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EDUN N25-02-004

05302

16 November 2002

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON REPORT OF THE    JC/UPPER 
SECONDARY EDUCATION REVIEW COMMITTEE  

1          RAdm (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and the Second Minister for Defence, has given notice to move the following motion for debate when Parliament sits on 25 November 2002:

            "That this House, having noted the Report of the Junior College (JC)/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee 2002, contained in Paper Cmd 8 of 2002,

1. supports the new JC curriculum which will better develop thinking, communication and other process skills and engage students in greater breadth of learning; and 
2. endorses greater diversity and opening of new pathways in JC/Upper Secondary education to cater to the different strengths and interests of students."

2          RAdm (NS) Teo has requested for the Whip to be lifted when Members of Parliament (MPs) vote on the motion. As the reforms recommended by the JC/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee 2002 will have far reaching impact on our students and education system for many years to come, a clear parliamentary vote of support, based on the personal conviction of the MPs, will send a strong signal to the public, parents and students whose whole-hearted support we will need to successfully implement these recommendations. The Prime Minister has agreed to RAdm (NS) Teo's request.

Background

3          The Government announced that it has accepted the recommendations proposed by the Committee headed by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry & Education, on 15 October 2002. In coming up with these recommendations, the Committee has taken into consideration the feedback and views of various stakeholders through public consultations and dialogue sessions. These stakeholders include professionals, employers, academics, parents, teachers, undergraduates and students.