also introduced to the works and lives of local composers such as Jeremy Monteiro (Jazz), Phoon Yew Tien (Classical), Mark Chan (Contemporary) and Lee Weisong / Lee Sisong (Pop).
In addition to the art and music curriculum, schools provide arts enrichment programmes to their students. Almost all (99.2%) schools1 have leveraged on the Tote Board Arts Grant2 to bring in quality arts programmes to schools or to bring students out to watch various performances. These programmes and performances are local productions endorsed under the National Arts Council Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP). Schools use this grant to provide opportunity for every student to have access to, and experience a range of art forms including dance, drama, film, photography and multi-disciplinary arts.
As a result of the very positive response by schools in providing arts enrichment programmes, the Tote Board Arts Grant has been increased from $10,000 to $15,000 per school in 2007.
Moving ahead, all primary schools will further enhance students’ learning in art and music through the Programme for Active Learning (PAL). PAL would provide additional time for students to explore and enjoy their learning in the Arts and schools plan to extend students’ learning beyond the classroom by organising visits to local artists’ studios, engaging in sculpture walks and watching cultural performances.
Through both the formal and informal school curriculum, students have many learning opportunities and hands-on experiences to develop understanding of as well as an appreciation for arts and culture, both in the local and regional contexts.
Footnote
- Primary, secondary schools and JCs/CI. ↩
- The Tote Board Arts grant of $5,000 was given to each school in1995. Subsequently in 1996, it was raised to $10,000 per school. With effect from 2007, the grant was further increased to $15,000 per school. NAC also allowed schools to bring in programmes by foreign productions; but capped at $6,000. ↩