CCE lesson on Gaza conflict to be customized for varied age groups, says Chan Chun Sing

Mr Chan expressed appreciation for the generally civil expressions of views by Singaporeans but cautioned against taking it for granted, citing instances of rude and abusive comments directed at teachers online.

He highlighted a particularly concerning case where an educator's picture was circulated with a racial slur caption, intending to make it go viral online.

Mr Chan underscored the seriousness of such incidents, assuring that MOE will thoroughly investigate all instances of abuse, harassment, or threats against its educators.

Mr Chan justifies decision not to release lesson materials for CCE lesson

Following Mr Chan's speech, Dr Wan Rizal, a PAP MP for Jalan Besar GRC inquired about the possibility of the MOE releasing lesson materials and slides for transparency, especially considering the circulation of unverified slides from the CCE lesson online.

Mr Chan responded that, after extensive discussions, the ministry decided against releasing the materials.

He explained that the slides alone might not accurately represent how the lesson is taught by teachers and could lead to misinterpretations if viewed without context.

Minister Chan emphasized the importance of meeting face-to-face with concerned parents and the public to explain how the slides are used, as this approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the teaching process.

Mr. Chan also emphasized the need to protect teachers from external pressures to alter the material according to different perspectives.

He encouraged concerned parents and interested parties to contact MOE, assuring them that the ministry would explain how the lesson is conducted in detail.

Addressing a specific query from Mr Sharael Taha, PAP MP Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC about the "Samuel and Arun slide," Mr Chan clarified that this slide was not part of MOE's original deck.

It was created by a teacher to make the lesson more relatable to a specific age group, though the age group was not specified.

Mr Chan highlighted that the slide had been taken out of context online, reiterating that MOE's intention was never to trivialize the Gaza conflict.

He emphasized the importance of teachers' ability to communicate effectively with their students based on their understanding of the students' needs.

WP MP Faisal Manap questions MOE on consultation with parents for Israel-Palestinian CCE lesson

Faisal Manap, Workers' Party MP for Ajunied GRC further asked whether the MOE had considered consulting parents of younger students regarding their comfort level with their children participating in the CCE lesson on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, similar to how consultations are conducted for sexuality education.

In response, Mr Chan clarified that while parental consultation is practised for sensitive topics like sexuality education, there is a distinction between the two.

"Sexuality education involves personal issues, family, and beliefs, whereas CCE lessons focus on interpersonal relations—teaching students to relate to others with respect, sensitivity, and manage differences in views constructively."

He clarified that the CCE lesson does not directly address the conflict but rather focuses on teaching students how to manage differences in views and proceed as one.

Minister Chan highlighted that the central aspect of CCE is fostering emotional management, media literacy, respectful discussions, and building a cohesive society amid challenges.