Singapore: Education Minister will make changes to expand opportunities for students to acquire critical skills

BALI: Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said his ministry will make changes to expand opportunities for students to acquire critical skills for the future.

These include social and emotional competencies and thinking skills in a globalised world.

He said ministry officers have been discussing intensively over the last several weeks, and an announcement will be made soon.

Mr Heng was speaking to Channel NewsAsia at the end of the inaugural East Asian Summit (EAS) education ministers meeting in Bali.

He said the ministry will also look at increasing interaction between Singapore students and those from other countries.

There would be two areas of focus, namely leadership development and the learning of a second language.

Mr Heng said: "What is very striking is that all the education ministers recognise that in this much more complex world, it's very important for our students to acquire multiple perspective and the ability to speak a second language. It's going to be a key skill of the future."

During the meeting, the ASEAN education ministers also discussed how they can cooperate to raise the standard of education.

And, they have agreed to meet once every two years to follow up on the areas discussed.

- CNA/ck