GE2025: Are video podcasts a new political space to connect with hearts and minds? | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-are-video-podcasts-a-new-political-space-to-connect-with-hearts-and-minds

GE2025: Are video podcasts a new political space to connect with hearts and minds?

The Usual Place, a podcast by The Straits Times, has hosted politicians including Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam.ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG, NG SOR LUAN

SINGAPORE – "Voucher Wong" and the God of Fortune – these are the nicknames that netizens have taken to calling Prime Minister Lawrence Wong after he announced a slew of goodies in Parliament during his Budget speech.

But what does PM Wong think of these cheeky monikers?

Sitting on an orange couch with mics in front of him, PM Wong laughed it off. "I suppose people will make memes and jokes about the Budget... I'm certainly not the God of Fortune, nor am I 'Voucher Wong'," he said, joking with the hosts of The Hop Pod podcast.

The light-hearted banter continued on issues ranging from the cost of living to housing policy. A YouTube video of the podcast episode has amassed over 45,000 views since it was posted on March 9.

This was at least PM Wong's third time on a video podcast since December, after also appearing on the podcasts The Daily Ketchup and Plan B.

These shows put politicians like PM Wong in an informal setting – sometimes seated with their hosts on a couch, and at other times across a coffee table. The banter is casual, and oftentimes hosts adopt a light-hearted take on issues.

Politicians like PM Wong have been increasingly turning to this casual format as a way to connect with voters beyond the reach of traditional media, said experts.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan and Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa are just some of the politicians who have appeared on podcasts such as Front Row, Yah Lah But, and Teh Tarik with Walid.

The use of video podcasts by politicians as part of their communications and campaigning strategy is not unique to Singapore – the medium has played an outsized role in shaping political discourse in the US, with popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience reaching millions of viewers and listeners.

With the next general election on the way, observers say video podcasts here – which can garner as many as hundreds of thousands of views – are shaping up to be a crucial space for politicians keen on capturing the hearts and minds of voters.

The format started gaining popularity during the 2020 General Election, which was held during the pandemic and had no physical rallies. This led politicians to turn to virtual discussions, live shows and podcasts, said Dr Carol Soon, an associate professor in media regulation and digital policy at the National University of Singapore.

Since then, newer podcasts have emerged and Singaporeans have turned to them to make sense of local politics and to get to know political candidates better, said Dr Soon.

Political observers said the video podcast format lends itself to more candid and tongue-in-cheek conversations and feels more unfiltered, which can help make politicians seem more relatable to voters.

For instance, PM Wong in January spoke on The Daily Ketchup podcast about being an introvert in the public eye and what his first day as prime minister was like after he took over in May.

Dr Tracy Loh, a senior lecturer of communication management at Singapore Management University, said: "Podcasts are more off-the-cuff, which allows the politicians' personality to really shine through and could make them seem more relatable if they know how to use the format well."

Political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, who runs the eponymous podcast Teh Tarik with Walid, said he has hosted around 25 politicians on his podcast show, which includes a mix of current and former politicians from the PAP and the opposition.

The associate professor at Nanyang Technological University said he started his podcast in the wake of the 2020 General Election to address "a thirst for political knowledge" among younger people and older millennials.

The Usual Place, a podcast by The Straits Times, has hosted politicians including Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam, since its launch in April 2024.

But Hong Kong Baptist University professor of politics, film and cultural studies Kenneth Paul Tan warned that the spontaneous nature of the format opens politicians to the risks of committing faux pas or appearing overly rehearsed and inauthentic.

Politicians with strong communication skills and who can appear comfortable in spontaneous environments stand to gain the most from appearing on podcasts, said Prof Tan, who in January published a research paper on how politicians in Singapore have used podcasts as a communication tool.

His research revealed that many netizens expressed having a more positive impression of a politician after hearing them share their stories and explain their views.

Pointing to Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, Prof Tan said she brought "clarity and warmth" to her explanations of government policy across various podcast appearances.

Observers also said podcasts may level the playing field for opposition politicians with fewer resources, who can gain exposure and reach a diverse range of audiences by appearing on such shows.

But they cautioned against conflating listenership or viewership with vote share.

Citing the 2023 Presidential Election, Dr Natalie Pang, head of NUS' communications and new media department, said: "President Tharman (Shanmugaratnam) did not have as much traction on social media as the other candidates, who used social media quite well."

