Early Education Key to Tackling Inequality: Ong Ye Kung At G7

1. Inequality is an issue that many societies face and tackling it is a long term priority. At the G7 Education Ministers Meeting on 4 July in Sevres, France, Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, shared that Singapore’s approach to tackling inequality is not to cap the top and limit their potential, but to invest in the bottom to help uplift them. Early childhood education is a key intervention and Singapore has invested deeply in this area to enhance affordability and accessibility of quality preschool education.

2. Singapore is one of three countries invited to the G7 Meeting for Education Ministers, the others being Argentina and Estonia. At the meeting, the G7 countries also adopted a Common Declaration, reaffirming the crucial role of education in promoting equal opportunities for all and in addressing inequality in our societies.

3. The G7 and outreach countries also issued a communique on anti-bullying at school. The ten countries agreed to unite against bullying in all of its forms, and to declare respectfulness as a fundamental principle for people living together and to help ensure that our schools are safe and welcoming places for all students.

4. Mr Ong also held bilateral meetings on the sidelines with Argentinian, Canadian, Estonian and German Education Ministers.