Teaching our Students Respect for Persons of Different Abilities

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Education whether schools will consider the teaching of mutual respect for people of different abilities as part of its Character and Citizenship Education.

Mr Heng Swee Keat: A key feature of Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) is on relationships; specifically with friends, the school and the community. Students learn to value relationships through a variety of teaching approaches which include classroom lessons as well as experiential programmes.

In their CCE lessons, students are explicitly taught the values of respect and care in their daily interactions with others. They are also taught to appreciate the diverse strengths and abilities of the members of their community. Students are guided to take multiple perspectives and learn to respond to the needs of people around them.

Learning experiences through Values in Action (VIA) and Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) further provide our students with opportunities to engage and interact with people of different backgrounds and abilities. Through VIA, students are encouraged to initiate collective action among their peers to improve the lives of others in school and the community. They learn to appreciate diversity in the community and respect for each other's strengths and abilities.