Blueprint for the future: Three ministries set out plans for renewing S'pore economy

Blueprint for the future: Three ministries set out plans for renewing S'pore economy

IN EDUCATION

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (MOE)


Photo: The Straits Times

Students can expect wider exposure and opportunities to discover and build on their interests and talents in a range of areas, and develop important life skills from a young age.

Excessive focus on academics will also be reduced.

In the pre-school sector, MOE will continue to develop, refine and share with the industry a quality kindergarten curriculum and age-appropriate teaching and learning resources.

In primary schools, programmes to help students discover their strengths and interests in areas such as arts, music and sports will be strengthened. A stronger emphasis will be placed on outdoor education.

Secondary schools will have distinctive programmes for students to develop their interests.

To ensure that no child gets left behind, there will be school-based levelling-up programmes to support academically weaker students and provide financial support for students from financially challenged families.

Student Care Centres will also be expanded.

Publicly-funded university places will increase from 32 per cent today to 40 per cent by 2020.

There will also be more options for university courses, for instance, Singapore Institute of Technology and UniSIM will launch more applied degree programmes.

To facilitate lifelong learning, there will be an increase in part-time programmes and skills-based modular courses at the post-secondary education institutions.

Said Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung: "Education is the start of a journey of lifelong learning.

"It is also a personal journey.

"From a strong academic foundation, we aim to help Singaporeans discover their strengths and interests, develop their potential, cultivate passions, and fulfil aspirations."

IN MANPOWER

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER (MOM)


Photo: The Straits Times

Singapore has a more educated generation with diverse aspirations and an ageing population with baby boomers retiring in increasing numbers over the next decade.

We also face a volatile global economy, keener competition, and faster technological change.

To deal with this, MOM will help companies become more manpower-lean, and strengthen their Singaporean core in all major sectors of the economy.

This means that companies need to speed up their economic restructuring efforts, improve productivity and innovation, and reduce reliance on low-skilled foreign manpower.

MOM will also support employers to re-design jobs, processes and workplaces to fully tap on the experience and contributions of all workers, especially mature workers.

They will also ensure that Singaporean workers are fairly considered by employers when hiring and have fair opportunities for leadership development and growth at all levels.

The Employment Act has also been enhanced to protect more workers. The Industrial Relations Act has been extended to cover more Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).

The re-employment age will be raised from 65 to 67 by 2017.

Said Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say: "Our employment landscape will change in the next five years as we continue to reposition our economy...our challenge is to keep our economy competitive, improve the quality of jobs and raise the employability of our workforce so that Singaporeans can continue to build fulfilling careers and enjoy sustained income growth."

IN TRADE

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MTI)


Photo: AFP

Against the backdrop of weaker global economic growth, Singapore has to develop growth clusters to stay resilient and create good jobs.

The ASEAN economies are also expected to continue to grow, driven by a rising growing middle class.

To sustain these growth clusters, industrial and energy infrastructure will be enhanced.

For instance, investments in technologies like 3D printing and robotics will help grow competitive niche segments.

Deepening specialised logistics capabilities in the logistics and aerospace industries will keep Singapore well-connected and maintain its position as the leading air and sea port in Asia.

MTI will support companies in the biomedical sciences sector to meet the needs of a rapidly ageing population in Asia, for instance, in geriatrics and preventive care.

Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 plans, MTI will partner the National Research Foundation to promote collaboration between companies, research institutes and start-ups, and also enhance access to technology for small local companies.

MTI will support companies that wish to internationalise through the expanded Enterprise Development Fund.

To equip Singaporeans for jobs of the future, MTI will partner the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Education, industry players and unions in SkillsFuture initiatives.

IN FINANCE

MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE (MAS), PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (PMO)


Photo: The Straits Times

Last year, MAS eased monetary policy in a calibrated manner, in line with the softening of inflation and growth.

MAS will continue to focus monetary policy on minimising overall economic volatility, while ensuring price stability in the coming years.

Since the global financial crisis, MAS has strengthened the regulatory framework for banks and insurance companies.

In recent years, MAS has stepped up efforts to empower Singaporeans to better manage their finances and safeguard their interests.

MAS will also regulate precious metals buy-back arrangements and collectively-managed investment schemes, to better safeguard consumers' interests when investing in such products.

NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, PMO


Photo: The Straits Times

Research, innovation and enterprise efforts will play a key role in our future economy and in enabling Singapore to be a Smart Nation.

Singapore will set aside $19 billion for the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 Plan for 2016 to 2020.

Investments will be focused in domains where Singapore has a strong competitive edge, and where research and innovation can be applied to our economic and social needs.

linheng@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on January 20, 2016.
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