Release of Ministries’ Addenda to the President’s Address by MOH, MOE, MSF - “Supporting Each Other Through COVID-19 & Building A More Inclusive, Fair & Cohesive Society”
25 Aug 2020 Posted in Press releases
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At the opening of the 14th Parliament on 24 August 2020, President Halimah Yacob spoke about the need to provide greater social support and strengthen our safety nets for the long-term, in response to a more disruptive and uncertain environment exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In her Address, President Halimah emphasised that the Government will do more to support every Singaporean at each stage of life, to build a stronger and more cohesive society. This includes improving children’s lives through quality education, ensuring middle-aged Singaporeans have the help they need to secure good jobs, looking after seniors so they can age well, and caring for the most vulnerable members of our society. Importantly, those at a disadvantage must be given opportunities to level up, keeping our society open and strengthening our social mobility. Together, we can build a fair and just society with the support and participation of all Singaporeans.
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The Ministries under this theme have outlined the following key thrusts:
(a) Sustain our public health fight against COVID-19 to keep the public safe.
(b) Sustain support for Singaporeans whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19, to help them overcome and emerge stronger from the crisis.
(c) Provide opportunities for every Singaporean to achieve their full potential, and improve social mobility in our society.
(d) Build a caring, inclusive and resilient society that leaves no Singaporean behind, while forging deeper partnerships as part of the Singapore Together movement to better support vulnerable and disadvantaged Singaporeans.
- Media may wish to note the following Ministry initiatives in your reporting:
Sustaining our public health fight against COVID-19 to keep the public safe
Ministry of Health
• Ensure healthcare resources are sufficient, and maintain adequate quarantine and community isolation capacity to be prepared for any sudden surge in cases.
• Continue to use data and technology to improve our capability to respond quickly to evolving situations and to contain outbreaks.
• Deepen international cooperation through data and information sharing, and on the development of treatment methods and vaccines for COVID-19.
• Encourage and work with businesses, workers, civil society and members of the public alike to find new and COVID-safe ways to operate.
Sustaining support for Singaporeans affected by COVID-19
Ministry of Social and Family Development
• Provide financial and social support to lower-income and vulnerable Singaporeans affected by COVID-19 through ComCare, the Temporary Relief Fund, the COVID-19 Support Grant and The Courage Fund.
• Strengthen social support for Singaporeans in need, including support for mental and family well-being, and facilitating the employment and training of Singaporeans.
• Expand networks and programmes, such as the SG Cares Community Networks and Community Link, and deepen our collaboration with social service agencies (SSAs), community partners, and volunteers. This will speed up social service integration to deliver comprehensive, convenient and coordinated support to Singaporeans in need.
Ministry of Education
• Open up heavily subsidised training pathways through both companies and training providers, along with financial support during training, for the unemployed to return to meaningful employment.
Providing opportunities for every Singaporean to achieve their full potential
Ministry of Social and Family Development
• Work with Anchor and Partner Operators to ensure that 80% of preschoolers have places in quality and affordable government-supported preschools by 2025. o Further lower fee caps to make these preschools even more affordable.
• Strengthen holistic and upstream support for more children from low-income families with the expansion of KidSTART to more regions.
Ministry of Education
• Implement structural reforms to cater to the diverse strengths and aptitudes of students, to prepare them for the future workplace.
o Wider scoring bands at the Primary School Leaving Examination from 2021.
o Implementation of Full Subject-Based Banding in secondary schools by 2024.
o More opportunities for Institute of Technical Education graduates to upgrade beyond a Nitec qualification.
o Expand inter-disciplinary learning and introducing new industry-relevant programmes in Institutes of Higher Learning.
o Grow SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes into a mainstream pathway by 2025, so that more students can benefit from learning opportunities both in the workplace and the classroom.
• Blended learning will be an integral feature of the curriculum from 2021.
• As part of the National Digital Literacy programme, we will accelerate the roll-out of personal digital learning devices to all secondary school students by end-2021.
• Strengthen the team of Teachers, Allied Educators, and Education and Career Guidance Counsellors in schools, to foster the joy of learning, and encourage students to pursue their passions and fulfil their potential.
Building a caring, inclusive and resilient society
Ministry of Social and Family Development
• Strengthen support for persons with disabilities by working with SG Enable and other partners to implement the Enabling Masterplan 3 and develop plans for the next phase beyond 2021.
• Provide better support for children with moderate to severe developmental needs within preschools.
• Strengthen our social compact by working with the community and our partners to encourage and sustain the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism to support social causes.
Ministry of Education
• Deepen support for students with special needs by:
o Strengthening educators’ professional competencies in both mainstream and Special Education (SPED) schools.
o Opening new SPED schools and upgrading current ones.
• Refresh Character and Citizenship Education curriculum in all schools, to inculcate social responsibility and resilience, as well as strengthen mental well-being and cyber wellness among students.
Ministry of Health
• Keep the population healthy, especially vulnerable groups such as seniors and those with mental health needs by:
o Enhancing subsidies for vaccinations in various healthcare settings. o Reviewing the Action Plan for Successful Ageing.
o Supporting targeted programmes like the Integrated Youth Service for youths at risk of mental health conditions.
• Keep healthcare affordable and sustainable for Singaporeans as our population ages, by partnering Singaporeans to prepare for their long-term care needs through ElderFund, CareShield Life, and MediSave Care.
• Review MediShield Life’s benefits and premiums to ensure that the scheme continues to provide adequate protection against large medical bills and remains sustainable.
Last updated on 25 Aug 2020