Table of Contents SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The Social Development sector comprises six Ministries: Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of National Development (MND), Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), and Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA). The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), under the Economic Development sector, also plays a vital role in providing financial security and lifelong employability for Singaporeans.
The Government aims to make Singapore the Best Home for all its citizens, where everyone has the opportunity to be the best he or she can be, and has a stake in Singapore’s success. Our strategy is to provide affordable housing, education, and basic healthcare for all, with targeted assistance for the needy. At the same time, the Government aims to build a world-class living environment, and foster a sense of identity and community that binds Singaporeans as one nation. This sector will account for $20 billion or 43.0% of government expenditure in FY2010.
The Social Development sector aims to achieve the following outcomes:
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Quality Education
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Good, Affordable Healthcare
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Strong Families
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A Caring and Inclusive Society
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Financial Security and Lifelong Employability
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A World-Class Living Environment
The Government will also put in place special measures to support households.
Quality Education
Education is key towards preparing our young to meet the challenges of the future, as well as maintaining Singapore’s competitive edge. We will help our children realise their potential through a holistic education in schools and post-secondary educational institutions, as well as provide greater support for special education and pre-school education. We will also create more opportunities for quality higher education to support the needs of our economy.
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Enhancing Holistic Education to Develop Future-Ready Singaporeans
MOE will build on the Primary Education Review and Implementation Committee (PERI) recommendations for a more holistic primary education that strikes a better balance between the teaching of content knowledge and the acquisition of skills and values.
It will implement a new framework to enhance the development of 21st century competencies in our students. This will underpin the holistic education that our schools provide to better prepare our students to thrive in a fast-changing and highly-connected world. As part of this effort, it will be strengthening the quality of Physical, Art and Music education.
In addition, MOE will be enhancing the learning and teaching of languages in schools, in order to build strong communications skills among our young. It will be enhancing teacher capacity to teach English Language and English-medium subjects, as well as promoting school-based programmes to improve English Language usage by students. Also, amidst an evolving language environment, MOE will be adopting differentiated approaches to the learning and teaching of Mother Tongue Languages to cater to students with different levels of ability and interest. -
Enhancing Opportunities for All
MOE will continue to work with the National Council of Social Services (NCSS), families and other partners to engage special education schools to further improve the quality of education for our children with special needs. Efforts include greater support in terms of recognition, resources and curriculum support.
In the area of pre-school education, MOE will ensure that quality pre-school education is accessible and affordable for all Singaporeans, while at the same time, preserving the diversity of options and models offered by the community and the private sector. There will continue to be targeted support for lower income households. -
Nurturing a Quality Tertiary Sector
MOE will continue to create more opportunities for quality higher education in our tertiary sector to meet the needs of our economy. 15,300 subsidised University undergraduate places will be provided this academic year, catering to 26% of the cohort. MOE is also strengthening the Polytechnic sector via the new Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) as well as expanding the capacity of our 5 Polytechnics by 20% over the next 4 years. It will invest in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), including enhancing its courses and training offerings for students and members of the workforce.
Good, Affordable Healthcare
To enhance the quality of life for Singaporeans, we will build on our national healthcare system to deliver medical care of high standards that is of high quality affordable and able to meet the needs of Singaporeans.
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Ensuring Healthy Singaporeans
MOH will set aside $112 million in FY2010 for national health promotion and disease prevention programmes targeted at increasing the quality and years of healthy life and preventing illness, disability and premature death of our people. Besides physical health, MOH will also focus on mental health and well-being. A further $84 million will also be set aside to build up capabilities to respond to potential emergency health situations and tackle communicable diseases. -
Providing Affordable & Good Quality Healthcare for All Singaporeans, Appropriate to Needs
$2 billion is set aside in FY2010 for healthcare subsidies for Singaporeans. Further, the Government will top-up $200 million to the Medifund to support needy Singaporeans and another $200 million to the ElderCare Fund as part of our ongoing efforts to set aside funds to meet our long-term healthcare needs. Concurrently, MOH will continue to strengthen all care sectors through fostering greater integration across care sectors and investing in information technology, healthcare manpower and infrastructure. In particular, MOH will enhance the capabilities and capacities of the Intermediate and Long-Term Care sector to address the needs of our aging population. -
Pursuing Medical Excellence
To ensure that our healthcare system keeps pace with global medical developments, MOH, together with partners, will invest close to $70 million in research and development of new clinical services. MOH will also continue to develop regulatory and enforcement capabilities to promote high standards of medical care for Singaporeans.
