SINGAPORE - It is still necessary for co-curricular activity (CCA) teachers to be physically present at training venues, even if the training is outsourced to external providers, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Hawazi Daipi on Thursday.

This is because teachers help to teach values and build team spirit among students, said Mr Hawazi in response to Nominated MP Benedict Tan, who is president of the Singapore Sailing Federation.

Dr Tan had earlier said: "For all intents and purposes, the teacher is there for safety, but when the school has already outsourced the coaching of the sport, let's say badminton, to a professional service provider... can't we just leave it to the professional provider to be responsible for safety and to free the teacher up to do other academic duties?"

Mr Hawazi replied that CCA is an integral part of education and the Education Ministry wants students to develop good values and learn not just to play the game.

"(The teachers) may not be able to teach the students how to play the games, but they will be there to supervise and build team spirit," he said.

Having teachers present is even more critical in competitions, he added, as teachers have to mediate between different stakeholders such as event organisers, parents and coaches.