Nonetheless, President Tharman went on to win the presidency with a strong vote share of 70.4 per cent.

Dr Pang said this showed that even though social media content can change people's minds about politicians, voting behaviour is shaped by other factors, including political affiliations and the candidates' credentials.

Votes aside, video podcasts may offer an avenue for people with different political views to engage with one another – important at a time of growing political polarisation across the world, say observers.

Dr Pang added that some podcast hosts in Singapore have shown a readiness to disagree with the politicians that appear on their shows, and often voice out what people are thinking or have questions about.

"Quite often, these are points of contention and disagreement. And you then see the politician having a candid exchange about those questions… They (the politicians) actually use the podcast as a platform to engage those points of disagreement."

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https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/construction/pan-united-corp-completes-concrete-pour-foundation-skywaters-set-be-singapores

Pan-United Corp completes concrete pour for foundation of The Skywaters, set to be Singapore's tallest building

Wed, Mar 12, 2025 • 05:54 PM GMT+08

Pan-United Corporation's subsidiary has completed a mass pour of concrete for casting of the raft foundation at The Skywaters at 8 Shenton Way, a building set to be Singapore's tallest when completed in 2028, according to a release dated March 12. 

The 63-storey mixed-use development tower sits on a site that spans 10,984 square metres (sqm). Pan-United says that the mass pour was executed non-stop for 35 hours with one truckload of concrete delivered to the site every two minutes, along with the project's main contractor China Harbour Engineering Company. 

This was done with its technology arm, AiR Digital, which allowed it to auto-replenish raw materials to ensure that trucks shuttled between plant and project site with no disruption. 

The Skywaters is Singapore's first project to utilise Pan-United's Grade 105 PanU Super High-Strength Concrete which reduces the amount of concrete and reinforcements required for the raft foundation. 

It is also being furnished with PanU CMC+ which is a material that traps industrial waste carbon dioxide in concrete which makes the building a carbon sink. 

Shares in Pan-United closed 1 cent higher or 1.639% down at 62 cents on March 12.

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Junior college admission criteria to change from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028 - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/junior-college-jc-admission-l1r5-l1r4-criteria-4980771?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_07032025_cna

Junior college admission criteria to change from L1R5 to L1R4 in 2028

SINGAPORE: From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six, the Education Ministry announced on Thursday (Mar 6). 

Under the current L1R5 criteria, students must attain a score of 20 or better across six O-Level subjects to qualify for a junior college (JC). 

The L1R5 aggregate includes one language subject, one humanities subject, one science or mathematics subject, one additional humanities, science or mathematics subject, and two other best-performing subjects. 

With the implementation of L1R4 from the 2028 admission exercise, students will need to score 16 points or better across five subjects, removing one of their best-scoring subjects from consideration. The requirement to pass a mother tongue language subject (D7 or better) remains unchanged.

For the Millennia Institute (MI), the admission threshold will remain at 20 points under L1R4, but students must include three subjects from both the humanities, and science or mathematics subject groups, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a press release. 

Despite the change, the ministry said it expects the proportion and profile of students qualifying for JC to remain largely unchanged. 

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, speaking in parliament on his ministry's plans for the year, said the revised criteria will allow students to take fewer subjects or opt for some at a less demanding level.

This frees up time for students to pursue their interests, strengthen their communication and collaboration skills through co-curricular activities and discover new strengths through school programmes, he added. 

As part of this revision, the maximum bonus points for JC admissions, including MI, will be reduced from four to three, reflecting the reduced subject count under the L1R4 criteria. 

The L1R5 admission criterion was introduced in 1989 to address poor passing rates in the A-Levels among JC students. At the time, requiring three relevant subjects ensured students had a broad and relevant academic foundation to manage the demands of the A-Level curriculum, MOE said.

JC students today are "much better prepared", with A-Level passing rates rising from about 65 per cent in 1990 to about 95 per cent in 2023, the ministry said. 

Additionally, the proportion of O-Level candidates who take eight or more subjects has also grown from about 15 per cent in 1997 to about 30 per cent in 2023. 

MOE said the move to reduce the number of subjects required for JC admission is in line with its efforts to encourage development in students beyond academic achievements. 

