Mental Well-being of students under FSBB pilot

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Carrie Tan, Nee Soon GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether the mental health or stress levels of students are being tracked and evaluated as the new subject-based banding system is being rolled out in the 28 pilot schools; and (b) whether there are any observations on how the new system may have improved the situation in terms of minimising the labelling and stigmatisation towards and among students so far.

Response

1. MOE works closely with the 28 secondary schools piloting Full Subject-Based Banding, or Full SBB, in all aspects of the implementation, including the socio-emotional development and the well-being of our students.

2. The pilot has started last year, and we are monitoring the implementation closely. Feedback is collected through surveys and focus group discussions with students and teachers so that we know how Full SBB is impacting student well-being, social and learning experiences and outcomes.

3. Findings from the first year of implementation indicate that students in the pilot schools have a more diverse network of friends drawn from across the different courses, compared to schools that have yet to implement Full SBB. They form stronger friendships based on common interests, and treat their peers with respect regardless of course. It is early days yet, but there are also indications of more students adopting growth mindsets.

4. MOE will continue to work closely with schools implementing Full SBB in the coming years to better understand the impact of Full SBB.