Strong Families
We aim to promote strong and stable families and aim to make Singapore the best home where parents can raise their children and enjoy the warmth of family life.
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Supporting Parenthood
MCYS will set aside $505 million for the Baby Bonus Scheme ($281 million), Government-Paid Maternity Leave Scheme ($122 million), and Government-Paid Childcare Leave Scheme ($102 million) to encourage and support married couples to have more children. -
Enhancing Centre-Based Environment for Infant Care and Childcare
MCYS will set aside $215 million for infant care and childcare subsidies to enhance parents’ access to quality childcare and infant care in a centre-based environment. To raise the quality of childcare, $51.9 million will also be set aside to provide scholarships for childcare teachers, recurrent grants for anchor non-profit childcare operators and capital grant to childcare operators to set up more childcare centres.
A Caring and Inclusive Society
One of the key priorities of the sector is to build a caring and inclusive society by fostering a sense of national identity, community and engaging our citizens, including supporting young Singaporeans, and helping vulnerable groups.
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Fostering A Caring and Active Community
MCYS will allocate $347.1 million to the People’s Association to facilitate the growth of communities, bridge diversity, strengthen social capital and build trust between the people and Government. Another $5.4 million will be allocated towards the National Integration Council (NIC) to promote social integration amongst all Singaporeans. $21 million will be set aside for the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) to promote volunteerism, support philanthropy and build a strong network of community. -
Inspiring our Youth
MCYS will set aside $166 million for youth development initiatives which includes the Enhanced STEP-UP programme for out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk, to establish a multi-agency Committee on Youth Guidance to support and meaningfully engage these youth and encourage and inspire all our youth to play an active role in their communities, in particular through the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. -
Helping Vulnerable Groups
MCYS will set aside $96 million to help low-income Singaporeans who need financial assistance, including their children and those who are unable to work and have little or no family support. Another $118 million will go towards volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs) to provide services to the needy, and a further $9 million towards the community self-help groups. -
Strengthening a Sense of Identity
MICA will allocate $109 million to build cross-cultural and inter-generational understanding in our community, and to develop a more vibrant heritage sector. The former Supreme Court and City Hall Building are currently also being redeveloped into a National Art Gallery. At the same time, MND, through URA, will oversee the place management of historic districts and key locations such as the Singapore River, and identify and conserve significant buildings to contribute towards giving Singaporeans a sense of history and belonging. MICA will also allocate $19 million to nurture a sense of rootedness among Singaporeans through government’s public communications and information programmes.
Financial Security and Lifelong Employability
Singapore's population is aging rapidly as life expectancies rise and fertility rates fall. The need for continuing education and training (CET) becomes more important as our workforce gets older, in particular our older low-wage workers who need additional support to enhance their skills and continue to be valued in the workplace. Coping with retirement needs will be an increasingly important issue for us. We will set aside $451 million to enhance financial security and lifelong employability of Singaporeans.
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Fostering Lifelong Employability
With an ageing labour force, MOM will continue to work with its Tripartite Partners to encourage the adoption of re-employment practices and finalise the Tripartite Guidelines on the Re-Employment of Older Employees. MOM will also review the ADVANTAGE! Scheme to better support employers in re-employing, recruiting or retaining older workers. -
Helping Low-wage Workers
MOM will enhance the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme to encourage older, low-wage workers to stay in the workforce. A new 3-year Workfare Training Scheme (WTS) will also be introduced to complement the WIS in helping the workers capitalise on and advance through the CET system. The WTS will provide broad-based incentives for employers and low-wage workers and a structured training programme for low-skilled workers. -
Building Up Retirement Adequacy
MOM will continue to work with CPF Board to help CPF members build up their retirement adequacy.
