MAJOR changes will be made to primary school education here to turn out pupils who are more adept at thinking and communicating.

The changes, to be made in stages from next year, include having only one session at all primary schools. This will allow teachers to spend more time on softer aspects such as developing pupils' leadership and moulding their character.

Children will be encouraged to take up co-curricular activities (CCAs) from Primary 1.

There will be better-qualified teachers too. From 2015, only graduate teachers will be hired for primary schools. They will be supported by a crew of teacher aides at all schools.

The changes mark a shift from focusing on drills, homework and exam preparation to teaching children skills for life, such as public speaking, teamwork and confidence, and preparing them for a future driven by technological advancement.

These changes, part of a review of primary school education, were announced by Education Minister Ng Eng Hen at his ministry's annual workplan seminar yesterday.

A committee led by Senior Minister of State for Education Grace Fu will look at how the various ideas can be implemented.

She said yesterday: 'We are not adding on academic content to make it a burden to students, but we're trying to build their life skills as well as values. So this is rebalancing the focus of our education system.'

Several things need to be done ahead of the shift. One is to ensure that pupils will be able to afford taking part in CCAs or other enrichment activities.

For this, the ministry will spend $11 million to increase the contribution to pupils' Edusave accounts from the current $180 to $200 per year for primary pupils and $220 to $240 for secondary students next year.

Another challenge is space for activities. Currently, only 40 per cent of primary schools are single-session. Schools with morning and afternoon sessions find it hard to conduct CCAs while some pupils are in class.

With the switch to one-session schools, some may have to expand their premises and others may take in fewer pupils. At least 25 more new schools will have to be built.

The moves cheered teachers and parents alike. Huamin Primary principal William Pushpam was so happy with the news that all schools will have teacher aides, he said: 'Christmas came early this year.'

These assistants can keep pupils engaged during small-group learning sessions, help teachers prepare lesson plans and run CCAs too. 'It all depends on how creatively schools make use of them,' he added.

Scriptwriter Tammie Wong, 30, whose two-year-old son Noah will start primary school in five years, was pleased to know that more graduate teachers will be posted to primary schools.

'The foundation is set in the early years, so having grads will mean higher standards,' she said. 'But apart from a degree, other qualities of the teacher are just as important, like love for the child.'

janeng@sph.com.sg

More reports: Singapore