Mindfulness in Schools: What Local Programs Are Available

On a humid June morning at Queenstown Primary, 300 students closed their eyes and breathed in silence – a scene now increasingly common across Singapore’s schools. Quietly, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has supported the rollout of mindfulness programs in dozens of classrooms, aiming to equip students with coping tools against the rising tide of stress and anxiety.

The push to make mindfulness part of everyday learning is gathering momentum as educators grapple with the mental health toll that academic pressure, technology, and social factors are taking on youth. More than ever, teachers and parents are looking for practical ways to help children manage attention, emotional swings, and exam nerves. The drive comes as Singapore’s 2024 Student Well-being Survey found 1 in 4 secondary pupils reported feeling overwhelmed at least once a week.

Mindful Practices in Action: From Queenstown to Yishun

Several local schools have built mindfulness into timetables. At Queenstown Primary, students participate in weekly 10-minute guided sessions, led by a teacher trained through the ‘Mindful Schools Singapore’ initiative, launched in partnership with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s MindCare centre in Yishun. Over at Bedok View Secondary, the ‘Pause, Notice, Breathe’ program integrates breathing exercises before important tests and during co-curricular activities. For students at Bukit Timah’s Methodist Girls’ School, after-school mindfulness clubs now rival badminton in popularity, drawing 60 to 80 participants each term.

Non-profit organisations have entered the space too. Brahm Centre, an accredited charity with outlets in Novena and Tampines, offers workshops for both educators and students, including a ‘Mindfulness For Juniors’ curriculum at $120 for eight weekly sessions. In partnership with MOE, Brahm Centre has also conducted over 200 teacher-training workshops in the last two years, reaching staff from more than 30 primary and secondary schools between 2023 and 2025.

Evidence, Uptake & Practical Advice

The rollout is not just anecdotal. According to MOE’s figures, 41% of primary and 38% of secondary schools now offer some form of structured, teacher-led mindfulness activity. Early feedback points to promising results: a 2025 pilot at Peicai Secondary in Serangoon found reported ‘high stress’ episodes among students dropped by 19% over a six-month intervention.

Parents considering mindfulness for their children don’t have to rely on schools alone. Community centres from Bukit Panjang to Pasir Ris regularly run free or low-cost workshops during school holidays, often hosted at activeSG gyms or the Bishan Community Club, with public listings on OnePA.sg. Meanwhile, apps like Calm and Headspace are popular among teens but may require guidance from a trusted adult to use them effectively and consistently.

Looking ahead, MOE is expected to evaluate and expand current pilots, with a possible formal curriculum inclusion by 2027. For now, parents can ask their child’s form teacher about existing school mindfulness activities or explore public classes at neighbourhood hubs. While mindfulness is not a remedy for all academic or emotional challenges, it is fast becoming one of Singapore’s most accessible, homegrown strategies for student well-being.