Since L1R4 still requires three subjects from both the humanities, and science or mathematics subject groups, students will be sufficiently prepared for the rigour of the JC curriculum, it said. 

Mr Chan reassured that JC admission standards are not being relaxed, citing MOE simulations indicating that a similar proportion of students will continue qualifying for JC. He also stated that the ministry will monitor students' academic outcomes to ensure they benefit from JC education. 

Over the past five years, about 27 per cent of students enrolling in post-secondary institutions have entered JCs or MI, while 43 per cent opted for polytechnics. These proportions have remained stable, MOE said.

In the same period, about 42 per cent of students eligible for JC chose to enrol in polytechnics instead, according to MOE data.

JC admission cut-off points will "adjust accordingly" with the revised criteria, said a ministry spokesperson.

"The fact that you're counting one less subject means you can expect the cut-off points for JC admission generally to decline a little corresponding to the one fewer subject to be counted," the spokesperson said. 

"But we don't expect the cut-off point to be tightened beyond that." 

27:23 Min

From 2028, students seeking admission into junior colleges (JCs) will be assessed based on five O-Level subjects instead of six. This will allow them to take fewer subjects or opt for some at a less demanding level,…see more

JC REJUVENATION PROGRAMME AND CCA SUPPORT

In his speech, Mr Chan also announced that four more schools – Anglo-Chinese JC, Catholic JC, National JC and Victoria JC – will be included in the second phase of the JC rejuvenation programme.

Currently, Anderson Serangoon JC, Jurong Pioneer JC, Temasek JC and Yishun Innova JC are undergoing upgrades in the first phase, which is expected to conclude in January 2028. 

The four JCs included in the second phase are Singapore's next oldest JC campuses, said Mr Chan.

The ministry is working with the JCs on their infrastructure plans, including possibly moving them to new locations, he added. 

The rejuvenated campuses will have enhanced facilities such as configurable spaces and multi-functional workspaces for staff. The first phase is estimated to cost about S$570 million. 

MOE also announced the expansion of strategic partnership co-curricular activities (CCAs) to include hockey from 2026. These partnerships allow students from different schools to come together to participate in the same CCA. 

Nearly 40 per cent of students are in sports CCAs, and most primary schools do not conduct selection trials to better cater to students' interests, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Shawn Huang on Thursday. 

While schools try to provide a good range of CCAs to cater to students' varied interests, a "lack of critical mass" may prevent them from providing more CCAs, he added. 

This year, 105 students are taking part in the athletics programme, 77 in water polo and 35 in canoeing, which is a new addition in 2025.

Source: CNA/hw(cy)

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askST: Should I tell my boss about my mental illness? | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/askst-should-i-tell-my-boss-about-my-mental-illness?utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekend_MM

askST: Should I tell my boss about my mental illness?

No health without mental health

While the consistency of a work routine can offer a sense of purpose, the pressure of meeting deadlines can further add stress. PHOTO: ST FILE

PUBLISHED Feb 24, 2025, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE - For those who suffer from depression, anxiety or another mental illness, work may be a double-edged sword.

While the consistency of a work routine can offer a sense of purpose, achievement and camaraderie, the pressure of meeting deadlines or dealing with unsympathetic colleagues can further add stress.

The Straits Times tackles commonly asked questions about navigating mental health issues in the workplace.

Q: Should I tell my company if I have a diagnosed mental health condition? How can I navigate the conversation?

It really is a personal decision.

There are several factors one should take into consideration – such as the nature of the condition, the workplace culture, and the potential of the firm to offer accommodations such as flexible hours, quiet spaces or workload adjustments.

Mr David Blasco, country director at human resources agency Randstad Singapore, acknowledged that while there might be drawbacks such as potential biases and discrimination that can hinder workplace progression and the quality of interactions at work, there can also be benefits in sharing.

It is a good chance to educate colleagues, and most people want to understand how to approach those with mental health challenges, and know what words they should avoid or replace, for example, said Mr Blasco.

"Sharing triggers, management strategies and treatment plans can help your bosses understand how to provide appropriate accommodations," he added.

Ms Alexandra Oh, counselling psychologist at online and face-to-face therapy platform Talk Your Heart Out, said it is important for the employee to feel empowered to make a decision that aligns with his or her well-being and comfort level.