A World-Class Living Environment
A world-class living environment is one where Singaporeans enjoy a high quality of life, not just through a clean environment and affordable quality public housing, but also through a range of leisure opportunities and lifestyle attractions that transform Singapore into a City of Gardens and Water. Sustainable development is our goal, with key strategies such as boosting our resource efficiency, enhancing our urban environment, building capabilities and fostering community action.
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Ensuring a Clean and Healthy Environment and Water Resources
MEWR, through the $330 million Clean Water Programme funded by the National Research Foundation, will grow the water industry in Singapore into a global water hub for business, investment, research and technology. MEWR will also continue the $15 million Environment Technology Research Programme announced in 2009 to promote environmental R&D in Singapore. A further $155 million will be allocated to used water management and $177 million to flood alleviation. MEWR will also set aside $259.3 million to maintain a high standard of environmental health, $50.9 million to ensure good air quality and provide timely and reliable meteorological services and $258.4 million for sustainable solid waste management. -
Providing Affordable and Quality Public Housing
MND will allocate $534 million to HDB to continue to provide affordable and quality public housing that meets the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and promote home ownership for the vast majority who can afford it. MND will also set aside $997 million to rejuvenate older housing estates through various estate renewal programmes, including the Remaking our Heartland to transform our estates into vibrant homes, so that residents can enjoy improved living conditions. -
Making Singapore a More Liveable, Sustainable and Vibrant City
MND will allocate $339 million to URA to make Singapore an attractive destination for businesses and investments, as well as a great place to live and play in for the people. URA is undertaking the Concept Plan 2011 Review, to guide the sustainable development of Singapore over the next 40-50 years to become a good quality and endearing home that also caters to the needs of an aging population. URA will continue to develop key growth areas such as Jurong Lake District and Kallang Riverside, expand the existing CBD through the development of the Marina Bay area, enhancing nightlife buzz and promote excellence in architecture and urban design. -
Developing Singapore into a City of Gardens and Water
MND will spend $590 million to develop new park connectors, enhance our streetscape greenery, promote skyrise greenery and develop capabilities in the landscape industry. MND will continue work on the landmark Gardens by the Bay and will also promote community ownership in transforming Singapore into a global City in a Garden through programmes such as Community in Bloom and Plant-A-Tree. MEWR will set aside some $26 million for Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme projects, of which 7, including the Rowers’ Bay and Family Bay at Lower Seletar Reservoir and the Sengkang Floating Island at Sungei Punggol, are scheduled for completion by FY2010. -
Promoting Energy Efficiency
MEWR will allocate $22.5 million to fund programmes under the E2 Singapore initiative, led by a multi-agency programme office set up to drive energy efficiency improvements in Singapore. -
Developing a Sporting People
MCYS will set aside $240.8 million to support sports initiatives, including $126.4 million to promote regular sports participation among Singaporeans, $49.9 million to develop the sports industry, $42.7 million to support sports excellence and $21.8 million to the Singapore Sports School. -
Nurturing the Arts
MICA will allocate $128 million to nurturing the arts, such as the literary arts and traditional arts sectors, and making it an integral part of the lives of Singaporeans. MICA will continue to cultivate broad-based appreciation for the arts through events such as District Art Festivals and Singapore Biennale and nurture young talents through the School of the Arts. MICA will also set aside $185 million for our libraries.
Measures to Support Households
Singaporeans will continue to benefit from transfers to households that have been announced in previous Budgets, including the fourth and last tranche of GST Credits and Senior Citizens’ Bonuses, as well as U-Save, S&CC and HDB rental rebates. In addition, the Government will provide further special top-ups to help older Singaporeans as well as families with children:
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A top-up to the CPF-Medisave Accounts of older Singaporeans aged 50 and above, between $200 and $500 each; and
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A top-up to the PSEA accounts of our young, between $100 and $500 each.
The Government will also be enhancing tax reliefs for households by increasing parent relief, broadening wife relief to spouse relief, and raising the income threshold of dependants for taxpayers claiming dependant-related reliefs.
Taking all the measures together, inclusive of the WIS, we will be spending $1.8 billion in direct transfers for households.
