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Reference No : Edun N25-02-004

Press Release No : 03596

Date : 25 Nov 1996

ESTABLISHMENT OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND CURRICULUM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISIONS

1. From 1 Dec 96, the Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore (CDIS) and the Curriculum Planning Division (CPD) of the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be restructured to form two new Divisions. The two new Divisions will be the Educational Technology Division (ETD) and the Curriculum Planning and Development Division (CPDD).
2. The ETD will develop the full range of educational technology (IT, ETV and audio-visual) materials and co-ordinate and spearhead their use in schools to bring about more effective teaching and learning. It will, in particular, have overall responsibility for the implementation of MOE's Masterplan for IT in Education. The IT Masterplan, which is currently being finalised, will integrate existing IT initiatives and exploit more fully the use of IT in teaching and learning. The new Division will be headed by Mrs Lim Soon Tze, currently Director of CDIS.
3. The ETD will have three branches, namely the EdTech Training Branch, the EdTech Development Branch and the Media & Infrastructure Support Branch. The EdTech Training Branch will assist schools in the implementation of IT plans as well as train teachers in the use of educational technology, particularly in the use of IT for teaching and learning. It will also design classroom-related activities for use in schools. The functions of the EdTech Development Branch include tracking the latest advances in educational technology, recommending useful innovations for integration into the curriculum, undertaking special IT projects and producing ETV programmes. The Media & Infrastructure Support Branch will source, review and approve software titles for adoption by schools, collaborate with industry and other parties to assist in the production of educational software, and set directions and plan for physical and technology infrastructure in schools.
4. The CPDD will conceptualise, design, review and revise curriculum and syllabuses, develop instructional materials and monitor the implementation of the curriculum. It will thereby integrate functions currently carried out by both CDIS and CPD. This will facilitate closer co-ordination in the planning, development and implementation of the curriculum in the schools. The new Division will therefore be responsible for curriculum planning and development from conceptualisation to the production of learning and teaching packages.
5. The new Division will have three Branches each responsible for a group of subjects namely Languages & Library Development, Sciences, and Humanities & Aesthetics. The new Division will be headed by Mrs Mok Choon Hoe, currently Director of CPD.
6. There will be close collaboration between the two new Divisions to enable the consistent development of relevant media and print materials. Software developed and sourced by ETD will complement the curriculum and print materials developed by CPDD.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION