Public Awareness of Constitution of Singapore

Mr Pritam Singh asked the Prime Minister in light of a recent survey done by the Institute of Policy Studies which found that Singaporeans remain confused on the role of the President, whether the Government will consider making it mandatory for Singapore students from secondary school level upwards to learn about the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong: Schools teach our students about the roles and responsibilities of the President, the Government and citizens of Singapore primarily through subjects like Social Studies and History, pitched at a level that is consistent with the maturity of the students.

The formal curriculum does not cover the specific legal articles of the Constitution or all the roles and responsibilities of the President. However, students learn about the principles and values enshrined in the Constitution, including the President's role as the Head of State and in safeguarding the interests of minority groups with advice from the Presidential Council of Minority Rights. In addition, students also learn about the structure and powers of government, the election process and the rights of citizens to elect the government.

These issues are all part of helping students understand what it means to be a Singaporean. MOE is current reviewing the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum with the aim of improving citizen education in schools.

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