The debate in 2 minutes

The debate in 2 minutes

ON THE AGENDA

THE House yesterday endorsed the recommendations by the Aspire committee to improve ITE and polytechnic vocational education, after a two-day debate. A total of 25 Members of Parliament and government ministers spoke on the topic.

Aspiring to bigger things

SENIOR Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah, wrapping up the debate on the recommendations of the Aspire committee, summed up what it hopes to achieve: "To be a game-changer."

The proposed changes are meant to realign education with the needs of a new environment, as part of larger strategic adjustments to Singapore's course.

Bigger role for WDA

THE Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will extend its place-and-train programmes for mid-career professionals to polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education graduates from 2016. For a start, it will offer the programmes to polytechnic graduates from the biologics and logistics courses, and ITE graduates from the marine and offshore engineering and pastry and baking courses.

More eyes on the National Day Parade

THE organising committee for next year's National Day Parade is exploring ways to let more Singaporeans watch the show. These include increasing the seating capacity at the Padang, or creating satellite viewing areas throughout the Marina Bay area during the preview and the actual show.

No change to pension benefits of pioneers

GOVERNMENT pensioners who are also from the pioneer generation will continue to receive all the post-retirement medical benefits they are currently getting, on top of benefits they will get under the Pioneer Generation Package.

Increase in ERP rates linked to smoother traffic

FEWER than one-quarter of the 74 electronic road pricing (ERP) gantries have had their rates changed in the last three years. Of these, only eight showed a discernible upward trend in rates. At these eight gantries, speeds rose an average of 7 per cent per dollar increase, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo.


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