"It might be helpful for the employee to work with a counsellor who can guide him through the process, ensuring he is emotionally and psychologically supported, and knows how to communicate his needs effectively," said Ms Oh.

Q: Can employers ask if I have a mental health condition during a job application?

It is stated in the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices that employers in Singapore should not ask applicants to declare personal information such as their mental health conditions unless it is a job-related requirement.

Mr Blasco said: "For example, employers may ask about long-term medications that cause fatigue if the job duties involve safety-critical tasks like handling weapons or operating heavy machinery. This could lead you to disclose your medication and underlying diagnosis."

Q: Are employee assistance programmes really confidential?

Employee assistance programmes, or EAPs, are employer-sponsored services designed to support the well-being of staff by offering confidential counselling or resources like workshops. These are often run by a third-party service provider.

Ms Melissa Kuan, assistant director of recovery and reintegration at the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), said EAPs are generally confidential and personal information is not typically shared with employers without the individual's consent.

The exception is if there is a risk of harm to the individual or others. This can include concerns about suicide, violence or abuse.

If unsure, it is always good practice to clarify confidentiality policies with human resources or the EAP provider, said Ms Kuan.

She noted that SAMH itself offers EAPs, and the organisation does provide aggregated insights to companies upon request. Such information includes general mental health trends or overall usage rates, and personal or identifiable details are not disclosed.

"This allows organisations to understand the impact of such support services while ensuring privacy," said Ms Kuan.

Q: I am feeling very burnt-out – how can I start a conversation with my boss or human resources about my situation?

Before the discussion, take some time to think through the changes that could help manage your burnout.

Employers often appreciate employees who come forward with constructive solutions rather than just problems. Consider proposing specific changes that could improve your situation, said Ms Oh, the psychologist.

This could include things such as delegating tasks, prioritising responsibilities or taking occasional mental health days.

One way to approach the conversation is to frame it as a partnership, where the goal is to improve both your well-being and your performance at work.

Ms Oh suggests saying things like "I want to ensure I'm doing my best work, and I think making some adjustments will help me get back to being productive and engaged".

It would also be good to document your experiences.

"If burnout is affecting your performance, it can be helpful to document specific instances, such as times when the workload became unmanageable or you experienced significant stress. This can give you more clarity when explaining your situation," said Ms Oh.

She added that if the burnout is severe, taking time off work or reducing hours may be necessary.

"However, if that's not immediately possible, gradually implementing self-care strategies or negotiating smaller adjustments can be a good first step," said Ms Oh.

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This 'Strava artist' draws using his run route, with the streets of Tampines his canvas - CNA Lifestyle

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/living/strava-artist-toh-cheng-hock-run-tampines-459731

This 'Strava artist' draws using his run route, with the streets of Tampines his canvas

We go for a run with Toh Cheng Hock to see how he turns a mundane run into a fancy work of art.

Strava artist Toh Cheng Hock (left) with one of his running potraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II. (Photos: CNA/Raydza Rahman, Tan Cheng Hock)

The run started innocently enough on the pavement, but after a few meters, 71-year-old Toh Cheng Hock turned sharply onto a grass verge of an HDB estate, then through several void decks, jumping over drains and weaving between parked cars. 

Though I had some years of running under my belt, what I thought would be an easy morning jog with Toh quickly turned into a muddy affair I felt ill-prepared for. 

Turns out, there is a reason why most of his runs do not follow the otherwise seamless pavements – he's working on his latest art piece, where his legs are his brush and the streets of Tampines his canvas. 

Strava artist Toh Cheng Hock going for a run in Tampines. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

Instead of using paint, Toh uses his running route to draw intricate and complex artwork of anything from numbers and words to animals and even human figures.

Such a practice is known informally as "Strava art", as those who create such drawings with their runs often share them on fitness application Strava. 

And while he has been perfecting his craft over the last 10 years, it was only recently that he gained prominence, when his drawing of the numbers "2025" in the shape of a snake during a 21km run went viral. 

His post on the Facebook group Strava Art on Jan 1 has since garnered 57,000 likes and over 700 shares. 

Some were baffled by the effort. "The longer I look at this, the more questions I have," wrote one commenter. 

And so, I decided to reach out to Toh to join him for a run to see for my own eyes how it was done.

