SINGAPORE, Jan 5 — In a bid to give mid-career professionals a "boost to remain relevant and competitive”, the Ministry of Education (MoE) will review how it funds and supports lifelong education, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing today.

Among other things, the review will look into how to counsel mid-career workers whose careers are "at risk”, as well as how to help mid-career learners offset the expense of lifelong learning, given the family and financial responsibilities they have.

Chan said this during a keynote address at the beginning of the Singapore Perspectives 2023 conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies today at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House. The forum will be held until January 9.

Chan’s speech, which was live-streamed online and attended by around 750 viewers, touched on the challenges Singapore faces in a world troubled and fragmented by geopolitics between major powers, and his vision for how the education system can remain "relevant to the times”.

Why it matters

The Education Minister said the trends of digital connectivity and remote work, among other trends, meant it is clear that Singapore’s education system evolves speedily.

That is why Singapore is investing heavily in exposing students to the larger world, sending them overseas and along "less trodden paths”.

"If our competitiveness comes from our ability to connect across geography, geopolitics, and culture, then our education system must produce individuals and teams that can do these,” Chan said.

Against such a backdrop, Chan said there is a need to define success "beyond the first 15 years in schools to also the next 50 years beyond schools”.

Instead, lifelong learning matters more in the future of work. Given the disruptions expected, no amount of "front-loading” will be sufficient to prepare Singaporeans for life, he said.

"The spirit of inquiry, the desire to create new knowledge and value, the ability to discover, discern and distil — these are our new benchmarks of success,” said Chan.

What the review will entail

Chan said the review will address these aims: