Parents and students speak out as MOE pushes for longer school hours across Singapore

The Ministry of Education's latest proposal to extend school hours by 90 minutes daily has sparked heated debate among parents, educators and students across Singapore's neighbourhoods, with residents from Tampines, Clementi and Jurong East offering starkly different perspectives on the initiative.

The plan, unveiled in late June, aims to integrate more co-curricular activities and skill-building sessions into the formal school day at primary and secondary levels islandwide. Schools including those in the Bukit Timah and Bishan clusters would be among the first to implement changes from January 2027.

At community centres in Tampines and Ang Mo Kio, feedback has been divided. Working parents, who currently rely on afternoon childcare services costing between $400 and $800 monthly, expressed concerns about logistics and budgeting. Many rely on tuition centres along Serangoon Road and East Coast Road to supplement their children's learning, raising questions about how extended hours would affect these arrangements.

"The timing is challenging," said one parent from a Clementi HDB block, requesting anonymity. "My husband and I finish work at 5:30pm. If school ends at 4:45pm instead of 3:30pm, our childcare costs will spike."

However, students interviewed at venues like the National Library Board's Jurong Regional Library expressed optimism. Secondary school students noted that consolidating activities within school hours could reduce their evening commitments, freeing time for rest and personal projects. Several cited burnout as a persistent concern, with studies showing Singaporean students spend an average of 11 hours daily on school-related activities.

Educators have also weighed in. Teachers at schools across districts like Bukit Panjang and Woodlands flagged workforce implications, noting that extended hours would require additional staff and resources. The Singapore Teachers' Union has called for clarity on compensation structures and implementation timelines.

The National Parents' Foundation is conducting a formal survey, with preliminary responses suggesting 58 per cent support the proposal if adequate childcare subsidies are provided. Community leaders in Geylang and Kallang constituencies have scheduled forums for July to gather constituent views before feedback closes on July 15.

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing is expected to address community concerns at a townhall in the Buona Vista neighbourhood on July 8. Until then, the voices of Singapore's families—from quiet HDB blocks to bustling community centres—continue to shape the conversation around one of the most significant education shifts in recent years.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.