GUIDED BY INSTINCT AND EXPERIENCE

Though there was a light rain, Toh was already waiting for me at Tampines MRT station at 6am on a Thursday, raring to go. 

The first few forays deep into the HDB estates were just the beginning of what felt like a run that would never end, with 60 per cent of it being off-pavement.

But despite the seemingly endless ways one could get lost when they leave a path, Toh was confident at every small turn, most of the time without even looking at his phone for directions.

Having stayed in Tampines all his life, Toh said he knows the area like the back of his hand. 

"I am quite familiar with this place, so I usually know where to turn and where to cross, so I treat (Tampines) like a piece of paper, I can cut through any part of this area," he said.  

Before long, every road, pavement and HDB estate began to look the same to me. But Toh was still listing out parts of the route and what they were meant to resemble. 

"Now we are doing the eyes," he said at one point. 

"This is the mouth," he noted as we made a turn.

My legs were becoming wobbly from the many small hills and kerbs we had to trudge over, and we were soaked entirely in rain, sweat and mud. But after almost one-and-a-half hours and over 12km, the run was over. 

And we had something to show for – a drawing of a snake with its head along Tampines Ave 9 and its body coiled around Pasir Ris Secondary School. 

For Toh, the final "drawing" is what brings him joy. And looking at the cute cartoon snake I had just drawn, I could see why. 

"The minute you see the image appear… I feel the satisfaction and I am quite happy (about) that," he said. 

A COMING TOGETHER OF INTERESTS

Toh's uncanny inclination for Strava art did not happen overnight. 

After our run, he revealed he has been a graphic designer for over 40 years, illustrating and designing the graphics on billboards and advertisements. 

And while he is semi-retired, he still works on design projects on a freelance basis. 

As such, he is able to visualise a drawing clearly in his mind, and even make minor adjustments along his run.

"I know how to avoid the obstacle and find an alternative route to complete (the drawing)," he said.  

His ability to accurately visualise his drawings is coupled with the fact that Toh has been running for over 40 years. 

And he is no slouch, running his latest marathon in Hong Kong this month in under four hours and 30 minutes even though he is in his seventies. 

It was about six years ago that he noticed runners post their Strava art online, and was then inspired to do the same. 

But he doesn't hit the streets on a whim. True to his graphic designer roots, he plans out his runs on his computer – sometimes drawing out an image first, before plotting it on a route mapping application. 

"When I have a picture, I will overlay it on the map and from there I adjust the route," he said. 

This can take as quickly as one to two hours, to half a day for more complex designs. 

With the route downloaded on his phone, he first does a practice run to identify any obstacles such as an unexpected construction site or a drain that is too deep to jump over.

He then runs the route one more time, with all the unexpected obstacles in mind. Should he face more obstacles or if the artwork is not satisfactory, he may even run the route a third time. 

"When I make a mistake, I can sometimes still try to cover it up by reversing or redoing that part of the route," he said. "But let's say if the mistake is too obvious, then it can't be helped, I'll have to restart." 

All said, a typical piece of Strava art can take him about one week to complete. 

FROM THE MERLION TO LEE HSIEN LOONG

Toh's inspiration for his art often comes during festive seasons. During Chinese New Year, he typically draws animals on the Chinese Zodiac, which partly explains why he chose to draw a snake with me. 

Christmas will see figures such as snowmen and Santa Claus. 

Animals such as a kangaroo, penguin, dogs and tigers have also featured on his runs, as have depictions of people doing various activities such as breakdancing and kung fu. He has even drawn famous figures like the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

And during the COVID-19 pandemic, he found even more time to come up with complex drawings. 

Among his favorites is a Merlion spouting the words "SG 55", in celebration of Singapore's 55th birthday back in August 2020. The route spanned 45 km and took Toh almost five hours to run. 

Another was a 26km run in 2021 depicting a man getting vaccinated. He revealed the man to be then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, based on a photo of him being inoculated back then. 

"That was quite complicated, as human figures are usually quite difficult to draw," he said with a chuckle. 

"It took a bit longer (to accomplish)… he was our Prime Minister, so I had to practice slightly longer." 

WHAT MAKES SINGAPORE STRAVA ART-FRIENDLY

Toh said that he did not expect his latest Strava art post to go viral, as his past posts had gathered only a few hundred likes at most.

