Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong said all students, as young as pre-schoolers, can benefit from early exposure to the arts.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ChildAid concert organised by The Straits Times and The Business Time on Saturday, Mr Wong said that the ministry, in partnership with the Education Ministry, hopes to expose a broader range of students to the arts, which can in turn help students develop their creativity and their imagination.

He also said that while mastering the technical aspect of art in the classroom is key, it is more crucial that students learn to appreciate "the sprit of art".

"That means learning to appreciate beauty around you, learning how to express yourself, your emotions, your feelings in a creative and imaginative way," said Mr Wong.