"My friends sent the post to me and told me that I'm very famous," he said with a sheepish grin. "I'm quite shy about it." 

While most commenters expressed admiration for Toh's efforts, there were also some who were sceptical, questioning if he had really run the route. 

"Just wondering how you run through others' private property," wrote one.

Toh said that one unique aspect of Singapore that makes Strava Art feasible is the void decks at public housing, which he believes many foreigners may be unaware of. 

"Our Singapore HDB flats, most of the blocks you can cut through, so that is the advantage for me," he said. "I can form an image (and) any other graphics." 

"(In) other countries, you need to run through people's backyard, (it's) a bit difficult." 

His antics have both amazed and inspired a small group of friends and members of a running club he is part of called the Running Department. 

He occasionally brings people on runs to help them draw requested images, but otherwise keeps a low profile. 

Toh also pays no heed to his age, and is not looking to stop his Strava Art anytime soon.

"As long as I can keep running, I'll continue to do that," he said. 

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Junior colleges will no longer share detailed academic results with their A-level cohorts | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/junior-colleges-will-no-longer-share-detailed-academic-results-with-their-a-level-cohorts

Junior colleges will no longer share detailed academic results with their A-level cohorts

This decision to stop sharing grades-related A-level data is part of a shift towards focusing on students' holistic development, said school leaders. PHOTO: NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE

SINGAPORE – From 2025, junior colleges (JCs) will no longer reveal to students how their cohorts fared in the A-level examination.

This joint decision by the principals of all 17 JCs and Millennia Institute offering the A levels is meant to support the education system's move to reduce over-emphasis on grades, and focus on students' holistic development, said Mr Aaron Loh, principal of Raffles Institution, in an e-mail reply in response to queries.

This means that students who collected their A-level exam results on Feb 21 were not shown any grades-related data during their school briefings, such as the percentage of distinctions by subject or the number of students with at least three H2 distinctions.

In previous years, schools would share how the cohort performed across different subjects, as well as the number of top scorers, or put up such information on their websites.

This move comes after the International Baccalaureate (IB) stopped releasing data from May 2023 on the number of IB students with perfect scores of 45.

The Switzerland-based IB organisation had said in 2024 that this was to discourage the use of assessment results for comparisons among students, schools or communities.

Mr Loh said that over the years, schools here have already cut down on the data from detailed results that is shared with students, parents and the public.

Mr Pang Choon How, principal of Nanyang Junior College, said the school values the holistic growth of students.PHOTO: NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE

In moving further away from sharing numbers altogether, Mr Loh said: "This is to signal that we value our students' holistic development rather than any one-dimensional measure of achievement, and that we want to celebrate their journey as individuals and as a graduating cohort."

In a written response to queries from ST, Mr Pang Choon How, principal of Nanyang Junior College, said that instead of sharing performance-related data with students during the briefing prior to the collection of the A-level results, the school will share "cohort-wide experiences and how they have grown and contributed collectively in holistic domains that the college is proud of".

In doing so, Mr Pang said the school aims to show that it values the holistic growth of students.

"In addition to congratulating students for their hard work and achievements, we will be highlighting some of the distinctive stories depicting resilience, service to the community and the grit to overcome challenging circumstances," he said.

A total of 10,889 candidates sat the 2024 A-level examination and received their results on Feb 21.

Of the cohort, 10,255, or 94.2 per cent, attained at least 3 H2 passes, with a pass in General Paper or Knowledge and Inquiry.

In a statement, the Education Ministry said this is comparable to the performance of A-level candidates in previous years.

Mr Aaron Loh, principal of Raffles Institution, said schools have cut down on the detailed data they share with students and parents.PHOTO: RAFFLES INSTITUTION

Ms Danelle Kaylee Bacomo, 18, who collected her results at National Junior College, said she supports the move to hold back grade-related statistics as there is less pressure to compare herself with her peers.

"I will be more stressed out waiting to see my name appear on the screen as one of the students who did well, even if I didn't expect it. Plus it's natural to wonder if you're part of that percentage who got a distinction for a particular subject," she said.

Besides, if she is curious about her friends' grades, she could just approach them to ask how they did, she added.

Others like Mr Kayden See, 18, who collected his A-level results at Eunoia Junior College, said he is disappointed that he will not know how his school performed in the exam and how it fared against other schools.

"Students are usually interested in the median scores and how many scored 90 RP (rank points). This information can either give you affirmation that you have done well, or provide you with the motivation you need to improve," he said, adding that withholding such information will not aid in holistic development.

Rank point is the grading system for A-level students, ranging from 0 to 90.

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said in an Instagram post on Feb 21 that he was encouraged to know that all JC principals had come together to focus on holistic development, instead of publishing statistics on the A-level results.

"This sends a clear signal about how our schools value a student's overall growth, rather than just narrow, static definitions of success," said Mr Chan.

• Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in Singapore's education landscape.

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Singapore confirms one imported case of vaccine-associated polio; low risk of community transmission - CNA

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/polio-case-vaccine-associated-paralytic-poliomyelitis-indonesia-community-transmission-4924271?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_08022025_cna

Singapore confirms one imported case of vaccine-associated polio; low risk of community transmission

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday (Feb 7) confirmed one imported case of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis in Singapore, adding that its findings so far indicate a low risk of community transmission. 

The patient is a five-month-old Indonesian girl who arrived on Jan 26 for medical treatment.

MOH said the case is immunocompromised and was previously vaccinated with one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and one dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in Indonesia. 

She had developed fever, acute floppiness and paralysis of the lower limbs in December 2024 while in Indonesia. Poliomyelitis was not suspected by her doctor then, said the ministry. 

On Jan 26, she was medically evacuated for treatment of her symptoms and admitted directly to the National University Hospital (NUH) upon arrival in Singapore. The infant is currently in stable condition.

"Our findings so far indicate low risk of community transmission. The case was conveyed directly to NUH upon arrival in Singapore and isolated upon admission. She was also placed under the appropriate infection prevention and control precautions to prevent further spread once suspected of poliomyelitis infection," said MOH.

"Currently three close contacts, who are family members or caregivers of the case, have been quarantined as a precautionary measure."

Poliomyelitis is caused by the poliovirus and is mainly transmitted through food infected with faecal material. 

What is polio?

Poliomyelitis, more commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious disease that can affect muscles and nerves.

This can lead to permanent paralysis of the limbs in a small number of people. Most people infected with polio will not have any symptoms or have only minor symptoms which often go away completely, according to the HealthHub portal. 

Polio is spread by contact with infected people, such as via oral contact with body fluids or faecal material. Some symptoms that can happen at the beginning include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and pain in the limbs.

The disease can take several forms. Those who contract nonparalytic polio may experience severe flu-like symptoms. This illness does not cause paralysis, says Mayo Clinic. 

Paralytic polio is considered the most serious form of the disease. Signs and symptoms include intense pain, tingling or prickling sensations, muscle spasms, as well as muscle weakness progressing to limp paralysis. 

In particularly severe cases, Mayo Clinic also notes that patients may experience paralysis of muscles involved in breathing and difficulty swallowing.

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VACCINATION

Vaccination is the most effective protection against poliomyelitis, alongside maintaining high standards of hygiene and sanitation, said the health ministry. 

There are two vaccines for polio – OPV, which contains live attenuated or weakened poliovirus, and IPV, which does not contain any live poliovirus. 

Many countries have progressively switched to IPV, and Singapore stopped using OPV in 2021, said MOH. 

"Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis is an extremely rare adverse event that occurs when an individual develops paralytic polio after receiving OPV. The risk is higher for immunocompromised persons, for whom IPV is recommended instead of OPV."

Singapore has not reported any locally acquired cases of polio since 1978. The last polio case reported in 2006 was an imported case, added the ministry.

"Singapore has maintained our polio-free status by continuing high polio vaccination coverage, high standards of environmental hygiene and sanitation, and having an established surveillance system in place to detect possible cases of poliomyelitis."

Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), children receive a total of five vaccine doses – three IPV doses for infants at two months, four months, and six months, with another two booster doses of IPV at 18 months and 10 to 11 years old respectively. 

"As the IPV does not contain live virus, it carries no risk of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis. Vaccinations in the NCIS are available free to all Singaporean children at Community Health Assist Scheme General Practitioner clinics and polyclinics," said the ministry. 

Source: CNA/zl(rj)

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